Opportunities and support

Our highly trained, dedicated team can offer our postgraduate students the best support and advice to get the most from your Durham degree...

Linking you with employers

• Organisations ranging from SMEs to multi and international corporations arrange student presentations through the Centre
• Visit the Career Fairs to talk to employers about sector opportunities
• We have excellent relations with international, national and regional employers if you choose to stay on in the region when you complete your studies.

A personalised experience

• Expert advice on CVs, application forms and interviews
• Talks delivered through departments and colleges
• Careers Advisers available to discuss and plan your career at any stage of your study or research
• A specialist Careers Development Consultant for PhD researchers, Postdoctoral and Contract Research staffwho offers individual consultations to discuss issues relating to your career choice and development and organises a wide range of group work sessions, seminars and guest speakers throughout the year.

Specialised resources

• Career and employer specific information available in our Information Rooms
• Free individual copies of employer recruitment directories
• Reference material for careers, further study, gap years, overseas work and study.

Develop your skills

• Attend employer led skills workshops organised by the Careers Centre
• Researchers self select for a wide range of courses provided by the Centre for Academic & Researcher Development
• We run a two-day skills conference for taught Masters students
• The Postgraduate Taught Durham Award offers a chance to reflect on your skills development, while Researchers can do this through the Key Skills Award
• Online skills resources and a 'Skills Handbook' are available to all students
• Our International Buddies Scheme introduces international students who want to improve their English Language skills to UK students who want to learn more about other cultures.

Teaching experience

• Research students may be offered the opportunity to teach in departments (although this is not guaranteed). An initial professional development programme is offered, including support and discipline-specific training
• Students who have completed a specified amount of teaching have the opportunity to undertake the Durham University Learning and Teaching Award. This is accredited nationally by the UK Higher Education Academy (HEA) and leads to Associateship of the HEA. It also provides valuable evidence of commitment to and competence in teaching, which is particularly important for those on an academic career path.

Support from former Durham students

The Careers, Employability and Enterprise Centre works closely with the Alumni Office as many Durham alumni (former students) can offer help and useful advice on careers in their employment sector. You may be able to talk to them about particular job roles and read about their experiences of finding work in different sectors. They also provide an extensive network of contacts and opportunities, both in the UK and abroad after you have left Durham.

For more information see the Careers, Employability and Enterprise Centre webpage.

A job while you're studying

Part-time work while you're at university isn't only a good way to help pay for your studies, it's also a very valuable aspect to add to a CV, and a great way to gain the skills future employers are looking for. Whether you want to work in term time, just in the holidays, or all year round, our Student Employment Service will help you find the right position.

For more information see the Student Employment Service website.

As well as access to the same support and facilities as our undergraduates, postgraduates have access to a specialist Careers Development Consultant for PhD researchers, Postdoctoral and Contract Research staff who can offer individual and group consultations to discuss issues relating to your career choice and development. We have a wide range of information developed specifically for postgraduate students including extensive career and employer folders; free take away employer directories (updated annually) and reference material covering all aspects of careers, further study, job search and overseas work and study. There is also a designated careers section for PhD researchers.

Developing your teaching experience

Departments in the University may offer their research students the opportunity to teach, although it should be noted that this cannot be guaranteed in all cases. Students who take on this role are provided with an initial professional development programme, including support and discipline-specific training.

Once they have done a significant amount of teaching, research students have the opportunity to undertake the Durham University Learning and Teaching Award. This is accredited nationally by the UK Higher Education Academy (HEA) and leads to Associateship of the HEA. It also provides valuable evidence of commitment to, and competence in teaching, which is particularly important for those on an academic career path.