Skills Training and Career Development

We are committed to helping students develop the necessary skills that are essential for the workplace, whether this is in academia or elsewhere. Throughout their period of postgraduate study at Durham students are offered the opportunity to attend a variety of skills-based training courses. These range from presentation skills and interview techniques to guidance on paper and thesis writing. In support of their research and the development of additional skills all research groups will encourage students to attend conferences to present posters and talks and experimental groups will expect students to visit international research facilities.

While studying at Durham postgraduate students have the opportunity to participate in undergraduate teaching activities within the Department, such as laboratory demonstrating, running tutorial groups and marking undergraduate work. Teaching is an excellent way of developing vital transferable skills and is often valuable in developing a deeper understanding oneself through the communication of the subject matter. In addition our students often find this a useful source of supplementary income.