Induction checklist

PGR is an acronym for ‘postgraduate researcher’, a term we use to describe anyone studying for a PhD, Masters by Research, Professional Doctorate (eg EdD, DClinPsychol and DPaedDent), Doctor of Medicine or Integrated degrees of PhD and MSc, whether they are studying part time or full time.

All postgraduate researchers, or PGRs, are students and therefore eligible to use all the student services across the University.

Registration means you can officially confirm your place on your course, check the information we hold about you, and confirm the financial arrangements for your studies. You need to complete registration within one month of your start date. To complete your registration, we’ll also need to check your identity.

The University does not permit PGRs to study on a remote basis (specific arrangements may be in place for distance learning, split site or dual award programmes). If you do not think you will be able to arrive in Leeds within one month of the start date of your programme, please see the information available and contact your Graduate School. 

If you are having any problems completing registration, please contact the Student Information Service.

New to Leeds? Whether you're coming from across the world or just around the corner, the Student Information Service can help with Registration and IT support to help you start settling in Leeds.

Your Graduate School is normally the first point of contact for queries specific to your studies. For the full list of contacts, please see the Graduate School contacts page.

If you are unsure which Graduate School to contact or if you think your query might be for someone else, but you aren’t sure who, you can email doctoralcollege@leeds.ac.uk and your query will be directed to the correct team.  

The Graduate Record of Achievement and Development (GRAD) is the University record keeping system for all PGRs. Find out more on the GRAD page of the For Students website.

The Student IT induction covers everything that needs to be done before your course starts, like setting up your username, password and DUO two-factor authentification, as well as information on University systems, the Library and email as well as advice on getting help and keeping up to date with news from IT.

On the IT website you can also find some simple instructions for setting up your University IT account as well as Everything you need to know for a smooth IT set up.

Your university email account and Microsoft Teams will be the main methods we will use to communicate with you during your time at Leeds. Notifications from GRAD will go to your University email account. You are expected to regularly check these channels. 

New PGRs are automatically enrolled on the Leeds Doctoral College PGR’s Team but if you are not, please request to join.

Please see the Postgraduate support and wellbeing page of the For Students website. 

If you are a disabled PGR please visit the Disability Services at Leeds webpages to find out how you can register with the service to access support. 

If you have any questions, you can speak to a member of Disability Services either online or in person.

In most cases the University can produce an official certificate confirming that you are a PGR at the University of Leeds. If you require proof of student status, you can request a statement from the Student Services Centre.

Full-time PGRs are eligible for Council Tax exemption or discounts. However, part-time PGRs and PGRs who have submitted their thesis (“under examination”) are not eligible for Council Tax exemption or discounts.
 
If you are a registered full-time PGR, and you enter your Leeds term-time address when you register, your details will be sent to Leeds City Council four times a year for processing exemptions. More guidance, including what to do if you live outside Leeds or if you are an international student, can be found on the Council Tax exemption page of the For Students website.

If you are an international PGR studying on a visa, it is important that you understand how your visa works, and what to do if your circumstances change. Please see the Your Visa page of the For Students website. 

If you are considering working during your studies, please check our work and your visa pages to find out more about your rights in the UK. For more information on working in the UK after your PhD, check our Graduate Visa page. If you need specific advice on your visa, including how to extend your visa, please contact the Student Visa Advice team.  

Before you start your research, you must ensure you are fulfilling requirements for academic integrity, data management, ethical research and intellectual property. Find out more in the Research Practice section of the For Students website.

As part of your induction you are required to complete online training in this area. Find out more on the Research Practice training and tests page of the For Students website. 

PGRs are encouraged to have a good work/life balance; full-time PGRs are entitled to 26 days holiday each year (15.5 for PGRs studying part time) plus University closed days. Holiday requests should be made via GRAD.

University closed dates, including bank holidays, can be found on the University almanac or alternatively in the University Year Planner.

All of the key regulations, procedure and policy documents that apply to PGRs at Leeds are available on the Postgraduate Researcher Policies and Procedures pages of the For Students website.

If you’re coming to Leeds from outside the UK, visit our Prepare for Leeds webpages for essential information to help you plan your journey. 

We offer support and activities to welcome you and help you get settled in your first weeks in Leeds. As well as the welcome activities run by your school or faculty, join our International Orientation programme for essential information about living in the UK, ad-hoc webinars on finance and banking, healthcare and disability support and talks, tours and social events to help you meet people and feel at home.

The University Buddy Scheme offers peer support to help you feel at home and part of our community. Apply for the scheme to be matched with another University of Leeds PGR who shares similar interests to you. You can apply to join at any point during your academic journey.

Our in-person Doctoral College Meet and Greet sessions give you the opportunity to meet other PGRs from across the University as well as academic colleagues and colleagues from the University’s support services.  

The sessions are open to all PGRs, not just new starters. You do not need to attend the full session and are welcome to drop in. 

You can find out the dates of the Doctoral College Meet and Greet sessions, as well as other events for PGRs, in the Doctoral College Events Calendar.

Register with a doctor and a dentist as soon as you can when you arrive in Leeds. You can find more information on the Medical services page of the For Students site.

You can get to know campus by taking a self-guided tour, discover the interactive map or simply wander about and explore it yourself or with new friends! You can also find information about accessible building entrances, routes on campus, and facilities.

If you're bringing your family to Leeds when you come to study, find out about family life on and off campus on the Children and Family page of the For Students Website. 

Make sure you are aware of important considerations about bringing your family to Leeds before you arrive by checking our accommodation for families page.  

Check our Opening a bank account pages for information on arranging money for when you arrive, choosing a bank and different types of account available in Leeds and what documents you will need to open an account in the UK.

If you are an international researcher, we also recommend attending the Money and Banking webinar during Postgraduate International Orientation or catch up on the session on demand if you are arriving after September.

If you haven’t already done so, you should contact your supervisor to arrange your first meeting; they may recommend some reading, or may be able to put you in touch with current PGRs in your research group.

Find out more about fee and maintenance payments (also known as a stipend) on the Funding for postgraduate researchers pages of the For Students website.

Health and safety, equipment and facilities

You will receive detailed information about local H&S processes as part of your school and faculty induction, including completing the Safety in Research Induction for postgraduate researchers.  

Some buildings/study spaces/facilities might have key or fob entry only. This will be covered by your local school or faculty induction if it is relevant to you. 

Talk to your supervisors about any specialist equipment you might need or have access to during your research.