Induction and welcome

As a new postgraduate researcher, you will receive a full programme of induction resources to welcome and introduce you to the University, your fellow researchers and what is support is available to you.

Welcome from Professor Luke Windsor, Dean of Leeds Doctoral College

Doctoral College Induction

The 2022-23 Leeds Doctoral College Induction resources are set out below. We have created a 12 ‘module’ programme of video guides, online courses and text documents for you to work through at your own pace. You can come back at any point in your candidature to refresh your memory on what you have learned here. It is essential that you start working through the Doctoral College Induction resources within your first few days of arriving at Leeds. PGRs are also able to access their Doctoral College Handbooks at any point during their candidature to find information relevant to their studies. The modules below will refer to sections in the handbook where relevant.

Click on the link for each numbered title below to work through the resources and information for that module:

We know when you are new to the University it is always helpful to speak to people face-to-face. Therefore, in addition to the induction modules above, we will be hosting in person sessions on campus if you would like to come along and ask us any questions, just drop in for a chat or meet other new PGRs. The drop in sessions are open to all PGRs, however new PGRs are particularly encouraged to attend. Doctoral College staff will be available for you to meet and to ask questions regarding your programme and university life and refreshments will be available! These sessions will be taking place on the following dates throughout 2023:

Wednesday 8^th March
Wednesday 5^th April
Wednesday 3^rd May
Wednesday 7^th June
Wednesday 5^th July
Wednesday 9^th August

Time and location for all sessions is 10:00 – 12:00, Student Common room (12.19), Marjorie and Arnold Ziff building. Campus map here.

Graduate School Induction

More local induction provision will be provided across Faculties and Schools, therefore, remember to check your emails regularly. Your Graduate School will send out information at the appropriate times about registration, getting started and your School or Faculty induction. If you need support or have questions regarding local induction information, please email your Faculty Graduate School and a member of the team will be happy to help. Please go to Contact Your School and scroll to the bottom of the page for the Graduate School contacts.

As a guide, topics you can expect to be covered in your local inductions should include:

Registration and getting started with your studies
Graduate School contacts
Faculty and School contacts
Faculty and School building locations and access
PGR work space (desks, laboratories, etc.)
Training such as health and safety
Relevant Faculty and School policies
Research groups/clusters that you are part of
Social opportunities, events and societies

Faculty or School inductions may include online events, pre-recorded videos, reading material, or in-person events. This is at the discretion of the organisers and may vary depending on the time of year that you start. If you ever have questions about topics that are not covered by induction(s), please get in touch with your Graduate School.

International Postgraduate Researchers

For international PGRs, there is a dedicated International Students website to welcome you to Leeds and answer any questions you might have. It is recommended that you read through all of the information available on that website to help guide you through arrival, setting up and settling in here. Your online international orientation has lots of information to help you get started, feel at home in Leeds and make the most of your international experience.

Current student ambassadors from our Link to Leeds team (including some postgraduate researchers) can help you prepare to come to Leeds and settle in. You can chat to them online before you travel and when you arrive. They'll also be running activities where you can meet other new students and researchers.

If you have questions about preparing to travel to Leeds, or what to do when you arrive, please email internationalwelcome@leeds.ac.uk.

Other induction events

Now that the main induction period during September and October 2022 has passed, there generally aren’t any campus wide induction events to advertise. Please check with your Graduate School for any local events that may be of interest to you or see what’s happening over at Leeds University Union. Many of their events are a great way to meet other people with shared interests.

What comes after induction?

See the Getting Started page for more information on what to think about after your induction(s).