Activities and resources from the Centre for Doctoral Studies to help you cultivate healthy, efficient and effective professional practices.

Thriving in your Research is one of our eight key doctoral development themes, designed to help postgraduate research students across King’s navigate the support on offer.

For guidance on booking live workshops and registering for on-demand services, see How to Access our Courses.

Please note, to access SkillsForge you will require King's log in credentials. 

Completing your PhD on time, on budget, and under control (Access through SkillsForge PGR359)

In this course, participants will be introduced to all stages of a project management process relevant to completing doctoral research, from planning a timeline, to breaking the overall project down into doable tasks. It also covers how to prepare and what to do in case something goes wrong, and how to manage finances.

Masterclass in Personal Effectiveness (Access through SkillsForge PGR336)

This masterclass will teach the fundamentals of a growth mindset and personal resilience through identifying common mental blocks and creating positive working and thinking habits to address them. This workshop will cover time management techniques to assist with the proactive planning and prioritising of research. Participants will grow their confidence in testing the boundaries and how to navigate unexpected results or roadblocks.

Recognising and Tackling the Imposter Phenomenon (Access through SkillsForge CRSD5)

In the high-achieving and results-driven world of academia, we are often too quick to be overly critical of ourselves and believe that we are not good enough. This can be a symptom of Imposter Phenomenon – and it’s very common in academia. From undergraduate to professor, many of the most respected academics wake up convinced they are not worthy of their position and are faking it. This workshop explores why people feel Imposter Phenomenon and will discuss different strategies to overcome it.

Staying Well during your PhD (Access through SkillsForge PGR358)

Undertaking a PhD is both an exciting and challenging experience. It can be an emotional roller-coaster. The excitement of working on something you care about, exploring new ideas and making a contribution to knowledge. The challenges of feeling isolated and overwhelmed, dealing with setbacks, uncertainty, conflict and loss of motivation. Inevitably over the course of your PhD you will experience times when things aren’t going so well. This workshop draws on evidence-based strategies to help YOU stay well during your PhD.

The Imposter Syndrome (Access through SkillsForge PGR297)

We will explore what imposter syndrome is, who it affects and why it affects them. We will argue that if seen from a new perspective it becomes a strength and we will provide some top tips for managing the anxiety often associated with it.

Time Management for Part-Time PhD students: Time Management Tools (Access through SkillsForge PGR327)

This workshop explores different time management tools and techniques and how they could be applied to your work as a part-time PhD student. It is a session that involves contributions and ideas from the facilitator and participants.

Time Management for Part-Time PhD students: Values, priorities, and barriers to progress (Access through SkillsForge PGR325)

This workshop will be a reflective session designed to remind you of your priorities and values, identifying barriers to progress and how to work around these. It will help you remember why you are doing the PhD and how this aligns with your life goals, as well as helping you to identify the right things to be doing at this stage of your PhD journey.

Understanding and Managing the Stresses of a Doctorate (Access through SkillsForge PGR282)

Through open group discussion, this participatory workshop will address issues that contribute to the emotional challenge of doing a PhD. You will explore common causes of stress during a PhD whilst learning how to support your wellbeing, develop resilience, improve motivation and focus, enhancing your wellbeing and productivity.

UNIque – For University Women

Step back to understand your career options in and out of the university sector. Explore what is important to you so decisions are based on your values. Get clear no-nonsense advice to help you get that next position. Learn tools to help you set goals and realise them. A blended programme for early career university researchers.

To find out more about our on-demand platforms and how to access them, see how to access our courses. 

PGR Core Library

There are various e-courses and resources in the PGR Core Library in KEATS that can help you manage your doctoral project effectively while looking after yourself. Highlights include:

• Planning and Managing Your PhD as a Project (Access through KEATS, King's log in credentials required).

Teaches you to use project management tools in planning your research project.

• Organising Your Time (Access through KEATS, King's log in credentials required).

Identifies tools and techniques that help you manage your time effectively. Wellbeing Toolkit for PGR Students: Consisting of 6 one-hour units, this course introduces two key themes of wellbeing: self-care and management, and working with others.

• Mental health training for PGR students and supervisors (Access through KEATS, King's log in credentials required).

A short exploration of the fundamentals of mental health for PGR students and helps to identify and address mental health needs within the supervisory relationship.

• The Wellbeing Thesis (External website)

An external online resource for postgraduate researchers to support wellbeing, learning and research.

LinkedIn Learning

• Time Management Weekly Tips (External website)

This series provides actionable time management advice in just a few short minutes, covering techniques on a wide variety of topics, designed to help people better manage their time and ultimately become more productive.

Counselling & Mental Health Support

King's Counselling offers free and confidential support with a wide range of personal, emotional and mental health issues, through counselling, groups, workshops, peer-to-peer support, and more. 

UNIque - for university women

Discover our online programme for early career researchers. Find out more on our King's UNIque webpage. 

Postgraduate Research Student Wellbeing Communities Fund

Do you have an idea for an initiative that promotes PGR student wellbeing, diversity and inclusion, or community and cohort-building? Would you like up to £700 to get your project off the ground? Read more about the Postgraduate Research Student Wellbeing Communities Fund on our internal King's webpage (King's log in credentials required).

Student Services

Student Services offer support to all students. Find out more about the support available to King's students on our Student Services webpages.

Postgraduate Research Wellbeing Hub

Postgraduate Research Wellbeing Hub offers wellbeing services, resources and toolkits for PGRs, supervisors and staff who support PGRs. Sign in using your King's log in credentials to the Postgraduate Research Wellbeing Hub SharePoint site using your King's ID and password.

King's Student Union (KCLSU) Wellbeing Hub

Boost your wellbeing and thrive with events, activities and resources via the KCLSU Wellbeing Hub.

Counselling & Mental Health Support

King's Counselling offers free and confidential support with a wide range of personal, emotional and mental health issues, through counselling, groups, workshops, peer-to-peer support, and more. Visit our King's Counselling & Mental Health Support webpages to find out more.

Togetherall

Togetherall is an external online platform is a safe and anonymous space you can go to if you’re feeling down, struggling to cope, or just want to talk to people who understand what you’re going through. Registration is free and completely confidential. Find out more by visiting the Togetherall website.