The PGR Career Development Programme is a comprehensive suite of support to help you explore your options, build useful skills and experience, and feel confident about your next steps, whether that’s within academia or beyond. You’ll find support to understand what you want from your career, build your CV, and put yourself in a strong position for whatever comes next.
The programme combines workshops, training, and opportunities offered by a range of departments across the University, including Careers Network, Educational Development, the Research Skills Team, and others.
As well as the tailored support on offer through this programme, as a PGR you also have access to Careers Network's wider postgraduate events programme as well as the general Careers Network events offering open to students of all levels. This includes events giving insights into specific sectors, opportunities to meet employers on campus, and more.
On this page you can find information on the following - click on the link to jump to that section:
Online careers resources for PGRs
We have a number of online resources available to help you with your career planning and development. These include:
- Our Careers Network for postgraduate researchers web pages, where you can find a range of information and resources to help you explore careers within and beyond academia.
- Two PGR Careers Canvas courses:
- PGR Careers Beyond Academia Canvas course: an online resource that you can work through in your own time which talks you through the process of preparing for, researching, and applying for careers beyond academia. The 'Panopto' section of the course also contains recordings of all sessions in our PGR Careers Beyond Academia webinar series.
- PGR Careers in Academia Canvas course: a bank of resources to help you understand the landscape of academic careers and prepare for academic job applications and interviews. The 'Panopto' section of the course also contains recordings of all sessions in our PGR Careers in Academia webinar series.
Year 1 'orientation'
This part of the programme is designed to support doctoral researchers early on in their PhD. It introduces the career development support available to you at the University and encourages early reflection on how your PhD fits into your wider goals. These sessions are particularly useful if you are new to doctoral study and want to be intentional about shaping your PhD experience from the outset.
- Careers Support for PGRs: An Introduction (next running October 2026)
- Design your PhD: a ‘Life Design’ programme to help you get the most out of your PhD experience and set yourself up for success (TBC)
- Further sessions TBC
Career essentials
These sessions focus on core career skills that are valuable regardless of your eventual career direction. They help you reflect on what you want from life after your PhD, understand how recruitment works, and develop confidence in job searching and recruitment processes. This section is useful for PGRs at any stage who want a strong foundation for future career decisions.
If an event you are interested in isn't due to run soon, you can find recordings of all sessions in the 'Panopto' section of our PGR Careers Beyond Academia Canvas course.
Careers beyond academia
This section outlines support that provides practical guidance on researching what options could be out there for you beyond academia, translating your PhD experience into non-academic applications, and preparing for recruitment processes for jobs in sectors beyond academia.
If an event you are interested in isn't due to run soon, you can find recordings of many of these sessions in the 'Panopto' section of our PGR Careers Beyond Academia Canvas course.
- PGR Careers Beyond Academia: How to Research Your Options (next running October 2026)
- Making Job Applications Beyond Academia: CV & Cover Letter Tips for PGRs (next running November 2026)
- Promoting your Postgrad Skills in Online Applications (next running November 2026)
- Interview Skills: Top Tips for Postgrads (next running December 2026)
- Discover 'Academic Adjacent' and 'Alt-Ac' Careers: Panel Event (next running TBC)
- Careers Beyond Academia Day for STEM PGRs & ECRs (next running 23 June 2026)
- Sector-specific events from Careers Network
Support with academic careers
Training in this section focuses on careers within academia, including understanding the UK academic landscape, how to prepare competitive applications, and how to build your academic profile during your PhD. It is most useful for PGRs considering an academic career or wanting to better understand how the system operates.
If an event you are interested in isn't due to run soon, you can find recordings of many of these sessions in the 'Panopto' section of our PGR Careers In Academia Canvas course.
Academic careers
- Writing Academic Job Applications: Tips Tutorial (next running May 2026)
- Preparing for Academic Interviews: Tips and Techniques (next running May 2026)
- Building Your Academic Profile During Your PhD: Training & Development Showcase (next running May 2026)
- Preparing postdoc funding & fellowship applications for PGRs (next running June 2026)
- Academia in the UK - The Bigger Picture (next running 2027)
- 'In the Business of Ideas': Using Entrepreneurial Thinking to Stand Out in Academia (next running 2027)
- Demystifying Postdoctoral Academia for PGRs from Ethnically Minoritised Backgrounds (next course TBC)
Developing your teaching
Training in this sub-section is run by the University's Educational Development Team. This section supports doctoral researchers who teach, or who would like to develop teaching experience during their PhD. It includes training in learning and teaching, and routes to professional recognition. It is particularly relevant for PGRs with current or planned teaching responsibilities, or those considering teaching-focused academic roles.
Developing your research profile
Training in this sub-section is run by the University's Research Skills team. It focuses on helping you build visibility, credibility, and confidence as a researcher. These opportunities are useful for all PGRs who want to strengthen their research identity, whether for academic or non-academic careers.
- Influential Researcher: a suite of training and resources from the Research Skills team in Library Services to help you develop your profile as a researcher, including:
Tailored support for international students
This section provides careers support specifically for international doctoral researchers. It covers UK work experience, visas and sponsorship, job applications, and planning for careers in the UK or globally. It is designed to help international PGRs navigate the additional complexities of the UK labour market and make informed career decisions.
PGRs also have access to all of the wider Careers Network support for international students, including recordings of past events.
Tailored support for experienced PGRs (e.g. mid-career)
This section brings together designed for doctoral researchers who bring significant professional experience into their PhD, including mid-career and returning professionals. It focuses on navigating career transitions, understanding experienced-hire recruitment, and taking a strategic, long-term approach to career development. These sessions are particularly useful if you are changing direction, aiming for promotion, or planning your next move beyond your first post-PhD role.
Enterprise and innovation
Support in this section supports doctoral researchers interested in entrepreneurship, innovation, and commercialising research. It includes opportunities to develop business ideas, take part in competitions, and access specialist enterprise support. It is particularly useful for PGRs curious about startups, spin-outs, or applying entrepreneurial thinking to their careers.
Gain experience and build your network
This section highlights opportunities to gain practical experience, develop professional networks, and enhance your employability alongside your PhD. These opportunities are valuable for PGRs who want to broaden their experience and make strong connections beyond their immediate research environment.
- Careers Network Mentoring Scheme: offers you access to one-to-one advice from an experienced professional working in a sector of your interest.
- Postgraduate Work Experience Bursary: designed to support current postgraduate students to take part in unpaid or low-paid UK-based work experience or similar opportunities that will contribute to your career development, including internships, work shadowing, volunteering, and presenting at conferences.
- The Birmingham Award: The University of Birmingham's free skills award gives a chance to enhance your personal and professional development, showcase your skills and gain recognition.