Postgraduate Research Festival

 

A celebration of postgraduate research at the University of Birmingham. 

 The University Graduate School and the UGS Scholars, current postgraduate research students, work together every year to bring the Postgraduate Research Festival to life.  

This is the biggest celebration of postgraduate research at the University of Birmingham, giving postgraduates from different disciplines the opportunity to share their work with the wider University and beyond. The Festival includes a packed programme with events open to postgraduate researchers (PGR), postgraduate taught students (PGTs), staff, and partners of the University interested in postgraduate research (a particular welcome to PGTs and UGs applying for/considering PG studies!)

The 2025 Postgraduate Research Festival will be taking place in June 2025, as part of UoB Xtra. This page refers to the 2024 Festival but should give you an idea of what you can expect in 2025. 

For 2024, our Festival theme is Collaboration and Connection, exploring the ways in which postgraduate research can be a collaboration with external organisations, cultural institutions, communities, in interdisciplinary projects, in open research, and as colleagues and co-authors.

The Festival also includes the annual Research Poster Competition, which is open to all postgraduate researchers (full-time, part-time, distance) who are currently registered at the University of Birmingham. PGRs can enter the Research Poster Competition in-person and online, with both judges's and public awards up for grabs.

 How to Get Involved: Postgraduate Students

Postgraduate research students can get involved with the Research Festival in a number of ways. You can enter a poster in the annual Research Poster Competition, attend workshops on Open Research and public engagement, listen to the advice of leading academics in our Keynote Speeches, explore collaborative PGR projects in our Collaboration Quarter, hear from Early Career Researchers on their post-PhD projects, and network with your PGR community!

Postgraduate taught students can join workshops on getting started with your Masters Dissertation, hear about the PhD application process and what it's like to do a PhD, explore how public engagement might be for you, and enjoy interesting and inspiring talks from academics. If you're heading into or thinking about PhD study, it's a fantastic way to broaden your understanding of your field and meet other budding researchers, or a way to meet other PGTs and feed your curiosity.

All UoB postgraduates are also invited to join us for UGS Discussions, an event designed to get you talking with your postgraduate community about a range of topical issues, and the Festival's programme of postgraduate exhibitions - vote for your favourite PGR Research Poster or PGT Gallery entry!

Explore the full Festival Programme here.

 

 How to Get Involved: Undergraduate Students

If you're an undergraduate student interested in postgraduate study, or passionate about the cutting-edge research being done in your subject, why not join us for the Postgraduate Research Festival! It's a fantastic opportunity to find out more about postgraduate study, hear fantastic talks from a range of academics, and explore the work being done by postgraduates.

 Join us in the Teaching and Learning Building, 18 & 19 June 2024.

 How to Get Involved: Staff

Staff are warmly invited to attend the Festival to support our postgraduate community and learn more about their exciting work. Any help you can give us in sharing news and information about the Festival with students would also be greatly appreciated!

Staff can join our range of Keynote talks from leadings academics, and cast their vote in our People's Choice Awards for the PGR Research Poster Competition and the PGT Gallery.
 
Join us in the Teaching and Learning Building, 18 & 19 June 2024.

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