Writing is a fundamental part of the doctoral journey, yet it often presents emotional, motivational and structural challenges. This practical workshop explores how research supervisors can provide clear, constructive and supportive feedback that enhances doctoral researchers’ writing development and confidence. It encourages supervisors to reflect on their current practices and explore evidence-informed strategies and tools that support both clarity and independence.

The peer mentoring group is for emerging supervisors who are just starting out with supervision or have not yet supervised many students to completion, especially those at 'pockets of excellence' universities that are typically less resourced. Meetings are facilitated by Jemina Napier, with discussion topics peer-led and co-created by the group. Sessions provide a structured space to reflect critically on your experiences, share challenges and successes, and explore the “hidden curriculum” of supervision — the implicit norms, expectations and power dynamics that shape doctoral supervision beyond formal guidelines — building a community of practice among supervisors of SGSSS-funded students.

Supervising doctoral researchers is a rewarding but complex responsibility that requires a balance of academic guidance, pastoral support and professional development. This interactive session explores the core principles of effective PhD supervision, drawing on best practice and current research. Whether you’re new to supervision or looking to enhance your practice, it offers practical tools and peer insights to support a positive and productive supervisory experience. It builds on last year’s session delivered by Jemina, but you don’t need to have attended that one to take part.

Writing is a fundamental part of the doctoral journey, yet it often presents emotional, motivational and structural challenges. This practical workshop helps research supervisors reflect on how they support doctoral candidates with writing. It encourages peer learning among supervisors and introduces a practical framework for analysing writing issues and developing effective support strategies.

Creative practice research occupies a contested space in academia: often sought out as a novel and engaging route to engagement and impact, but also questioned for its rigour and subjectivity. This session explores the scope and formats of creative research practices, focusing especially on the problems that arise when different knowledge domains attempt trans-, multi- or interdisciplinary projects. It suits supervisors considering creative practice methodologies, whether as an additional method within a more ‘traditional’ PhD or as the central thrust of knowledge generation, and asks when and how creative research practice can be used effectively, and when it is less useful.

This session explores what makes international doctoral journeys distinct, the challenges facing this group, and ways of optimising their unique journeys. Drawing on ongoing work on the hidden curriculum in doctoral education, it highlights practical examples of how supervisors can enrich, even transform, the experience of the doctoral scholars they supervise — international and domestic alike.

This session emphasises the benefits of working with disabled PGRs and highlights ways supervisors can help reduce and challenge institutional barriers. Drawing on data from the presenters’ own and sector-wide research, it outlines systemic barriers that cause exclusion and offers guidance on workarounds from their own experience. Participants are encouraged to discuss and share supportive supervision practices.

This session brings supervisors and students together to explore how to use generative AI responsibly in writing a PhD thesis — reflecting on the pros and cons, and the challenges for both supervisors and students.

The peer mentoring group is for emerging supervisors who are just starting out with supervision or have not yet supervised many students to completion, especially those at 'pockets of excellence' universities that are typically less resourced. Meetings are facilitated by Jemina Napier, with discussion topics peer-led and co-created by the group. Sessions provide a structured space to reflect critically on your experiences, share challenges and successes, and explore the “hidden curriculum” of supervision — the implicit norms, expectations and power dynamics that shape doctoral supervision beyond formal guidelines — building a community of practice among supervisors of SGSSS-funded students.

A session on how supervisors can support PGRs’ mental health. Full details to follow.

A panel session on how supervisors can guide PGRs towards professional development opportunities and careers beyond the PhD. Date, time and full details will be confirmed in November 2026.

This interactive session invites supervisors to examine and refresh their supervisory practices and approaches. Through plenary discussion and small-group activities, participants will reflect on the current challenges facing PGRs and supervisors, explore what a coaching approach looks like in doctoral supervision and why it matters, and gain an understanding of the benefits of active listening in supervision.

This session fosters reflective practice in supervising and supporting PGRs from working-class backgrounds. It addresses how social class can shape the PGR experience, covering confidence, imposter syndrome, negotiating academic norms, supervisory communication, and peer networks and support. Led by colleagues from working-class backgrounds, it draws on their experiences as both PhD students and supervisors to reflect on effective approaches and support.

The peer mentoring group is for emerging supervisors who are just starting out with supervision or have not yet supervised many students to completion, especially those at 'pockets of excellence' universities that are typically less resourced. Meetings are facilitated by Jemina Napier, with discussion topics peer-led and co-created by the group. Sessions provide a structured space to reflect critically on your experiences, share challenges and successes, and explore the “hidden curriculum” of supervision — the implicit norms, expectations and power dynamics that shape doctoral supervision beyond formal guidelines — building a community of practice among supervisors of SGSSS-funded students.

The expectations and lifecycle of a typical social science PhD have changed significantly in recent years. This session traces the contemporary social sciences doctoral lifecycle, surfaces common ‘pinch points’, and discusses approaches and practical supervision strategies for supporting PGRs through these challenging periods.

This session brings supervisors and students together to explore how supervisors can support students to engage in ethically responsible PhD research that goes beyond the procedure of applying for institutional ethical approval. Drawing on research on the topic, participants will apply reflective and critical thinking to their own ethical approach in their research and supervisory practice.

Research on sensitive topics can take a toll on researchers, and the growing emphasis on impact and engagement with people with lived experience means many now work in environments they would not historically have encountered. While recommendations exist for supporting researchers doing emotionally demanding research, provision for PGR students remains limited. This session is a chance for supervisors to reflect together on the challenges of supervising PGRs who work with emotionally demanding material. The presenters will share insights from years of undertaking and supervising such research, discuss case examples, and offer tips and strategies drawn from facilitating reflective practice groups for PGR supervisors.

The peer mentoring group is for emerging supervisors who are just starting out with supervision or have not yet supervised many students to completion, especially those at 'pockets of excellence' universities that are typically less resourced. Meetings are facilitated by Jemina Napier, with discussion topics peer-led and co-created by the group. Sessions provide a structured space to reflect critically on your experiences, share challenges and successes, and explore the “hidden curriculum” of supervision — the implicit norms, expectations and power dynamics that shape doctoral supervision beyond formal guidelines — building a community of practice among supervisors of SGSSS-funded students.

This session explores how supervisors can support doctoral researchers as they prepare for life beyond the PhD. Through practical examples and reflective discussion, participants will consider career conversations, professional development, and the opportunities and challenges of different post-PhD pathways, with approaches for building confidence, recognising individual aspirations and offering constructive, timely support throughout the doctoral journey.

A session on building inclusive supervisory relationships with PGRs from diverse backgrounds.

• Recognise common experiences in supporting diverse PGRs and how they can be addressed
• Share practice on establishing relationships with diverse PGRs
• Reflect on challenges experienced by diverse PGRs who struggle with academic writing, and how to support them