Research degrees
Support for research students
Find out about training, services and opportunities we offer our postgraduate researchers.
We provide support and skills development for our research community throughout your studies.
As a York St John University postgraduate research student you will get access to a range of support services and development opportunities. These include:
Postgraduate Research Skills Programme
At York St John, you will have access to our Postgraduate Research Skills Programme. This programme covers skills and development for your whole research journey. It includes advice on project planning, publishing, seeking funding, and presenting research.
You can also take part in our writing retreat, and PhD candidates can join teacher training programmes and may be able to get involved in teaching at the University.
Graduate Centre
Our John Brindley Graduate Centre is home to a community of active researchers. It is a social hub where you can interact with fellow researchers across all subject areas. This is a great way for you to learn from each other's experiences. Our Graduate Centre has:
- Flexible workspace and lockable storage
- Internet access
- Access to general research and reference 'bench books'
- A break-out room and kitchenette
We also offer a Virtual Graduate Centre on Moodle, and a Microsoft Teams site for information and chatting to your peers.
Conferences and events
As a postgraduate researcher, you will get free attendance at our annual research conferences. Each of our academic schools hosts an annual postgraduate research flagship event to showcase the work postgraduate researchers are doing within their disciplines. You will get the chance to present your own research as part of the event.
We work to ensure that we share our research beyond the research community, and support public engagement with research through lecture series such as the Ebor Lectures. You will be able to attend public lectures hosted by the University, and you may be able to get involved in these lectures.
We also take part in the York Festival of Ideas and offer funding for public events. These events range from colloquia on Caribbean food to storytelling groups for young people.
Funding and financial support
As a postgraduate researcher or graduate teaching assistant, you can access some financial support for your research. You can use this for specific research related activity.
Our Postgraduate Researcher Project Fund allows doctoral researchers to apply for funding. Full-time postgraduate researchers will get £500 for the financial year. Part-time postgraduate researchers will get £250 for the financial year. This funding is for use on fieldwork, specialist equipment, technical training, participant incentives, and other activities.
Our Conference, Exhibition and Performance Fund enables you to apply once per academic year for up to £1000 towards presenting at an in-person conference, exhibition or performance, or up to £250 for an online conference.
Library and support services
We run a dedicated induction programme for postgraduate researchers when you join York St John. Our Research Office team provide guidance to postgraduate researchers throughout your time with us.
Our Library and Learning Services team also provide support for our research community, at all stages of the research cycle. They offer resources and advice, and help you to share your research in line with University policies.
The Fountains Learning Centre provides library services for postgraduate researchers. To help support our postgraduate researchers we offer access to databases and online resources, experienced subject librarians, inter-library loans, and researcher level membership to SCONUL Access.
Alongside York St John services, you will also have access to research networks and opportunities to work in research groups, for example, the International Centre for Community Music (ICCM) and the Institute for Social Justice (ISJ).
Postgraduate Research School
The Postgraduate Research School offers comprehensive support and direction to postgraduate researchers from the start to the completion of their research degree.
We plan to grow our postgraduate research community over the next few years. To read about how we will grow and increase our support, download our commitment plan.
Download: Our Commitment to Postgraduate Research (PDF, 1.7MB)