°ÄÃÅÁùºÏ²Ê¿ª½±¼Ç¼

We are big enough to make a difference, but small enough to know our students as individuals.  Our close-knit community is made up of staff and students from all over the world who all bring their own rich perspective to our Department. 

Over the course of your PhD you'll have opportunities to communicate your work and network with other researchers. You can present seminars, speak at conferences and workshops, and visit or host researchers from elsewhere.

We have a weekly student-run PhD seminar and an annual conference, both of which provide students with the opportunity to present work-in-progress. 

All our PhD students are also welcome to attend the weekly departmental seminar, where visiting academics present world-leading research. There are also more specialist reading groups and seminars organised within our three research clusters in comparative politics, international relations and political theory.

We strongly encourage you to attend conferences and other events to widen your network of contacts. We provide assistance with arranging travel and accommodation.

As a PhD student at Reading, you'll have access to the Doctoral and Researcher College, which brings together the University's large doctoral community.

At the heart of this is Old Whiteknights House, a dedicated facility that provides space for you to work and network with other PhD students across a variety of disciplines.

The Doctoral and Researcher College coordinates a range of activities, including the annual Doctoral Research Conference, an event that showcases the variety and excellence of postgraduate research taking place at Reading.

Another event that celebrates academic excellence is the Graduate School's annual public lecture – the Fairbrother Lecture – which is delivered by a current or recent PhD student.