Course eligibility and registration

This course is for first-year doctoral students, especially for those in the first few months of their PhD.

Please click on the relevant course name to register. Registration is on a first-come, first-served basis. If this course is full and you are unable to register for it, there will be further course opportunities to practise speaking about your research in the coming months of your programme. When possible, this course is offered both in person on the South Kensington campus and online. The in person on campus and online courses cover identical material but are delivered via a different mode. When selecting a course, please note if it is being delivered online or on campus.

Autumn term 2023  classes 

Course overview

This is a 4-week course (90 minutes once a week) designed to guide and support doctoral students during the early months of their doctoral programme. Students will practise talking about their research area, their plans and strategies, and the setting up of their research project. They will practise explaining key concepts orally, adapting explanations and content to the knowledge base of the listener, and negotiating politely.

Course structure

• Each week there will be materials, accessed remotely, to prepare you for the scheduled live session. The remote session is not timetabled, but you are expected to spend a minimum of 30 minutes on the activities. 
• The group will then meet for a 90-minute live session in which you will have the opportunity to speak (usually in small groups), receive feedback and develop the effectiveness of your oral communication. Sessions focus on both specific tasks and key speaking skills. 
• After each session, you will be encouraged to reflect on feedback received in class (from your peers and your teacher), to build on this and to further practise in order to hone your skills. This can take a further 30 minutes.