Doctoral College

Writing

We provide a range of writing support for PGRs. Much of this is provided by colleagues from the Library and Study Skills areas. We also oversee the PGR Study Space online community, which you can join to help you focus on your writing (as well as using it to get any other tasks done).

What is the PGR Study Space?

The PGR Study Space is an online space where PGRs can work alongside one another. It is designed to support focus and motivation, while also providing an opportunity to connect with PGRs from different faculties and disciplines. The Study Space helps build a sense of community, social support, and friendship.

How can I join?

You can request to join the Teams channel here - General | PGR Study Space | Microsoft Teams. Alternatively you can email PGRStudySpace@exeter.ac.uk and ask to join.

How does it work?

Study Space sessions are run as Microsoft Teams meetings, known as the PGR Workroom. Members have access to a dedicated Teams channel where they can join the Workroom and use the chat.

  • Facilitated sessions: Scheduled sessions are led by volunteer facilitators. During these sessions, the facilitator runs a Pomodoro-style timer with structured focus periods and breaks.
  • Independent sessions: Outside of facilitated session times, the Workroom remains open and can be joined by members at any time for independent working.

What do our members say?

We asked our members: What do you think PGR members gain from joining the Study Space? They said:

“Companionship and support”

“A motivating and friendly community of other PGRs in a setting to help with some focus and accountability”

“sense of community, not feeling alone, motivation”

Who are our Facilitators?

Our Facilitators are all other PGRs from across the university, who are passionate about the PGR Study Space and volunteer their time to run facilitated sessions.

We asked our Facilitators: What do you think are the benefits of being a PGR Study Space Facilitator? They said:

“It is rewarding to be able to lead a focus session and allow for the study space to be as beneficial to other PGRs and yourself as well”

“helps with my accountability”

“good fun”

The PGR Study Space Coordinator:

The PGR Study Space is coordinated by Ellie Hepworth, a PGR in Health and Life Sciences. Throughout her research journey, Ellie has been an active participant and facilitator within the PGR Study Space. She is passionate about the value of this space in supporting productivity while fostering a strong sense of community among PGRs.

If you have any questions about the PGR Study Space, either before or after becoming a member, you can contact Ellie at PGRStudySpace@exeter.ac.uk . She will be happy to answer your questions by email or arrange a time to chat.

FAQs:

  • Which sessions are being facilitated? Members have access to a Teams channel. Within this channel, there is a Facilitator Timetable tab that shows when facilitated sessions are taking place.
  • Do I have to stay for the whole session? You’re welcome to join at any point during a session and leave whenever you need to. Many people dip in and out. We do ask that you use the chat to say “hello” when you join and “thank you” when you leave, as a way of acknowledging the facilitator and other members.
  • Do I need to sign up in advance for a session? No sign-up is required. Simply join any session whenever you would like to attend.
  • Do I have to attend a certain number of sessions? Attendance is completely flexible, and you can join as many or as few sessions as suits you.
  • Do I need to have my camera and microphone on during the session? There is no requirement to have your camera or microphone on. Most participants keep their cameras off. In facilitated sessions, the facilitator is usually the only person with their microphone on, and others communicate via the chat. If you are in a facilitated session and cannot hear the sound, it’s helpful to let the facilitator know in the chat so they can switch to communicating there if needed.
  • Do I need to be writing while in the Workroom? You can use the Workroom for any type of work you need to complete - it doesn’t have to be writing. People often share their goals or what they’re working on in the chat, and there is usually a wide variety of tasks happening at the same time.
  • Can I be a facilitator? Yes! Being a facilitator is a great opportunity to build facilitation skill, and gives you the opportunity to run group sessions at a time that suits you. If you are interested in being a PGR Study Space Facilitator, please reach out to Ellie on PGRStudySpace@exeter.ac.uk, she will be happy to tell you more about the Facilitator role.

The University of Exeter International Study Centre offer a wide range of support for our international Researchers. You can find out more about their English language skills support.

You can access the following online resources on our researcher-development.co.uk website:

You can access further online resources at our PGR Training and Development Resources SharePoint site.

Do you need help with academic writing? If so then you can book an appointment with one of the Royal Literary Fund Fellows. The Fellows are available by office appointment to help all members of the University – undergraduates and postgraduates alike – with queries and problems relating to the practical aspects of writing.

To arrange a meeting, please following the instructions on the Royal Literary Fund Fellows webpage.

You may wish to consider using a professional proof reader in advance of submitting your thesis. Before doing so, we suggest you read the Statement on the use of Proof Reading Services that accompanies the Teaching and Quality Assurance manual pages on Research Misconduct.

The University has an Academic Copy Editor Register of approved proof readers/copy editors. Please note these are fee-based services.