Conferences, events and travel for PGR

The PGR Research Event Fund provides an opportunity for NTU doctoral candidates from different academic Schools to work together to create and host research events. This could be conferences, research showcases, workshops, creative practice, discovery days or festivals.

Events could be for our NTU community, a national or international academic community, or for the general public – or all three.

The PGR Research Event Fund offers awards of £500 to teams of PGR, enabling them to host events that foster and facilitate interdisciplinary knowledge exchange. The fund can be used towards the cost of a speaker, a venue, catering, materials, travel bursaries etc.

The fund is run annually and is open to applications from teams of at least two doctoral candidates. The call for proposals each year is announced via the Doctoral School’s communications.

The Turing Scheme is hosted by the UK government and provides funding for international opportunities in education and training across the world.

For PGRs, the scheme supports four-week international traineeships that elevate and enhance individual doctoral studies by providing candidates with new experiences and opportunities for development.

Turing traineeships can’t be used to undertake a core element of a candidate’s doctoral research project (such as conference attendance or bench fees) but are designed to complement and expand their skills, knowledge, and perspective.

Before applying, you must discuss your proposed traineeship with your Director of Studies and identify a host. Potential hosts aren't limited to universities: you could apply to visit a museum, an archive, a non-profit organisation, or a corporation whose work is complementary to your field of research.

Your application should identify a clear and achievable outcome for your traineeship, one that you would be unable to achieve otherwise.

Your host organisation could be:

• a non-UK higher education provider
• any non-UK public or private organisation active in the labour market or in the fields of education and training.

Examples of a public or private organisation include:

• a public or private, small, medium, or large enterprise (including social enterprises)
• a public body at local, regional, or national level
• a social organisation, including chambers of commerce, craft/professional associations, and trade unions
• a research institute
• a foundation
• a school/institute/educational centre (at any level, from primary school to upper secondary education, and including vocational education and adult education)
• a non-profit organisation, association, non-governmental organisation.

A traineeship placement must run for a minimum of 28 days and a maximum of 4 weeks. PGRs can choose to self-fund any period beyond the 4 weeks of the traineeship grant. For example, while the Turing Scheme cannot be used to fund conference attendance, a traineeship could be organised before or after an international conference a PGR wishes to attend.

Applications open mid-October, and successful applications are allocated on a first come, first serve basis. Please read the Turing Guidance carefully, which includes details on how to apply and potential funding amounts.

If you are looking to attend a conference or a similar research or training event, you may be able to request funding to support your attendance from your academic School. If you are on a studentship you may have funding as part of your award, which is managed by your Director of Studies. To book travel or accommodation via NTU, please speak to your Director of Studies about arranging a booking for you via Diversity travel.

Your Director of Studies may be able to signpost you, but if not, you can contact your Director of Doctoral Programmes. Remember too that many academic associations offer bursaries for PGR to be able to attend conferences.

Although we don't have any central funding for candidates' travel and conference fees, the Doctoral School does have a subscription to the Alternative Guide to PGR Funding. This is a helpful resource that can help PGR to find prizes and bursaries to support conferences and travel for research.