PhD workshops

UCD Graduate Studies invites all incoming graduate students on a research programme (i.e Doctoral, MD and Research Master’s degree programmes) to attend our graduate orientation programme on Wednesday, 4th February 2026 from 10:00- 12:00 in room SCIH 1.49 in the (opens in a new window)UCD O'Brien Centre of Science - Hub. Tea/coffee will be served from 9:30am, light lunch at 12 noon.

This event is intended to give research students a helpful overview of key information and supports at UCD as well as an opportunity for you to meet other incoming research students from across the University.

Register for the event

With Hugh Kearns. Hugh is an internationally recognised public speaker, educator and researcher. He regularly lectures at leading universities across the world. He is a co-director of (opens in a new window)iThinkWell which takes the latest research in psychology and education and applies it to high-performing people and groups. He is based in Adelaide, Australia and researches at Flinders University.

Getting your thesis finished (quicker!)

This course will teach you how to maximise your writing output and how to overcome common obstacles that reduce your writing productivity by:

• setting a goal and guaranteeing you achieve it
• producing double the number of words compared to your usual output
• get more written in two hours a day than in eight
• dealing with writer's block and procrastination
• not obsessing over the quality of writing
• not letting distractions get in the way of your writing
• not thinking your writing or research is good enough
• working well with your supervisor to improve your writing
• actually finishing your research on the date you set!

With the Dean of Graduate Studies Prof Emma Sokell and Assoc Prof Amber Cushing, Vice Principal of Graduate Studies and Postdoctoral Career Development College of Social Sciences and Law.

The Stage Transfer Assessment is a pivotal point in the PhD at UCD, which allows students to take a moment and consider the progress they have made to date and the trajectory of the research activity going forward. Research students present their progress and planning to a Transfer Assessment Panel (TAP) who determine if the research is on track and if the student’s progress is in line with expected norms. The TAP can recommend a number of outcomes to this important, examination process. This workshop highlights the key stages, requirements and possible outcomes of the Transfer Assessment at UCD.

Room: L1.17 – LEA UCD O’Connor Centre for Learning

With Hugh Kearns. Hugh is an internationally recognised public speaker, educator and researcher. He regularly lectures at leading universities across the world. He is a co-director of (opens in a new window)iThinkWell which takes the latest research in psychology and education and applies it to high-performing people and groups. He is based in Adelaide, Australia and researches at Flinders University.

A PhD is a major undertaking yet many people spend more time planning a weekend away than they do planning the next four years of their life. This generally leads to missing deadlines, running overtime, regular crises and lots of stress. If you want to finish on time and enjoy the process along the way then it is important to have a good plan.

You need some very specific skills and tools to plan a PhD. This workshop will introduce you to the PhD Planning Toolkit. You will learn how to use these tools to:

• create your big picture thesis plan
• unpack your thesis down into logical parts
• create tasks lists for each stage of your thesis
• estimate times and schedule tasks
• create a Gantt chart for your thesis
• keep on track as you implement your plan
• plan your writing
• manage the finances
• identify risks and deal with setbacks

At the end of the workshop you will have your own PhD Planning Toolkit and know how to use it to plan your PhD.

With Hugh Kearns. Hugh is an internationally recognised public speaker, educator and researcher. He regularly lectures at leading universities across the world. He is a co-director of (opens in a new window)iThinkWell which takes the latest research in psychology and education and applies it to high-performing people and groups. He is based in Adelaide, Australia and researches at Flinders University.

Why successful people often feel like frauds

How can it be that so many clever, competent and capable people can feel that they are just one step away from being exposed as a complete fraud? Despite evidence that they are performing well they can still have that lurking fear that at any moment someone is going to tap them on the shoulder and say "We need to have a chat".

The session will explain why high performing people often doubt their abilities and find it hard to enjoy their successes. It will also show the links to perfectionism and self-handicapping strategies such as procrastination, avoidance and overcommitment.

At the end of this session you will:

• know what the latest psychological research tells us about the impostor syndrome is and how it operates
• realise how widespread imposter feelings are and why highly successful people can feel like frauds
• be aware of evidence-based strategies that reduce impostor feelings

With the Dean of Graduate Studies Prof Emma Sokell

The final examination of your PhD takes place at the viva voce or oral defence. This examination focuses on the quality of the research undertaken, whether this research is original and contributes to the body of work and whether you can demonstrate a broad expertise in your specific field of study. This workshop focuses on what to expect and how to prepare for each stage of the process, including what common questions normally arise from examiners, what the outcomes of the viva can be and the examination process in UCD.

Room: LG.04 – LEA UCD O’Connor Centre for Learning

The UCD Writing Centre provides free, one-to-one tuition and a range of workshops on all aspects of the writing process for UCD students. The Centre runs specific supports for research students.

Suitable for all stages

The UCD Library offers a plethora of supports to help students become accomplished researchers. The Library has developed a bespoke suite of workshops for research students called theResearch Toolkit, covering topics such as:

• finding and using information
• your digital identity as a researcher
• promoting your research
• publishing with impact
• data management planning
• searching for systemic reviews 
• GIS
• mapping and timeline tools for visualising your research

Suitable for all stages

UCD has a dedicated Careers Consultant for Graduate Research Students. This position is currently occupied by Tara Hughes ((opens in a new window)tara.hughes@ucd.ie). Tara offers one-on-one consultations and a suite of career-focused workshops across the academic year, which support research students in identifying their career path, their strengths and skill sets as well as tools and tips for enhancing CVs and interview skills. These workshops are advertised on the Career’s Network and Graduate Studies Website. Tara can be contacted directly for one-on-one careers sessions.

Suitable for all stages

(opens in a new window)Book here

23 Things International is a unique global collaboration of research universities in the northern and southern hemispheres. This online programme introduces researchers to powerful online research tools for all disciplines, has targeted blogs, podcasts and pods, where research students from around the world can get to know each other by working through the activities. 23 Things opens for registration in February each year.

Suitable for all stages

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