Weekly Update

As part of our ongoing campaign to mitigate the impact of the cost-of-living crisis, SU have partnered with the University to offer free breakfasts to Queen’s students on the following days:

• Tuesday 28 January
• Wednesday 29 January
• Thursday 30 January
• Tuesday 4 February
• Wednesday 5 February
• Thursday 6 February

They’ll also be handing out cosy items to keep you warm this winter, thanks to the Queen’s Annual Fund and EPS Wellbeing. Giveaways will include thermal socks, thermal gloves, reusable handwarmers, fleece blankets, hot water bottles and neck warmers.

There will be a selection of breakfast items available including granola pots, pastries, a range of fruits, yoghurts, and more!

Breakfast will be served 8am – 11am or until they run out.

*Presentation of a valid QUB Student Card will be required. 

The completion of this survey will take approximately 10-15 minutes, and your responses will remain anonymous.

By completing the survey, you will have a chance of winning one of forty £25 gift vouchers in the prize draw.

Check out the survey, here.

Further information on the research is provided prior to starting the survey and you will be asked to provide your online consent to take part. If you have any questions, please get in touch via email to: myavuz02@qub.ac.uk

Do you have diagnosed or self-diagnosed ADHD?

Do you identify as a cisgender woman, non-binary or transgender person?

Fill out this microsoft form to participate in cutting edge research exploring the role of gender within ADHD presentations.

To participate you must be 18+ and able to participate with a close friend present to discuss your experiences with friendship.

Training sessions are delivered via a virtual classroom, many on weekday evenings between 7pm-9pm, but with some additional daytime sessions.

The series is organised and administered by Dr Simon Watts (simon.d.watts@uea.ac.uk), PGR Training Coordinator for the Faculty of Social Sciences at UEA, who also teaches Modules 1 to 4. Module 5 is taught by Dr Kimberley Bartholomew from the School of Education at UEA.

The training has been organised into five modules, each focused on a specific area/topic. Students don’t have to attend a whole module, however, and are free to sign up to individual sessions. The modules and individual sessions for 2024/25 are as follows:

Module 1:

Academic Writing

(1) What Should a Literature Review Do?

(2) Writing Effectively

(3) Academic Publishing

(4) Writing & Structuring an

Effective Thesis

Module 2:

Qualitative Research Skills

(1) A Comparison of Qualitative Methods

(2) Qualitative Interviewing

(3) Analysing Qualitative Data

(4) Using NVivo for Qualitative Research

Module 3:

Finishing your PhD

(1) Preparing for your Viva

(2) Securing a First Academic Post

(3) Preparing Impactful Research Proposals & Grant Applications

(4) Conference Presentations

Module 4:

Teaching Skills

(1) Preparing & Delivering Seminars

(2) Preparing & Delivering Lectures

(3) Assessment, Feedback,

& Module Design

Module 5:

Quantitative Research Skills

(1) Quantitative Research: A Basic Guide

(2) An Introduction to Scale Development

(3) An Introduction to Structural Equation Modelling

Booking

The training series uses an automated booking system called ‘Bookwhen’. The landing page on this site provides information about how to book, waiting lists, the possible addition of extra sessions, how to access and set up the Electa-Live virtual classroom software, which is used to host the sessions, and how to cancel a booking should that become necessary.

Please visit the booking website and read all the information provided. If you have any problems, you want to ask a question, or there is anything you don’t understand, please feel free to e-mail simon.d.watts@uea.ac.uk and/or ssf.advancedtraining@uea.ac.uk and they will do their best to help.

The value of a DAERA postgraduate studentship

A full DAERA award includes the cost of approved fees as well as maintenance support. In academic year 2024/ 25 the maintenance allowance for a research studentship is £19,237. Allowances for 2025 are to be confirmed. 

DAERA pay fees directly to your university. Other expenses which may be covered are:

• conference expenses if you are presenting your research
• Research Training Support Grant – paid by DAERA to your study centre
• overseas fieldwork – DAERA may contribute to costs where it is essential to your research programme

These awards are not affected by your parent’s income or your current income, but if you are receiving similar support from industry or a university, you may not be eligible for a studentship. 

For more information, check their website.

or apply for a DAERA postgraduate studentship at:

• Application for DAERA Postgraduate Studentship 2025(external link opens in a new window / tab)

Through a large team of freelance Support Providers, The Register of Support Providers at Queen’s supports disabled students across a number of different roles.

The Register is currently seeking to engage additional Support Providers for the new academic year across a number of different support roles including as Campus Assistants, Academic Mental Health Tutors, Note Takers and exam assistants to support students with disabilities / long-term conditions across the University. 

The Register is particularly keen to engage STEM subject Note Takers (£15 per hour) capable of taking notes in subject areas such as Computer Science, Engineering (all strands - Electrical, Civil, Chemical, Aerospace), Maths, Physics, Chemistry, Biology, Medicine, Dentistry, Pharmacy, Nursing etc .  Individuals will also be required for Specialist Campus Assistant roles (£17 per hour) to support students in practical / laboratory settings and with using particular statistical packages such as SPSS etc.

Further information about the Note Taker and other support roles may be found on the main Queen's website.

If you would be interested in joining the freelance team (interviews anticipated August / September), please complete / return the following Expression of Interest form as soon as possible to supportprovider@qub.ac.uk

As you will be working on a freelance / self-employed basis (ie not paid via QWork), there are no restrictions in relation to the number of hours worked per week.  Unfortunately however, if you are residing in the UK on a student visa (previously Tier 4 student visa), you cannot work on a self-employed basis so we would not be able to progress your Expression of Interest on that premise.

If you have any queries at all (about the type of work involved, nature of engagement, payments etc) please contact Kirsti, Disability Support Manager at k.alexander@qub.ac.uk

You can find the current list of available roles here.

This year the Canadian Centennial Scholarship Fund (CCSF) award competition ha opened for submissions from all Canadian students pursuing full-time, multi-year postgraduate programmes in any field of study in the United Kingdom and will be entering their second year of study in the academic year 2025-26.

Further information and details on how to apply may be obtained from the CCSF website and 
eligibility requirements & FAQ.

A symposium you're keen to curate, or a cultural celebration that would bring the postgraduate community together?

Then you should apply to host a Postgraduate-Led Initiative and receive up to £400 funding from the Thomas J. Moran Graduate School.

You'll gain experience in project management, working with budgets, and showcase your leadership skills when you successfully carry out your own Postgraduate-Led Initiative.

And you can apply for your own Postgraduate Led Initiative here.

You might like the idea of befriending an older person; campaigning on humanitarian issues; fundraising for a local charity or getting involved in conservation in urban areas, whatever you’re passionate about we will be able to find the perfect volunteering opportunity for you.

If you know you want to do something but you’re not quite sure what, never fear, we will be able to provide you with a range of volunteering options and just know something will spark your interest!

Discover more on the Student Union website.

Thomas J Moran Moran was a renowned businessman and humanitarian who acted as Chancellor of Queen’s University Belfast until his death on August 19 2018.

Mr Moran was formally inaugurated as Chancellor of Queen’s on Thursday 2 July, 2015. At a special installation ceremony in the Great Hall, the Vice-Chancellor, the late Professor Patrick Johnston, referred to him as “someone who shares our passion for education” who “recognises the transformative effect it has on the world around us.” It is for these same reasons that he is a fitting person to be honoured in the official name of The Graduate School. Read more about him here.