The PhD experience is unique for any student. It’s phenomenal and empowering as it offers you tremendous autonomy for independent research work but it can also sometimes get intimidating and challenging because of the very same reason. But, as a PhD student at LSE, you have a number of resources at your disposal not only to cope with such challenges but also to successfully overcome them while advancing your personal and professional development.
The PhD Academy
The PhD Academy is a hub for the doctoral community at LSE and it offers a dedicated private space for PhD students. This is located on the fourth floor of the LSE Library and is designed to be a productive space for PhD students to work as well as network with other students. The professional staff of the PhD Academy also have their offices here and they are your go-to resource for any admin-related queries. The PhD Academy is also the custodian of your professional development where they offer a number of training sessions, courses and workshops ranging from project management to developing resilience. Not just this, they also host regular socials, funding competitions, and guest lectures exclusively for PhD students.
LSE Library
The LSE Library is yet another fantastic resource that provides a ton of research support to PhD students including but not limited to data management services, open access publishing, copyright, research visibility, citation analysis, and secure data access. They also run training sessions and workshops for data management, data security and protection, and provide guidance and assistance with publishing your research.
Department of Methodology
LSE is one of the very few institutes in the UK that can pride itself in having a dedicated Department of Methodology that offers a host of courses providing advanced training in quantitative as well as qualitative research methods. Many of these courses are open to PhD students to help them hone the necessary skills required for a successful PhD journey. The department also runs a Methods Surgery where PhD students can drop-in for support on methodological questions and concerns.
LSE Careers
LSE Careers is an excellent platform that offers a range of services to help you get started off on transitioning into the career of your choice post your PhD. In fact, LSE has a specialist PhD careers consultant who can guide you on your career development plan during and after your PhD. There is again a menu of services to choose from that includes career discussions, practice interviews, and coaching sessions with alumni among others. LSE Careers also hosts several events through the year such as career fairs, employer and alumni panels, and several networking events.
PhD Student Exchanges
LSE offers a student exchange programme specifically designed for PhD students. This is called the PhD mobility scheme where students have the opportunity to undertake research for a few months at a partner institution. It’s an excellent opportunity to experience working in another country for a short while, and collaborate and build networks with researchers at another institution.
At LSE as a PhD student, if you are ever facing a challenge, there are many resources available to help you troubleshoot it. The above list is by no means an exhaustive one and support is available every step of the way.
