Pgr Brochure 2014

POSTGRADUATERESEARCH

UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH

OUR RESEARCHERS ARE CHANGING THE WORLD

IF YOU WANT TO MAKE A

DIFFERENCE COME AND JOIN US

As one of the largest research-intensive universities in the UK, Leeds engages in world-class research across an exceptionally diverse range of disciplines. This breadth of knowledge and expertise underpins our commitment to work with partners from all sectors, from all over the world, and ensures our research has direct economic and societal benefi ts. Undertaking a research degree is both an enormously challenging and rewarding activity. With the current global economic climate of uncertainty, and societal challenges stemming from an ageing population, environmental change and an increasingly mobile international workforce, there has never been a greater need for original, creative and innovative research. You will contribute to research that drives highly competitive, knowledge-driven economies, that transforms emerging economies and that supports diverse multicultural societies. Researchers have a key role to play here, as individuals who can really make a difference. At Leeds, our community of over 2,200 postgraduate researchers form a vital part of the Universitys vibrant research culture. For some, undertaking a PhD is the start of your academic career, whilst for others its a way of developing advanced skills and expertise, providing a gateway into industry, the professions or related fi elds. For just about all, it is a journey which will deepen your passion for your subject and explore the limits of your potential. It is a challenge, but one we are here to help you succeed in and to enjoy. This guide features some of our current and recent postgraduate researchers; read about how theyve changed and developed, and how their work is impacting upon our understanding of issues of global importance, including environmental sustainability, health services, materials science, new drug development, water management and the relationship between nutrition and behaviour. Postgraduate researchers and the staff they work with are helping Leeds move from strength to strength in research. We have continued to grow our research income in a competitive environment over 120m in 2011/12 and the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise ranked Leeds in the UKs top ten for research power. These successes have only been achieved with the tremendous dedication of all our researchers. By 2015 we will have spent 157m on new buildings and refurbishment. Recent developments include the new 4.4m, state-of-the-art home for the Institute of Communications Studies, a 12.5m Energy Research building and the 9.5m refurbishment of the Leeds Dental Institute that now gives our dental students access to some of the best facilities in the world. In March 2012 the Michael Marks Building housing the Marks & Spencer company archive of more than 60,000 items opened on the Universitys western campus, where it serves as a living resource for academic researchers. We have an award-winning childcare centre and a state-of-the-art sports facility making our campus a fantastic place to work and study. Every day our talented postgraduate researchers are working on projects which are changing the world around us. If you want to be part of a research community that will encourage and stimulate, challenge and support you, then Leeds is the place for you. We look forward to hearing from you. PROFESSOR PAUL HARRISONDEAN OF POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH STUDIES

WELCOME TO POSTGRADUATE STUDY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS

WELCOME TO LEEDS www.leeds.ac.uk 01

02 UNIVERSITY OF LEEDS POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH

Page

Why research at Leeds 4

The postgraduate research experience 7

Shape your career 10

Making a difference: Research in the real world 14

Doctoral Training Centres 18

Creating new gateways to research 20

An international University 22

World-class facilities 26

Support 29

Funding and scholarships 30

Types of research degree and how to apply 33

Research areas 34

Why youll love our city 36

Campus map 38

How to fi nd us 40

CONTENTS

LegalFor current information on courses, fees and entry requirements please visit our website at www.leeds.ac.uk/postgraduate

Whilst the University endeavours to ensure that the information contained in this brochure is accurate at the date of publication the University does not accept liability for any inaccuracies contained within it. Where circumstances change outside the reasonable control of the University, the University reserves the right to change or cancel parts of, or entire, programmes of study or services at any time without liability, even after students have registered at the University. Circumstances outside of the Universitys reasonable control include, industrial action, over or under demand from students, staff illness, lack of funding, severe weather, fi re, civil disorder, political unrest, government restrictions and concern with regard to the transmission of serious illness. The Universitys contract with its students does not confer third party benefi ts for the purposes of the Contract (Rights of Third Parties) Act 1999.

CONTENTS www.leeds.ac.uk 03

This publication covers everything about studying with us, from our research areas through to facilities and accommodation. Youll fi nd the things you need to know, such as the research happening on campus which is having real-world impact, what previous postgraduate researchers have achieved and what some of our current postgraduate researchers say about being here. We recommend that you look at our website for the latest information. www.leeds.ac.uk/postgraduate

WHY RESEARCH AT LEEDSWith enormous economic, environmental and societal challenges facing the world, there has never been a greater need for original, creative and innovative research research that drives highly competitive, knowledge-driven and emerging economies, and that supports diverse multicultural societies. In rising to this challenge, a research degree combines the acquisition of research skills and knowledge with the opportunity to develop a much wider range of attributes. This will prepare you for employment in the modern commercial or academic environment, and help you realise personal ambitions, whatever your chosen future career path.

Our ability to combine international excellence in research and sector-leading career mentoring and development means this really is a great time to be a postgraduate researcher at the University of Leeds. From the moment you decide to join us and throughout your time here, we will support you with a range of specialist services to help you make the most of your studies.

We are a member of the Russell Group, 24 leading universities in the UK, who are committed to maintaining the very best research. The Russell Group also provides an outstanding teaching and learning experience and has unrivalled links with business and the public sector. Our University is internationally recognised as a centre of excellence in a wide range of disciplines and we are known for the quality of our postgraduate teaching and research. The size and breadth of our University means that you will be surrounded by academics and other researchers to network and collaborate with. We have more than 5,000 taught postgraduate students and 2,000 postgraduate researchers. On campus you will enjoy a truly international experience with students from over 130 countries. Our size means that you will experience the benefi ts of our outstanding resources, including one of the countrys leading academic research libraries, and high-quality laboratories and computing facilities.


The University strategy gives us a framework to deliver a postgraduate research experience that attracts the worlds best students, and facilities to assist in cutting-edge research that has impact on a local and a global scale.

Whether you want to deepen your knowledge of a subject, enhance your career opportunities or take a new direction in life, the University of Leeds is the place to be. Established in 1904, we are one of the UKs largest universities, located in the heart of a vibrant, affordable and student-friendly city.

Research excellenceLeeds is one of the UKs foremost research universities, with more than 61% of our research rated as world leading or internationally excellent, with a further 32.5% of national importance, securing the University 14th place in the UK for research quality and 8th place for research power in the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise (RAE). More than half of our schools were ranked in the top 10 in the country, including Electronic and Electrical Engineering (ranked the best in the country), Italian, English, Food Science and Education, to name just a few.

The University is a member of the prestigious Russell Group of 24 research-intensive universities.

We are in the top 100 universities in the world for reputation, coming 9th place within the Russell Group (THE World Reputation Rankings 2012).

Leeds is ranked in the world top 50 in the subject areas of History, English, Education and Earth Sciences (QS World Rankings 2012).

WHY RESEARCH AT LEEDS www.leeds.ac.uk 05

PHILLIPA COANPhD IN ENVIRONMENTALLY SUSTAINABLE BEHAVIOUR IN THE WORKPLACE

Id been working as an Organisational Psychologist (OP) for a couple of years when I came across an article written by the University of Leeds discussing how OPs need to focus more on the issue of climate change. As behaviour change experts were in a strong position to help organisations contribute to this issue and in the long-term I could see how a PhD in this area could enhance my career.

My PhD investigates how to facilitate a stronger link between environmental behaviours carried out at work and at home in order to accelerate behaviour change. I looked at other universities but found the experts at Leeds. Id heard of Professor Chris Clegg, now my supervisor, before I came here. Chris has a great reputation and I knew hed be a fantastic supervisor.

Likewise my second supervisor, Dr Peter Gardner, is an expert in health technologies and behaviour change.

I knew Chris and the Socio-Technical Centre (STC), where Im based, had strong industry links and this was particularly important to me.

Coming from a consultancy background, it was imperative that my PhD has practical signifi cance and that I make as many connections with industry as possible.

I am currently working with four organisations in oil and gas, manufacturing, engineering and government. Theres also additional work set up with a large car manufacturing company who are interested in integrating my fi ndings into their environmental programme a link that I wouldnt have had, had I not been a member of the STC.

Phillipa is pictured in the Liberty building

First-class academic resources We are continually investing in our campus and facilities to make sure that you have the very best experience at the University. By 2015 we will have spent 157m on new buildings and refurbishment to provide you with a sustainable environment and the facilities you would expect from a world-class institution. The University provides a pleasant and friendly environment for research. The Universitys library is one of the largest in the country, with over three million items. Interdisciplinary links across the University provide access to state-of-the-art equipment and expertise necessary for multidisciplinary research, including modern, fully-equipped laboratories, a well-resourced Language Centre and fi rst-rate IT facilities.

Supervisor expertiseAs a research-intensive institution, integrating research with learning and teaching is at the heart of our strategy. Our world-renowned academics are continually striving for academic excellence and are actively engaged in world-leading research at the cutting edge of their discipline. When you become a postgraduate researcher at the University of Leeds, you will join our vibrant community and contribute to the creation of new knowledge as well as challenging established ideas. Many of our academics also have widespread practical experience in consultancy and act as advisors to prominent national and international organisations.

As a postgraduate researcher, you will usually be assigned two academic supervisors with specialist subject knowledge. They will provide support and encouragement, challenge your ideas, offer advice on training and development, review your progress and provide guidance and feedback on your work. This is normally one lead supervisor plus a co-supervisor (where appropriate, the co-supervisor may come from another department or from outside the University of Leeds). Supervision meetings are scheduled at regular intervals and are supported by meetings with your Postgraduate Research Tutor and/or the Director of your Graduate School.

Interdisciplinarity Interdisciplinary research is one of our great passions and strengths. At Leeds we have a strong interdisciplinary ethos, with many departments and schools collaborating within a number of research centres and clusters. These centres and clusters act as forums for the generation and development of ideas and support collaborative research, allowing researchers to freely interact across traditional subject boundaries.

Dean of Postgraduate Research StudiesThe University of Leeds recognises that the quality of postgraduate researchers is vital to the success of our research mission and strategy. The Dean of Postgraduate Research Studies specifi cally focuses on your interests and experiences, including your induction, supervision, transfer, thesis production, training and eventual graduation. Another part of the Deans role is to further develop relationships with funding bodies in order to gain a better understanding of current and future funding opportunities for you.

Graduate schools Each of our graduate schools is headed by a Director who is a senior member of our academic staff. Arrangements in each graduate school may vary to take account of the requirements of the different disciplines; however, the graduate school structure strengthens and promotes best practice in the support and monitoring of postgraduate researchers alongside providing a consistent experience for all. Graduate schools also provide opportunities for you to interact academically and socially across schools and departments through the organisation of conferences, seminars and social events.

Postgraduate Research TutorsEach school has at least one Postgraduate Research Tutor (PGRT) who reports to the Director of their Graduate School. PGRTs are responsible for the enhancement of research quality and research culture within their school, department or unit and for co-ordinating admissions, registration, the appointment of supervisors, pastoral care, recording your progress and for liaison with Research Student Administration. They also provide advice on ethical reviews and other procedures such as transfer, progress, thesis submission, training, supervision and examination.


I really enjoy working with my PhD researchers. We spend three years together pushing the boundaries of knowledge, and we develop a close working relationship. I introduce you to the network of colleagues and like-minded researchers within and beyond this vibrant research-intensive University. I help you to access the training that you need. I keep you on track but remember, this is your study, not mine. This isnt a one-sided relationship. I have lots to learn from you too. We are in this together.

Dr Gary Chambers, Senior Lecturer, School of Education

THE POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCE www.leeds.ac.uk 07

THE POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCEDeveloping advanced skills is a vital part of your postgraduate research experience, equipping you to reach your full potential during your studies and beyond in your career.

We offer an outstanding range of skills development opportunities, including skills to support you in your research and in completing your degree, and also the skills that can open up employment possibilities in wide-ranging careers within and beyond academia. Our activity is in line with the Researcher Development Framework initiative and we hold the European HR Excellence in Research Award.

Our dedicated team of researcher development professionals includes experienced researchers from a diverse range of disciplines and professional specialists in areas such as ethics, information technology, innovation and impact. The team has many years experience in delivering training and development activity for researchers.

Training and development The training and development of postgraduate researchers is a key aspect of the Universitys strategic aim to deliver a world- class postgraduate researcher experience. With your supervisor, in your fi rst month, you will plan your training and development activity so that it is tailored to your needs. Plans are reviewed as you develop your research skills alongside your research project, keeping in mind your employment aspirations. Each researcher has access to their own personal space within our online Personal Development Record (PDR) system. The PDR supports your training and development needs analysis, lists your attendances at research development activities and records key milestones and progression all in one personalised area online.

Postgraduate researchers also have access to dedicated training and development resources and advice from Vitae. Vitae is a UK Research Council-funded national organisation that supports the personal and professional development of researchers.Vitae provides a programme of national courses and activities; a dedicated portal with information, news and opportunities; Careers in Focus programmes; labour market and careers information, including surveys and research; and opportunities to input to national policy developments and initiatives. www.vitae.ac.uk

The Graduate Training and Support CentreThe University has a Graduate Training and Support Centre (GTSC) dedicated to your personal and professional development. The GTSC works closely with other specialist training providers across the University, including our library services, IT Services (ISS), Careers Centre and Language Centre. www.leeds.ac.uk/gts

The GTSC has a range of programmes of activity that can be accessed by all postgraduate researchers at the University, supporting you at each stage of your research and in your wider development. For researchers of all disciplines there is tailored provision in the following areas:

Engineering; Mathematics and Physical Sciences; and Environment,

Medicine and Health; and Biological Sciences, Business; Education, Social Sciences and Law; Arts;

and Performance, Visual Arts and Communications.

As a postgraduate researcher at Leeds, you will have the opportunity to attend and participate in national and international conferences, publish your research along the way, stir up academic debate, and work with industry on projects, placements, and as part of large-scale collaborative research partnerships.

Within the GTSC, training programmes are available to help you understand how to successfully structure, write and self-edit a paper for publication, and how to make the most of presenting your work at conferences (either in poster format or as a short oral communication).

Faculty and school level activitiesPersonalised subject specifi c training and development activity is often available through your faculty and/or school. There is also bespoke activity associated with particular sources of funding for research, for example, for those registering for doctoral study as part of a Doctoral Training Centre or a European-funded Marie Curie research project. If you want to develop your subject specifi c knowledge further, there is a wide range of undergraduate and postgraduate modules available.

Many departments run seminar series which are designed to increase the sharing of knowledge between postgraduate researchers, staff, alumni, practitioners and external partners. Seminars are often based on current research activities and provide a forum in which ideas and research synergies can be discussed. Attendance at seminars is a great opportunity for you to keep up to date with the latest developments in your fi eld in a more informal setting. Other departmental activities include reading groups, workshops, working paper series, public lectures and subject specifi c conferences both in the UK and overseas.


Having previously studied and worked in the arts I decided to take an MSc in medical humanities. During my studies I heard that Professor Stuart Murray (whos now my primary supervisor), was setting up a centre at Leeds, for medical humanities.

They wanted to get a PhD student to start building it up and I really wanted to play a part in the development of the new medical humanities centre.

Leeds seems to be particularly strong with close connections with health organisations and has one of the top English Departments in the country as well.

My PhD is looking at representations of schizophrenia. My research combines interviews with people diagnosed with schizophrenia with the study of cultural materials and literature around the invention of the concept of schizophrenia.

I am looking at how their stories interact, with the stories of their illness as seen from the perspective of their carers and the healthcare professionals.

With medical humanities being a new interdisciplinary fi eld, theres a lot of useful insights that could come out of this type of research. It will help people who are working in medicine to develop a more humanities-based understanding of how the medical exchange works.

This will improve health services by facilitating a more holistic interaction between the patient and medical professional.

Healthcare is an important political topic at the moment so I certainly think theres going to be an increasing appetite for this kind of research. Were applying humanities analysis to things that are then having impact in the real world.

Michael is pictured in the Museum of the History of Science, Technology and Medicine, at the University

MICHAEL FLEXERPhD IN MEDICAL HUMANITIES

THE POSTGRADUATE RESEARCH EXPERIENCE www.leeds.ac.uk 09

Library servicesOur library provides workshops and seminars to help you fi nd and manage information. As a postgraduate researcher you will use a wide range of information resources and we offer dedicated support to help you navigate your way around them effectively and effi ciently. The library has a Faculty Team Librarian for each subject, who is available to provide training and one-to-one support for postgraduate researchers. In addition, Skills@Library offer a wide range of workshops including dissertations and theses: how to fi nd them, RSS and publication alerts for research, and references and citations explained.

IT trainingAs well as training opportunities for the Microsoft Offi ce package we also provide specialist training in a large number of software packages and systems including C++, Python, LabView, SPSS and NVIVO. We support a wireless network and a Virtual Private Network (VPN) that allows students to connect when working off campus and we are a member of the White Rose Consortium, which gives postgraduate researchers access to the White Rose Grid, a research infrastructure providing massive parallel computing power. The Applications Software Team is responsible for the provision and support of a comprehensive range of software, datasets and related services to all students and offers day-to-day advice and support.

Learning and teaching workshops The Staff and Departmental Development Unit (SDDU) runs a series of workshops on various aspects of teaching and student learning for postgraduate researchers and research staff who have teaching responsibilities at the University of Leeds.

These workshops are aligned to the UK Professional Standards Framework for Supporting Learning and Teaching in Higher Education and will prepare you if you take up a teaching role. They focus on development of the essential skills required for demonstrating, small group teaching, lecturing and assessing student work. Attendance at these workshops is compulsory for all postgraduate researchers involved in teaching.

Leeds Postgraduate Research Conference Every year the University holds a conference to showcase and celebrate postgraduate research and engage the academic community across all disciplines. The conference has a number of competitions including the Postgraduate Researcher of the Year, awards for research posters, a three minute thesis competition and tweet your thesis. You can look at our previous winning entries at www.pgrconference.leeds.ac.uk or follow us on twitter @UoLPGconference

Worldwide Universities Network The University of Leeds is a founding member of the Worldwide Universities Network (WUN), a network of 19 research-led universities spanning six continents. Its mission is to be one of the leading international Higher Education networks, collaborating to accelerate the creation of knowledge and to develop leaders who will be prepared to address the signifi cant challenges, and opportunities, of our rapidly changing world. WUN creates new, multilateral opportunities for international collaboration in research and graduate education.

It is a fl exible, dynamic organisation that uses the combined resources and intellectual power of its membership to achieve collective international objectives and to stretch international ambitions.

Nurturing postgraduate researchers and early-career academics, and propelling their careers on the international stage, is an important goal of WUN. As a postgraduate researcher you will be encouraged to participate in collaborative programmes, and there are opportunities for you to be mentored by established experts in your fi eld. The Research Mobility Programme (RMP) will foster your personal and academic development in the early stage of your career and internationalise your focus.

The competitive programme typically provides travel and subsistence for short exchanges to partner WUN universities for durations of two to three months. Institutions across the network open up their facilities, share expertise and establish new relationships at both graduate and supervisor level with participants in the programme. You will benefi t by expanding your knowledge base and enriching your thesis with insights from different research cultures. You will also develop the skills required for international academic success, and forge lasting links with new contacts and mentors. Find out more www.leeds.ac.uk/wun

Postdoctoral researchersAt Leeds we have a vibrant community of postdoctoral researchers. We support and celebrate these researchers by giving them the opportunity to build a vibrant interdisciplinary community of scholars, and providing them with training and networking opportunities through our Staff and Departmental Development Unit (SDDU). So should you stay at Leeds beyond your research degree, you will have access to support that aligns with your continued development as a researcher.

SHAPE YOUR CAREERSupporting your futureWe can help you market yourself to employers by showing your skills and personal qualities in their best light. We hope that when you graduate from Leeds you value your degree not only for what it may help you achieve in the future, but also as a truly valuable life experience.

Where are they now?We like to keep in touch with our postgraduate researchers after they have graduated to fi nd out how they are getting on. 98.8% of last years graduates who gave us feedback were either working or in further education six months after they graduated and 93.9% were in graduate-level employment.

Of the postgraduate research cohort at Leeds funded by Research Councils UK for 2011:

over half were employed in the education sector over two thirds were in research roles across all sectors nearly three quarters working in the higher education sector

were research staff 12% were in lecturing posts in higher education nearly a quarter were in industry or commerce.

Many international postgraduate researchers return to their sponsoring institutions to take up academic posts. These students often maintain professional links with Leeds throughout their careers, and the good working relationships developed at Leeds form a base for future collaborations. Postgraduate researchers who are not committed to returning home on degree completion frequently gain postdoctoral positions in Leeds and other UK universities.

Careers CentreThinking about your future should begin as soon as you start your study. We offer a wide range of services designed to assist you in preparing for your career. The Universitys Careers Centre has experienced consultants who will help you make decisions about your future and prepare you for entering the job market. They offer help with understanding the skills employers require, making good applications, writing effective CVs and developing your interview skills. The Careers Centre also runs recruitment fairs and employer presentations and workshops.

As part of our commitment to creating employable graduates, we will encourage and support you to follow three steps; decide on your future career; plan the ways in which you can secure your future and compete for employment at the highest level.

For further information go to http://careerweb.leeds.ac.uk


My training as a biomedical scientist is vital to my credibility in taking a lead role in scientifi c research and business. My PhD in cellular biology and biophysics together with several years experience of raising aptamers against complex cellular targets and model disease systems is intrinsic to my role today as CEO of Aptamer Solutions Ltd. I turned down an opportunity to do my PhD at Oxford because I felt the University of Leeds offered the broadest scope in molecular sciences, and the experience has given me the skill set to overcome some daunting obstacles. The speed and effi ciency of the support structure was also truly impressive.

Dr Arron Tolley, Chief Executive Offi cer, Aptamer Solutions LtdPhD in cellular biology and biophysics (awarded in 2008)

SHAPE YOUR CAREER www.leeds.ac.uk 11

TIM STEVENSONPhD IN MATERIALS SCIENCE(AWARDED IN 2011)

Piezoelectric materials are all around us, in parking sensors, mobile phones, fuel injection valves and ultrasound equipment, but for years their usefulness has been limited by low operating temperature, high lead content and mechanical friability.

My PhD in materials science allowed me to work on creating a range of new materials developed to overcome these issues, materials which would function under high temperatures and in extreme environments, like inside a jet engine.

Clients could include the aeronautic, automotive, chemical process, oil and gas, and nuclear industries, so I knew from the beginning that our research had potential real-world application and impact, and that is a really motivating idea.

Since completing my PhD, the Universitys Research and Innovation Service have helped us to establish Ionix Advanced Technologies, a spin-out company designed to bring these materials to market.

They helped source initial funding, to put together a management team, the legal stuff like registering at Companies House, even designing websites and logos, all the things you take for granted until it comes to doing it and you realise how much work goes into it!

Completing a PhD gave me the opportunity to pursue an academic interest in an industry-orientated and intrinsically valuable project.

As well as my academic supervisors Professor Andrew Bell and Dr Tim Comyn, its allowed me to work with some unique people and facilities, and to develop the wider skill set needed to move the potential applications of the initial research project a step closer to becoming commercial reality.

Tim is pictured in the Engineering Study Zone

Encouraging entrepreneursSelf-employment is a career choice just like any other. At Leeds, the Spark initiative supports budding entrepreneurs. We have helped many graduates successfully set up businesses and our team of specialists will ensure you get the most up-to-date information, and crucially, dedicated support throughout the entrepreneurial journey from start-up to growth and beyond.

Spark offers you:

assistance with developing ideas and business plans free and confi dential help with fi nance and marketing an annual business plan competition with prizes up to 2,000 proof of concept funding so you can test your idea before

starting to trade workshops on the fundamentals of starting a business Entrepreneurs Boot Camp including sessions on business

planning, fi nance, sales and PR business advisors and expert mentors.

http://careerweb.leeds.ac.uk/spark

If you are a budding entrepreneur, there are several groups and societies you can join at Leeds which will help you on your journey to becoming the next Alan Sugar. Look out for the Student Enterprise Society, Enactus a community of students, academics and business leaders, and Bright Futures a careers-focused national student society.

Our alumni networkJoining us at the University of Leeds really is just the start of a lifelong relationship. When you graduate from Leeds you will automatically be part of a community of more than 190,000 Leeds alumni in more than 160 countries. Wherever you end up, we will help you to keep in touch with Leeds and with the friends you make here. You will have access to a range of benefi ts and services, not least membership of a worldwide professional and social network.

On campus, our alumni benefi t from use of our libraries, access to Leeds University Union and even a special rate at our sports facility; you will always be welcome on campus. Our alumni play an important role in the life of the University; by offering advice to prospective and current students, talking about their own careers, offering internships, funding scholarships and other projects to enhance the student experience at Leeds.

Who better to ask about a job than a person already doing it? The Leeds Graduate Careers Network gives you the chance to make contact with alumni who have been there, done that and are working in the job that you want. If you want to explore career options, gain tips on entry into specifi c careers or receive supportive advice on developing your career, you can with the Leeds Graduate Careers Network.For more information visit www.alumni.leeds.ac.uk

Follow us on Twitter: @LeedsAlumniFind us on Facebook: Leeds AlumniJoin us on LinkedIn: Search for Leeds alumni


SHAPE YOUR CAREER www.leeds.ac.uk 13

Almost fi ve years after completing his theatre acting degree, Nick was still eligible for a Proof of Concept award. He got in touch with the University when he was looking for offi ce space for the video production business hed started in his attic.

I used the 1,000 award to produce a logo, brand the business and print business cards. I got great business start-up advice and began trading as Limehouse.

While I was studying the University really helped me. Once my business was up and running I won the Business Plan Competition and the whole experience made me understand what I needed to do to make my business a success.

Now Limehouse Films has its own premises in a converted mill complex in Halifax and we employ 12 staff. Our client list includes First Direct and Taylors of Harrogate (makers of Yorkshire Tea).

The business is fi rmly established but I still occasionally call on the University business start-up experts for advice. I recently participated in the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses programme which is delivered by Leeds University Business School and supports business leaders in organisations with high growth potential.

Im appreciative of the ongoing support the University provides, and its great to be able to give something back to students I now employ student interns from the University.

The resources at the University were invaluable in helping me launch, grow and make a success of my business.

Nick is pictured in Limehouse Films Ltd offi ces

NICK HOWARDALUMNUSLIMEHOUSE FILMS LTD


MAKING A DIFFERENCE:RESEARCH IN THE REAL WORLDGlobal solutions that make a difference in the real world are being developed across the University, with new inventions arising from research delivering commercial business ventures.

Our support for innovation attracts world-class academics who know that at Leeds the infrastructure is in place to take their inventions, ideas and new technologies to the global marketplace. Our postgraduate and postdoctoral researchers play a vital role in the development of these new technologies.

The Research and Innovation Service provides the professional expertise to support this process. Since 2006, the University has fi led more than 137 priority patent applications, incubated more than 70 student companies and helped create 39 innovative spin-out companies, as well as forming over 100 knowledge transfer partnerships (KTPs). www.leeds.ac.uk/business

Knowledge Transfer PartnershipsKTPs are a government-backed business support scheme, offering business and other organisations a collaborative opportunity to access specialist knowledge and expertise.

KTPs focus on improving competitiveness and profi tability and on fostering an innovation culture. They provide an opportunity for postgraduates to develop as a new employee with senior management potential, open up new training and development opportunities for staff and offer partners the chance to develop a strategic relationship with the University.

By embedding new knowledge and capabilities within the organisation, we are able to tackle strategically important opportunities and challenges. This typically involves a recent graduate or postgraduate working within the business to help solve the challenges. The breadth of high-level research available from the academic community in our nine faculties makes us an ideal partner and we work with world-leading companies. Our dedicated KTP team provides support for projects from inception, through funding and management to project end.www.leeds.ac.uk/ktp

CommercialisationWe have a dedicated commercialisation team that identifi es, protects and manages the University of Leeds Intellectual Property (IP) alongside our academic expertise. This involves:

helping our research community to create spin-out companies to maximise the social and commercial impact of our expertise and Intellectual Property

providing business with access to innovative ideas and technology, via licensing of new ideas and technology emanating from our research base

pro-actively engaging with businesses and other external organisations to create new partnerships.

We are focused on supporting the activities of more than 3,000 researchers, effectively connecting one of the largest pools of expertise and innovation in the UK to the outside world.

A number of successful University of Leeds spin-out companies began life as research projects. Today they offer an extraordinary range of services, including virtually waterless laundry technology, dental repair without the need for drilling, a revolutionary way of dyeing so that the colours never run and clothes never fade, and developing sustainable construction materials which could transform the way we build.www.leeds.ac.uk/commercialisation

MAKING A DIFFERENCE www.leeds.ac.uk 15

ALEX BORODAVKAPhD IN STRUCTURAL MOLECULAR BIOLOGY

I did my Masters in virology and microbiology, so when I found the Wellcome Trust-funded structural biology programme at Leeds, it really appealed to me as it gave me a chance to learn new techniques and apply them to viral diseases.

Viruses cause many diseases in humans and animals, ranging from AIDS to foot-and-mouth disease.

As part of a research team in the Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology at the University of Leeds, I am trying to understand how these viruses package their genetic material into the tiny space within their protein shells a crucial stage of virus replication in infected cells.

Using state-of-the-art facilities, we have discovered a new mechanism of how the genetic material that forms the core of a single-strand RNA virus is selectively enclosed into its outer protein shell. This mechanism is similar in bacterial and plant viruses, and we are trying to see if human and animal viruses behave similarly.

This knowledge may ultimately enable us to design an entirely new class of anti-viral drugs that target this stage in the virus life cycle.

Alex is pictured in the Astbury Centre for Structural Molecular Biology

CollaborationsOur academic community and their cutting-edge research are in high demand throughout the world, and we regularly share our expertise with businesses and other organisations to help them grow.

A homecoming for Marks & SpencerThe new M&S Company Archive at the University of Leeds is the fl agship project at the heart of a distinctive collaboration, and one which represents a new model of engagement between industry and education. The new home for the archive, on the Universitys western campus, combines a dynamic business asset with a unique research tool of considerable academic value. The decision to relocate the archive to Leeds, where M&S began, embodies the distinctive appetite for collaborative working now developing between business and higher education. The concept of an operational division of M&S working alongside academics and researchers on the campus has opened the door to partnership activity across mutual priority areas such as; research, student engagement and community outreach work.

The partnership has already seen the joint funding of two PhDs and M&S sponsorship of the M&S Graduate Prize in Food, which combines the academic rigour of a research-intensive university like Leeds, with the commercial acumen of a FTSE 100 company such as M&S to deliver huge benefi ts to students.

Partnership with Opera North dares to be differentThe Dare collaboration between the University and Opera North fuses the artistic with the academic, combining the very best of both organisations to inspire and stimulate new ways of thinking and working. The partnership has triggered new research, informed productions and created opportunities for students, staff and audiences.

Collaborative research agreement with Chinas largest trading companyIn 2012 the University of Leeds signed a 3m collaborative research deal with Sinochem Group, a leading Chinese state-backed company whose core businesses cover energy, agriculture, chemicals, real estate, and fi nancial services.

The money will be used to fund six new research projects in colour science, semiconductor research, polymer development, and plant science covering transgenic technology, new materials, and anti-counterfeit technologies. The research will be carried out in the Faculty of Mathematics and Physical Sciences and the Faculty of Biological Sciences.

N8 Research Partnership Water where we need itWhilst parts of the world suffer drought, elsewhere fl oods present a serious hazard. The N8 water group brings together an unprecedented network of expertise to address long-term challenges and opportunities facing the water environment.

Established in 2004, N8 is a partnership between eight major research universities in the north of England Durham, Lancaster, Leeds, Liverpool, Manchester, Newcastle, Sheffi eld and York.

N8 has other research centres which focus on ageing and health, energy, molecular engineering and regenerative medicine. www.n8research.org.uk

Rewarding enterpriseTwo decades of world-leading medical engineering research at Leeds were rewarded with the Queens Anniversary Prize in 2012, the countrys highest accolade for an academic institution. The Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering (iMBE), led by Professors John Fisher and Eileen Ingham, is the UKs leading bioengineering research institution. It has pioneered research into joint replacements, spinal interventions and tissue engineering, and has created new products and therapies which are in use by surgeons in clinics and hospitals around the world.

The Institute is a key partner in a 10m Doctoral Training Centre, funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council. The centre will support the training of 50 PhD scholars by 2015, attracting the best postgraduates from around the world and developing the next generation of researchers in medical and biological engineering who will ensure that this vital work remains on an upward trajectory.

The Queens Anniversary Prizes for Higher and Further Education, awarded every two years, are part of the UK honours system, and promote world-class excellence in UK universities and colleges. This is the second such award to the University of Leeds, whose Institute for Transport Studies was a winner in 2010. www.imbe.leeds.ac.uk


MAKING A DIFFERENCE www.leeds.ac.uk 17


DOCTORAL TRAINING CENTRESOur Doctoral Training Centres deliver excellent supervision, intensive research training and provide a supportive environment for postgraduate researchers.

Doctoral Training Centres (DTCs) are a mechanism for increasing capacity in interdisciplinary research activities. This is done by creating clusters of research excellence, and providing high-quality training and facilities to develop the researchers and business leaders of the future. DTCs offer funded PhD opportunities alongside intensive researcher and professional skills training for UK and EU candidates (international candidates are welcome to apply but are advised to contact the relevant DTC for further information on their funding eligibility).

Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) EPSRC Centres for Doctoral Training (CDT) bring together diverse areas of expertise and internationally-leading researchers in order to train engineering and science postgraduates and provide them with the knowledge and skills through which to address todays global issues. CDT students are funded for four years and their training includes technical and transferable skills, alongside their research. The CDTs provide a supportive environment for postgraduate researchers, creating new working cultures, helping to build relationships between teams in universities and forge lasting links with industry. EPSRC currently funds more than 70 Centres for Doctoral Training, three of which are based at the University of Leeds.

Doctoral Training Centre in Low Carbon TechnologiesThe DTC in Low Carbon Technologies is part of the Research Councils UK Energy Programme and aims to create a greater critical mass of expertise in low carbon technologies in the UK and provide the opportunity for increased research collaboration with scientists around the world. Housed in our new Energy Building, you will be offered an interdisciplinary training programme across the whole energy system, key professional development skills training and a UK industrial or overseas research institute placement, in addition to supervision from world-class academics. www.engineering.leeds.ac.uk/dtclowcarbon

Doctoral Training Centre in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative MedicineThe DTC in Tissue Engineering and Regenerative Medicine opperates in partnership with the universities of Sheffi eld and York as part of the White Rose University Consortium. The four-year doctoral training programme begins with a year in Leeds where you receive clinical training and study specialist modules. After this year you can choose to stay in Leeds or move to Sheffi eld or York. In Leeds, you will work with world-leading experts from the Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, in Sheffi eld within the Centre for Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering and in York within the Department of Biology.

The DTC brings together a cohort of postgraduate researchers and their supervisors to develop effective clinical therapies for the treatment of human diseases and disabilities. The DTC provides you with an interdisciplinary and innovative training environment alongside excellent facilities, including state-of-the-art tissue engineering laboratories. www.dtcterm.leeds.ac.uk

Centre for Doctoral Training in Molecular-Scale EngineeringThe CDT in Molecular-Scale Engineering brings together internationally-leading researchers at the Universities of Leeds and Sheffi eld to train high-calibre science and engineering graduates in the control of molecular organisation and function at the nanometre scale. The universities of Sheffi eld and Leeds have over a decade of experience in jointly delivering Masters and Doctoral level training. Of particular importance are our nanofolio programmes in nanotechnology, the longest established and most successful in the UK, and we draw upon these resources within the Centre, including extensive training in the basic elements of nanotechnology, nanofabrication and bionanotechnology.

We have designed a customised taught programme over two years interleaved with increasing PhD research, which combines lecture-based delivery with a challenging programme of laboratory-based training to immerse you in cross-disciplinary thinking. www.molecular-scale-engineering.org

Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC)The ESRC is the UKs largest funding agency for research and postgraduate training relating to social and economic issues. Funding a network of 21 Doctoral Training Centres throughout the UK, the ESRC offers over 600 postgraduate studentships a year.

Leeds Social Sciences InstituteThe Leeds Social Sciences Institute (LSSI) is a large interdisciplinary research institute whose mission is to develop research excellence and collaborations, bringing together researchers across the social sciences. For research staff, postgraduate researchers and academics, it constitutes a vibrant point of connection where social scientists converge around methodological and cross-disciplinary discussions and debates, as well as training and development. This is supported by a series of events and activities to stimulate interdisciplinary research with impact.

Central to the mission of LSSI is the goal of building new research capacity through the training and development of postgraduate researchers. To support your career development and forge links with external organisations, LSSIs established Placement Fellowship Scheme encourages you to engage with the needs of external organisations and to build the knowledge gained from your placement into your future research plans.www.lssi.leeds.ac.uk

DOCTORAL TRAINING CENTRES www.leeds.ac.uk 19

White Rose Doctoral Training CentreThe Leeds Social Sciences Institute is host to the White Rose Doctoral Training Centre (WRDTC). Funded by the ESRC, the WRDTC combines the expertise of the Universities of Leeds, Sheffi eld and York and is one of the UKs biggest and most successful training centres for postgraduate researchers in the social sciences. There are annually a minimum of 48 fully- funded ESRC scholarships available within the WRDTC and these are offered within specifi c discipline areas linked to themed networks; as part of a collaboration with partners outside the Universities and in Advanced Quantitative Methods.

Formal and informal training courses, seminars, summer schools and workshops sit alongside the support of academic supervisors, departments and faculties, and the provision of opportunities beyond the University, to create a research environment in which you can thrive. The annual WRDTC Induction Event and the Spring Conference is attended by postgraduate social science researchers from all three universities and offers you an opportunity to network within training pathways and forge interdisciplinary links with colleagues in other disciplines.

The doctoral research methods training offered is complemented by other subject specifi c activity throughout the year, including researcher-led conferences, poster conferences, invited guest seminar series as well as the annual research activities taking place in your home department. A programme of in-house advanced training is in development which will complement the wide range of advanced skills training accessible across the UK via the National Centre for Research Methods. www.whiterose.ac.uk

Biotechnology and Biological Sciences Research Council (BBSRC) BBSRC invests in world-class bioscience research and training on behalf of the UK public. The University of Leeds, in collaboration with the universities of Sheffi eld and York, has been successful in obtaining Doctoral Training Partner (DTP) status with BBSRC. DTP programmes deliver scientists with the training to meet major social and economic challenges in food security, sustainable bioenergy and renewable materials, and improving lifelong health and wellbeing, as well as supporting those undertaking research in core underpinning bioscience.

The White Rose University Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership in Mechanistic BiologyThe White Rose University Consortium Doctoral Training Partnership in Mechanistic Biology supports world-class molecular bioscience, as well as strategic research in the areas of food security, bioenergy and industrial biotechnology. The White Rose University Consortium is one of 14 DTPs at 44 research organisations across the UK. The White Rose programme is partnered by DEFRA (the UK Government Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs), the Food and Environment Research Agency (FERA), and the Research Complex at Harwell.

An innovative and integral element of the DTP programme, built in to enhance your employability, is the requirement for you to undertake a three-month professional internship to widen your experience of the areas of work in which you can apply your PhD skills and training. Destinations for internships include policymaking, media, teaching and industry. www.whiterose-mechanisticbiology-dtp.ac.uk

Arts and Humanities Research Council (AHRC)Since 2008 the University has led an AHRC Block Grant Partnership (BGP). This has provided 75 prestigious doctoral scholarships for excellent candidates to undertake research across the Arts and Humanities at Leeds and draws on the expertise of supervisors from the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Performance, Visual Arts and Communications.

The BGP sits at the heart of a large number of doctoral bursaries that has allowed Leeds to develop one of the largest communities of Arts and Humanities postgraduate researchers in the country. As a postgraduate researcher you will be fully integrated into the research life of your chosen subject area, whilst also taking full advantage of all of the benefi ts the BGP has brought to Leeds. As well as allowing you to work closely with world-class scholars on your chosen topic, the BGP provides an excellent programme of research training, as well as bespoke careers support to help prepare you for the next step in your professional development.

Other sources of fundingUniversity Centres for Doctoral Training Institute of Process Research and Development Centre for

Doctoral Training (The Institute of Process Research and Development, iPRD) www.chem.leeds.ac.uk/iprdcdt

Centre for Doctoral Training in Advanced Particulate Materials (Institute for Materials Research, IMR and the Institute for Particle Science and Engineering, IPSE)www.engineering.leeds.ac.uk/materials

University Centres of Excellence Centre of Excellence in Medical and Biological Engineering

(Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, iMBE)www.imbe.leeds.ac.uk/studentships

Centre of Excellence in Nuclear Engineering(School of Process, Environmental and Materials Engineering)www.engineering.leeds.ac.uk/nuclear-engineering

Other doctoral training programmes The Astbury Centre Wellcome Trust funded PhD four-year

programme The Molecular Basis of Biological Mechanisms www.astbury.leeds.ac.uk

Other research councils Medical Research Council (MRC)

www.mrc.ac.uk

Natural Environment Research Council (NERC)www.nerc.ac.uk/funding

For information on how to apply see page 33.

Visit our scholarships website for further information on our Doctoral Training Centre scholarships. www.scholarships.leeds.ac.uk


As one of the largest research-intensive universities in the UK, Leeds engages in world-class research across an exceptionally diverse range of disciplines. This breadth of knowledge and expertise underpins our commitment to ensuring our research has direct economic and societal benefi t.

For example, the University has implemented a dynamic sector hub approach to working with the wider world, creating interdisciplinary centres of excellence which form a gateway to the Universitys expertise across 14 identifi ed areas of strength. Supported by over 6m of investment, the sector hubs provide a more focused and strategic approach to the way we work with industry and other external partners. They also enable us to address increasingly complex problems requiring multidisciplinary approaches that combine our major research strengths.

As a postgraduate researcher you will benefi t from our close collaboration with industry through the sector hubs by working with academic supervisors actively engaged in world-class relevant research who can link you to industry-leading experts in your fi eld.

The hubs are broad enough to encourage and stimulate genuine cross-sector development, working together to present a co-ordinated presence to partners and users, with shared intelligence and best practice.

Climate and Geohazard ServicesThere is considerable opportunity for impact and innovation in this sector and Leeds has critical-mass expertise, reaching from understanding global problems to monitoring their local impacts. The hub produces fi rst-class research in climate and natural hazards, mathematical modelling of risk and engineering solutions to mitigate risk, as well as social science tools which help end user groups maximise the impact of the research.

Cultural & Creative Industries ExchangeCultural & Creative Industries Exchange is the sector hub for the Faculty of Arts and the Faculty of Performance, Visual Arts and Communications (PVAC). The hub provides research services for the development of new products and services for the sector, and opportunities for Knowledge Exchange activities through collaboration and sponsored postgraduate research for archives, museums, galleries, performance arts and corporate partners.

Digital TechnologiesCovering Electronics, Photonics and Electrical Systems (EPES) and Information and Communication Technology (ICT), the Digital Technologies hub brings together institutes and research groups across several disciplines, all of whom are involved in developing hardware and software.

EnergyOver the next ten years, global energy investments in the order of 4.3tn are needed to diversify existing resources, replace equipment and to cater for challenging and changing energy requirements. Energy Leeds brings together multidisciplinary research and innovation expertise at the frontiers of energy and environmental research to work with regional, national, and international stakeholders in industry, academia and the government.

Food SecurityThe challenge of global food security in the 21st century is intrinsically connected to many other global issues. There is a challenge to deliver nutritious, safe and affordable food using less land, fewer inputs, reduced waste and lower environmental impact. The hub has a track record of working closely with partners across Europe and sub-Saharan Africa to understand the challenges of food supply in the developed and developing world. The hub is committed to developing an entrepreneurial spirit within young academics and is developing an interdisciplinary Marie Curie site for PhD training in the area of Food Security.

Health ServicesThe Health Services hub aims to facilitate successful translation of research excellence for patient benefi t using the academic expertise across the University. The hub supports consistent improvement in health outcomes and reduced health inequalities at international, national and local levels, through forging partnerships with those planning, designing and evaluating healthcare.

High Value Chemical ManufactureFrom small to medium enterprises (SMEs) to large international chemical and supply chain companies involved in the research, development, manufacture and sale of raw materials and formulated chemical and polymer products, the hub is the Universitys gateway to engaging with industry in the high value chemical manufacture fi eld.

CREATING NEW GATEWAYS TO RESEARCH

My research is promising to provide policy suggestions for solving the confl icts in water source protection in the water transfer project in China. PhD study is a journey in which you gain knowledge about your subject through in-depth research, therefore I chose the University of Leeds for its excellent reputation for internation-ally renowned research.

Cheng Wen, PhD in Ecological Economics and Water Resources Management

CREATING NEW GATEWAYS TO RESEARCH www.leeds.ac.uk 21

Medical TechnologiesFounded around Europes largest integrated multidisciplinary medical engineering centre; the Institute of Medical and Biological Engineering, Medical Technologies develops medical devices and regenerative therapies that repair, regenerate and replace diseased or damaged tissues, to help the body restore function. The hub aims to work with key industrial partners that could benefi t from accessing innovation right across the medical technology spectrum from implantable devices through to regenerative therapies that can be enhanced with autologous stem cells.

Pharmaceutical and BiopharmaceuticalDespite huge investment and changes in practices over the years, the rate of drug discovery has not increased and the cost of bringing effective drugs to market remains very high. The hub brings together expertise in a range of physical and biological sciences to pioneer innovative approaches to drug discovery and to help the sector discover safe new medicines faster.

Professional ServicesThe hub works to improve collaboration, to enhance knowledge and deliver innovative approaches to ensure that our world-class research has a greater impact for business and society. The hubs expertise covers the established professional services (accountancy, fi nance and law), the new emerging professions (consulting, the management of shared services) and the transitional professions (those managing radical change in the public sector and working in new forms of mutual and social enterprise). Research collaborations involve working nationally and internationally with a wide range of organisations including businesses, social enterprises, public sector agencies, professional bodies and regulators.

Social CareRadical change in social care delivery, including personalisation, privatisation, and new assistive and medical technologies, is already sweeping the sector. The hub draws together a critical mass of interdisciplinary, world-leading and policy-relevant research on social care, establishing Leeds as a unique and distinctive centre of excellence in the fi eld, capturing and communicating the latest thinking and making it accessible to external partners.

Stratifi ed MedicineThrough understanding of the research, industrial and regulatory landscapes, the hub supports the development of novel drugs and diagnostics to bring stratifi ed medicine to the patient. By identifying individuals most likely to respond to a certain medication, or those likely to suffer adverse drug reactions, patients can benefi t from effective medicine at the earliest stage possible right patient, right treatment, right time.

Transport SystemsThe Transport Systems hub builds upon the work of the Institute for Transport Studies (ITS) in creating new opportunities for a series of successful and long-lasting partnerships with transport-related industries and organisations in the UK and abroad. The hubs role is to facilitate relationships with industry that maximise the contribution and impact of the Universitys world-class transport systems research and expertise.

Waterwater@leeds is a unique interdisciplinary research centre with a wide range of expertise and knowledge in water-related fi elds. With some 150 water experts, we use our vast array of technical, academic, modelling and monitoring skills to engage in wide-ranging research and innovation projects. These address the complex challenge of maintaining services under conditions of economic stress, population growth, demographic change, urbanisation and climate change, whilst continuing to meet consumer expectations.

Find out more about our sector hubs at www.leeds.ac.uk/sectorhubs


AN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITYWe deliver international excellence in research, and offer an experience that attracts the worlds best postgraduate researchers.

Internationalisation is one of the key themes of our strategy and is refl ected across all our education and research activities. Outstanding research is undertaken on internationally important themes by culturally diverse teams working in partnership with colleagues across the globe. All postgraduate researchers are encouraged to internationalise their own research experience by ensuring their work refl ects the latest world knowledge, and by engaging with international collaborators, international conferences and global networks.

International researchMuch of our research focuses on solving the worlds biggest challenges. We have large multidisciplinary teams working on global issues such as climate change, health, water resources, food security, energy, sustainability, social change and democracy. Multiple projects are running in all these themes and each one has the potential to make a signifi cant impact on the world we live in.

As a postgraduate researcher you will have many opportunities to internationalise your experience. Your project may be inherently international in its theme and scope but you will also work with internationally diverse students and staff, have the opportunity to submit to international conferences and to take part in international seminars and visits. The Research Mobility Programme helps to facilitate this by enabling postgraduates to visit our institutional partners elsewhere in the world. This might be to access rare facilities and expertise not found on campus or to establish novel research relationships and networks. The same programme is also used to bring international collaborators from the Worldwide Universities Network to Leeds and we also offer support for working in a virtual environment once a relationship is established. See page 9 for more information about the Research Mobility Programme and WUN.

International collaborationsWorking across national boundaries is essential to successful internationally relevant research. Collaborations with international partners are active at all levels of research from postgraduate researchers who visit international partners to enhance their experience, to academics who undertake joint investigations and publish their work together to huge multi-partner multidisciplinary internationally-funded projects.

Internationalising research in this way ensures that we maximise the impact of research and innovation at Leeds and creates long lasting global relationships with partner institutions and government and non-governmental agencies across the world.The University funds international research collaborations to provide academics and their postgraduate researchers with the opportunity to explore novel research ideas.

Some examples of international collaborations funded by the University include:

Sun, Sea, Sand and Silicone: Interrogating Consumer Choice and Global Aesthetic Surgery Tourism

Transformative Justice After Mass Violence: The Role of Non-Governmental Actors

Approaching Climate Change for Water Resource Adaptation Healthy Kitchens: Healthy Cities Structural Reinforcement of Inequality Medicine and the Everyday: New Directions in Medical

Humanities Membrane Proteins: Targets for Improving Human Health and

Food Security Biomaterials and Tissue Engineering.

International postgraduate researchersYou will join a global community drawn from 130 countries. Over 5,000 international students currently study at the University and we are a major destination for international research study.

Many of our international postgraduate researchers are funded by employers, governments and universities. A signifi cant number are already academic staff who have been awarded scholarships to enhance their career progression and to help their home university develop its research capabilities. The research relationships built at Leeds often last throughout your careers. Other international postgraduate researchers, not part of scholarship schemes which require them to return home, often secure post-doctorate positions in Europe and across the world as well as here in the UK.

Services for international sponsors International sponsors provide the funding of many Leeds researchers. In response to their specialist needs we have developed a number of services for sponsors to help them monitor and manage the scholars they place with us. A dedicated team provides a fast and effi cient response to all sponsor information requests and provides logistics co-ordination for campus visits. They also collate progress reports and liaise on invoicing, accommodation, graduations and resolve any issues. To fi nd out more about services to sponsors contact the International Team [email protected]

The team currently work with sponsors across the globe including embassies and overseas government ministries. We also actively participate in placement schemes which target high quality postgraduate researchers for international study. Examples of major current schemes include the Chinese Scholarships Council scheme, the Iraqi PhD Scholarship Scheme and the Brazilian Science without Borders Scheme. We are pleased to support international governments and agencies in their work to develop skills within global higher education.

Since being young I have always been interested in UK culture. It was always my dream to come and study in the UK. I fi rst heard about the University of Leeds from my supervisor on my Bachelors degree (in Mexico) who had completed her PhD here. She had very positive things to say about the University and life in Leeds in general.

When I applied to Leeds I had not applied to an overseas institution before. I received good support from the postgraduate offi ce, who helped a lot with the application process. It felt like a big challenge to apply and study at PhD level outside my country. However, I have now seen that it is not as hard as you might initially think.

I studied English whilst completing my Masters degree in Mexico and when I arrived here in Leeds I decided to take an additional introductory level English language course at the Language Centre. This was really helpful as although I understood the language before I attended this course, I didnt always have enough confi dence to start speaking it.

I also visited the International Student Offi ce upon arrival and they provided me with an introduction to the University and a tour around the campus.

When I complete my PhD I would like to return to my home country, Mexico, as my PhD is on my home town so I really want to use my new knowledge to make a difference.

Yanet is pictured in the Language Centre

AN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY www.leeds.ac.uk 23

YAJAIRA YANET BASULTO SOLISPhD IN WATER MANAGEMENT


I chose the University of Leeds for its research in food science and the high quality facilities available within the School of Food Science and Nutrition. Upon my arrival, my expectations were more than fulfi lled and my research has also been enriched with various extra-curricular activities around campus. The University of Leeds is not only the place where you continue your studies; it is the place where you start your career. Reyna Gutierrez Rivera, PhD in food biochemistry

Services for international researchersWe have a long history of supporting international postgraduate researchers and we are very familiar with your needs.

Our International Student Offi ce is a hub for specialist advice and guidance and provides a comprehensive range of services and activities for international students to enhance their experience of Leeds and the UK. www.internationalstudentsupport.leeds.ac.uk

Welcome and orientation meetings are offered all year round for new international students providing essential information on how to settle in and make the most of your time in Leeds. Specialist advice is available on opening bank accounts, working regulations, accessing free National Health Service facilities, adjusting to a new culture and services for families. The team provide specialist immigration advice and participate in the national Batch Scheme Service for extending student visas.

Many international postgraduate researchers bring their families to Leeds where they join a vibrant community of international families with children of all ages. The International Student Offi ce will help you to check how visa rules and regulations will affect your family and the team will also provide information on the access you will have to healthcare and education for your dependants.

When you bring children to Leeds they will attend UK school if they are between the ages of 4 to 16. Several free schools in Leeds have experience of providing the supportive multicultural environment that helps international children to thrive and international students are very positive about the education their children receive in Leeds.

We provide a number of family apartments and houses and in addition our partner organisation, Unipol Student Homes, www.unipol.leeds.ac.uk manages many family properties across the city. The website has lots of information for families and an e-mail alert which will notify you when suitable houses become available for viewing. Flexible programme start dates mean you can link accommodation availability to the start of your study.

The University of Leeds Global CommunityAs a large international university we offer a variety of stimulating and enjoyable opportunities to mix with people from a wide range of countries and cultures. Postgraduate researchers and their families are welcome to participate in a number of our Global Community activities as well as events hosted by the Chaplaincy which runs the International Students Club on Wednesday evenings. Families can also join the University sports programme and make use of the world-class facilities for fi tness and sport including the pool.

Global Community connects all students to intercultural opportunities and friends and includes the following regular events and activities:

Global Saturdays: an opportunity to explore some of the UKs great cities, countryside and attractions.

Global Caf: Get together with students from every corner of the globe at the Global Caf every Monday.

The World Unite Festival: Hosted by the Students Union each February this week of events explores different cultures, bringing together students from all over the world.

Become an Intercultural Ambassador: our ambassadors create exciting new intercultural projects to enhance the international experience of our global community of students.

AN INTERNATIONAL UNIVERSITY www.leeds.ac.uk 25

The Language CentreOur Language Centre offers academic and general English language programmes to equip you with the skills needed for university study and to provide a useful orientation to academic life and British culture. All English language programmes are accredited by the British Council for the teaching of English and certain pre-sessional programmes are accredited by the British Association of Lecturers in English for Academic Purposes (BALEAP).

Even if you already fulfi l the Universitys English language requirement, you will still fi nd the preparation given by the Language Centres programmes to be very useful. Services and facilities include a dedicated Self-Access Area for independent language learning with access to materials in over 40 different languages, an extensive collection of foreign language feature fi lms and documentaries, satellite television over the internet and computer-assisted language tuition. We also have a large number of dedicated and well-equipped teaching rooms in a very central location on the University campus. We are part of the School of Modern Languages and Cultures, in the Faculty of Arts, and benefi t from strong links with these and many of the other faculties in the University. Our dedicated language learning adviser is always on hand to help.

The following courses are available for postgraduate researchers(programmes and entry points are available throughout the year):

General English programme: English for everyday communication

Academic English for Postgraduate Studies pre-sessional: A Masters or PhD degree in Engineering, Sciences, Humanities, Arts and Social Sciences

Academic English for Business and Management pre-sessional: A Masters or PhD degree in Business and Management

InterComm pre-sessional: A Masters or PhD degree in Communications Studies, Journalism, Politics, Development Studies, Translation and Interpreting

These courses are subject to change, so please visit the Language Centre for up-to-date information, fees and course details. www.leeds.ac.uk/languages

International applicantsWe understand that applying for UK postgraduate study is different from applying to other countries and that you may require additional help with your application. We have a network of offi ces and agents around the world who can assist you with your application and help to explain the documents you require and the process you will go through. For more information on how to apply see page 33.

Staff from Leeds visit key regions regularly and you can arrange to meet for consultations on your application and the research opportunities available to you. For information on how to contact our offi ces and agents or to fi nd out when a member of staff will be in your country please visitwww.leeds.ac.uk/visitstoyourcountry

Life on campusWe take pride in providing students with a fulfi lling education, as well as an active social life. In over a century of teaching and research, the University has invested heavily to provide students with fi rst-class facilities. The University of Leeds campus is an exciting mixture of old and new. State-of-the-art learning and teaching facilities co-exist with the impressive landmark buildings of the late 19th and early 20th centuries. Recent additions have been Leeds newest theatre, a student support services building and The Edge a swimming pool and fi tness centre.

Accommodation Whether you are looking for family accommodation, a shared house, fl at, or apartment there is a wide range of private accommodation on offer, in Leeds. To help you navigate your way, we have highlighted some of the key agencies who will be able to help you on our website. www.accommodation.leeds.ac.uk

University-owned accommodationIf you are looking for a single person place, we can help you by offering:

an impressive range of accommodation, from modern purpose-built apartments to Victorian houses

a choice of contract lengths fl exible payment methods utility bills included in the rent Edge Club membership included in the rent a 24 hour security service insurance cover for your personal possessions (terms and

conditions apply) wardens (usually members of University staff) responsible for

looking after your welfare, and on hand to ask advice from or help sort out any problems

quality accommodation which meets the latest Code of Standards for Larger Developments

proximity to the University and the city centre.

All our residencies have internet access included at no extra charge. Most also have the option of using IPTV (internet television).

University accommodation is allocated between June and September. Once you have been allocated we will email your contract, which you need to accept by the deadline. Contract length: some are from September to September (51 weeks). Others do not cover July and August (42 weeks for self-catered or 39 weeks for catered).

Sports facilities Whatever your level of fi tness, our University provides excellent opportunities to keep healthy and get active. So whether you want to participate for fun, at club level or elite level, there are lots of ways to get involved.

The Edge is our fl agship indoor facility providing excellent fi tness, sport and wellbeing opportunities, all located on campus. Facilities include:

200 station state-of-the-art gym (the largest in UK Higher Education) complete with Technogym equipment and Sky TV

25m 8-lane swimming pool sauna and steam room squash courts studios caf climbing wall extensive sports halls changing rooms with underfl oor heating.

In addition, the University has a further performance sports centre on campus, a dedicated studio and excellent outdoor facilities at Weetwood playing fi elds. There are over 125 classes per week to get involved in from yoga and pilates to spinning, aqua aerobics and Zumba an extensive intramural programme in a wide range of sports, and the students union has over 60 different sports and activity clubs to choose from. For more information visit www.leeds.ac.uk/sport

Students unionLeeds University Union (LUU) is a not-for-profi t organisation; any profi t made from commercial operations is reinvested into providing services for student members. LUU operates a range of shops and bars, as well as nightclubs and special events.

A students union exists to represent students to the University, the media, outside organisations and to provide key services. LUU is a vibrant social hub at the heart of campus, offering a range of exclusive facilities and services to its members. It is led by six full-time Student Executive Offi cers who are elected annually by students.

Postgraduate researchers automatically become a member of LUU upon registering with the University. LUU represents student views to the University and works with them to make positive changes for all of its members. Through an effective democratic and representational system, all students have the chance to make their voice heard, through school, halls or community representatives. LUU holds Better Forums every term, where students have an opportunity to suggest ideas of how to improve the union, the University or the city. Ideas passed at these Better Forums become policy and are mandated to be acted upon by the six Student Executive Offi cers.


WORLD-CLASS FACILITIES

The students union also supports the Leeds University Union Postgraduate Society (LUUP) which welcomes all postgraduates, new and returning, from across the University. The society organises social events and networking opportunities for postgraduates, to help welcome, support and represent students during their studies. Its a fantastic way to meet fellow postgraduate students and membership is open to all students at the University, from mature students to those with families. More information can be found by emailing [email protected]

As a charity, LUU works to make sure you love your time at Leeds by delivering the things that matter to you. Find out more about one of the UKs best students unions atwww.leedsuniversityunion.org.uk

Follow LUU on Twitter: @LeedsUniUnionFind LUU on Facebook: Leeds University Union

WORLD-CLASS FACILITIES www.leeds.ac.uk 27

The students union offers a wide range of facilities to help students get exactly what they want from their time at the University. Help and guidance is free to all students through the Student Advice Centre, and there are opportunities to meet new people through the 250 clubs and societies, ranging from faith and culture to sports clubs and volunteering groups to name a few.

Other activity includes award-winning student media outlets and a student employment service. Find out more about these opportunities and the range of services offered to students by going to www.leedsuniversityunion.org.uk

SUPPORT www.leeds.ac.uk 29

SUPPORTAt the University of Leeds we pride ourselves in providing a supportive and welcoming environment for all students. We have a vast network of experienced staff and a wealth of services, and in partnership with the students union weve brought them all together in one place, so its easy to fi nd who to contact by using the help@leeds website. http://help.leeds.ac.uk

Student Counselling CentreThe Centre helps students to manage stresses, diffi culties and emotional problems that might prevent them from achieving their full academic or personal potential. The Centre offers free, professional, confi dential consultations, individual counselling, workshops and web-based self-help. For more information visit www.leeds.ac.uk/studentcounselling

Student Advice CentreThe Student Advice Centre based in the students union is a free and confi dential service specialising in housing, money and academic problems. The Student Advice Centre can assist you with applications to relevant discretionary sources of funding, budget planning and negotiating with creditors and managing debts. The Student Advice Centre can also advise on aspects of equality and diversity (eg age, gender, race, religion or belief, sexuality, pregnancy and maternity or gender reassignment). www.leedsuniversityunion.org.uk/helpandadvice

HealthcareIf you have permission to be in the UK as a student for more than six months, you will be entitled to free medical treatment through the National Health Service (NHS). You must register as a patient with a doctor and you will be entitled to free treatment in NHS hospitals (as long as the UK is your main home at that time).

The Student Medical PracticeLeeds Student Medical Practice is an NHS practice specialising in all aspects of student health. As well as the usual GP services, students registered at the practice can access a wide range of specialist services including sports medicine, travel advice and immunisation, all contraceptive requirements, asthma and diabetes management. www.leeds.ac.uk/lsmp

Bright Beginnings Childcare Centre Our Bright Beginnings Childcare Centre has 144 nursery places for children from three months to fi ve years and 56 play scheme places for school-age children. Governed by Ofsted, Bright Beginnings offers children learning experiences through play and the Early Years Foundati

Documents

Pgr Brochure 2014