Pre-Doctoral Programmes & Tasters

Pre-doctoral programmes tend to function as bridge to doctoral education, raising awareness of a university’s research and the opportunities for interested candidates to evaluate whether it is right for them. They also give potential doctoral students the opportunity to identify and develop research project proposals and, often, to gain some of the skills associated with academic preparedness. This introduction will take stock of the scale and range of activity in the sector and assess the current offer.

Sharing their experience of ​‘Excel in Science’ and ​‘Magnify Summer School’ at the University of Nottingham, this session will discuss programmed approaches to access and preparing for research. Excel in Science is a programme of events and initiatives which tackle diversity challenges in academia by supporting undergraduates from under-represented backgrounds to make informed decisions about future research careers. It offers research internships, an extra credit module which includes webinars with multiple speakers demystifying career journeys, and events with external stakeholders such as National Geographic to empower students to create and pursue their own goals. The Nottingham BBSRC’s Magnify programme is a summer school which allows undergraduate students in the biological sciences to gain lab experience, build networks and confidence, and learn more about doctoral studies. Magnify has been designed with widening access and participation in postgraduate study at its heart, and all participants need to meet at least one of the widening participation criteria.

This session will look at how California State University (CSU) students are prepared for doctoral programs. It will discuss the Pre-Doctoral Program and the CSU Chancellor’s Doctoral Incentive Program, discussing the approach to support and mentorship and the terms of the schemes.