Training

The ESRC is committed to the development of highly capable and innovative researchers, who are equipped for a wide range of careers and able to contribute to the broader economy and society.

Like all our research students, our ESRC scholars follow a programme of core and advanced research training throughout their doctoral studies. Each of our 23 pathways has specific requirements and expectations, but all comply with the ESRC’s 2022 research training guidelines.

Working with your supervisory team, you will identify your training and professional development needs. Carrying out an annual Training Needs Analysis (TNA) or Development Needs Analysis (DNA) you will create a tailored plan designed to meet these needs over the full length of your doctoral life course.

As a student in the Grand Union DTP you will be able to take advantage of a mixture of pathway-specific, university-wide and online training opportunities across all 3 institutions. The dedicated training websites at Brunel, The Open University and Oxford University list courses and resources covering the four domains of the Vitae Researcher Development Framework (RDF), including research design and methods, communication, entrepreneurship, research integrity, digital literacy, project and data management, fieldwork, collaboration, Knowledge Exchange, research leadership and cultural competencies.

Training is offered in both face-to-face and online formats, allowing you to pursue opportunities as appropriate for your own course of study. Students are encouraged to share their own expertise and access to cohort funds will enable students to design and deliver training, seminars, workshops and conferences where appropriate. You can find links to the various training resources at each institution detailed below. 

There are also external opportunities to explore, such as National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM), for which you can find details below. 

Identifying your training and development needs

We expect our ESRC scholars to develop a personalised plan for developing the research and leadership skills they need.  

What is a Training Needs Analysis (TNA) or Development Needs Analysis (DNA)?

Throughout your degree, you are encouraged to reflect and think strategically about your ongoing development as a researcher. The ESRC requires that all students must complete a training/development needs analysis on an annual basis as a condition of their studentships. This will help you work with your supervisor to develop bespoke training and development objectives each year. 

Those whose funding started before October 2024 will complete the TNA.

Those whose funding started from October 2024 will complete the DNA.

Training Resources and External Opportunities

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Please find below the relevant links to access researcher development training opportunities at each partner institution. 

 

 

Where specific training is not available at your home institution, training courses may be available instead at one of our partner institutions. If you have any questions about accessing training listed on the above sites, please make the DTP office at your home institution your first contact and they can assist you from there. 

 

In 2004 the Economic and Social Research Council (ESRC) set up the National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM) at the University of Southampton. NCRM was tasked to increase the quality and range of methodological approaches used by UK social scientists through a programme of training and capacity building, and with driving forward methodological development and innovation through its own research programme.

The courses are very reasonably priced for students and they are covering a wide range of topics, offered by both NCRM as well as external training providers. 

Students can browse the full training database here. 

 

At each of the partner institutions there is a dedicated Careers Services which can provide support, resources, and careers advice. Please do visit the below website for your institution for further information:

 

 

If you have any queries, please do feel free to reach out to the relevant DTP institution who will be happy to help.

 

The Department for Continuing Education at Oxford has a large library of short and online courses you may be able to access as a DTP funded student. You can view the full list on the Department of Continuing Education website here. 

If you have any queries about accessing a course, please do reach out to the DTP and we can advise in the first instance. 

 

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