Other Training Opportunities
The SAGE programme is not intended to provide all the training required at postgraduate level, rather it is designed to complement the other opportunities available to you across the University and beyond. We strongly recommend all our postgraduates to take advantage of the wide variety of development opportunities, seeking out the best way to learn new skills, in the most appropriate setting, and suited to their needs.
What follows here are links to the opportunities available within the Faculty of Humanities and University.
Faculty Opportunities
The Faculty of Humanities Researcher Development Team offers a comprehensive programme of workshops and masterclasses specifically for PhD students, which runs from October to July each academic year. The programme has been designed to provide postgraduates with an opportunity to develop transferable skills which are essential for all researchers and concentrating on providing a good basis upon which to build subject specific knowledge and expertise. Much of the content focuses on managing the research project at its various stages and overcoming problems, as well as developing essential academic skills such as writing and teaching. The online Skills Audit can also be accessed through the Faculty training pages.
MA students are not eligible to take part in the Faculty training, which is only for research students. However, the Faculty of Humanities does offer online resources to help you develop your study skills. See the Study Skills website.
University Opportunities
IT Skills: IT courses are also available through IT Services covering everything from the basics of how to use a computer to programming. For most courses you will be charged £5 for your place. You can claim this back from the SAGE office if you need to. For details of all courses - IT Courses website.
The Humanities ICT office also offers a number of online resources such as manuals, instructional videos and online courses. Of particular interest may be Managing Long Documents in Word and Endnote.
Academic Writing: The University Language Centre offers support to international students in their written academic work. Home students may also be referred for an appointment if they are experiencing particular difficulties.
Information Management Skills: The John Rylands University Library (JRUL) offers a range of training sessions to help students get the most out of the resources and to develop their information skills. Your Academic Liaison Librarian can provide subject-specific training and support. Online information skills tutorials are also available through the Virtual Training Suite (free online tutorials to help improve internet information literacy skills), Safari (OU guide to accessing, finding and reviewing information) and TONIC (interactive guide to using the internet). Follow the JRUL via their twitter feed @jrulresearchers and for details of the library information workshops, please visit the Library Training Calendar
The Careers Service (MLP, Careers and Employability Division) offers a wide variety of services including guidance advice from professionals, information services for careers research, practice tests and interviews, opportunities to meet employers, a wide variety of events and skills development workshops, work experience and volunteering support and the Manchester Gold mentoring programme. See the Careers Service postgraduate specific pages and the Calendar of Events.
Other Institutions
The British Library offers postgraduate training days focussing on specific research subjects. Each day includes a general introduction to relevant research sources, curator talks and workshops, and details on how to get a Reader Pass. To ensure the days are accessible to research postgraduates from across the UK, students from outside London may apply for a limited number of travel bursaries.
Find out more.