DTP events – to help support your PhD journey into the biosciences

We have a number of FREE events available through the DTP to give you an insight into a PhD in the biosciences as well as support for applying and interviewing for PhD studentships.

  • Insight into a bioscience PhD
    • Virtual PhD Discovery Event
    • Virtual PhD Taster Summer School
  •  Support for applying and interviewing for PhD studentships 
    • Applying for a PhD Guidance Sessions
    • Interview with Confidence Workshops

To support access into bioscience PhDs, home students who have undertaken a first UK degree at a non-Russell Group university may be prioritised during registration for these events.

Stay in contact

If any of this events interest you, why not sign up to our mailing list below. We will then contact you when further details are released.  Otherwise please return to this webpage where we will also be posting details when we launch our events.


Insight into a bioscience PhD:

Virtual PhD Discovery Event

Ever considered doing a PhD in the biosciences? Not sure where to start or what PhD options there are out there? We are here to help!

Start exploring with this event, where you will be introduced to the world of bioscience PhDs, hear what life is like as a PhD student, how you can use a PhD across many career sectors and have the opportunity to chat with current PhD students in a friendly and inclusive space.

  • Date and time: April/May 2025
  • Approximate Length: 1 1/2 hours
  • Location: virtual

Virtual PhD Taster Summer School

Want to test out a PhD from the comforts of your own home in a friendly and supportive environment? Then this virtual event is for you.

This self-paced 3 week PhD Taster Summer School will give you first-hand an insight into the exciting world of a PhD. Working together as small collaborative teams (with support from our student mentors) you will tackle research questions, analyse data that is tailored to your interests, and share your findings with your fellow Summer School attendees. All whilst in a supportive and encouraging environment, to help you have the best experience. 

This will focus on data science in the biosciences; highly desirable across many career sectors, so not only will you have the experience of a mini-PhD project but also be upskilled in the process.

  • Date: July 2025
  • Length: Self paced pre-training (1-2 hours)Launch and closing events (2 hours each), optional support session (1 hour), 3 weeks self-paced (10-12 hours)
  • Location: virtual

Support for applying and interviewing for PhD studentships:

Applying for a PhD Guidance Session

Found a project/research area you are interested in, but not sure about the next steps?

As part of this event, you will be provided with a webinar ahead of the Q+A session to watch at your own pace.  This will help guide you through applying to different types of PhDs, approaching supervisors, what to include in your personal statement and CV, and all those other bits and pieces needed as part of your application.

There will then be a live Q+A opportunity with the SWBio DTP Hub Team, so you can ask them anything you want to know about bioscience PhD applications.

  • Date: Thurs 21 Nov 2024
  • We have 2 sessions that you can choose to join depending on what works best for you:
    • Session 1: 1-1:45pm (GMT)  
    • Session 2: 6:45-7.30pm (GMT) 
  • Length: 45 mins: Q+A with the DTP Hub Team / 1 hour: pre-event webinar
  • Location: Virtual

Registration for this event has closed.


Interview with Confidence Workshop

This highly practical and interactive training workshop will provide everything you need to know about interviewing, helping you get that bioscience PhD studentship.

A PhD interview is an opportunity to make a positive and memorable impression and this course will help you think about how you present your ideas and respond to questions effectively. Importantly you will get to try some techniques out yourself in a very supportive and fun setting. The best way to learn is to learn by doing!

It is no secret that many find interviews daunting and we hope this course will help you to feel more confident in your PhD interview.  Delivered by VOX coaching.

As part of the session, there will also be a Q+A opportunity with the DTP Hub Team, so you can ask them anything you want to know about bioscience PhD interviews.

    • Date: Tuesday 26 Nov 2024
    • We have 2 sessions that you can choose to join depending on what works best for you:
      • Session 1: 12-2pm (GMT)  
      • Session 2: 6-8pm (GMT)
    • Length: 2 hours
    • Location: virtual

Registration for this event has closed.