Engineering Information Fair and Drinks Reception

As part of Welcome Week, all new undergraduate students are invited to attend the Engineering Information Fair and Drinks Reception. The event is held in the impressive Playfair Library in the Old College, and gives new students the chance to socialise with each other and academic and support staff members. There are stalls from Careers Service, EngPals, the ETO, Security and IT Services amongst others.

Chemical Engineering Welcome BBQ

The ChemEng Welcome BBQ provided a great way to start the academic year off. There is free food and drink with entertainment provided by a live band! Students and staff have a great time socialising and getting to know one another.

Postgraduate Taught Trip to Pitlochry

We welcome PGT students and introduce you to Scotland by taking you on a trip to Pitlochry, a charming town located at the gateway to the Highlands. To begin the trip you will visit the Pitlochry Dam & Fish Ladder, which was built in 1947 as part of a network of dams in the Highlands to generate electricity. This will be followed by a choice of either a tour of Blair Athol Distillery or a guided visit to the National Trust Park in Killiecrankie. After the tour of the distillery, you may have some free time in the town of Pitlochry to explore the quaint shops and picturesque landscapes.

Postgraduate Research Trip to Firbush Outdoor Centre

Every year (around May) the Graduate School offers new PhD students the chance to get away from it all at the University’s Firbush Outdoor Centre. Situated on the banks of Loch Tay, the Centre offers a variety of outdoor activities, which, combined with the activities organised by the School, make for a fantastic 3 day retreat. This is a great opportunity to get to know your fellow students, and escape from your desk for a few days! It is also a valuable opportunity to reflect upon your PhD, share experiences, and gain skills that are useful for your research.

You will receive an email a few months before the trip with more details - you can sign up then and pay a small deposit (this is all you will pay as the School subsidises this trip). Activities to develop your group working, research and planning skills include:

• Canoeing
• Orienteering
• Hillwalking
• Mountainbiking
• Team building sessions
• Reflection on your PhD and planning for the future

The Graduate School BBQ

This is a chance for all staff, researchers and postgraduate research students to get together and chat over a burger and a beer (vegetarian and non-alcoholic options are available!). After a hard day’s study, come along for a relaxed social where you can meet people from other Institutes.

You will receive an email about the BBQ – just register to let the Graduate School Office know that you will be coming and turn up on the day.

The Graduate School Postgraduate Conference

Every year, the Graduate School organises a Postgraduate Research Conference to showcase the work being done by students across the Research Institutes. This is usually held at Pollock Halls in April. The Conference is a celebration of the research within the School of Engineering, and includes Keynote presentations that encourage you to reflect upon your PhD and your future career plans. Research students from all years are expected to attend.

During the Conference, 2nd year PhD students present a poster and give a short presentation about their research. Communicating your research findings is a critical skill, and the Postgraduate Conference is an informal opportunity to practice this. Prizes are given for the best poster and presentation and prior to the Conference training is provided by IAD.

You should register for and attend the IAD training for the Conference to help with your poster and presentation.

You can read more and view posters from previous conferences within our research pages.