Placements for Doctoral Researchers
“Have I learned a lot by doing a placement? Yes, an unbelievable amount. Would I recommend fitting one into your PhD? Wholeheartedly. Am I glad I did it? Absolutely yes!
Considering a placement? Do it - You’ll be amazed by what you can achieve.”
- Elspeth Latimer (CHASE funded PhD Researcher, University of East Anglia)
What is a placement?
A placement is an opportunity to undertake up to 6 months work with an organisation. You will not be expected to work on your PhD while undertaking a placement, and can apply to extend your stipend to account for this time. Placements are intended to create the opportunity to apply your research skills in a different context to your PhD.
Potential benefits include:
A chance to explore working in a research related role in sectors of the economy beyond Higher Education.
An opportunity to develop research skills with a higher education organisation, provided the project is distinct from your PhD.
Financial benefits such as a stipend, expenses paid, and a tuition fee waiver.
How to secure a placement
You can start a placement at any point throughout your PhD (subject to limitations).
Placements could be advertised by CHASE, organised with organisations directly, or even developed as your own small enterprise.
View our ‘How To’ guide for a step-by-step outline of the process. For more information you can also visit the CHASE Placements page or watch our interactive webinar below.
Saumya Nath’s Placement at Vitae
As a CHASE doctoral researcher, you have the opportunity to undertake a placement as part of your doctoral training. A placement is an excellent personal and professional development opportunity and you don't have to be funded by CHASE to be able to take part. Saumya Nath, a doctoral researcher at the University of Sussex, speaks about his placement at Vitae.
For more information visit the CHASE Placements page or see our “How To” Guide.
Global Placements
You can also undertake a placement in a country outside the UK.
In the video below, Craig Ryder, CHASE funded doctoral researcher at SOAS University of London talks about the benefits of undertaking a placement at the University of Helsinki.
“I met a new world of people working as curators and academics and designers.
[My placement] also allowed me to experience the options for work outside of academia, with the potential for using the skills gained during the PhD.”
— Flora Bartlett, CHASE funded student (Goldsmiths, University of London)