Social and networking events

The Graduate College organise a number of social events across the academic year for the postgraduate research student community.

If you require any further information regarding the events listed below, please do contact us.

We are always interested in any feedback you may have regarding our social programme, along with any suggestions for future activities. In either case, please contact us via asa-gcevents@brookes.ac.uk

Upcoming events during 2023/24

Mystery walk Oxford City and Castle

Date: Tuesday 14 November, 15:00-17:00 

Meeting point: Bonn Square - Queens Street at 15:00.

Join us on this 2.3 mile circular walk around the City Centre looking for clues to solve a mystery. This event is aimed specially for new students but all students are invited to join, you will get to know some very interesting streets/alleyways in the city and meet other research students.

This is a self-guided detective mystery, with clues around every corner. You'll explore the heart of Oxford, hunting through the winding backstreets around the famous Colleges and uncovering incredible stories about Oxford's fascinating history.

If you join us please wear comfortable shoes.

We will finish for refreshments at a convenient place for those who want to chat a bit longer.

View of Oxford city spires

Bodleian workshop on letterpress printing

Monday 20 November 2023, 14:00 to 15:00

Do you like books? Would you like to know how they have been printed since medieval times? 

Book arts at the Bodleian Library

The Centre for the Study of the Book fosters the study of book arts through the Bodleian Bibliographical Press and through programmes for universities and the public.

A letterpress workshop in the Old Bodleian Library and a press in the public area of the Weston Library enable hands-on demonstrations and classes for universities, schools and the public. Since 1949, the Bodleian Library has maintained presses for the purpose of teaching practical printing. 

The Bodleian's letterpress workshop is located in the Schola Musicae, in the Old Bodleian Library see location in this map

Join us for this special workshop, maximum capacity is 15 people.   

Christmas Party

Early December (date TBC)

Last year, thanks to the resourcefulness and dedication of our student representatives, we started planning a Christmas celebration. Unfortunately, we did not manage to make it a reality due to time constraints. This year with the help from our student reps, we will try again to organise something for all of you. 

It would be an opportunity to socialise/network and relax with peers from other faculties as well as enjoying some light food and drinks.

Our fantastic student representatives are now finalising the planning and will be contacting all students with the date, venue and time for this party very soon. 

Thanks so much!

Guided Tour - Ashmolean Museum

23 January 2024

Join us for the 'Highlights tour' of the Ashmolean Museum. The Highlights tour will talk you through 26 of the Ashmolean's most treasured objects and artworks, from the Alfred Jewel to Guy Fawkes' Lantern. 

The Ashmolean is the University of Oxford's museum of art and archeology, founded in 1683.

We will meet in Gallery 21 at 14:45 for a 15:00 start.

Oxford University Museum of Natural History - A Guided tour

13 February 2024, 15:00-17:00

Join us for another fantastic guided tour of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History established in 1860. 

Highlights in the collections include the world's first scientifically described dinosaur – Megalosaurus bucklandii – and the world-famous Oxford Dodo, the only soft tissue remains of the extinct dodo. 

Our guided tour will take us behind the scenes where we will marvel at the effort to conserve and preserve specimens, take a close look at the only soft remains of the dodo, holding the oldest fragment of earth crust and a piece of Mars, will be some of the wonders you will experience.

Places are limited to 15 people. 


Graduate College Annual Research Student Exhibition

Tuesday 30 April 2024, 10:00 - 17:00 at The Forum JHB.

Compete with your fellow research students for a chance to win a range of cash prizes and have an opportunity to showcase your work to the wider University and external visitors.

All research students, at master's and doctoral level, are invited to submit and showcase their work at the Graduate College Research Student Exhibition. 

We will run it in the carpeted area of The Forum (John Henry Brookes) to properly showcase your submissions, not only to students and staff, but to visitors of the University. This will be a fantastic opportunity and a worthwhile experience for any of you who choose to get involved.

Guided Tour - Oxford Botanical Garden

Tuesday 7 May from 3-5pm

The Oxford Botanic Garden is the oldest in the UK with 5000 different plant species. The gardens have seven display glasshouses with plants from around the world, ranging from tropical to arid plant species. The first greenhouse was built more than 300 years ago to host exotic species such as citrus plants. The oldest part of the gardens is the Walled Garden, dating from 1621, housing Geographic Beds, Medicinal Plants and the Literary Garden. The Lower Garden holds several ornamental collections such as plants that have changed the world and the Gin Border please visit the garden pages  

We will be guided through the gardens by our fantastic guide Dr Andrew Lack, Senior Lecturer in Environmental Biology at Oxford Brookes. 

Entry to the gardens is free for Oxford Brookes staff and students (please bring your ID card).

Meeting point: garden entrance at 2.50pm

Three Minute Thesis Competition

Tuesday 25 June 2024

Where: Headington Hill Hall, 1-3pm

History

The Three Minute Thesis (3MT®) is an academic competition developed by the University of Queensland, Australia in 2008. By 2011 there were more than 900 countries worldwide holding these competitions. In 2020 3MT moved to a temporary virtual format due to COVID-19 and continued to be held around the world in either a virtual or a live format.

At Brookes, we started holding 3MT competitions at Faculty level before COVID-19. In 2022 we held a multi-faculty competition with fourteen research students presenting their thesis in a three minute video.

About the competition

Basically, you have to present your Doctoral research in just three minutes to a non-specialist audience, using just one static slide. The aim of this event is to help you develop your academic, presentation and research communication skills and to meet and network with students from all faculties.

What are the rules?

A single static PowerPoint slide is permitted. No slide transitions, animations or 'movement' of any description are allowed. The slide is to be presented from the beginning.

  • No additional electronic media (e.g. sound and video files) are permitted.
  • No additional props (e.g. costumes, musical instruments, laboratory equipment) are permitted.
  • Presentations are limited to 3 minutes maximum and competitors exceeding 3 minutes are disqualified.
  • Presentations are to be spoken word (e.g. no poems, raps or songs).
  • Presentations are considered to have commenced when a presenter starts their presentation through either movement or speech.

Additional help in preparing your presentation

There will be 2 online sessions on how to use Panopto, to be confirmed.

Additional resources which you might find helpful to prepare your presentation:

How to register and deadline for video submissions

If you would like to present your Doctoral research, please register for 3MT competition.

The deadline for submission of videos will be 5pm on Monday 10 June.

Prizes

There will be cash prizes for the winner, runner up and for the people's choice.

The winner's video will be sent to the National UK Vitae competition. 

The prize giving ceremony, video showcasing and networking lunch will be on Tuesday 25 June 2024 from 1:00 to 3:00 pm at the Green Room and Music Room in Headington Hill Hall.

If you prefer not to present at this time, but would like to support your peers, you are welcome to attend the prize giving ceremony and lunch at Headington Hill Hall by registering for the lunch celebration.

If you have any other questions please contact us on asa-gcevents@brookes.ac.uk

Key information/links

See videos from our winners at previous competitions:

2022

2023



Contact us

Research Degrees Team

rdt-researchdegrees@brookes.ac.uk