Post Graduate Research Association (PGRA) at CCCU
Who We Are:
Welcome to the Post Graduate Research Association (PGRA). We are an inclusive, independent, voluntary, student-led committee that aims to represent and further the interests of all post graduate research students at CCCU.
What we do:
The PGRA oversees the organisation of the PGRA Annual Conference, where post graduate students can present their research and network with their community. We also hold informal Research Retreats on campus to help foster a research community amongst CCCU post graduate research students. Additionally, we organise social events to help students get to know each other on a more informal basis.
There are a number of voluntary roles within the PGRA, all of which are filled by students at CCCU. These include co-chairs who oversee the group's running, representatives of the Medway Campus, the Students' Union through the Union Council, and other research boards*, as well as organisers of the conference and other PGRA social activities.
If you would like to get involved with the PGRA we are always looking for more volunteers. If you are interested, please email pgra@canterbury.ac.uk for more details. You can also use this email to pass on any comments to us, where we can pass them on to the Graduate College anonymously on your behalf or answer any questions you may have.
*Students who sit on research boards as well as the PGRA, are always keen to hear about your post graduate experience. If you have anything you would like to feedback to the Graduate College and university you can do so through our Padlet.
Information on accessing Padlet: To post or comment you will have to register and sign up for Padlet using your CCCU Microsoft Account with this link: https://cccu.padlet.org/.
Then you can access and add to the Student Feedback Padlet at the link below. By scrolling left and right as well as up and down you will be able to view the different topics presented for feedback.
Calendar of Events for the Academic Year 2024/25:
PGRA Conference 2025
We are pleased to announce that the PGRA Conference will again be taking place this year on Sunday 8th June (Microsoft Teams) and on Monday 9th June (Canterbury Campus - Verena Holmes Building)
If you do wish to attend and/or participate then please complete the following forms:
Submissions for papers will close on Friday 16th May, and are open to all postgraduate research students, including Masters by Research. Undergraduates and taught postgraduates are welcome to attend the conference.
Please note if you wish to attend and present then you must fill out both forms. If you only wish to attend then you need only fill in the Graduate College form. Please let us know if you have any problems registering.
PGRA Research Retreats
In-person retreats, held on alternative Tuesdays and Fridays from 10:00-17:00
- Tuesdays (Augustine House Library): 3rd Floor Post Grad Space
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April - 1st, 15th, 29th
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May - 13th, 27th
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June - 10th, 24th
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July - 8th, 22nd
- Fridays (Grad College): Room ER0.01
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April - 11th, 25th
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May - 9th, 23rd
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June - 6th, 20th
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July - 4th, 18th
Online retreats, held monthly on a Saturday from 10:00-13:00
Incase of changes, please check on Research Space. You can also log your attendance here for the session to contribute to your project Log. Links to online retreats will be accessible on Research Space as well as being emailed out to students who have signed up to the session.
New events, including socials, will continue to be added.
Postgraduate Study Spaces
Canterbury Campus
- Erasmus Building, North Holmes Road (Graduate College): newly refurbished and bespoke creative space for students to meet and relax, as well as state-of-the-art IT facilities which are for the exclusive use of postgraduates. This is where you can join with other postgraduate students for academic discussion and social interaction, not just within your field of study but across the range of academic disciplines.
- Postgraduate Zone, Augustine House: co-located on the third-floor Collaborative Zone, in front of the moving shelves. Postgraduates are offered priority for the seating and computers in this location and we promote students connecting with their peers whilst studying in the space. The remainder of the third-floor Collaborative zone is for all student users.
Medway Campus
- Medway postgraduate study room (DC118): located on the first floor of the Drill Hall Library provides a dedicated space for all Medway postgraduate students (both taught and research) to study and network.
Helpful Links for Postgraduate Students