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Join the PhD Support Group in 2025-26

Is being a research student making you feel isolated? Is your concentration on your research affected by stress, anxiety or other worries? 

The PhD Support Group can help!

Published:
Images of students receiving support from Student Services staff member and interacting with peers. Taken for the Undergraduate Prospectus 2024.

Are you feeling blocked in your work or worried about your career prospects?

Is it hard to maintain confidence, motivation or a sense of the relevance of your research? 

Do you need someone to talk to? 

Concerns such as these affect many PhD students and can obstruct academic progress. In response, the Advice and Counselling Service are offering Support Groups for PhD Students for the 8th consecutive year in 2025-26. The groups aim to provide a safe, confidential space in which PhD students can support each other with personal, emotional and relationship issues encountered on the PhD journey.

“Finally, I can open up and talk about my problems that have been bothering me for a long time, but I didn't know how to deal with or how to talk about it with other people. And it feels nice to know it is not shameful to have these problems and it doesn't mean I am not good enough” - previous PhD Support Group participant. 

Through sharing with others who have similar experiences you can gain a clearer perspective and identify more effective ways of managing the tension between personal and emotional issues and academic demands. The groups are facilitated by Ben Priest, Counsellor.

“The group made me feel seen, validated some of my experiences, and made me feel less alone in my struggles”. - previous PhD Support Group participant. 

When and where?

Each support group will run at the Mile End campus for 8 weekly sessions on Thursdays from 11.00am to 12.30pm, with a maximum of 8 participants in each group. You are expected to attend all 8 sessions, plus a short, individual appointment before you join any group. Places are offered on a first-come, first-served basis.

Spaces are available for:

  • Group B: 15 January - 5 March 2026
  • Group C: 12 March - 7 May 2026 (excluding 2 April).

To find out more and sign up, visit the PhD Support Group webpage. 

 

 

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