This is my final update for 2025. The temptation to write an end-of-year retrospective is high, but the newsletter copy deadline is looming,* so I shall take some of my own favourite advice to postgraduate researchers: don’t let the best be the enemy of the good.** Or, as a good friend and PhD graduate puts it, “don’t get it right, get it written!”. 

The end of the calendar year marks the end of my first year as Dean. I am grateful to everyone who has supported me in moving into this new role, and especially grateful for the opportunities I have had along the way to meet many of you and hear about your research and your experiences - including Brenda, who is featured in ‘meet the PGR’ this month. I’m hoping there will be lots more occasions on which to meet many more of you in 2026. And of course, in universities, we have not one but three different year ends at which to reflect: the calendar, academic and financial, so there’s always next time for the year-in-review. If you are looking for a New Year’s resolution there are numerous opportunities of different kinds in this edition of the newsletter, read on for more.

Let me wish you all the best for the festive season and for the New Year 2026. May all your instruments work, literature searches be fruitful and theoretical frameworks be consistent.*** And above all, please take the opportunity which every researcher needs to switch off and rest during the holidays.

Best wishes,
Paul

* I asked GenAI to write me a YGRS festive song, but the results were terrible

** Attributed to Voltaire, but he took it from an Italian proverb

*** Delete as relevant to your discipline! :-)

Operating hours will be reduced for some on-campus services during the vacation, and if you are travelling in and around the city, First Bus will be operating a limited timetable on University of York services from Sunday 14 December until Sunday 4 January 2026. The University Library will be closed between 25-26 December and on 1 January, but will otherwise remain open to support your studies. 

Looking for things to do over the break? Why not…?

Have a little one staying with you? Explore Visit York’s dedicated family friendly events listing for day-out inspiration, including where and when to meet the elusive Santa Claus…

Did you know that our annual utility bill amounts to a staggering £13 million! If you are heading off for the winter break, please complete our switch-off checklists to help us meet our energy and cost-saving targets.

A SITS/e:vision Live system upgrade is scheduled to take place from Tuesday 16 to Thursday 18 December. During this period the systems will be unavailable. Contact sits-support@york.ac.uk if you have any queries.

If your work, research or study involves interacting with a foreign power (eg a sovereign, government or government agency), then you are now required by law to confirm whether your activity needs to be registered with the Foreign Influence Registration Scheme (FIRS) and take appropriate action. The scheme applies to both institutional and individual activities, and to students as well as staff. Relevant activities can include research projects, funding arrangements, philanthropic donations and international visitors. Visit the FIRS web page to learn more and use the contact details on the page if you have any questions.

The University of York's Fair Attribution Guidance outlines our commitment to ensuring the contributions of all research team members are appropriately and visibly recognised, and attributed through inclusion on research outputs. In the coming weeks, this guidance will be added to SkillsForge - there will be a milestone in ‘Meetings’ > ‘Deadlines’, where you will be asked to review the guidance with your supervisors and confirm this via the check box. This guidance will be added as part of an upcoming update to SkillsForge, which will bring some visual changes to the platform.

Whether you’re leaving York or staying on campus, student support continues over the winter break. We have lots of information on the website about:

Interested in playing squash? Beginner Coaching, League, and Regular Games on campus. Get involved with squash.

This new Research impact support and resources Google site contains up-to-date information about research impact at York, including:

Our online Writing Retreats give you time, peace, and space to fend off procrastination and beat writer's block. Each session will provide a friendly and constructive environment in which to meet like-minded peers, discuss challenges and work in a focused way using the established Pomodoro technique.

PGRs in the following eligible departments can access a range of training as part of the WRDTP training calendar. See the full range of workshops and how to book your place.

Want to stay connected with the University of York's research community? Sign up for our Research Highlights newsletter for a curated mix of news, events, and success stories delivered straight to your inbox.

The Bank of England is offering paid PhD Internships for 2026, aimed at PGRs who would like to gain experience of policy-relevant research in a policy institution. To apply, you must be working towards a PhD in a subject relevant to central bank policymaking. Places are available in London or Leeds. Apply by 19 January 2026.

Prosper (University of Liverpool) and UKRI are conducting a study on PGR experiences and aspirations for career development. Learn more and fill out the survey.

See any current Graduate Teaching Assistant (GTA) teaching opportunities on Handshake.

If you're planning to teach as a GTA at York, you need to complete Introduction to Teaching and Learning training first. There are three different workshops; you should complete the one recommended by your department. For any queries, please contact the Academic Practice Team: academic-practice@york.ac.uk.

Looking for events and/or public speaking experience? Pint of Science returns 18-20 May 2026, and the team are looking for engaging speakers and enthusiastic volunteers to help organise and run their events. As an annual science festival that brings researchers into local pubs and cafés to share their work with the public in a relaxed, informal setting, it’s a great opportunity to network with researchers, build public engagement experience and talk science! Find out more and apply. 

Sustainability Week will take place from Monday 2 to Friday 6 March 2026, and we’re looking for staff and students to help make it inspiring and impactful. If you would like to run an event or activity that puts sustainability at its core, we’d love to hear from you, whether you’re applying as an individual or as part of a team. We’re open to all kinds of formats, so get creative! Express your interest by completing the Google form.

LGBTQ+ History Month 2026 has the theme of Science and Innovation - highlighting contributions of LGBTQ+ people in these fields. The Rainbow Alliance at York are looking for a range of activities across the University to help mark the month, and are offering to support interested parties with organisation and promotion. Contact the Rainbow Alliance for more information. 

York International Women’s Week will return from 1-8 March 2026 with the theme, ‘Weaving Women’s Stories’.  Submit your application by 7 January 2026. 

Have an idea to make campus more sustainable? Applications for the York SU Sustainable Development Grant are now open to both staff and students. Offering funding to projects and initiatives that address at least one of the UN Sustainable Development Goals, past successful projects have included Beekeeping Society setting up beehives near campus, and Technical Theatre Society introducing reusable batteries. Submit your application by Friday 16 January. 

"...I completed my degree in my forties whilst working full time and bringing up 3 children. As soon as I retired I completed my Master’s degree, and am now beginning the second year of my PhD research. So my message is, you are definitely never too old!"

Our latest PGR Spotlight features Brenda Metcalfe: PhD researcher (English), book connoisseur and devoted grandmother of six. Find out more about Brenda’s topic, life beyond her studies and advice she’d give to her younger self. 

Could you be our next spotlight? Contact our newsletter team at student-communications@york.ac.uk for more information on taking part in upcoming ‘Meet The PGR’ features.

Congratulations to Awais Hussain (Linguistics), winner of the Arts and Creative Industries Award at the 2025 Yorkshire Asian Young Achievers Awards. Awais is the co-founder of Apna Heritage, a UK charity focusing on South Asian history, storytelling, genealogy, and culture. In 2024, he launched a major project documenting South Asian migration and building a global heritage platform. 

University of York
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www.york.ac.uk

ygrs@york.ac.uk

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