Hi ,

What’s inside this edition?

💬 Read Professor Matthew Grenby’s update on the University’s financial situation

💰 Find out about the increased UKRI stipend

📅 Join July’s PGR Community Hub events

🌻 Explore postgraduate wellbeing support

🛠 Apply for funding to prototype your ideas with START UP x Makerspace

👉 Scroll down for everything you need to know!

🎤 And don’t forget - today is the 3 Minute Thesis (3MT) Regional Final! 

Join us at 15:00 on Thursday 26 June in Lecture Theatre 1.006, Urban Sciences Building.

💬 Update for PGR students: University Financial Situation and Mitigations 

In common with institutions across the UK, this has been a challenging year for our University. Professor Matthew Grenby has written to update you on the financial situation and to offer some guidance in case you have concerns about the impact on your research.

Please read Matthew’s update on the PGR Noticeboard.

💰 Increased stipend rate for PGR students

The UKRI is increasing the minimum stipend they pay PhD students by 8% to £20,780 from 1 October 2025. In response to the announcement, the University has decided to match the UKRI stipend uplift for all those students whose stipend we fund. When we part-fund individual students, we will apply the uplift pro rata to our contribution.

For further information, please visit the PGR Noticeboard.

📅 What's on in July!

The PGR Community Hub is back for July with even more events to help you connect with peers, share insights and make progress on your dissertation or research project!

This month’s in-person and online events include:  

• Accountability Groups 
• Discussion Group: Making the Most of Conferences
• Practice Sharing Groups
• Writers’ Groups

Open to all PGRs from all faculties and at all stages, come along and join your PGR Community! 

🌻 Postgraduate wellbeing support

We know that being a postgraduate student can feel quite different from your previous academic experiences and adjusting can be stressful. That’s why we want to make sure you know where to find our free support when you need it.

All our usual wellbeing services, including counselling or disability support, are available to postgraduate students. We're here throughout the summer, Monday to Friday, 09:00-17:00 (please note that there are no evening clinics during this time).

We've also teamed up with the Students’ Union to share resources designed especially for our postgraduate community, including staff-student networks open to PGR students!

🛠️ START UP x Makerspace: Summer Design & Prototype Fund

Got an idea? Let’s build it. START UP and the Makerspace are giving you the tools, materials and space to bring it to life. Open to all curious minds - designers, engineers, entrepreneurs and more!

🗓️ Open Call: 9 June – 10 September

🔧 Prototyping: 1 July – 1 September

🎉 Demo Day: 18 September 

💬 You may be interested in...

Develop your information skills

The Library has created tailored self-enrol courses on Canvas for PGR students. These hours/credit bearing courses can be completed at your own pace, focusing on the content most relevant to your discipline.

The courses will help you find and manage information sources for your research more effectively. 

i-Lab X Social Enterprise - extra places available!

Ready to turn your ideas into impact? Join i-Lab X Social Enterprise, part of the Rob Wood Enterprising Futures Academy, to tackle real-world challenges and build entrepreneurial skills that drive social impact. No business experience needed! 

 📅 Apply by Sunday 13 July 

Have your say in your graduate future!

As a future Newcastle graduate, your voice matters! The Alumni team wants your feedback to improve the support we offer new graduates.

Tell us what services you know about, what you’d use and what’s missing. Survey closes on Friday 4 July.

🔗 Quick links

• Staying in Newcastle this summer? There’s plenty going on - from local events and activities to campus services and facilities that remain open. Check out our Summer in Newcastle page!
  
  
• Whether you’re perfecting your CV or exploring your next steps, book an online or in-person appointment with our Careers Service via MyCareer or browse our handy online resources.
  
  
• Calling university entrepreneurs! Apply for the Santander X UK Awards 2025 and take your business idea to the next level.
  
  
• Win tech prizes with Santander! Enter by Thursday 17 July to win an iPad or AirPods in their latest Tech Prize Draw.