PhD Experience

"The University of Leeds and the Centre of Contemporary Political Theory (CCPT) have combined to make my PhD experience a joyful and positive one. My supervisors (and other faculty members for that matter) find the delicate balance that all PhDs need: they allowed my voice to be heard within my research but have not left me rudderless within the multiple obstacles all researchers face. The PhD community itself within POLIS is large and diverse. To be able to meet, engage, discuss and learn from such a varied group of people, has been the most unique and wonderful experience of the PhD. The CCPT has provided opportunities for development and growth. There are boundary-pushing ideas on display at every seminar. World-class invited speakers visit the centre regularly, and the centre has fostered an environment that is a safe space for all ideas to be discussed and challenged. Specifically for PhDs, the CCPT provides a useful infrastructure in which they can participate. For example, during my time at the CCPT, I was supported by the directors and other members to help organise a post-graduate conference within the centre. All in all, the CCPT is a distinctive centre that enhances the research experience for all who interact with the centre."

- Paul Geyer

My supervisors not only gave me helpful and honest feedback but were regularly available over email. At the same time, I also felt a genuine sense of independence where I could direct the research towards the aims that I wanted. In essence, my supervisors gave me the tools to achieve my goals while giving me the freedom to pursue the direction I wanted.

Presenting at conferences and at CCPT’s work-in-progress sessions helped me write abstracts for conferences, structure papers for academic audiences, and prepare job applications. It also helped me become a more confident public speaker over time.

- Sam Mace