On 13 May 2026, Europe will mark the inaugural European Doctoral Day, an initiative launched in 2026 and set to become an annual event. This day aims to highlight the pivotal role of PhD holders and of doctoral education in driving scientific excellence, innovation, and societal progress - both within academia and beyond.

This day complements initiatives like Choose Europe for Science to increase Europe’s attractiveness to early career researchers and is designed to:
•    Inspire European and international students to pursue doctoral education,
•    Increase employers’ awareness and recognition of doctoral qualifications,
•    Showcase the diverse career paths and societal contributions of doctoral graduates.

Visit the European Doctoral Day website for full details.

Join us for an online event

Journeys into the PhD - DTA Researcher Experiences from Diverse Professional Backgrounds

Wednesday 13 May 2026 - 3.30pm-5pm

A small group of current DTA doctoral researchers, including two international researchers undertaking their doctorates in the UK, will be sharing their experiences of entering a doctorate from different professional backgrounds. They will reflect on how their prior work experience has shaped their doctoral journey and how they anticipate the PhD influencing their future career direction. Each researcher will speak for approximately 15 minutes, followed by time for audience questions.

The purpose of this session is to enhance the attractiveness of doctoral education for local, European, and international students; to strengthen employer awareness and recognition of doctoral qualifications; and to highlight the diverse career pathways and societal contributions of doctoral graduates.

No registration required, simply join via Teams on the day.

Teams link: https://teams.microsoft.com/meet/386917280666748?p=BTOibboCmGqHhhaLXF 

Meeting ID: 386 917 280 666 748 
Passcode: h2Lq9nX7

Overview of University Alliance - Doctoral Training Alliance

As universities with diverse student communities, Alliance institutions play a vital role in broadening the diversity of the UK’s R&D talent pipeline and are committed to embedding equality, diversity and inclusion across their research programmes. University Alliance nurtures talented PhD researchers from around the world through its Doctoral Training Alliance (DTA) programmes. Its supportive and inclusive cohort model equips researchers with enhanced training that enables them to reach their full potential. Professional, personal and academic development sit at the core of the programmes. Working in partnership with member universities and expert external trainers, the DTA delivers a wide range of discipline specific and professional skills training. Through its nationwide network, the Alliance fosters connections across the UK and beyond, creating rich professional communities that link academics, professional staff, industry and international partners.