Our Training and Events

Updated: 17th November 2021

Spring term registration (for courses starting in January 2022) opens the week of 6th December 2021. Please revisit this page at that time for an updated list of confirmed courses and outlines. In the interim, you may reference the course outlines from the previous Spring term below.

The LISS DTP offers a rich and varied ‘menu’ of training and development opportunities, delivered through its Training Programme and through events organised by the DTP and its students. You should also take advantage of the many opportunities provided by other organisations: both these and LISS DTP events are advertised on our Events page.

On this page you will find information and guidance on the training we offer, such as reading groups led by students and/or academics and short courses, spanning areas such as:

Social theory & epistemology
Quantitative methods
Qualitative methods
Digital methods & archival research
Knowledge transfer & co-generation methodologies

Upcoming LISS Events

Eligibility and How to Book

Course Proposal Form

Internship Opportunities

Training FAQ

LISS Core and Advanced Methods in Social Sciences

Core Training

It is recommended that all first year doctoral students affiliated with LISS DTP undertake any core research methods training listed below that they have not covered during their Masters degrees.

LISS001 Research Design & Project Evaluation
LISS002 Reviewing the Literature
LISS003 Philosophy of the Social Sciences
LISS004 Introduction to Qualitative Research
LISS005 Introduction to Quantitative Research
LISS006 Introduction to Mixed Methods Research

Advanced Training

The advanced methods programme is made up of short courses, workshops, seminars and reading groups led by researchers from across our three partner institutions and external experts. It’s organised into the following platforms: Knowledge Exchange & Co-generation, Digital & Archival Research Methods, Social Theory & Epistemology, Advanced Qualitative Methods and Advanced Quantitative Methods. We are constantly developing new courses, so please check this page regularly for new additions. Please scroll down and click on a term to view available courses and outlines.

LISS Writing Skills

We offer a bespoke writing skills programme for LISS researchers featuring specialised workshops, writing retreats and opportunities for individualised support and feedback from our writing professionals. Click here to view our full writing skills programme for the 2021/22 academic year.

Selected workshops:

Writing for non-specialist audiences
Stylish academic writing
The art and craft of editing
Making the most of your writing time
Finding your voice in academic writing

How to Register

Follow the workshop links from the Events page to register via Eventbrite (registration available from 24th September).

Note: While you may be able to view our full writing programme for the 2021-22 academic year, we are only accepting registration for writing courses on a termly basis. See our Training FAQ for more information about our registration periods.

LISS Skillfluence: Connecting with Industry for Social Scientists

Connecting with Industry for Social Scientists – 6 week interactive masterclass for LISS DTP researchers

September 7th 2020 – October 12th 2020

Does your research provide answers to the key industrial and business challenges facing society and the economy? Would you like to increase the impact of you research, start up a social enterprise, or work collaboratively with different industries? Or are you looking to expand your skillset and boost your career options beyond the PhD?

This interactive, practical 6-week masterclass, designed specifically for researchers in the Social Sciences, will provide you with the knowledge, tools, and motivation to successfully engage with business and industry, communicate your research, and enhance your research profile. Working with experienced trainers and directly with speakers from industry, academia, and beyond, participants that complete the course will develop not only the skills and knowledge necessary to engage with business but will also gain valuable real-world insight from industry insiders.

How it works

This is a certificated 6-week online training programme, with live training modules taking place once week, every Monday morning from September 7th – October 12th.

Training sessions start at 10am and last between 2-2.5 hours:

20-30 mins pre-session work on the theory and introduction of the tools used in the next live session
60-75 minute live, interactive session, with theory and tools applied to engaging case studies, including group work and individual tasks to apply your learning
45-60 minute live “Conversation with Industry”: masterclass and Q&A with key figures from industry, business, and academia
30-45 minute application task post-session for you to apply all you’ve learnt to your own research situation, which is submitted for progress assessment and feedback.

How to register

This course is provided for free to LISS DTP postgraduate and post-doctoral researchers and has a maximum of 30 places available. Please sign up by Tuesday, 1st September.

Participants that complete the full course will a completion certificate at the end of the programme as well as the opportunity to apply for further funding and one-to-one mentorship on a project of their creation.

Before securing your place on this course, please ensure you can commit to all 6 weeks of the course. Participants that miss more than 2 sessions may be asked to give up their place to another researcher on a waiting list.

To book your place now, please fill out this application form.

About Skillfluence

This programme will be delivered in partnership with Skillfluence Ltd – an experienced, dynamic training company that provides transferable skills training to researchers and academics. Skillfluence specialises in upskilling participants to work effectively with others outside of academia such as businesses, industry and the public.

LISS Pathway Events

This page is under construction. Please check back later.

Imperial Business School Research Methods

Imperial College Business School has made modules on its Masters in Research (MRes) Programme available to all LISS DTP students on an audit basis. You may be particularly interested in the Research Design and Qualitative Methods modules. For further information about available modules, please see the following page: The Business School Master’s in Research (MRes)

If you would like to register, please contact Nicola Hann (n.hann@imperial.ac.uk) Senior Programme Manager, Doctoral Programme at Imperial College. Please note that attendance is subject to the agreement of the module leader.

NOTE: Some modules may have prerequisites (for example, the Research Design module requires knowledge of Stata).

Impact by Design - The Policy Institute, KCL

The Policy Institute at King’s College offers an online course, ‘Impact by Design’, which is designed to help people achieve impact with their research.

The course consists of two parts and is available to all LISS students via Keats. You will need to login with your k number.

Note: This is a self-guided online course that you can enrol on at any time.

How to Register

Please visit Impact by Design web page for full details.

ESRC NCRM Training

ncrm logo

LISS DTP students can access the extensive range of short courses run by the ESRC’s National Centre for Research Methods (NCRM). NCRM courses are available to LISS DTP students at a reduced rate of around £30; the course fee can be funded through the Research Training Support Grant.