A key hallmark of our programme is to promote the sense of belonging to a strong supportive cohort in our students.
This is established early in the programme with the Residential Training Programme where students live and work together for a semester ensuring that this positive ‘cohort effect’ takes hold from the outset. The RTP, which will emphasize group-based problem solving, will immediately place students within a tight knit learning community, fostering cohesion which will be maintained throughout the programme by regular group interactions in person and electronically. This will develop interpersonal and professional skills, provide students with intellectual and moral support, and leverage a professional network within and beyond the cohort. The cohort experience contrasts with the conventional PhD experience where students often have limited peer support and graduate without a strong network to aid professional advancement.