POST GRADUATE Research Activities

The Philosophy Department Seminar Series takes place on Friday afternoons through the Autumn and Spring terms (2:30-4:30). Visiting speakers from various institutions present papers to the Department for discussion and all postgraduates are strongly encouraged to attend. Copies of these papers are emailed to students about a week in advance, or hard copies are available to collect from the Office.

Various Reading Groups are arranged throughout the year, both by members of staff and postgraduate students. Recently there have been reading groups on Feminist Philosophy, Critical Philosophy of Race, Ethics, Metaphysics, Implicit Bias. Feel free to organise your own!

The White Rose Postgraduate Forum. Postgraduate students from Sheffield, Leeds and York get together roughly once a semester for a workshop-style meeting, with papers from someone from each institution and replies from someone from another institution. The forum sometimes organises other events too, such as a recent “Paper Writing Workshop”.

Research centres, projects and forums. There are a number of research centres and projects involving the department, which run seminars and conferences of interest to graduate students. These include the Hang Seng Centre for Cognitive Studies, the Centre for Engaged Philosophy, and The Centre for the History of Philosophy (CHiPhi) - website coming soon.

Reading Weekend. This is in the Spring term, and is attended by postgraduates, undergraduates, and members of staff. The format usually consists of four student papers (often two from postgraduates) and a good deal of socialising.

Attending conferences. Although it is unusual for MA students to present their own work at conferences, they can benefit from attending conferences both in and outside Sheffield. It is worth talking to your supervisor about conferences you might be interested in attending.