Chloe Fox-Robertson, Geography & Environment, University of Manchester (2022 Cohort)

There’s something very special about settling down to work in a room with soaring ceilings, ornate architecture, and the portraits of prominent historical figures adorning the walls. That’s exactly what NWSSDTP-funded students experienced on 18 November at the writing retreat hosted in the historic Whitworth Hall at the University of Manchester.

The retreat brought together doctoral students from across the NWSSDTP for a day of dedicated, focused work time. Following the ESRC writing retreat format, the day kicked off with a goal-setting session where attendees shared what they hoped to accomplish before diving into structured writing blocks punctuated by regular breaks.

Despite the name, the retreat wasn’t just for those in the writing-up phase of their PhD – students used the time flexibly for data analysis, interview transcription, literature readings, chapter planning, or any other aspect of their PhD they prioritised that day.

The day offered a valuable opportunity to make real progress in a supportive environment. Some of the attendees shared their thoughts on the experience:

“I found it an excellent environment to help focus work and develop good habits. I enjoyed the structure of the day and especially enjoyed voicing goals and aims out loud so we were held accountable. It was very well run, and I felt connected to other members of the DTP. Overall excellent opportunity, I’m glad I attended.” – Helen

“The writing retreat was very well organised, and I appreciated the clear structure and time management throughout the day. The venue in Whitworth Hall was exceptionally beautiful, which added a strong sense of aesthetic pleasure to the experience and created a very productive atmosphere. Overall, I was able to complete everything I had planned, and I also had the opportunity to meet several interesting colleagues. It was a genuinely useful and enjoyable retreat.” – Olha

“I found the writing retreat really useful – it helped me get a focused start on some reading that I had wanted to do and it was a great environment for me to work. It was also really nice to get to chat to people from other universities and hear about their work and I’m looking forward to visiting other universities for future sessions. Thanks again for getting it organised!” – Charlie

I really enjoyed attending the latest NWSSDTP student-rep-led writing retreat at Whitworth Hall (University of Manchester). Being able to socialise with other DTP-funded students and learn about their impactful research projects is one significant benefit of attending an event like this. It was a really productive day, during which I accomplished a lot and completed tasks I had been putting off for a while. For that reason, I strongly recommend future sessions, as they also provide food and drink throughout the day.” – Sam

The combination of Whitworth Hall’s beautiful historic setting, well-organised structure, dedicated time to focus, and the opportunity to connect with fellow researchers across the NWSSDTP network created an environment where students could make genuine progress on their work.

Whether you’re wrestling with a tricky chapter, drowning in data, or simply need a day away from your usual workspace to tackle those tasks you’ve been avoiding, the NWSSDTP writing retreats offer a valuable opportunity to invest in your research progress and connect with your wider doctoral community. Be sure to keep an eye out for future writing retreat opportunities!