RePOWER: Returning to Postgraduate Study

Are you considering a return to postgraduate study after time away from higher education? Are you in employment and wondering if full or part-time postgraduate study might be the right next step for your career?  Are you concerned about the financial commitment?

We know that a return to postgraduate study might be daunting. But if you're considering masters-level courses or research degrees in the life and environmental sciences, RePOWER is designed to help you take the next step.

Organised by the Interdisciplinary Life and Environment Science Landscape Award (ILESLA) Doctoral Training Programme, funded by the BBSRC and NERC and supported by EPSRC, this one-day hybrid workshop brings together speakers from the University of Oxford, The Open University, and Oxford Brookes University. It offers an introduction to postgraduate study for those who are considering a return to education— particularly those who completed their last degree three or more years ago, or who have recently returned to study and are considering progressing to a PhD.

What to Expect:

 Find out about the range of postgraduate opportunities: diplomas, taught masters, and research degrees

 Learn about flexible study options: full-time, part-time, distance learning, or on-site research

 Gain practical guidance on how to apply and prepare for postgraduate study

 Hear directly from academic staff and current students about their experiences

 Connect with others who are on a similar journey

Whether you're looking to advance your skills, knowledge or career prospects, RePOWER will provide information and support if you’re considering a return to postgraduate study in the life and environmental sciences.

The 2026 programme will be confirmed in due course, but you can View last year's programme here

The talks and presentations will be recorded for those who are not able to attend and an online evening Q&A session will be held on 26th May from 7-8.30pm.  Please watch the recorded talks before attending the Q&A.  You can apply to attend either event using the link below.

RePOWER Survey

The ILESLA programme is running a research project to help us better understand how students who have had a gap between their undergraduate studies and their postgraduate applications experience the process of application. The study also includes undergraduate mature students. 

We are interested in your experiences as a prospective applicant to the ILESLA programme who may meet these criteria. We would like to invite you to complete a short survey as part of the research project. There is more information about the project, and a link to the survey, on this page