PhD Max+

Explore where your research could take you next. Over eight weeks, you'll take part in a series of interactive workshops and hear directly from startup founders who were once PhDs or Postdocs themselves. This is a low-commitment way to test the waters with no prior business experience needed, just curiosity about where your research could go outside of academia.

You'll learn how to communicate your research in commercial language, understand the basics of market research and build your pitching skills, with the chance to pitch your own idea by the end of the programme. Along the way, you'll also join a community of fellow research students from across the university interested in creating real world impact. 

You'll get:

• Skills to communicate the impact of your research
• A community of PhD, MScR students and Postdocs from across the University of Edinburgh
• The chance to meet and learn from real PhD student and Postdoc founders
• Learn more about key topics such intellectual property and market research
• The opportunity to pitch your early-stage idea for a share of £1,000

Funding 

We have two prize pots at the end of the PhD Max+ programme: 

• A pot of £1,000 for PhD and Masters by Research students 
• A pot of £1,000 for Postdoctoral researchers (please note this must be spent on conference/event attendance and/or travel only)

Format: An eight-week programme with weekly two-hour workshops.

Sessions are TBC but will cover topics such as market research, pitching your ideas, intellectual property, and more.

Who’s it for? Any PhD, Masters by Research student/alumni or Postdoctoral Researcher who wants to explore and experiment, whatever your course, background or experience level. No experience is needed, just curiosity, creativity and a willingness to get stuck in. 

Deadline: Monday 18th January 2027 at 5pm (GMT).