Professional Skills Programme
2026-27 Key Dates Calendar
Course Title/Deliverable | Date and Time | Course Provider | Delivery Method |
Mental Health & Wellbeing (part of the Welcome Event) | Wednesday 9th September 2026, 3-4pm | Heriot-Watt | In person at Heriot-Watt (Craig Room) |
CDT team visit to St Andrews | Wednesday 7th October 2026 | CDT Team | University of St Andrews (room TBC) |
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (Unconscious Bias) | Thursday 22nd October, 2-4pm | Equate Scotland | Online |
Equality, Diversity & Inclusion (Active Bystander) | Wednesday 28th October, 2-4pm | Equate Scotland | Online |
Planning & Writing a Literature Review | Tuesday 23rd February 2027, 9.30am-12.30pm followed by lunch and by a cohort dinner in the evening with Y2 students | Electv | In person at Heriot-Watt University (GR1BR) |
Huddersfield Residential Week | 5 days in April 2027 (TBC) | Huddersfield | In person at University of Huddersfield |
Annual Appraisal Submission | Friday 14th May 2027 | NA | Online form |
Deadline for Supervisor Annual Appraisal Comments | Friday 4th June 2027 | NA | NA |
| CDT Summer School | Saturday 5th-Saturday 12th June 2027 | CDT | In person at University of Stirling |
| Window for Independent Appraisal Meeting | Monday 7th June-Thursday 1st July 2027 | NA | NA |
| Makerspace briefing | 1 day in June 2027 (TBC) | CDT | Online |
Responsible Research & Innovation | Wednesday 23rd June | Orbit | In person at Heriot-Watt University University |
| Annual Appraisal Deadline | Friday 2nd July 2027 | NA | NA |
| ‘Makerspace’ workshop | July 2027 (dates TBC) | University of Cambridge | In person |
| Trusted Research | To be completed by end July 2027 at the latest | University of Strathclyde | Online |
| Literature Review | Friday 27th August 2027 (latest) | NA | By email to cdtphotonics@hw.ac.uk |
Course Title/Deliverable | Date and Time | Course Provider | Delivery Method |
September Quarterly Review | Wednesday 30th September 2026 | NA | Online form |
Delivering Successful Projects | Semester 1 (dates TBC) | HWU | Online |
Digital Outreach | Monday 2nd November, 10am-3pm | Glasgow Science Centre | Online |
Graphics and Social Media Workshop | Thursday 5th November, 10am-1pm | Glasgow Science Centre | Online |
December Quarterly Review | Thursday 31st December 2026 | NA | Online form |
Financial Decision Making | Semester 2 (dates TBC) | HWU | Online |
Conference Presentation Skills | Tuesday 23rd February 2027, 1.30pm-4.30pm, preceded by lunch at 12.30pm and followed by a cohort dinner in the evening with Y1 students | Electv | In person at Heriot-Watt (GR1BR) |
Intellectual Property | Wednesday 24th February 2027, 10am-3pm, lunch included | Abel & Imray | In person at Heriot-Watt (GR1BR) |
March Quarterly Review | Wednesday 31st March 2027 | NA | Online form |
| Annual Appraisal Submission | Friday 14th May 2027 | NA | Online form |
| Deadline for Supervisor Annual Appraisal Comments | Friday 4th June 2026 | NA | NA |
| CDT Summer School | Saturday 5th-Saturday 12th June 2027 | CDT | In person at University of Stirling |
| Window for Independent Appraisal Meeting | Monday 7th June-Thursday 1st July 2027 | NA | NA |
| Annual Appraisal Deadline | Friday 2nd July 2027 | NA | NA |
Course Title/Deliverable | Date and Time | Course Provider | Delivery Method |
Writing for Publication | Tuesday 22nd September 2026, 9.30am-12.30pm, followed by lunch and by a cohort dinner in the evening with Y4 students | Electv | In person at Heriot-Watt University (GR1BR) |
September Quarterly Review | Wednesday 30th September 2026 | NA | Online form |
December Quarterly Review | Thursday 31st December 2026 | NA | Online form |
Inspire & Challenge Outreach Workshop | Friday 26th February 2027, 10am-4pm | Glasgow Science Centre | In person |
March Quarterly Review | Wednesday 31st March 2027 | NA | Online form |
Inspire & Challenge Outreach Delivery | Friday 9th April, 10am-3pm | Glasgow Science Centre | In person |
Strategic Marketing | Semester 2 (dates TBC) | HWU | Online |
Annual Appraisal Submission | Friday 14th May 2027 | NA | Online form |
Deadline for Supervisor Annual Appraisal Comments | Friday 4th June 2027 | NA | NA |
| CDT Summer School | Saturday 5th-Saturday 12th June 2027 | CDT | In person at University of Stirling |
| Window for Independent Appraisal Meeting | Monday 7th June-Thursday 1st July 2027 | NA | NA |
| Annual Appraisal Deadline | Friday 2nd July 2027 | NA | NA |
Course Title/Deliverable | Date and Time | Course Provider | Delivery Method |
Thesis Writing Workshop | Tuesday 22nd September 2026, 1.30-4.30pm preceded by lunch at 12.30pm and followed by a cohort dinner in the evening with Y3 students | Electv | In person at Heriot-Watt University (GR1BR) |
Attracting Funding and Writing Persuasively | Wednesday 23rd September 2026, 9.30am-12.30pm | Electv | In person at Heriot-Watt University (GR1BR) |
September Quarterly Review | Wednesday 30th September 2026 | NA | Online form |
December Quarterly Review | Thursday 31st December 2026 | NA | Online form |
March Quarterly Review | Wednesday 31st March 2027 | NA | Online form |
Annual Appraisal Submission | Friday 14th May 2027 | NA | Online form |
| Deadline for Supervisor Annual Appraisal Comments | Friday 4th June 2027 | NA | NA |
| CDT Summer School | Saturday 7th-12th June 2027 | CDT | In person at University of Stirling |
| Window for Independent Appraisal Meeting | Monday 7th June-Thursday 1st July 2027 | NA | NA |
| Annual Appraisal Deadline | Friday 2nd July 2027 | NA | NA |