The Doctoral Life Cycle: Alumni & Candidate Exchange (VUPA)

The Victoria University Postgraduate Association (VUPA) invites you to a professional forum designed for PhD candidates at every stage of their journey. The Doctoral Life Cycle provides a dedicated space on campus to address the shared realities and inherent challenges of the doctoral experience.

This session bridges the gap between current researchers and distinguished alumni to facilitate a strategic exchange of knowledge. This is a focused discussion on navigating the rigorous demands of doctoral study: from managing research isolation and the mid-candidacy slump to maintaining momentum through to the final submission. We will explore the universal hurdles of the PhD and the resilience required to thrive throughout the doctoral lifecycle.

✨ Event Highlights:

• Alumni Perspectives: Gain hindsight from PhD graduates on how they navigated the specific academic and personal hurdles of their candidacy.

• Interdisciplinary Solidarity: Connect with candidates and alumni from all disciplines to discuss the universal challenges of deep research.

• Navigating the Journey: A focused dialogue on managing isolation, mental fatigue, and the high-level project management of a thesis.

• Catering Provided: Food will be provided to facilitate informal networking and peer connection.

📍 Venue: P134 (Building P) - Victoria University, Footscray Park Campus

📅 Date & Time: 29 May 2026 – Session starts at 5 PM (Arrive 15 minutes earlier for registration)

⏳ Duration: 2 hours

♿ Accessibility: Wheelchair accessible

📧 Inquiries & Support:

Registration: This is a free event; however, registration is essential to help us confirm catering and participant numbers.

For any questions or further information regarding the event, please contact:

Wania Anoosh (Vice President - Research) – vpresearch@vupa.org.au

Unable to attend? Please email vpresearch@vupa.org.au to cancel your registration.