Benchmarking Researcher
Access, Culture and Experience
(BRACE) Report
Understand the doctoral experience.
Act on what the evidence shows.
UKRI expects centres to evidence not only research outputs, but the quality, inclusivity and sustainability of the doctoral training environment created through the CDT investment.
Without structured evidence, it can be difficult to present a clear and externally credible account of researcher experience and research culture at the point funders and institutions are assessing legacy and impact.
The Benchmarking Researcher Access, Culture and Experience (BRACE) Report demonstrates areas of excellence and opportunity within your CDT based on PGR and supervisor experience, through benchmarking, stakeholder experience data, and recommendations – all using a Fairness, Inclusion and Equity (FIE) framework with value, coproduction and context at the core.
Hear from our clients
“The BRACE report was incredibly useful and accurate. It was revealing to read the recommendations and the evidence BRACE presented was clear that that these are an important component; which we will address for future CDTs.”
Sarah Cartmell
Programme Director, Advanced Biomedical Materials CDT, University of Manchester
Key outcomes
BRACE Plus
- Collect robust BRACE survey data grounded in lived experience
- Strengthen peer networks and informal support beyond supervisory structures
- Increase the likelihood that PGRs maintain connection, knowledge-sharing, and mutual support
BRACE
- Have a credible benchmark to support internal discussion, reporting, and decision-making
- Understand where your PGRs experiences are strong, fragile, or failing
- A format that is funder-suitable
BRACE Light
- Understand where experiences are strong, fragile, or failing in CDTs across the UK
- Opportunity for reflection on what the criteria may look like in your own environment
Did you know – this is a FREE resource?
To contribute to the field that we research and practice within, we publish the benchmarks our annual BRACE reports generate. Discover the benchmarks that matter when you access BRACE Light.
How you can get involved with BRACE Reports
Choose the option that works best for your needs, whether that’s a snapshot of how other CDTs are performing, or where the environment and experiences that you lead are working well, or need improvement.
BRACE Plus
A facilitated face-to-face programme combining BRACE data collection with structured peer-building activities.
Format: Face to face workshops held with PGRs to optimise feedback, and provide guidance and in-room support on how they themselves can get the very best from their experience.
Option to add on additional data collection with supervisors and professional services, or larger PGR groups.
Investment: From £3500 +VAT
(travel expenses apply)
Ideal for: CDT or Research Culture leads, supervisors and directors
BRACE
A tailored collection and analysis of your PGR survey data, identifying patterns, causes, and priority areas for attention.
Ideal for: CDT or Research Culture leads, supervisors and directors
Format: Online surveys with PGRs, with a tailored report featuring results comparable to our benchmark data, areas of weakness and strength explained through a fairness, inclusion, equity lens, plus recommendations on how to improve where necessary.
Option to add on additional data collection with supervisors and professional services.
Investment: From £2000 +VAT
BRACE Light
Learning how confidence is shaped, and how to use it as a tool.
Ideal for: CDTs seeking a concise evidence-based snapshot of PGR experiences within the doctoral environment from CDTS across the UK
View an example of what’s included in a BRACE and BRACE Plus report via the BRACE Light report, below.
Investment: Complimentary
Related programmes
Continue your learning journey with these programmes, ideal for leaders of teams or students who want to create the best environments for achieving shared goals.
IDEAL Projects
Support PGRs to create Fairness, Inclusion and Equity-based projects that support the CDT.
FIELDS
A step-by-step methodology empowering people to create inclusive environment strategies.
Foundations of FIE
Build a shared understanding of fairness, inclusion, and equity to support meaningful culture change.