Several introductory talks will be given to new students shortly after their arrival. These will be given by the Postgraduate Course Organiser (currently John Peacock), the Starlink site manager (John Barrow) who administers the computer system and a member of the library staff.
In addition, the new students are invited to a series of talks by existing PhD students. Each student in turn gives a short, informal outline of his or her research project, so that the new students can get to know which other students are working in areas related to their own, as well as gaining a more general view of the research being undertaken in the department.