SeedWISE
Wondering where your DPhil could lead? Find your people and explore what's possible
Programme overview
SeedWISE, delivered by MPLS Enterprise and MPLS Divisional Office with external trainer Emma Williams, is for women DPhil and PhD students in STEMM at Oxford.
It's for anyone curious about where their research could lead, including venture creation, without needing an idea or a business background.
The programme opens with an online welcome call, then runs across three full in-person days at roughly three-week intervals: Reflect, Explore and Action. You'll meet other women researchers, work through prompts that encourage self-reflection, and leave with a plan on your own terms.
Applications for the Michaelmas cohort close today, Friday 18 September 2026.
How to apply
SeedWISE is application-based, and attending the online welcome call confirms your place. Enrolment requires a fully refundable £40 deposit, returned when you complete the course. Attendance at all dates is expected.
- Welcome (online): 5 October 2026, 16:00–17:00
- Day 1, Reflect: 12 October 2026, 09:00–16:30
- Day 2, Explore: 2 November 2026, 09:00–16:30
- Day 3, Action: 23 November 2026, 09:00–16:30
In-person days take place in the Centenary Room, Careers Service, 56 Banbury Road, Oxford OX2 6PA.
SeedWISE Cohort 2025-26
Still not sure where you fit?
Most people arrive with nothing but a hunch — that is the normal place to start, and it is the beginning of every story on this page.
Stay on top of upcoming events, news and stories.
Find out about the University of Oxford's entrepreneurial offering and much more.