Writing and Referencing
Good academic writing takes time and effort and is crucial to all research degrees. Writing can be challenging, but there is a lot of support available.
Centre for Academic Language Development
The Centre for Academic Language Development (CALD) can help you develop academic language and literacy skills.
Study Skills
Study Skills offer specialist 1:1 tutorials for PGRs who want to improve their reading and writing (among other skills).
Generative Writing
Can't concentrate? Struggling to get motivated? Spending too much time editing and not enough time writing? Our personal professional development programme can help you get words on the page! Support for generative writing may be useful throughout your research degree.
Writer's Retreats (various)
We offer a monthly, hybrid writer's retreat hosted at the PGR Hub. You can also sign up to attend online PGR writer's retreats hosted by other universities in the UK. Places are limited and retreats are very popular, so sign up early to avoid missing out.
Book your place using our events calendar
Alternatively, why not host your own? Email us at uob-pgr-hub@bristol.ac.uk to book a room. You can also log in to sharepoint to access guidance on running your own writer's retreat.
Focus on Writing (online, self-directed)
This online, self-directed course can help PGRs overcome writer's block. The activities in each part of the course are designed to help you with the different stages of writing, from getting started with your first draft, to editing, redrafting, and proof-reading.
Log in to Sharepoint to get started with the course
Thesis Boot Camp (face-to-face)
If you're approaching submission, you can apply to attend Thesis Boot Camp (TBC), which is held twice a year in the PGR Hub.
Find out more and apply on our TBC page
Language, Form & Style
What would you like to know more about regarding academic writing? We have a range of courses that can improve how you express ideas and respond to feedback. Workshops focused on developing form and style are most suitable for early-mid stage researchers.
You can book your space on these workshops via BDC's events page.
Expressing critical analysis in doctoral writing (live, face-to-face)
This in-person, interactive workshop will help PGRs at any stage of their research degree to improve the way they express critical analysis in their writing. By exploring linguistics and organisational techniques for articulating ideas, attendees will learn to successfully highlight their contributions to the field.
Writing persuasive, concise summaries of research (live, face-to-face)
This is a live, interactive workshop designed to help PGRs at all stages of their research draft short summaries for a variety of purposes (such as grants, proposals and/or abstracts). Using examples from a range of disciplines, participants will identify how to communicate the value of their research in a concise, engaging way, and will have the opportunity to receive feedback on a draft summary.
Exchanging peer feedback on your writing (live, face-to-face)
Feedback is essential for helping you improve you work in progress - and it doesn't always have to come from your supervisor(s) or someone in your field! This live, interactive session provides a forum for PGRs at all stages to discuss their work in progress, understand the impact of shape and flow in their text, improve clarity, and learn how to give effective, constructive feedback to their peers. By attending, you will join a community of practice and exchange feedback later in the year.
Academic Writing Q & A (live, online)
What key challenges do you face that you would like to discuss with peers? For this session, PGRs at any stage of their research degree can submit your questions on the topic of academic writing for feedback from their peers. Attendees will engage in collaborative discussion and analyse writing samples to resolve common challenges.
Thesis Mapping
Trouble getting started? Thesis mapping & project planning can help structure your ideas and motivate you to start writing.
Referencing support
Library services provides a range of workshops on referencing, including the use of reference management software.