Writing Advice for International UG and PGT Students
Undergraduate and postgraduate taught international students from all colleges can make an appointment or attend one of our classes to talk about anything related to their academic development, skills, and writing.
We can advise on understanding and developing in the academic context at the University of Glasgow, for example understanding assignment criteria and core concepts like ‘criticality’. We also offer advice and resources on academic skills such as effective reading, presentations, intercultural group work, and academic writing.
We can advise you on current unmarked work, including helping you in how you:
- plan your assignment
- research and use your sources
- develop your argument
- write and edit your work
- maintain academic integrity and avoid plagiarism
We can advise you within the context of your subject, but we're unable to advise on specific content. Similarly, we will encourage your ability to edit and assess your work and, therefore, cannot offer proof reading.
We can also advise you on past assignments, and their feedback, to help you to use that feedback to improve your writing.
Our service is for undergraduate students and postgraduate taught students. Postgraduate research students should contact researcher-development@glasgow.ac.uk instead.
Class Timetables
Live Classes (Semester 2)
Early Stages Dissertation Writing (for International Students)
This particular course will be led by the team of Effective Learning Advisers for International Students.
> Moodle page for this series (includes slides and any recordings) - https://moodle.gla.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=15181
| Date | Time | Class | Class Description | Location |
| Tuesday 20th January | 15:00-16:00 | An Introduction to Doing a Dissertation | This class introduces students to key features and requirements of dissertations as well as their benefits. | Boyd Orr: 407 (LT A) |
| Wednesday 21st January | 15:00-16:00 | Writing a Research Proposal | This class looks at the purpose, structure and key content of research proposals, which are often required before beginning a dissertation or other extensive research project. | Boyd Orr: 611 (LT E) |
| Tuesday 27th January | 15:00-16:00 | Identifying your Research Gap | This class explores the types of research gap and how to identify the gap for your dissertation. | Boyd Orr: 407 (LT A) |
| Wednesday 28th January | 15:00-16:00 | Developing your Research Methods | This class discusses how to select the most appropriate methodology for your dissertation. | Boyd Orr: 611 (LT E) |
| Tuesday 3rd February | 15:00-16:00 | The Supervision Process | This class outlines core aspects of working with a dissertation supervisor, looking at expectations on the students and supervisors, and how to make the most of these relationships. | Boyd Orr: 407 (LT A) |
| Wednesday 4th February | 15:00-16:00 | Starting the Literature Review | This class looks at how to start searching for literature on your research topic, the key features of literature reviews, and ways to find the 'gap' in research that you are contributing to. | Boyd Orr: 611 (LT E) |
| Tuesday 10th February | 15:00-16:00 | Using Language in your Dissertation | This class discusses how to make appropriate use of language when writing your dissertation, considering important aspects such as tone and signposting. | Boyd Orr: 407 (LT A) |
| Wednesday 11th February | 15:00-16:00 | Planning your Dissertation's Structure | This class discusses how to plan your dissertation's structure to ensure a clear argument. | Boyd Orr: 611 (LT E) |
Writing Groups for Taught Postgraduate (Masters) Students
We invite postgradutate taught (Masters) students from all academic disciplines to participate in our new Peer Academic Writing Group.
Using a friendly, community-focused approach, these sessions invite students at all stages of the writing process to bring along an excerpt from their work-in-progress to share and receive feedback.
All genres and forms of writing are welcome, from essays, to reflective writing, to long form writing (dissertations, etc.).
This is a great way to develop your academic writing and feedback will focus on core areas of interest in all academic writing, such as focus, organisation, referencing, tone/word choice, and more.
The discussions are moderated by Dr Mona O'Brien (Effective Learning Adviser) and Bob Imbur (Peer Learning Facilitator).
Spaces are limited, so please book using the links below. Students are welcome to attend as many groups as they would like to.
| Date | Time | Class | Class Description | Location |
| Monday 26th January | 14:00-15:00 | Academic Writing Style | This workshop explores key features of effective academic writing style to enhance clarity and meet expectations of writing in assignments. | Click here to book (via Moodle) |
| Monday 2nd February | 14:00-15:00 | Critical Thinking | This workshop discusses how to think critically to develop strong arguments and analyses in assignments. | Click here to book (via Moodle) |
| Monday 9th February | 14:00-15:00 | Critical Reading and Creating Flow in Critical Writing | This workshop will discuss effective critical writing and how to integrate literature into postgraduate assignments. | Click here to book (via Moodle) |
| Monday 16th February | 14:00-15:00 | Critical Writing | This workshop focuses on developing students' critical and analytical writing to produce strong academic assignments and meet marking criteria at UofG. | Click here to book (via Moodle) |
| Monday 23rd February | 14:00-15:00 | Plagiarism, Academic Integrity and Artificial Intelligence | This workshop explores how to maintain good academic integrity to ensure high quality assignments and introduces discussion around artificial intelligence and its relationships with integrity and plagiarism. | Click here to book (via Moodle) |
| Monday 2nd March | 14:00-15:00 | Effective Editing for Academic Work | This workshop breaks down the editing process and explores how to edit to enhance your postgraduate written assignments. | Click here to book (via Moodle) |
| Monday 2nd March | 14:00-15:00 | Using Feedback to Enhance Assignments | This workshop discusses how to use feedback on past assignments to enhance and develop your academic writing for current and future assignments. | Click here to book (via Moodle) |
Pre-recorded classes and online materials
These classes offer a mix of online materials and resources you can work through at your own pace. Some are classes held in the previous semester. All contain useful resources, including some recordings of past live classes.
International Students' Starter Pack
> https://moodle.gla.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=39353
The International Students' Starter Pack is a shared resource for students and staff. Each section contains a themed video of students speaking about their experiences of undertaking a postgraduate taught degree at the University of Glasgow and relevant resources for staff and students on that topic. The core topics covered by the resource are:
- Expectations & Experiences
- Time Management
- Assessments @UofG
- Writing a Dissertation
- Advice for New Students
Starting your Academic Citizenship (for International Students)
This particular course is led by the team of Effective Learning Advisers for International Students. It runs in Semster 1, and every session is run twice - once in-person and once online.
> Moodle page for this series (includes slides and any recordings) - https://moodle.gla.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=27830
| Date | Time | Title | Description | Location/Zoom Link |
| Friday 26th September | 15:00-16:00 | Transitioning to Academic Study @UofG | How to successfully transition to new academic institutions by better understanding expectations and some strategies for effectively managing change. | |
| Tuesday 30th September | 09:00-10:00 | Transitioning to Academic Study @UofG (online repeat) | How to successfully transition to new academic institutions by better understanding expectations and some strategies for effectively managing change. |
https://uofglasgow.zoom.us/j/82229209188 (Meeting ID: 822 2920 9188) |
| Wednesday 1st October | 15:00-16:00 | Becoming an Academic Reader | Strategies for effective academic reading to enhance learning, including how to select reading, manage reading time and read evaluatively. | |
| Thursday 2nd October | 15:00-16:00 | Academic Integrity, Avoiding Plagiarism, and Artificial Intelligence | Explains the definitions of plagiarism at the University of Glasgow and how to avoid plagiarism in academic work as well as looking at some do's and don'ts for AI in academic work. | |
| Friday 3rd October | 15:00-16:00 | Understanding and Preparing for Assignments | How to effectively understand and fulfill assigment requirements. | |
| Tuesday 7th October | 09:00-10:00 | Becoming an Academic Reader (online repeat) | Strategies for effective academic reading to enhance learning, including how to select reading, manage reading time and read evaluatively. |
https://uofglasgow.zoom.us/j/85105229767 (Meeting ID: 851 0522 9767) |
| Tuesday 7th October | 11:00-12:00 | Introduction to Being Critical | What does it mean to be critical and analytical in academic work and how to achieve this. | |
| Wednesday 8th October | 09:00-10:00 | Academic Integrity, Avoiding Plagiarism, and Artificial Intelligence (online repeat) | Explains the definitions of plagiarism at the University of Glasgow and how to avoid plagiarism in academic work as well as looking at some do's and don'ts for AI in academic work. |
https://uofglasgow.zoom.us/j/84912567920 (Meeting ID: 849 1256 7920) |
| Wednesday 8th October | 15:00-16:00 | Academic Discourse | Explains academic discourse and discusses how to identify the ways your academic community communicates. | |
| Thursday 9th October | 09:00-10:00 | Understanding and Preparing for Assignments (online repeat) | How to effectively understand and fulfill assigment requirements. |
https://uofglasgow.zoom.us/j/87332937663 (Meeting ID: 873 3293 7663) |
| Wednesday 15th October | 09:00-10:00 | Introduction to Being Critical (online repeat) | What does it mean to be critical and analytical in academic work and how to achieve this. |
https://uofglasgow.zoom.us/j/84409973217 (Meeting ID: 844 0997 3217) |
| Thursday 16th October | 09:00-10:00 | Academic Discourse (online repeat) | Explains academic discourse and discusses how to identify the ways your academic community communicates. |
https://uofglasgow.zoom.us/j/81422457351 (Meeting ID: 814 2245 7351) |
Spring Academic Writing Series (for International Students)
This particular course will be led by the team of Effective Learning Advisers for International Students.
> Moodle page for this series (includes slides and any recordings) -https://moodle.gla.ac.uk/course/section.php?id=627642
| Date | Time | Class | Class Description | Location |
| Tuesday 25th February | 17:00-18:00 | Using Academic Language | This class discusses academic language and outlines some of its key features and uses, such as demonstrating your understanding, presenting information accurately, and adopting an appropriate tone. | G59 (LT) Kelvin Hall |
| Wednesday 26th February | 17:00-18:00 | Critical and Efficient Academic Reading | This class discusses approaches to academic reading to enhance assignments while managing time and volume of reading. | 201 (Flat Hall) McIntyre Building |
| Tuesday 4th March | 17:00-18:00 | Writing an Academic Argument | This class outlines how best to produce a written argument, considering the individual elements which contribute to strong argumentation. | Cancelled. Materials Available on Moodle |
| Wednesday 5th March | 17:00-18:00 | Writing about Academic Sources | This class looks at how you can incorporate academic sources in your work whilst maintaining your own academic voice. | Cancelled. Materials Available on Moodle. |
| Tuesday 11th March | 17:00-18:00 | Using Theory in Academic Work | Focusing on theory in Social Sciences and Arts & Humanities, this class outlines a method for using theory to enhance academic analysis and writing. | G59 (LT) Kelvin Hall |
| Wednesday 12th March | 17:00-18:00 | Effective Editing for Academic Work | This class advises on how to effectively edit your academic work, considering tecnhiques for enhancing content, structure, and style. | 201 (Flat Hall) McIntyre Building |
Dissertation Writing for International Students (In-person)
This particular course will be led by the team of Effective Learning Advisers for International Students.
> Moodle page for this series (includes slides and any recordings) - https://moodle.gla.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=15181
| Date | Time | Class | Class Description | Location |
| Tuesday 24th June | 11:00-12:00 | Reading for your Dissertation | This class explores strategies for selecting and completing reading for your dissertation. | Davidson Building, 208: Main Lecture Theatre |
| Wednesday 25th June | 11:00-12:00 | Being Critical of Literature | This class discusses how to write about academic literature in a critical and analytical way in your literature review. | Davidson Building, 208: Mian Lecture Theatre |
| Tuesday 1st July | 11:00-12:00 | Writing about Methodology | This class discusses how efffectively to plan and write the methods/methodology section in your dissertation. | Davidson Building, 208: Main Lecture Theatre |
| Wednesday 2nd July | 11:00-12:00 | Writing about Data and Findings | This class discusses writing about data and findings in your dissertation and osme elements of presenting data in graphs and figures. | Davidson Building, 208: Main Lecture Theatre |
| Tuesday 8th July | 11:00-12:00 | Writing a Discussion Chapter | This class explores the aims and writing of the discussion section/analytical sections in your dissertation. | Davidson Building, 208: Main Lecture Theatre |
| Wednesday 9th July | 11:00-12:00 | Writing an Introduction Chapter | This class discusses dissertation introductions, including the aims, what to include, and what academic markers will expect. | Davidson Building, 208: Main Lecture Theatre |
| Tuesday 15th July | 11:00-12:00 | Writing a Conclusion Chapter | This class explores dissertation conclusions, including the aims, what to include, and what academic markers will expect. | Davidson Building, 208: Main Lecture Theatre |
| Wednesday 16th July | 11:00-12:00 | Writing a Dissertation Abstract | This class discusses dissertation abstracts, including the aims, what to include, and what academic markers will expect. | Davidson Building, 208: Main Lecture Theatre |
Dr Amber Hinde
Amber recently completed a PhD in English Language & Linguistics, with a focus on rhetoric and genre. She has previously supported international students in roles with the International Summer School, International Student Support, and English for Academic Study.
Prior to working with SLD, Amber was a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the School of Critical Studies. She now coordinates the ‘Power of Language’ module on T2G, the transition course for incoming undergraduate students at the University of Glasgow.
Room 317
McMillan Reading Room
University Avenue
University of Glasgow
G12 8QQ
0141 330 6700
Dr Mona O'Brien
Mona works with international students from all subject areas in classes, workshops, and individually, supporting their development of effective learning, reading, research and writing practices. Additionally, she works to create and expand SLD's online resources.
Before joining SLD, Mona was a postdoctoral researcher at the Herzog August Bibliothek, Wolfenbüttel (2021) and a Graduate Teaching Assistant in History, Information Studies, Comparative Literature and German Culture at the University of Glasgow (2018-2021). She has a PhD in History from the University of Glasgow (2019).
Teaching requests
To find out what teaching she can offer on your course, please email Mona.
Room 317
McMillan Reading Room
University Avenue
University of Glasgow
G12 8QQ
0141 330 3357