PGT Focussed Classes
These classes are designed specifically for PGT students, to help you understand what it means to be a Master’s-level student and how you can successfully make the transition to postgraduate study.
Live classes (Semester 1)
These classes are especially recommended for international students, but students from all four colleges are welcome to attend as these sessions cover skills and knowledge relevant to all students.
Mastering Academic Writing & Research (In-person and Online)
> Moodle page for this series - https://moodle.gla.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=48995
Our Mastering Academic Writing course is for those wanting to fine-tune their academic skills to an advanced level.
| Date | Time | Class | Class Description | Location |
| Tuesday 27th January | 13:00-14:00 | Active Reading for Academic Writing | This class explores how to use active reading to develop thorough, critical academic research. | James McCune Smith: 745 |
| Tuesday 3rd February | 13:00-14:00 | The Architecture of Writing: Building a Strong Process & Practice | This class helps you design a sustainable writing process by building structure, strategies, and habits that foster confidence and consistency in your work. | James McCune Smith: 745 |
| Tuesday 10th February | 13:00-14:00 | Thinking Through Things: How to Use Objects in Your Research | This class shows you how to research and write about objects—using their material qualities, histories, and meanings as evidence to enrich your research and generate fresh insights. | James McCune Smith: 745 |
| Tuesday 17th February | 13:00-14:00 | Finding Your Voice: Expressing Ideas with Authority | This class focuses on practical editing strategies that strengthen your voice, sharpen your ideas, and make your work shine with clarity and rigour. | James McCune Smith: 745 |
| Tuesday 24th February | 13:00-14:00 | Editing Matters: Revising for Clarity and Confidence | This class focuses on practical editing strategies that strengthen your voice, sharpen your ideas, and make your work shine with clarity and rigour. | James McCune Smith: 745 |
Online Repeat:
| Date | Time | Class | Class Description | Location |
| Monday 2nd March | 16:00-17:00 | Active Reading for Academic Writing | This class explores how to use active reading to develop thorough, critical academic research. | Join Zoom (via Moodle) |
| Monday 9th March | 16:00-17:00 | The Architecture of Writing: Building a Strong Process & Practice | This class helps you design a sustainable writing process by building structure, strategies, and habits that foster confidence and consistency in your work. | Join Zoom (via Moodle) |
| Monday 16th March | 16:00-17:00 | Thinking Through Things: How to Use Objects in Your Research | This class shows you how to research and write about objects—using their material qualities, histories, and meanings as evidence to enrich your research and generate fresh insights. | Join Zoom (via Moodle) |
| Monday 23rd March | 16:00-17:00 | Finding Your Voice: Expressing Ideas with Authority | This class focuses on practical editing strategies that strengthen your voice, sharpen your ideas, and make your work shine with clarity and rigour. | Join Zoom (via Moodle) |
| Monday 30th March | 16:00-17:00 | Editing Matters: Revising for Clarity and Confidence | This class focuses on practical editing strategies that strengthen your voice, sharpen your ideas, and make your work shine with clarity and rigour. | Join Zoom (via Moodle) |
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) |
Drop-ins
This particular course will be led by the team of Induction & Transitions Advisers
> Moodle page for this series (includes slides and any recordings) - https://moodle.gla.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=52555
| Date | Time | UG/PGT/ All |
Class | Class Description | Location / Zoom Link |
| Monday 6th October | 12:00-13:00 | All | Early semester check-in for Commuting/Local students | A friendly, welcoming space to meet and connect with fellow students who are from or were already living in Glasgow, and/or commute to campus. In the session, you'll discuss your first weeks at UofG and find out more about advice and support to help you in your studies and wider student life. | Southpark House 202 (Seminar Room) |
| Tuesday 7th October | 17:00-18:00 | All | Early semester check-in for Mature students | A friendly, welcoming space to meet and connect with fellow mature students. In the session, you'll discuss your first weeks at UofG and find out more about advice and support to help you in your studies and wider student life. | Clarice Pears 103A |
| Monday 13th October | 18:00-19:00 | All | First month check-in for Online/Distance Learning students | A friendly, welcoming space to meet and connect with fellow online and distance learning students. In the session, you'll discuss your first month at UofG and find out more about advice and support to help you in your studies and wider student life. | https://uofglasgow.zoom.us/j/87418868070 |
| Tuesday 14th October | 17:00-18:00 | All | First month check-in for Part-Time Students |
A friendly, welcoming space to meet and connect with fellow part-time students. In the session, you'll discuss your first month at UofG and find out more about advice and support to help you in your studies and wider student life. | Clarice Pears 103A |
| Monday 20th October | 12:00-13:00 | UG | Drop-in for Undergrads | An open drop-in session for undergraduate students where you can discuss any aspect of your semester so far and get advice from an SLD Adviser.
For example, you might want to focus on how your first semester is going so far and discuss topics like:
|
Southpark House Teaching Room |
| Tuesday 21st October | 17:00-18:00 | PGT | Drop-in for Postgrads |
An open drop-in session for postgraduate taught students where you can discuss any aspect of your semester so far and get advice from an SLD Adviser. For example, you might want to focus on how your first semester is going so far and discuss topics like:
|
https://uofglasgow.zoom.us/j/86911703215 |
| Monday 3rd November | 12:00-13:00 | All | Drop-in for Commuting/Local students | An open drop-in session for commuting or local students where you can discuss any aspect of your semester so far and get advice from an SLD Adviser.
For example, you might want to focus on how your first semester is going so far and discuss topics like:
|
Southpark House Teaching Room |
| Tuesday 4th November | 17:00-18:00 | All | Drop-in for Mature students | An open drop-in session for mature students where you can discuss any aspect of your semester so far and get advice from an SLD Adviser.
For example, you might want to focus on how your first semester is going so far and discuss topics like:
|
Clarice Pears 103A |
| Monday 17th November | 18:00-19:00 | All | Drop-in for Online/Distance Learning students | An open drop-in session for online and distance learning students where you can discuss any aspect of your semester so far and get advice from an SLD Adviser.
For example, you might want to focus on how your first semester is going so far and discuss topics like:
|
https://uofglasgow.zoom.us/j/85660750861 |
| Tuesday 18th November | 17:00-18:00 | All | Drop-in for Part-Time Students | An open drop-in session for part-time students where you can discuss any aspect of your semester so far and get advice from an SLD Adviser.
For example, you might want to focus on how your first semester is going so far and discuss topics like:
|
Clarice Pears 103A |
| Monday 1st December | 12:00-13:00 | All | Drop-in for Commuting/Local students | An open drop-in session for commuting or local students where you can discuss any aspect of your semester so far and get advice from an SLD Adviser.
For example, you might want to focus on how your first semester has gone and discuss topics like:
|
Southpark House Teaching Room |
| Tuesday 2nd December | 17:00-18:00 | All | Drop-in for Mature students | An open drop-in session for mature students where you can discuss any aspect of your semester so far and get advice from an SLD Adviser.
For example, you might want to focus on how your first semester has gone and discuss topics like:
|
Clarice Pears 103A |
Pre-recorded classes and online material
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, sometimes including recordings of past live classes. Check back regularly for updates.
Advanced Criticality (for Arts & Humanities and SocSci Students)
This course covers what do we mean by being critical in your academic work, a key skill in the Arts & Humanities and Social Sciences. The course introduces you to the key strategies to becoming a critical reader and writer. This course will run twice in Semester 1.
> Moodle page for this series (includes slides and any recordings) - https://moodle.gla.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=24318
| Date | Time | Class | Class Description | Room No. (in-person class)/ Zoom Link (online class) |
| Tuesday 30th September | 13:00-14:00 | Critical Reading | What does it mean to be critical and how can we foster critical reading when we are researching our assignments or engaging with course materials? | 42 Bute Gardens: 916 LT |
| Tuesday 7th October | 13:00-14:00 | Writing Critically about Literature | How can we adopt a critical attitude not only when we read but also when we write about academic literature in our assignments? | 42 Bute Gardens: 916 LT |
| Tuesday 14th October | 13:00-14:00 | Using Theory | This class focuses on the purpose of theory in the Arts & Humanities and the Social Sciences, and how to use it in your writing to enhance criticality. | 42 Bute Gardens: 916 LT |
| Tuesday 21st October | 13:00-14:00 | Criticality in Argumentation | What are the key elements of a critical argument and how can you make sure you include them in your writing? | 42 Bute Gardens: 916 LT |
| Tuesday 28th October | 13:00-14:00 | Reflection | How can you use reflection as a critical tool both in your studying and in your writing? | 42 Bute Gardens: 916 LT |
| Tuesday 11th November | 13:00-14:00 | Critical Reading (repeat) | This class discusses defining the scope of your research question, critically reviewing your reading, and synthesising your research. | Online (Zoom link on course Moodle) |
| Tuesday 18th November | 13:00-14:00 | Writing Critically about Literature (repeat) | This class explains the purpose of evidence and how to employ it in your assignments. | Online (Zoom link on course Moodle) |
| Tuesday 25th November | 13:00-14:00 | Using Theory (repeat) | This class focuses on the purpose of theory in the Arts & Humanities and the Social Sciences, and how to use it in your writing. | Online (Zoom link on course Moodle) |
| Tuesday 2nd December | 13:00-14:00 | Criticality in Argumentation (repeat) | This class discusses what is argumentation, its purpose in academia, and what are some of its defining elements. | Online (Zoom link on course Moodle) |
| Tuesday 9th December | 13:00-14:00 | Reflection (repeat) | This class explores the different levels of argumentation in written assignments and how to build a coherent and cohesive argumentative piece of writing. | Online (Zoom link on course Moodle) |
Dissertation Classes: Arts & Humanities and SocSci PGT (Online)
This course walks you through the process of writing a dissertation for the Arts & Humanities or the Social Sciences. This is aimed at PGT, but all students are welcome. This course meets in person in June, then repeats online in July.
> Moodle page for this series (includes slides and any recordings) -https://moodle.gla.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=10313
| Monday 7th July | 13:00-14:00 | Succeeding in Your Dissertation | This class introduces advanced academic research and writing approaches and tools to get you started on a successful dissertation project. | Online (click here to join the Zoom) |
| Tuesday 8th July | 13:00-14:00 | Organising Your Research | This class discusses how to work with sources for your research. It outlines different strategies to scope, critically review and map the literature or data relating to your research question. | Online (click here to join the Zoom) |
| Wednesday 9th July | 13:00-14:00 | Writing Your Literature Review | This class focuses on the literature review: what is it and what purpose serves in your dissertation. It also discusses how your literature review should link to your methodology. | Online (click here to join the Zoom) |
| Thursday 10th July | 13:00-14:00 | Using Theory and Writing About Methodology | This class discusses what is a methodology, the difference between methodology and methods, how to justify your methodological approach and using theory as a methodological tool. | Online (click here to join the Zoom) |
| Friday 11th July | 13:00-14:00 | Developing Your Dissertation's Argument | This class explains how to construct a convincing argument that successfully answers your research question. | Online (click here to join the Zoom) |
| Monday 14th July | 13:00-14:00 | Your Dissertation's Structure | This class explores how to link the different chapters of your dissertation together to ensure your thesis is coherent and cohesive. | Online (click here to join the Zoom) |
| Tuesday 15th July | 13:00-14:00 | Editing Your Dissertation | This class discusses how to effectively edit and proofread your dissertation, with tips on how to prepare the dissertation document for submission. | Online (click here to join the Zoom) |
| Wednesday 16th July | 13:00-14:00 | Referencing and Academic Integrity | This class introduces the principles of academic integrity and discusses how to properly reference your dissertation so that it adheres to these principles. | Online (click here to join the Zoom) |
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 |