Workshops for postgraduate researchers
Our workshops can help you communicate your research more effectively. They are suitable for both UK and international postgraduate researchers at the University of Bristol.
As a postgraduate researcher, it is vital you can communicate effectively and help people from a variety of disciplines engage with your findings. You must also be able to navigate the literature of your field.
Our two-hour workshops will help you hone these essential skills. You will also benefit from collaboration with tutors and peers – sharing knowledge, building on your experiences and developing a community of practice.
Our workshops will be tailored to your academic needs, with topics to address key milestones throughout the year. After selected workshops, we will invite you to book a follow-up one-to-one tutorial. Both workshops and tutorials will be run by expert staff from the Centre for Academic Language and Development.
On-campus location
All our workshops will take place in person, on campus. Some of the workshops may also be offered online. We will offer up to 50 places per workshop.
One-to-one tutorials will take place online.
Low time-commitment
Although we will ask you to reflect on your wider academic practice, each workshop will be self-contained, requiring no additional work outside of the two hours. You will leave with skills and strategies that you can apply to your future studies.
Continued support
You can take part in one workshop or several, as suits you.
As part of each workshop, we will signpost you to any upcoming sessions, and to relevant resources and support. After some of the workshops, we will also invite you to book a follow-up one-to-one tutorial.
Tailored to you
Our workshops are suitable for both UK and international postgraduate researchers. However, some workshops will be suitable for first-year researchers only, while others will be for researchers in years two to four. The workshops taking place during academic writing month will be suitable for all postgraduate researchers.
In 24/25, we will be offering the following workshops:
Reading academic literature effectively and efficiently (September 2024)
A workshop to help you increase the efficiency and effectiveness of your academic reading.
Mapping the field for your literature review (December 2024)*
A workshop to help you identify research gaps, evaluate contributions to your field, and plan a literature review.
Developing an argument in your writing (January 2025)
A workshop to help you develop lines of reasoning and use evidence in support of a position.
Finding and expressing your voice in your writing (February 2025)*
A workshop on developing your writer’s voice in doctoral-level academic writing.
Analysing academic writing style in your discipline (March 2025)
A workshop to help you write more clearly, precisely and concisely.
Writing your year-one progress report (March and April 2025)*
A workshop to help you produce your end-of-year progress report.
*includes option to book a follow-up one-to-one tutorial.
Choosing a structure for your writing (October 2024)*
A workshop to help you organise ideas and arguments effectively across a range of written genres.
Expressing and refining your authorial voice in your writing (December 2024)*
A workshop to help you develop your authorial voice and recognise common linguistic features of doctoral writing.
Communicating your research to different audiences (February 2025)
A workshop to equip you to communicate your research to a variety of audiences in writing and in presentations. Implementing a structure in your writing
Structuring your writing coherently (February 2025)*
A workshop to help you develop the coherence and flow of your written work.
Developing your academic writing style (March 2025)*
A workshop to explore elements of academic style in samples of doctoral writing.
Responding effectively to feedback (May 2025)
A workshop providing opportunities for peer review among participants, enabling you to develop a feedback-informed action plan.
*includes option to book a follow-up one-to-one tutorial.
Expressing critical analysis in doctoral writing (November 2024)
A workshop exploring how critical analysis is expressed in doctoral-level writing, with strategies for reading critically within and between texts.
Writing concise, persuasive summaries of research (November 2024)
A workshop to help you write short summaries of your research for different purposes (e.g. grant applications, conference proposals, and journal abstracts).
Exchanging peer feedback on your writing (November 2024)
A workshop to enable you to exchange feedback on written ‘work in progress’ with peers.
Academic writing: question and answers (November 2024 – online)
An open online session focused on questions submitted in advance by workshop participants.
Book your place
Find out more information about individual workshops and sign up on the Bristol Doctoral College events page. Each workshop will run only once in the academic year, so book promptly to avoid missing out.
Bookings for September and October 2024 will open on 2 September. Bookings for November and December will open on 1 October. Bookings for January 2025 onwards will open on 2 December.
If you have already attended a workshop, we will contact you directly about booking a one-to-one tutorial.
All workshops and tutorials are free for University of Bristol postgraduate research students. You will not need to pay for any materials.