Writing your PhD: Reviewing the Literature

This course is intended for PhD students in their second year.

The course consists of a series of small-group workshop-style classes rather than traditional lectures. These will be task-based and interactive, emphasising active student participation. In online settings, we expect that students will have their cameras and microphones switched on, for the best learning experience for you and your colleagues.

Unit 1

Criteria for success, purpose, and citation skills

  • To explore the criteria for a successful literature review, as proposed by the literature and by University of Edinburgh academics.
  • To discuss the purposes of a literature review.
  • To raise awareness of citation practices, including direct quotation, paraphrase, summary, and the avoidance of plagiarism.
  • To provide practice in paraphrasing and summarising sources.

Unit 2

Organisation and Structure

  • To explore different potential patterns for organising a literature review.
  • To examine (and practise writing) introductions, transitions and conclusions within a literature review chapter.
  • To raise awareness of ways of identifying a research gap.

Unit 3

Expressing Your Voice and Writing Critically

  • To explore how sources can be used to support your own position.
  • To focus on language features which can be used to guide your reader through your text while making your argument clear.
  • To discuss ways of expressing a stance towards previous studies, and explore appropriate relevant language features.
  • To examine the use of personal pronouns in a literature review.

Unit 4

Synthesising Sources

  • To explore the language and structure of an effective definition.
  • To practise synthesising definitions, where more than one exists in the literature.
  • To explore ways of organising a literature review thematically rather than by author/study.
  • To identify appropriate language used to make the organisation of your literature review explicit.
  • To give you practice in synthesising sources.

Unit 5

  • You will have the opportunity for a one-to-one on-line tutorial with your teacher, to discuss any remaining questions you may have.

  • In-person – Thursday 2-4pm
  • Online – Friday 11am-1pm

The in-person course will be held at our Holyrood Campus.


The course involves: discussion of aspects of reviewing literature; analysing sample extracts from University of Edinburgh doctoral theses; expanding your repertoire of useful academic English expressions; drafting short pieces of writing.  

The content and learning objectives are the same for both the in-person and online versions of the course. Classes focus on discussion, allowing for active engagement with the material. Course materials will be available on Learn Ultra throughout the course.

Your tutor will meet you for a class once per week, either on-line or in-person, depending which option you have chosen. 

You will have two opportunities for individual feedback: submitting a short piece of writing for written feedback, and having a one-to-one tutorial in the final week.

By the end of the course students should have a better understanding of:

  • ways of structuring a literature review
  • appropriate language for reviewing literature
  • the skills involved in summarising and paraphrasing
  • the skills involved in synthesising sources
  • ways of expressing critical evaluation
  • ways of expressing authorial voice

PhD students in their second year, or who have passed their First Year Board. Final year students are also eligible, if they have not had the opportunity of taking this course earlier.


Applications open on Monday 8 September 2025.


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