Writing Your PhD: Scientific Research

This course is intended for final year PhD students who are engaged in scientific research and are either preparing to write or are in the process of writing a thesis. It may, however, also be suitable for students in their second year who are working on research papers

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

How to Write an Introduction

  • To discuss some of the key challenges in writing a thesis.
  • To explore different ways of structuring a thesis.
  • To analyse the typical structure and content of Introductions, including from your own field.
  • To highlight ways of maximising readability at both a small and larger scale.

Unit 2

Writing about Methodology

  • To discuss some of the key challenges in writing a Methodology chapter.
  • To analyse the typical structure and content of Methodology sections in research papers, including from your own field.
  • To highlight useful vocabulary and grammar forms that can help you when writing about your methods.

 

Unit 3

Writing about Results

  • To discuss some of the key challenges in writing about your Results.
  • To analyse the typical structure and content of Results sections, including from your own field.
  • To explore what makes an effective figure or table by analysing some examples
  • To highlight useful vocabulary and grammar forms that can help you when writing about Results.

 

Unit 4

Writing the Discussion / Conclusion

  • To discuss some of the key challenges in writing a Discussion and Conclusion.
  • To analyse the typical structure and content of Discussions and/or Conclusion sections, including from you own field.
  • To highlight useful vocabulary and grammar forms that can help you when discussing and/or concluding your work.

 

Unit 5

Individual Tutorials

  • To allow you the opportunity to ask for clarification on issues arising from the course materials.
  • To provide you with the opportunity for more discussion of teacher writing feedback.
  • To get some suggestions for further academic language and literacy development.

  • In-person – Tuesday 14:00-16:00 (King’s Buildings)
  • Online – Friday 11:00-13:00

The course involves analysing sample extracts from scientific articles; 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 the chapters of a thesis, or the sections of a research article
  • appropriate language for the different chapters or sections, and how to use that language accurately
  • which aspects of their writing they need to work on further

PhD students in their final or second year.


Please note that applications will close on Sunday 28 September 2025.

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