The Academic Language Programme (ALP) Writing Centre offers support for students and PhD candidates who are writing their dissertation to obtain a bachelor’s, master’s, or doctoral degree. This support takes the form of individual coaching, workshops in small groups, tutorials (both individually or in very small groups) and an editing service. The coaching and workshops for students will be targeted at dissertations written in Dutch as well as English; tutorials for PhD candidates will be about writing in English only.
Editing service
The editing service is aimed at master students and PhD candidates who want to cross the t’s and dot the i's in their dissertation and can use some help in doing so. An editor will provide feedback on the correctness and clarity of the English or Dutch, and will help you to achieve the right style for an academic text (for instance word choice, stance, tone).
Coaching
If you want help in writing your thesis or any other assignment, you are welcome to schedule a single appointment or a series of individual coaching sessions (with a maximum of five). The focus will be on managing the writing process or on the specific aspects of language, and not on the content of the text. Read more about coaching.
Workshops English and Dutch
Short workshops (3.5 to 4 hours) in groups of no more than 15 participants. The workshops will focus on specific themes that come into play when writing texts in Dutch and in English.
- Schrijven in een academische stijl
For those who are told their writing is ‘too informal’ or ‘too popular’. - Op weg naar een samenhangende tekst
For students having trouble presenting the ‘common thread’ in their written work. - Lastige kwesties in het Nederlands
How to deal with frequent errors. - Academic style
Achieving the right tone and style for your thesis. - Top 10 grammar and language issues
The most frequent errors in English texts written by students at university level, and how to solve them. - Clear and effective writing
Creating a clear structure for your text, and improving connections between your sentences. - Overcoming your writer's block
This workshop is aimed at students who are writing their thesis and who want to learn how to be more effective as writers and avoid getting stuck.
Tutorials for PhD candidates (English)
We offer tailor-made support for PhD candidates writing a dissertation in English. The support will be aimed specifically at the quality of academic English, and will always be discussed with the candidate’s supervisor. A standard trajectory consists of an intake session, during which the tutor and the PhD candidate together decide on specific areas to work on, followed by 3 to 5 sessions of one hour. During these sessions, the tutor and PhD candidate work in detail on a part of the text, focusing on the specific areas identified during the intake session. Tutorials can also be arranged for groups of no more than three PhD candidates. For more information, contact dr. Gea Dreschler.