Open workshops

Taught Masters

Are you thinking about starting your dissertation or have you started your dissertation?

This interactive session will cover planning your dissertation, the writing process and desirable dissertation skills. In addition there will also be a chance to get the inside perspective on dissertations during the dissertation panel; where you will be able to ask any questions surrounding dissertations.

The workshop will be broken down into smaller sessions covering:-

Dissertation Choice

The session will look at aspects that can influence your dissertation choice while making you aware of their possible impact.

Dissertation Inventory

What dissertation skills do you have? This will be an interactive session looking at the skills that are useful for producing a dissertation.

Dissertation Panel

Dissertations from the other side: A panel consisting of staff and students to answer any questions you may have about dissertations.

Dissertation Writing Process

This session will discuss what a dissertation is and look at the writing process.

Time Management

How long will it all take? A session discussing the process of writing a dissertation while considering the time involved.  

** Refreshments will be provided**

This event is for Medicine and Veterinary Medicine students

Dissertations are a vital part of the MSc process. They offer great opportunities for you to apply what you have learned and discuss your own ideas in a more extended piece of writing. They also represent an opportunity to demonstrate professional skills such as creativity, critical thinking and communication.

This workshop will help develop both fundamental understanding and practical tools for the effective planning and writing of MSc dissertations.

We will discuss:

• Your dissertation in terms of some of the ‘big ideas’ like original scholarship and critical thinking
•  The role of supervisors, so you can make the most of their support
• The expectations of examiners
• Practical advice for the actual planning and writing process

The course is designed for MSc students coming towards the end of their course who are currently working on a dissertation project.

This event is for Science and Engineering students

Dissertations are a vital part of the MSc process. They offer great opportunities for you to apply what you have learned and discuss your own ideas in a more extended piece of writing. They also represent an opportunity to demonstrate professional skills such as creativity, critical thinking and communication.

This workshop will help develop both fundamental understanding and practical tools for the effective planning and writing of MSc dissertations.

We will discuss:

• Your dissertation in terms of some of the ‘big ideas’ like original scholarship and critical thinking
•  The role of supervisors, so you can make the most of their support
• The expectations of examiners
• Practical advice for the actual planning and writing process

The course is designed for MSc students coming towards the end of their course who are currently working on a dissertation project.

This event is open to all Taught Masters. It is tailored to those who are about to start writing or have just started writing their dissertation, but may also be relevant to those at any stage of writing.

This session will cover the writing process; such as getting you started and keeping you going, and strategies for improving your written work.

The session will also consider the higher level of critical analysis required for dissertations. We will discuss what this is and how do we achieve this; furthermore we will look at ways to improve your critical/analysis skills i.e. what questions should you be asking and of whom?

**Refreshments will be provided**

Due to the high demand for this event, booking will open approx. 1 week before the workshop date

This course is open to all Taught Masters students.

This workshop is designed to introduce you to the postgraduate learning environment and provide an opportunity to think about and discuss.

• critical reading of sources
• Essay writing: big picture ideas such as the analysis of essay questions and planning
• Practical advice for effective writing

Refreshments will be provided and there will be lots of opportunities to ask questions.

Taught Masters continuing onto a PhD

The PhD Information Event will allow you to hear the different perspectives from current/past PhD students from across the University.

In small informal groups you will have a great opportunity to ask the PhD students questions about the PhD experience, working with your supervisor, PhD requirements, opportunities available to PhD students, and any other questions you may want to know about undertaking a PhD.

This event will help you to understand the resources at your disposal, including IAD PhD events, current dissertation workshops, and other PGT and PhD related information in order to guide you through a smooth transition in the next stages of your academic career.

Max number of places 25

** Refreshments will be provided**

Taught Masters continuing onto a PhD

The PhD Information Event will allow you to hear the different perspectives from current/past PhD students from across the University.

In small informal groups you will have a great opportunity to ask the PhD students questions about the PhD experience, working with your supervisor, PhD requirements, opportunities available to PhD students, and any other questions you may want to know about undertaking a PhD.

This event will help you to understand the resources at your disposal, including IAD PhD events, current dissertation workshops, and other PGT and PhD related information in order to guide you through a smooth transition in the next stages of your academic career.

Max number of places 25

** Refreshments will be provided**

This highly interactive and fast paced course will explore the key skills necessary to help you communicate your research to both academic and non-specialist audiences. We’ll focus on the latest research in communication studies and discuss the good, the bad and the ugly results of academic presentations. We’ll watch keynote TED talks and examine why the speakers succeed and what keeps us on the edge of our seats.

Why should you come?

1.    Researchers need to engage a variety of audiences for a successful career(s).

2.    To build your core communication skills and confidence.

3.    To prepare you for reviews, seminars and future conference presentations.

4.    It’s also challenging, dynamic and seriously fun.

Finally we’ll help you explore your strengths as a professional presenter and create a short action plan for future presentations.