We want to help you develop the right skills so you get the most out of your academic studies and achieve the best grades possible.
Our Skills Enrichment courses and one-off academic writing sessions have been carefully planned to support you at each stage of your academic journey, from getting started on your first assignment to preparing for assessments.
Further details about the sessions are provided below. They will be delivered live online on Microsoft Teams.
Timetable: Semester 1 2021/22
Discussion Skills
This course is for all students who use English as a second language. It is designed to enhance your English language discussion skills and build your confidence with spoken communication. You will develop your vocabulary and grammar and your speaking, listening and pronunciation skills.
Visiting and Exchange students can obtain three credits taking this course.
| Course length | Day | Dates | Time | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 weeks | Weds | 13 Oct to 15 Dec | 14:15 or 18:15 | 1.5 hours |
Booking for this course has now closed.
Presentation Skills
Giving presentations is a vital skill that you will need in your studies and in your future work. This four-hour course will help you to plan, practise and increase your confidence in delivering presentations, whether face-to-face, online or in a group.
You will learn the skills that make effective presenters and presentations and have the opportunity to record and receive constructive feedback and advice on a short presentation. Suitable for all students at all stages of their studies.
| Course length | Day | Dates | Time | Duration |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 weeks | Weds | 13 Oct & 20 Oct | 12:15 | 2 x 2 hours |
| 2 weeks | Weds | 3 Nov & 10 Nov | 12:15 | 2 x 2 hours |
| 2 weeks | Weds | 24 Nov & 1 Dec | 12:15 | 2 x 2 hours |
Booking for these courses has now closed.
One-off academic writing sessions
These one-hour sessions are designed to support your success with certain aspects of academic writing. Suitable for all students at all stages of their studies. Choose the sessions in the areas you want to develop.
| Week | Day | Date | Time | Session name |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | Mon | 11 Oct | 18:15 | Analysing Assignment Titles |
| Tues | 12 Oct | 18:15 | Planning & Organising your Assignment | |
| Thurs | 14 Oct | 18:15 | Writing Introductions & Conclusions | |
| 3 | Mon | 18 Oct | 18:15 | Paragraph Construction |
| Tues | 19 Oct | 18:15 | Summarising & Paraphrasing Sources | |
| Thurs | 21 Oct | 18:15 | Making your Writing Flow | |
| 4 | Mon | 25 Oct | 18:15 | Writing Critically |
| Tues | 26 Oct | 18:15 | Academic Style | |
| Thurs | 28 Oct | 18:15 | Analysing Assignment Titles | |
| 5 | Mon | 1 Nov | 18:15 | Writing Introductions & Conclusions |
| Tues | 2 Nov | 18:15 | Analysing Assignment Titles | |
| Thurs | 4 Nov | 18:15 | Planning & Organising your Assignment | |
| 6 | Mon | 8 Nov | 18:15 | Making your Writing Flow |
| Tues | 9 Nov | 18:15 | Paragraph Construction | |
| Thurs | 11 Nov | 18:15 | Summarising & Paraphrasing Sources | |
| 7 | Mon | 15 Nov | 18:15 | Academic Style |
| Tues | 16 Nov | 18:15 | Writing Introductions & Conclusions | |
| Thurs | 18 Nov | 18:15 | Writing Critically | |
| 8 | Mon | 22 Nov | 18:15 | Writing Critically |
| Tues | 23 Nov | 18:15 | Paragraph Construction | |
| Thurs | 25 Nov | 18:15 | Planning & Organising your Assignment | |
| 9 | Mon | 29 Nov | 18:15 | Summarising & Paraphrasing Sources |
| Tues | 30 Nov | 18:15 | Making your Writing Flow | |
| Thurs | 2 Dec | 18:15 | Proofreading & Editing | |
| 10 | Mon | 6 Dec | 18:15 | Exam Skills: Revision & Preparation |
| Tues | 7 Dec | 18:15 | Exam Skills: Writing in Exams | |
| Thurs | 9 Dec | 18:15 | Exam Skills: Style 101 | |
| 11 | Mon | 13 Dec | 18:15 | Exam Skills: Writing in Exams |
| Tues | 14 Dec | 18:15 | Exam Skills: Style 101 | |
| Thurs | 16 Dec | 18:15 | Exam Skills: Revision & Preparation |
Before signing up for a session, please make sure that the day and time do not clash with your academic timetable by checking MyTimetable.
Course descriptions
Analysing Assignment Titles
In this session you will practise analysing assignment titles. This will help you to complete tasks to the best of your ability and show the marker that you understand the question.
Planning & Organising your Assignment
In this session you will develop your planning and organisation skills to bring clarity to your writing.
Writing Introductions & Conclusions
In this session you will develop the structure of introductions and conclusions to ensure your message is clearly communicated.
Paragraph Construction
In this session you will improve the structure of paragraphs to support your ideas and arguments.
Summarising & Paraphrasing Sources
In this session you will develop your summarising and paraphrasing skills to increase understanding and give credibility and authority to your writing.
Making your Writing Flow
In this session you will learn how to tie your ideas together and guide the reader through your writing.
Writing Critically
In this session you will develop your writing skills to show how you interpret evidence, demonstrate your understanding and your stance.
Academic Style
In this session you will develop your style to write in a way that will convince the marker that you understand what you are talking about.
Proofreading & Editing
In this session you will build the skills required at the last stage of the editing process to remove surface errors such as grammar and spelling. This will avoid lowering the quality of your work in the eyes of the marker.
Exam Skills: Revision & Preparation
In this session you will discuss and share best practice on how to prepare for your University exams and how to plan and manage your revision techniques to get the best from the exam experience.
Exam Skills: Writing in Exams
In this session you will review different exam formats such as open-book exams and consider how to approach exam questions, make use of resources and manage the exam writing experience.
Exam Skills: Style 101
In this session you will discuss and practise some of the essential academic writing techniques needed to ensure that your written response to exam questions has an impact and maintains appropriate academic style.
Self-access academic skills resources
A range of short online skills development modules is also available on academic writing, study skills and other topics for you to access in your own time.
Academic & Employability Skills blog
You can also find a wealth of useful tips and hints on how to get the most out of your studies in the Academic & Employability Skills blog.