The Language Centre offers support with both Academic Writing and Communication Skills.
Classes are designed for international students who have started their degree studies. We offer general sessions as well as some sessions specifically related to your degree subject.
For more information about the sessions and to book a place, please view the sections below.
Please note that while we're preparing classes and workshops for the next academic year, some links and titles might not be available, but will be updated within the next couple of weeks.
Academic Writing Skills
- Writing classes
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These classes will highlight the common features of academic writing in English. To help with possible differences in writing styles and expectations:
- Each session focuses on one aspect of the writing process
- You will work with examples of academic writing
- You will develop skills to produce effective writing
- An opportunity for you to ask questions about writing
- A relaxed and supporting environment
Session Date Time Register Session 1: Academic grammar Wednesday 29 January 2pm to 3.15pm Register for Session 1: Academic grammar Session 2: Academic Vocabulary – an introduction Wednesday 5 February 2pm to 3.15pm Register for Session 2: Academic Vocabulary – an introduction Session 3: Responding to a writing task: focusing on the question Wednesday 12 February 2pm to 3.15pm Register for Session 3: Responding to a writing task: focusing on the question Session 4: Integrating sources into your writing (citing and referencing) Wednesday 19 February 2pm to 3.15pm Register for Session 4: Integrating sources into your writing (citing and referencing) Session 5: Organising your writing Wednesday 26 February 2pm to 3.15pm Register for Session 5: Organising your writing Session 6: Writing fluently Wednesday 5 March 2pm to 3.15pm Register for Session 6: Writing fluently Session 7: Critical thinking Wednesday 12 March 2pm to 3.15pm Register for Session 7: Critical thinking Session 8: Academic writing styles Wednesday 19 March 2pm to 3.15pm Register for Session 8: Academic writing styles Session 9: Checking your writing – Proofreading and editing Wednesday 26 March 2pm to 3.15pm Register for Session 9: Checking your writing – Proofreading and editing - Legal academic writing for LLM students
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This in-sessional course has been designed for students doing an LLM in the Law Dept. Each weekly session focuses on writing sub-skills that are transferable to different LLM assessments. The course is especially tailored to meet the writing and language requirements of international law students. The classes are on campus only.
Classes may be available in the following semester.
- 1-2-1 (book an appointment)
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These sessions are helpful if you are experiencing some challenges with your writing tasks, or if you would like some general advice about your writing. You will have up to an hour with an experienced writing tutor to discuss your concerns. This could include issues such as:
- Getting started with your writing assessments
- Understanding what it is you are being asked to do
- Trying to organise your writing
- Understanding your grades and feedback
- Citing skills (showing where you got information from)
- Writing in your own words
- Writing clearly (grammar, vocabulary, sentence structures)
- Or, you may have something else that you would like to discuss regarding your writing.
Click here to make an appointment. A tutor will then contact you to arrange an appointment.
Please note the advice we give focuses on supporting you with writing assessments in English. It is advice only which you may choose to accept or not. Academic Writing tutors are not subject experts and cannot advise specifically about subject content. For that, you should contact your subject tutor.
1-2-1 sessions are limited to 3 per student per semester.
- Drop-in sessions (no appointment required)
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These sessions are helpful if you have a quick question about your writing. For example, you might be working on an assessment and find you are not sure about something such as:
- how to write something clearly
- your paragraph organisation
- academic style, grammar & vocabulary
- how to use citations (referencing)
- …or something else
You can just drop in and ask a tutor.
Please note that the time you have with a tutor may be limited, depending on the numbers of students looking for help.
Date, time & venue:
We are not offering drop in-sessions at the moment.
Academic Communication Skills
- Presentation skills: PPT Presentations
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These sessions are to help you create effective, well-designed, and clear presentations.
If you are currently working on a presentation, or need to prepare one in the future, these sessions can support you with its design & delivery. Bring your laptop.
Session Date Time Register PPT presentations: Designing an effective presentation Wednesday 19 March 3.30pm to 4.45pm Register for PPT presentations: Designing an effective presentation PPT presentations: Skills for effective delivery of presentations Wednesday 26 March 3.30pm to 4.45pm Register for PPT presentations: Skills for effective delivery of presentations - Presentation Skills: Poster Presentations
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These sessions are to help you create effective, well-designed, and clear presentations.
If you are currently working on a presentation, or need to prepare one in the future, these sessions can support you with its design & delivery. Bring your laptop.
Poster presentation sessions in the Language Centre Session Date Time Register Poster presentation: Designing on effective poster presentation Wednesday 5 March 3.30pm to 4.45pm Register for Poster presentation: Designing on effective poster presentation Poster presentation: Skills for effective delivery of presentations Wednesday 12 March 3.30pm to 4.45pm Register for Poster presentation: Skills for effective delivery of presentations - Seminar skills
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Part of your degree studies may involve participation in seminars and group discussions. Our seminar skills sessions are an opportunity for you to practise these skills in a small and relaxed group environment. The more you can speak & communicate, the more confident you may feel about your studies in general.
Seminar Skills sessions in the Language Centre Session Date Time Register Seminar discussions: Session 1: Introduction to academic cultures, and mini discussions Wednesday 12 February 3.30pm to 4.45pm Register for Seminar discussions: Session 1: Introduction to academic cultures, and mini discussions Seminar discussions: Session 2: Problem and solution language and discussion about global issues Wednesday 19 February 3.30pm to 4.45pm Register for Seminar discussions: Session 2: Problem and solution language and discussion about global issues Seminar discussions: Session 3: Artificial intelligence, language to support or oppose a position Wednesday 26 February 3.30pm to 4.45pm Register for Seminar discussions: Session 3: Artificial intelligence, language to support or oppose a position - Academic Communication
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These sessions are an opportunity to talk & socialise with other students in a relaxed environment. Topics of discussion are informal and are an opportunity to find out more about living in the UK. They are intended to help build your confidence in your speaking skills.
Classes may be available in the following semester.
Academic communication sessions in the Language Centre Session Date Time Register Fluency & Communication session 1 – Introduction to Aberdeen Wednesday 29 January 3.30pm to 4.45pm Register for Fluency & Communication session 1 – Introduction to Aberdeen Fluency & Communication session 2 – Being a student in Aberdeen Wednesday 5 February 3.30pm to 4.45pm Register for Fluency & Communication session 2 – Being a student in Aberdeen
What our students say
I wouldn't have written anything without these courses, because I was at a loss at first as it was my first to write academic English.
It helps me to have a basic structure about essay writing in my mind, this class is helpful, and I think I have learned some writing skills which are contributed to my essay.
Gives me a better idea of expectations from the professors, the structure of the assignment, etc. And as someone who has not been in academia in a few years, I appreciate that.
It serves as a reminder of the need for developing critical thinking skills, approaching academic writing, and provides a guide to follow.
What our students say
Academic Communication sessions helped me overcome some difficulties in communicating in English to a certain extent, such as lack of self-confidence, nervousness, etc.
I learned to make my expression more natural in different contexts, and also more confident.