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, and tutorials (both individually or in very small groups). 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.
Coaching
If you find yourself stuck in the writing process of your dissertation, you are welcome to schedule a single appointment or a series of coaching talks (with a maximum of five). The focus will be on managing the writing process, rather than on the contents of the dissertation. Available from September 2017. 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.
Available from January 2017.
- 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 speakers of Dutch, and how to solve them. - Clear and effective writing
Improving transitions, flow and sentence structure.
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. Tutorials will be offered individually or in groups of no more than three PhD candidates. For more information, contact Professor Mike Hannay, m.hannay@vu.nl.