online academic writing course for phd students

Academic writing for PhD candidates and Research's Master’s students

Our online academic writing courses were originally developed for PhD and Master’s students at the Faculty of Health, Medicine, and Life Sciences (FHML**) in order to help the participants in a variety of aspects of the writing process.  Students practise the writing skills required when developing their own texts, carrying out literature reviews as well as improving and editing their own texts and those of their peers.

Upon successful completion of the course, a certificate of participation.

** If you are from a non-FHML discipline please contact us at: [email protected] to enquire about our other writing courses

• focus on using precise and nuanced language
• it is possible to register for the courses several times a year
• 8 weekly sessions of 2 hours
• 2-3 hours of preparation each week
• you will receive a certificate of participation
• this course is considered to be worth 2 ECTS depending on faculty policy

'I just wanted to say, thank you for the extensive and constructive feedback. I don't believe every tutor provides such extensive feedback. So, thank you for that!'

Debbie Kuper | student SBE

For available times for the courses below please see the  course dates and registration form . The registration form shows the currently available groups.

Quick links:

•   Academic Writing (PhD-1)
•   Advanced Scientific Writing (PhD-2)
•   Master's admission requirements and Certificate
• Costs and Funding

For an overview of the English Academic Skills programme go to Communication in Scientific English .

Would you like to improve your English for work or study purposes and obtain an internationally recognised certificate that confirms your proficiency in English? Then you could consider taking one of our Cambridge English  courses. For more information see  Cambridge English .

Academic Writing for PhD candidates and Research Master’s Students (PhD-1)

PhD-1 offers you a general introduction to academic writing. As such, it is open both to PhD candidates and to Research Master’s students from across Maastricht University and beyond.  In these courses, you will write your own texts, review literature, improve texts, develop your grammatical ability and learn to identify typical features in published articles. The course also provides you with an opportunity to submit work to your tutor and receive comprehensive feedback on what you have written.  In addition, participants have repeated opportunities to provide feedback to fellow course members and receive feedback from them on your written submissions. 

When participating on this course, ideally students should be able to submit two pages of written work each week. It is advisable, therefore, either to have written something just before starting the course, or at least to be in a position to submit pieces of work as the course progresses. Submitting and sharing your work on a regular basis, enables writers to discover more about their writing style and maximise their learning experience.

After completing the course, students will be able to:

• structure ideas to write clearer sentences and more cohesive paragraphs
• use an academic writing style which is characterized by precise, concise, and formal language
• report on previous research and assess its importance
• write more persuasively and with nuance
• use a wider range of vocabulary and grammatical structures
• identify common mistakes in written texts
• feel more confident about writing in English

This is an online course.

For available times and registration please see the timetable and registration form

Registration

• Please register using our online registration form . 
• Course code is: PhD-1.
• Use status 'UM PhD candidate' if you are a PhD candidate of the UM.

Advanced Scientific Writing (PhD-2)

The ability to write a coherent scientific article is essential to educational and career development, allowing researchers to engage with complex ideas and contribute to the intellectual life in their chosen field. The PhD-2 writing course aims to help candidates further refine and develop their writing ability at dissertation and publication level. As well as improving their overall writing technique and organizational competence, students learn vocabulary and language skills that will positively impact their wider academic and professional life.

At the beginning of the course, participants are placed in smaller groups with colleagues from similar research backgrounds. Groups work together on a variety of exercises during the first hour of the session before completing peer-reviews of one another’s work in the second hour. During the course, students are required to (re)submit 600-800 words of work weekly for review. The peer-review of this work focuses on structure, language, and coherence. The teacher provides feedback on the submissions immediately after class, so you can combine both the advice of your colleagues and teacher to help improve your work. While the course does follow an IMRaD pattern, meaning that a given week focuses on a given section of a scientific paper, you may resubmit an improved draft or a section from any part of your research for peer-review in class.

By the end of the course, students will have received up to 18 pieces of oral or written feedback across six submissions, including the written feedback provided by the course instructor. You will also have built up a portfolio of useful sample articles from both the course and from your own field. As such, the course aims to make you highly independent in your ability to scrutinize and redesign work in terms of structure, style and narrative, and to feel more confident when applying these skills throughout your writing career.

Learning Objectives

Outline knowledge of redrafting to improve overall writing skills

Expand knowledge of the theory and practice of scientific writing for journals

Develop the ability to critically evaluate writing style, argument, and rhetoric

Revise language skills and improve use of rhetoric

Enhance ability to discuss research and writing with colleagues in English

Required Material

Glasman-Deal, H. (Second Edition 2020). Science Research Writing . London: Imperial College Press (available at the Randwijck Study Store) ISBN 9781786347848

This is an online course via Zoom.

• Course code: PhD-2.
• Please register using our online registration form .

Admission requirements and Certificate

PhD-1 (FHML) is available to all PhD candidates and Research Master’s students at Maastricht University and from other universities.

Our PhD-2 courses are open to scientific PhD candidates at Maastricht University and other universities after assessment of previous academic writing experience.

** If you are from a non-FHML discipline please contact us at: [email protected] to enquire about our other writing courses.

Certificate

At the end of the course you will receive a certificate, providing you have attended at least 6 out of the 8 sessions and submitted at least 5 of the writing assignments.

Costs and funding

Costs per course:.

All academic writing courses: € 545 per module.   Costs are exclusive course materials.

Funding for FHML PhD candidates  

For FHML PhD candidates who are registered as PhD candidate at HR and in PhD TRACK of one of the Schools, MaCSBIO, M4I or MERLN, please provide your personnel number (700....) in the subscription form. A maximum of 3 courses will be funded by the Faculty.

For all other participants, the Language Centre will send you an invoice directly. Please note that registration is an agreement to pay.

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Introduction to Graduate Writing

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Course Description

Improve your writing skills for graduate school success: the introduction to graduate writing online course is ideal for international scholars.

For international students attending a Master’s or Doctoral (Ph.D.) program in the U.S., communicating through writing and presenting research are required skills, whatever the discipline.

Offered through the University of San Diego’s English Language Academy, Introduction to Graduate Writing is an online graduate-level writing course that provides international scholars with the background, instruction, and practice needed to successfully write research papers.

Who is the Graduate Writing Skills Course For? 

Introduction to Graduate Writing is designed for non-native, English-speaking international students who wish to prepare for the rigors of writing research papers in a graduate-level academic program at a U.S. college or university, but who prefer to do so in an online, asynchronous format. Even though others may also benefit from this course, it is primarily geared toward international scholars with an advanced proficiency in English.

Course Details

Course Format: This course is offered in an asynchronous, online format.

Curriculum: This course is offered to you as a fully online, self-paced and self-directed learning experience. 

Instructors:  USD faculty, experienced in online teaching techniques, provide a stimulating online learning environment.  All instructors hold a Master's degree or higher.

Program Requirements: Advanced level of English proficiency.

Course Options

What you will learn.

Our graduate-level writing skills course is laser-focused on teaching participants how to write academic essays, specifically research papers. To get the most out of the course, students should already have solid writing skills and be ready to take the next step.

Introduction to Graduate Writing will cover:

• The style and language of graduate writing
• Understanding genre (form, content, and style of writing)
• Conducting research and evaluating sources
• Understanding APA style, commonly used in academic writing
• Writing with sources and attribution
• Synthesizing sources/annotating a bibliography

Instructors

Professional development courses offered by the University of San Diego’s Division of Professional & Continuing Education are taught by faculty that possess a depth and breadth of academic and real-world professional experience.

The Professional and Continuing Education program nurtures key partnerships on the local, national, and international level. The goal is to better serve working professionals who seek to enhance or build their careers and help achieve their highest value and potential. Contact us today to learn more.

Informative Stats and Facts

High-quality, career-building courses to choose from

In-depth, innovative, and relevant topics

Career advancing certificates

Learning Method Information

Courses offer a convenient, yet rigorous style of learning that allows you to structure your education to suit your schedule while keeping you on pace toward achieving your educational.

Online Self-Paced

Our online self-paced courses are similar to online fixed-date courses, but are designed to give you a six-month period from time of enrollment to complete all assignments. Your instructor will provide feedback via written responses on your assignments and exams. Grades are based on completed projects, assignments and exams.

How is the self-paced course structured? Like fixed-date courses, online self-paced courses are asynchronous meaning that you can work on your assignments anytime; the difference being there are no assigned due dates in self-paced courses. The content is divided into learning modules. Each module will cover one or more topics. Within each of the learning modules, you can expect the following components:

• Module introduction that outlines what you can expect to learn in the module.
• Required readings (textbook, articles, journals, websites, etc.) and presentations (audio and/or video).
• Assignments (which may include: written assignments, quizzes, blogs, etc.) based on the readings and presentations.
• Module conclusion to review the topics and what you should have learned.
• Typically, there is a final project, paper, or exam due in the last module that culminates all of the topics covered in each of the learning modules. You’ll find that the design of the learning modules has a rhythm to help you manage your time in the course.

Key Benefits of English Language Academy Courses

Dynamic, practical language skills.

Our individualized, skill-based placement system stimulates dynamic learning for students of varying levels of language proficiency with instruction that is tailored to their unique needs.

Sense of Community

Our faculty and staff engage students from around the globe in an enriching, high-quality educational experience where they also build friendships that help stimulate academic success.

Invested in Your Success

Our mission is to help each student thrive while developing the English language skills that position them to achieve personal, professional and academic goals.

Related Courses

Your english in america’s finest city.

Make your dreams come true of studying English in the United States at the English Language Academy.

GSPDP 320: Academic Writing for Graduate Students

This course provides graduate students with formal instruction in the genres and mechanics of academic writing at the graduate and professorial level. Through presentations, readings, discussion, and weekly peer editing, graduate students will develop writing and editing skills necessary for their success as graduate students and future faculty.

Course Goals

• to familiarize graduate students with the different genres of academic writing (e.g., seminar papers, journal articles, books, grant proposals, dissertation prospecti, etc.) and how these genres vary from discipline to discipline;
• to help graduate students become better writers by analyzing writing on both the micro (sentence) and macro (organizational) levels;
• to teach graduate students basic skills of professional editing so that they can become better editors of their own work and that of peers;
• to enable graduate students to apply these skills to a piece of their own writing and to the writing of peers.

Skill Areas: General Writing Skills, Strategies, and Tools,

PROVIDED BY:

Graduate Writing Center

The Graduate Writing Center assists graduate students in the development of academic skills necessary to successfully complete their graduate programs and prepare for future faculty and professional positions. This unit offers workshops on topics such as academic writing, grant writing, dissertation writing, editing, and preparing articles for publication, in addition to writing groups and individual consultations on these topics for graduate students.

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• Centre for Academic English
• Administration and support services
• Current students
• Doctoral students

Academic writing for doctoral students

Academic writing courses, writing provision linked to the esa, before the early stage assessment* (esa).

Preparation for Academic Writing  helps those who score level 1 on DACR A1  reach the level required to start Academic Writing 1.

Academic Writing 1  and  Academic Writing 2  are sequential core courses to help those who score level 2 on DACR A1 prepare for writing the ESA report.

Academic Writing 1&2 (Condensed)  is a fast-track, condensed course for those who score level 3 on DACR A1 to develop their academic communication before the ESA. 

After the Early Stage Assessment (ESA)

Improving Academic Writing is an opportunity for guided and targeted writing support to enable those scoring level 1 or 2 on DACR A2 to work on their writing and boost their progress.

To better understand how our writing provision ties in with the doctoral milestones, please  refer to this flowchart .

‌* Please note that because these courses are progressive, you can only take 1 of them per term.

Writing provision available in the 1st, 2nd or 3rd year.

Advanced Academic Writing  is for those with a high level of language proficiency, and focuses on effective communication at research level. This course is suitable for those whose priority is practising and improving their academic STEMM writing in general.

Writing a Successful Research Paper is for those who are at the stage of writing papers for publication. This series of sessions specifically focuses on training you to use research papers in your own field as input to create effective writing models and identify relevant language features.

In collaboration with the Graduate School, the  Thesis Writing Retreat provides a focused opportunity to make major advances in writing the doctoral thesis in a supported, structured environment.

Other writing opportunities

Improve your writing through self-study

Learn how to produce effective lab reports, literature reviews, research papers, and more.

Make progress on your writing in guided sessions

Take advantage of our opportunities for peer writing and discussion, with guidance from a CfAE coach.

Receive 1:1 advice on your writing

Discuss strategies for improving your writing with a CFAE coach.

Please note that the Chemistry building on the College's South Kensington campus ( see A3 on this map ) has spaces designed for self study. Level 4 has silent study spaces and Level 5 has independent learning spaces. If you are on campus, you may wish to benefit from these for our self-study learning blocks and our online courses and 1:1 sessions.

The Business School requests that their students and staff contact their  Global Skills Development team  about their equivalent to the Centre for Academic English provision. 

Select language

Freudenthal Institute

Academic writing 1 for gsns phd students, course description.

Academic writing is one of the more important skills any researcher should have. No matter how brilliant or innovate your research, it is of little value if you cannot communicate your insights clearly and convincingly in scientific articles, so that peer researchers can both verify and build on it. They say the best scientists are also the best writers! Fortunately, writing is a skill that you can learn, and the learning process can be a fun one if given the right tools.

In this 8-week course, you will learn how to improve your writing strategies, build up your text, structure your writing, and write in a clear and professional academic style. Learning takes place through e-learning modules on the ULearning platform, supplemented with several online meetings.

Learning objectives

This course is a thorough preparation for the writing task of the PhD student. We pay special attention to the problem of starting up the writing process: how to overcome writer’s block and other challenges. You will learn how to compose a coherent line of thought, and how to design, write, analyze, and edit a scientific paper with an eye for cohesion, clarity, and conciseness. By working on these issues, you will gain confidence in writing and eventually become a more successful scientist.

Prerequisites

You should either be working on a paper, or ready to write anything (a minimum of 600 words) about your PhD research, such as a literature overview or a short report of recent results. Usually, this requires that you have started your PhD at least three months ago.

This course teaches how to write an academic text in the natural or life sciences, but does not delve deeply into genre-specific details, such as how to write a Results or Method section. This makes this  Academic Writing 1  course suitable for any type of paper, report, or proposal, and for any field within the natural or life sciences.

Those interested in learning more about writing a scientific paper in the IMRaD structure (Introduction – Methods – Results – Discussion) can proceed with following the course  Academic Writing 2: Writing a Scientific Paper with Impact  after completing this course (course 1 is a prerequisite to course 2; both courses are 1,5 EC).  Academic Writing 2  will start in 2024.

Instructional method

You are trained through weekly e-learning modules on the ULearning platform consisting of theory, examples, short knowledge clips, and interactive exercises. Throughout the course, you will also engage in peer feedback, and receive feedback from your teacher. There will be 4 online meetings, each 1 hour long, in which you can get to know your teachers and peers, and engage in discussion.

The course consists of 8 modules, spread over 8 weeks:

• The writing process and writing strategies
• Structuring a text by composing a writing plan
• Paragraphs: key sentences and internal structure
• Sentence readability and tools for cohesion
• Academic style and revision techniques
• Energizing verbs (active/passive, nominalizations) and secrets to concise writing
• Correct English (punctuation, spelling and grammar)
• Solidifying and deepening knowledge and skills  

This course is specially designed for PhD students in the natural and life sciences, and the provided examples will be from natural and life sciences writing. It will, therefore, feel different than general language courses that you may have followed before, and more applicable to your current needs as a scientist.

Practical Information

For further practical information and registration, please visit the GSNS PhD courses page  (scroll down to the heading GSNS Electives , and then click on the course "Academic Writing 1: Composing an Excellent Academic text - COSKA").

Utrecht University Heidelberglaan 8 3584 CS Utrecht The Netherlands Tel. +31 (0)30 253 35 50

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Graduate Writing Overview

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

Here we present four vidcasts that offer a broad introductory overview of graduate writing. In this context, it is helpful to think about writing as a conversation , a process , a social endeavor , and a disciplinary undertaking . Stay tuned as we continue to publish these vidcasts!

Writing at the graduate level is quite different from writing at the undergraduate level. As emerging scholars, graduate writers will need to become well-versed in the scholarly conversations taking place in the journals and at the conferences within their field. Where undergraduate writers may find themselves primarily writing for their professor as audience and to show mastery of subject matter as a purpose, graduate writers’ audience will be their colleagues in the field, and their purpose will be to engage in conversation with and to disseminate new research to those colleagues. A graduate writer’s identity as scholar requires a concurrent identity as writer.

Materials in this section cover a range of topics relevant to graduate-level writing and to the process of becoming a scholarly writer within a particular field. Two sets of vidcasts fall in the category of Intensive Writing Experience (IWE). An IWE is a concentrated program aimed at a particular group of graduate students (e.g., those new to graduate writing or those writing theses and dissertations). These programs ask writers to learn about and engage with information about and strategies to apply to writing that they can then use in their own work. The Introduction to Graduate Writing vidcast series explores how writing is a conversation, a process, a social endeavor, and discipline specific. The IWE for Thesis and Dissertation writers offers material on how to set goals for and remain motivated during a long-term project. It covers topics relevant to drafting and revising documents, such as reverse outlining, sentence concision, and flow in scholarly writing.

In addition to the vidcasts, this section of the OWL houses a number of handouts specific to graduate writing on topics such as style or organization and on genres such as literature reviews and conference proposals. These materials offer explanations and samples of the particular topic or genre being covered in the handout.

• Schools & departments

Academic writing

Resources designed to support postgraduate level academic writing skills: Writing Up Qualitative Research independent study course.

Writing up qualitative research

This independent self study pack is aimed at Postgraduate Researchers working on a qualitative thesis who have completed their data collection and analysis and are at the stage of writing up.

Note: this self-study pack was written in 2013 so is not an expecially up-to-date resource, but it may still contain helpful general information.

The units available for download are:

Writing up: course introduction (PDF - 3 pages)

Unit 1: structure and introduction (PDF - 13 pages)

Unit 2: literature review (PDF - 15 pages)

Unit 3: methodology (PDF - 9 pages)

Unit 4: data chapters (PDF - 17 pages)

Unit 5: the final chapter (PDF - 19 pages)

Unit 6: the first few pages (PDF - 9 pages)

Independent study notes (PDF - 11 pages)

This article was published on 2024-02-26

The best online courses for PhD researchers in 2024

In today’s world, there are vast opportunities for education online, and carefully chosen online courses can play a significant role in the academic and personal development of PhD students. This list highlights the top 13 online courses on Coursera for PhD students in 2024, along with justifications for their relevance and utility in the context of doctoral studies.

Disclosure: This post contains affiliate links, which means I may earn a small commission if you make a purchase using the links below at no additional cost to you.

Contrasting 2024’s top online courses for PhD researchers with last year’s picks

Why i continue to focus on coursera as online course platform for phd researchers, online courses for phd students on mental health and well-being, online courses for phd students on academic writing, online courses for phd students on artificial intelligence, online courses for phd students on research methods and ethics, online courses for phd students on productivity, online course for phd students on science communication.

This is not the first year that I have provided a list of the top online courses on Coursera for PhD researchers. You can find the full list from 2023 here .

In fact, all courses from the previous year remain relevant and are included in this year’s list. However, there are also changes:

Particularly given the significant changes brought about by AI technology in the past year, the 2024 list of best online courses for PhD researchers incorporates additional courses.

Throughout 2023, I dedicated numerous blog posts to evaluating AI tools for academic writing , exploring the ethics of AI in research , addressing privacy and confidentiality concerns , and providing practical strategies for the proper use of AI in academia . As AI’s influence continues to grow, I believe a fundamental understanding of big data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning is increasingly crucial, not only for data scientists but for everyone engaged in research.

AI is also intricately linked to ongoing discussions on the responsible conduct of research. With a heightened focus on stories of academic mis conduct, including bullying, authorship disputes, plagiarism, and more, I believe this area is becoming progressively important for PhD students. Therefore, this topic is also included in a course that has secured a spot on the 2024 top list.

For PhD researchers, understanding responsible conduct of research is crucial not only for proper behavior but, more importantly, to understand the norms in academia, enabling them to assert their rights.

Lastly, having observed brilliant PhD students struggle to communicate their results in my own environment, I’ve included an additional course on science communication. If you come across any other courses that you believe deserve to be featured, don’t hesitate to contact me!

Let’s discuss why I focus on online courses provided by Coursera. As a leading platform collaborating with universities and prominent organizations like Google and IBM, I firmly believe that Coursera stands out as the best platform for massive open online courses.

Collaborating with renowned institutions adds a layer of quality assurance for PhD researchers aiming to develop or hone theoretical and practical skills, thereby elevating their competitiveness in the (academic) job market.

Moreover, Coursera boasts a user-friendly structure, with most courses accessible for free:

The majority of online courses on Coursera are available for free, with payment required only for participation in graded assignments and to acquire an official certificate.

These certificates are necessary if you intend to showcase the course, for example, on your academic CV or LinkedIn profile as evidence of successful completion. Fortunately, they are reasonably priced, often ranging between US$30-$100.

Additionally, for dedicated online learners, Coursera offers a CourseraPlus subscription , providing full access to over 7000 online courses. Depending on your course preferences and intensity, it represents a worthwhile investment, particularly for recognized professional certificates in areas such as project management or data science .

And now, without further ado, let’s have a look at the top online courses for PhD researchers on Coursera in 2024!

The Science of Well-Being (Yale University)

Official description: In this course you will engage in a series of challenges designed to increase your own happiness and build more productive habits. As preparation for these tasks, Professor Laurie Santos reveals misconceptions about happiness, annoying features of the mind that lead us to think the way we do, and the research that can help us change. You will ultimately be prepared to successfully incorporate a specific wellness activity into your life.

Time commitment: approx. 19 hours

Rating: 4.9/5 (based on 37,003 ratings)

Certificate: You can earn a Certificate upon completion.

Relevance for PhD students: It is no secret that many PhD students struggle with mental health challenges such as anxiety and depression. Furthermore, many PhD students find it difficult to switch off from work and take proper breaks. Exploring misconceptions and expectations about happiness as well as learning about concrete measures to increase your well-being can be extremely useful as a PhD researcher who struggles to take care of your needs.

Enroll in the course >>

Build Personal Resilience (Macquarie University)

Official description: Globalisation and advances in information and communication technology have resulted in a 24/7 work environment characterised by rapid change, a greater sense of competition, and an explosion in access to communication and information. These pressures compound stress related to workload and information processing – this not only reduces performance but can lead to a reduced sense of meaning and purpose as well as physical and mental health issues. Understanding stress and how to boost your resilience to it are essential skills for contemporary leaders and play a vital role in managing the demands you face at work. This course will focus on the nature of stressors facing leaders in today’s work environments and how to deal with them. You’ll explore personal resilience – your capacity to withstand and cope with stress – and strategies for self-management, motivation and organisation. You’ll also learn how resilience is impacted by health and social relationships.

Time commitment: approx. 17 hours

Rating: 4.8/5 (based on 1,031 ratings)

Relevance for PhD students: Experiencing ‘failures’ is a normal part of academic life, but it can be particularly challenging for PhD researchers to get over setbacks and disappointments. Additionally, a PhD can be a very stressful experience as it often involves very individual and personal work, which is regularly scrutinised. Therefore, this course can help PhD researchers become more aware of their experiences and sources of stress, while it helps them to implement concrete strategies to deal with it more effectively.

You may also like: Stress levels – PhD versus non-academic full-time job

Writing in the Sciences (Stanford University)

Official course description: This course teaches scientists to become more effective writers, using practical examples and exercises. Topics include: principles of good writing, tricks for writing faster and with less anxiety, the format of a scientific manuscript, peer review, grant writing, ethical issues in scientific publication, and writing for general audiences.

Time commitment: Approx. 30 hours

Rating: 4.9/5 (based on 8,199 ratings)

Certificate: You can earn a certificate upon completion.

Relevance for PhD students: The ability to master academic writing can make or break a PhD student’s career in academia. The good news is that academic writing can be learned! This course covers a wide range of topics, such as cutting clutter from writing, and using strong verbs, and sentence and paragraph structures. It also dives into the actual writing process. Highly recommended to all PhD researchers who struggle with academic writing!

Advanced Writing (University of California, Irvine)

Official course description: By raising your level of academic writing, this course helps prepare you for college-level work. After completing this course, you will be able to: plan and write a more sophisticated argument essay; identify plagiarism and explain how to prevent it; read and analyze several articles to form your own opinion on a topic; make connections between several articles; form thesis statements from your readings; use sources effectively when writing an essay.

Time commitment: Approx. 20 hours

Rating: 4.7/5 (based on 1,842 ratings)

Relevance for PhD students: This course differs from the previous one by paying particular attention to using and analysing academic texts and developing your own argumentations in academic writing. The course description states that the course helps you to prepare for college-level work. However, if you are a PhD researcher who struggles to develop strong arguments in your academic writing, or if you come from a context where argumentative writing was not taught , this course is for you.

AI Fundamentals for Non-Data Scientists (University of Pennsylvania)

Official course description: In this course, you will go in-depth to discover how Machine Learning is used to handle and interpret Big Data. You will get a detailed look at the various ways and methods to create algorithms to incorporate into your business with such tools as Teachable Machine and TensorFlow. You will also learn different ML methods, Deep Learning, as well as the limitations but also how to drive accuracy and use the best training data for your algorithms. (…) By the end of this course, you will have learned different ways to code, including how to use no-code tools, understand Deep Learning, how to measure and review errors in your algorithms, and how to use Big Data to not only maintain customer privacy but also how to use this data to develop different strategies that will drive your business.

Time commitment: Approx. 7 hours

Rating: 4.8/5 (based on 238 ratings)

Relevance for PhD students: The addition of this course might be unexpected, focusing on ‘business’ and ‘customers’ rather than researchers. Yet, I firmly believe this perspective is beneficial for academics. An entrepreneurial mindset is increasingly crucial in academia, and having a solid grasp of AI fundamentals is vital before applying it to your own research—an aspect often overlooked in tutorials for PhD students on AI tools for academics.

Generative AI: Prompt Engineering Basics (IBM)

Official course description: This course is designed for everyone, including professionals, executives, students, and enthusiasts interested in leveraging effective prompt engineering techniques to unlock the full potential of generative artificial intelligence (AI) tools like ChatGPT. Prompt engineering is a process to effectively guide generative AI models and control their output to produce desired results. In this course, you will learn the techniques, approaches, and best practices for writing effective prompts. You will learn about prompt techniques like zero-shot and few-shot, which can improve the reliability and quality of large language models (LLMs). You will also explore various prompt engineering approaches like Interview Pattern, Chain-of-Thought, and Tree-of-Thought, which aim at generating precise and relevant responses.

Rating: 4.8/5 (based on 57 ratings)

Relevance for PhD students: Unlocking the complete potential of AI tools, such as ChatGPT, is the key! Although AI tools are gaining popularity in academia, many individuals, including PhD students, often limit themselves to the basics and overlook the full spectrum of opportunities that AI offers. Mastering prompt writing is a valuable skill. If you can dedicate some time during your PhD to acquire proper training in this aspect, I assure you that you will be grateful for the investment later on.

Understanding Research Methods (University of London)

Official course description: This Massive Open Online Course is about demystifying research and research methods. It will outline the fundamentals of doing research, aimed primarily, but not exclusively, at the postgraduate level. […] The course will appeal to those of you who require an understanding of research approaches and skills, and importantly an ability to deploy them in your studies or in your professional lives. In particular, this course will aid those of you who have to conduct research as part of your postgraduate studies but do not perhaps have access to research methods courses, or for those of you who feel you would like additional support for self-improvement.

Time commitment: Approx. 6 hours

Rating: 4.6/5 (based on 7,129 ratings)

Relevance for PhD students: Many PhD researchers receive training on research methods as part of their PhD programme, but not all. If you need don’t have access to a course at your university but need a good overview of research methods, this 6-hour course is a good time investment! It covers aspects ranging from the development of good research questions to the point of a literature review and the importance of time planning .

Uncertainty and Research (Johns Hopkins University)

Official course description: This course teaches the fundamentals of scientific research. We approach the research process as a means of systematically reducing uncertainty and demonstrate how conducting a scientific investigation can be posed as an exercise in Bayesian uncertainty quantification. We begin by exploring the scientific landscape to understand the different types of research, where they are conducted, how they are supported, and why each of these types of research is important. We then formalize scientific inquiry and the scientific method and elaborate the research process and its scientific merits. Basic concepts in probability theory are introduced leading to a conceptually simple presentation of Bayes’ Rule. We then illustrate how Bayes’ Rule provides a mathematical framework for the research process. We place an emphasis on the role that research plays in our daily and professional lives and how research skills can help us think critically, whether you’re in a technical field or not. Exercises are designed to help you improve your research skills and think more scientifically.

Time commitment: Approx. 15 hours

Rating: 4.9/12 (based on 12 ratings)

Relevance for PhD students: This course provides more in-depth knowledge of the scientific research, its different types and methods. On the one hand, it covers more fundamental questions on scientific inquiry (such as ‘What makes an investigation scientific?). On the other hand, it breaks down the actual research process into concrete steps and goes deeper into modelling uncertainties and probabilities. While this course can be very inspirational for all PhD researchers, particularly those who target quantitative studies can benefit from this course!

Responsible Conduct of Research (Utrecht University)

Official course description: As a PhD student in academia, there are difficulties you may encounter in the area of integrity, such as power relations and issues around social safety, authorship, intellectual property, and ensuring academic quality. How can you properly determine the order of authorship? In what way can social safety be improved? How do others deal with integrity issues? We have developed the MOOC “Responsible Conduct of Research” in which we take you through these topics and provide ideas on how to become a responsible researcher, who feels empowered by knowledge of integrity. 6 modules will guide you in 7 hours through important topics, including examples, a lecture, expert views and experiences and the opportunity to investigate your own research practice. A certificate will be provided to participants who completed every part.

Rating: This is a brand new course, so ratings are not available yet. However, a closer look at the modules suggests great promise!

Relevance for PhD students: The course description is exceptionally clear, and it is meticulously tailored for PhD students. For doctoral researchers, a comprehensive grasp of responsible conduct of research is not only essential for ethical behavior but, more significantly, for comprehending the established norms in academia, empowering them to advocate for their rights effectively.

Work Smarter, Not Harder: Time Management for Personal & Professional Productivity (University of California, Irvine)

Official course description: You will be able to gain and apply your knowledge and understanding of personal and professional awareness, organization and commitment, and use the tools, methods and techniques that you have learned in goal setting, prioritization, scheduling, and delegation to overcome time management challenges and enhance productivity. Upon completing this course, you will be able to: 1. Learn to plan effectively to achieve your personal and professional goals 2. Learn to recognize and overcome barriers to successful time management 3. Identify specific time management tools and use them effectively 4. Manage resources both effectively and efficiently 5. Keep your sense of perspective to prevent and manage crises 6. Learn to delegate effectively 7. Learn to manage expectations and say “No” when appropriate.

Time commitment: Approx. 10 hours

Rating: 4.5/5 (based on 15,500 ratings)

Relevance for PhD students: There are only 24 hours in the day, also for PhD students. Most of them already work very hard. Thus, learning how to work smarter instead of harder is a crucial skill for PhD researchers. Completing a PhD and fulfilling all the requirements and expectations that go along with it requires you to use your time effectively. This course is full of valuable information, including expectation management and saying “No” sometimes! ( The course is part of a career success specialisation but can also be taken independently. )

Project Initiation: Starting a Successful Project (Google)

Official course description: This is the second course in the Google Project Management Certificate program. This course will show you how to set a project up for success in the first phase of the project life cycle: the project initiation phase. In exploring the key components of this phase, you’ll learn how to define and manage project goals, deliverables, scope, and success criteria. You’ll discover how to use tools and templates like stakeholder analysis grids and project charters to help you set project expectations and communicate roles and responsibilities. Current Google project managers will continue to instruct and provide you with hands-on approaches for accomplishing these tasks while showing you the best project management tools and resources for the job at hand.

Time commitment: Approx. 22 hours

Rating: 4.8/5 (based on 18,308 ratings)

Relevance for PhD students: This course may come as a surprise, especially because it is provided by Google instead of a university. But think about it: Doing a PhD essentially means that the PhD researcher is the project manager who has to set up and implement a complex project! Therefore, gaining knowledge on how to successfully start a project, plan and divide it into concrete and achievable deliverables can be a complete game changer in a PhD researcher’s journey .

Promote your Scientific Results (Institut Mines-Télécom)

Official course description: Whether you are a member of the natural or human science community, if you are a PhD student, professor, part of an academic department or international research team, or self-employed and you wish to showcase your work to a wider audience then this is the perfect course for you. You will learn how to promote your work to professional peers, the general public, as well as the media. In this MOOC, we have been incredibly fortunate to gather a team of experienced professionals from scientific experts, to media specialists, to communication coaches. (…) You will gain key takeaways that you can adapt to your own communication contexts. To further deepen your learning experience, you will collaborate with an international scientific community to reflect on and fine-tune your own skills in pitches, presentations, approach to question and answer sessions, networking, and speaking to the media.

Time commitment: Approx. 15 hours to complete

Relevance for PhD students: In academia, success in building a career often hinges not solely on the brilliance or groundbreaking nature of one’s scientific work, but rather on the ability to effectively market that work. Moreover, a prevailing trend in academia places greater emphasis on assessing outreach and ‘real-world impact’ over traditional citation indexes. Consequently, securing media coverage or influencing policy processes is becoming an increasingly crucial factor for advancement within the academic hierarchy. Learning how to promote your scientific research is, therefore, a must!

Designing Effective Science Communication (University of Colorado Boulder)

Official course description: This course is designed for scientists, science educators, and science communicators who are interested in re-thinking how we communicate science to diverse audiences, particularly to the general public. Topics include evidence-based considerations of human learning as well as effective communication through a variety of modalities, including oral presentations, written forms of communication, technology, and artistic media. The objective of this course is to equip learners with the skills needed to design and implement effective methods of science communication. Learners will be able to identify key principles of human learning that undergird science communication, describe pitfalls in “popular” avenues for science outreach, and apply best practices to science communication in a variety of media.

Time commitment: Approx. 11 hours to complete

Rating: 4.5/5 (based on 24 ratings)

Relevance for PhD students: Sharing and disseminating research becomes increasingly important in academia. Therefore, PhD researchers should spend some time learning effective communication strategies early on! Being familiar with processes and methods of science communication helps PhD researchers to have a larger societal impact, and it increases their employment opportunities.

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Advanced Academic Writing | On-campus course | Full

The Advanced Academic Writing course is designed for PhD students who write their dissertation in English. The course addresses different aspects of the writing process, such as becoming aware of disciplinary requirements, improving text coherence, writing effective sentences, using punctuation effectively, using varied vocabulary and improving the overall style of writing.

Course description

N.B. You should participate in this course about 6 months into your PhD project or longer, preferably when you are writing the pilot study.

The course focuses on writing effective, well-structured and coherent academic texts in English. It introduces strategies to improve the overall writing process, such as planning, outlining and becoming aware of disciplinary requirements. Other important course themes include writing effective and varied sentences, using punctuation marks effectively, improving text coherence and working with different techniques to improve the overall style of the text. Because the course participants typically use English as a second language (ESL), the course also pays attention to certain language issues that might arise at the level of vocabulary, sentence structure, punctuation and grammar. Throughout the course, the participants will work towards laying the foundation of one of the chapters of their dissertation (or an academic article/pilot study) and will write a considerable part of this text. They will receive detailed and extensive feedback on their writing from the course instructor, who will also use the participants’ texts as a basis for the course material.

Tuesdays 13:00-15:30

Offered online. The next on campus course starts 27 March 2024, see the other course item for registration.

Dates : 6 February, 13 February, 27 February, 12 March, 19 March, 26 March, 2 April, 16 April.

It is no longer possible to register for the online Advanced Academic Writing course. 

Please sign up for the waiting list if you are still interested, and we might organise a second online installment of this course soon.

Wednesdays 9:30 - 12:00

Offered on campus only. The next online course starts 6 February 2024, see the other course item for registration.

Dates : 27 March, 3 April, 10 April, 17 April, 1 May, 15 May, 22 May, 29 May

• Registration - FULL Would you still like to join this course? Register for the waiting list here

Room 2.14 Spuistraat 134 1012 VB Amsterdam

Course details

Attendance & assignments.

To be able to complete the course successfully, the participants have to attend all classes. They should also submit at least two writing samples for feedback (1000-1200 words & 2500 words).

Important information about the course

Native speaker of English?

Although this is very much a writing course and most classes focus on different aspects of the writing process, improving style, different writing practices and so on, many participants write in English as a second language, so certain themes or questions that are particularly relevant for non-native speakers of English are also addressed. If English is your native language, then a quick Zoom intake meeting can be scheduled to discuss whether you would like to attend all classes or perhaps only a selection. Please note that the group does usually consist of a mix of native and non-native speakers and that, on the whole, the native speakers typically do attend all/most classes.

Have you started with the writing process?

Because this is a writing course, it is strongly recommend that you join the course once you've actually started with the writing process (chapter, article, pilot study). If you've just started with your PhD project, it might be better to join the course a bit later (this course is offered once in the fall semester and twice in the spring semester). Throughout the course you can submit various writing samples for feedback and participants find the combination of the group sessions and individual feedback particularly valuable.

The course will be taught by Lotte Tavecchio. Lotte holds a PhD in English Linguistics and has a special interest in sentence structure, punctuation, matters of style and contrastive linguistics. She works as a lecturer at Amsterdam University College (AUC) and is the owner of b-eloquent ( www.b-eloquent.nl ).

• Week 1: Introduction to course themes / overview of common mistakes & focus areas
• Week 2: Strategies to improve the writing process and exploring disciplinary requirements
• Week 3: Vocabulary: what do you need to know about words to use words effectively and to expand your vocabulary?
• Week 4: Writing effective sentences: varying your sentence structure
• Week 5: Effective and varied use of punctuation marks in complex sentences
• Week 6: Elements of stylishness: improving your style of writing
• Week 7: Text structure: improving text coherence
• Week 8: Course conclusion & room for extra theme suggested by participants (e.g. writing abstracts, designing poster presentations, etc.)

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Advanced academic writing for PhD researchers

Building on an analysis of participants' own texts submitted prior to commencement, this course gives you a clear idea of your strengths and weaknesses concerning written academic English. It shows you what you can do to improve your confidence in the short term, helps you to eradicate those silly mistakes, and gives you new options for expressing complex ideas in well-structured English sentences, so that you can add some variation to your writing. There is an emphasis on improving the clarity and compactness of your writing. On top of that you will be able to check and revise your own writing in a methodical fashion using a detailed editing checklist.

You will learn how to write in well-structured English sentences on complex academic topics, allowing you to write in a more varied way. A practical checklist will help you. 

Content The course is intensive and lasts two weeks: three meetings in the first week and two in the second week. You will be given tools to improve your writing confidence and avoid unnecessary mistakes in a short space of time. The emphasis is on improving the clarity and conciseness of your writing. You will also learn how to systematically revise your own work using a comprehensive checklist. 

Working method At the start of the course, you submit a text written in English, which you will work on during the course. For feedback, the teacher uses ELS-online, the ALP's feedback system. You will be reviewed using several revised versions of your own work and other editing assignments. 

For whom? Dutch and English speaking PhD students who want to improve or strengthen their academic English. Preferably, you have already written several longer texts that are relevant for your research, and you have been working on your PhD for at least a year.

In order to participate in this course, you must have a connection with the VU and you must have started your PhD trajectory. If you do not meet these requirements, but you still want to participate, please contact us before you register.

This course is taught twice a year. Please don’t register before the new dates have been published on the website, as in that case we cannot process your registration. Please contact us for more information.

Teacher Dr. Ursula Caci

Dates and time The course is offered each year in November and May. Monday, 13 May 2024 Tuesday, 14 May 2024 Friday, 17 May 2024 Tuesday, 21 May 2024 Friday, 24 May 2024

All classes are from 9.30 to 12.15 hrs. 

Price € 475

Registration and contact Click here for registration form . For information and questions, please send an e-mail to the ALP's course administration: [email protected] .

The ALP is part of the VU Language Policy

Academic Language Programme

Contact Academic Language Programme

For VU staff: you can contact us about ALP courses for you or your students or with questions about language policy or communicative skills.

Dr. Gea Dreschler , academic director ALP

Dr. Nel de Jong , coordinator ALP for Dutch (NT1, NT2)

For students: for questions or information about a course, workshop or coaching, contact us at

[email protected]

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Coursebooks

Academic Writing for Doctoral Students (1)

ENG-627 / 2 credits

Teacher: Various lecturers

Language: English

Remark: Registration via Language Centre EPFL (UNIL) CdL only

This course is intended for PhD students only.

• https://go.epfl.ch/modules-english/
• https://go.epfl.ch/modules-anglais/

In the programs

• Exam form: Written (session free)
• Subject examined: Academic Writing for Doctoral Students (1)
• Exercises: 60 Hour(s)

Reference week

Related courses.

Results from graphsearch.epfl.ch .

Lund University

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Open online courses on academic writing

Two MOOCs (Massive open online courses) in academic writing have been developed at Lund University: Writing in English at University and Akademiskt skrivande (in Swedish).

The courses are intended to be a resource for students and teachers at Lund University, but are open to everyone. See below for more information about each course.

All the lectures are freely available on Youtube: Playlist for Writing in English at University Playlist for Akademiskt skrivande (in Swedish)

Access to all the course material is obtained by enrolling in the course on the Coursera platform. To create an account all you need is an e-mail adress. The courses have flexible enrolment, so sign up today!

Coursera’s course page for Writing in English at University (in Swedish) Coursera’s course page for Akademiskt skrivande (in Swedish)

The Writing in English at University course

The MOOC Writing in English at University is a resource for university students who are currently involved in writing assignments or degree projects as well as for students who wish to learn about academic writing in order to prepare for future writing tasks at university. Although the course provides guidance to all student writers, it targets specifically those who are writing in second language learner contexts and whose native language is not English. As well as helping learners to put together their own “toolbox” of academic writing skills, Writing in English at University will give participants a chance to test out some of these tools, and to reflect on their own development as writers. With flexible enrolment, learners can spend as much time as they need on a module or they can speed up the pace of their studies, depending on what suits them and their particular learning styles. The course is divided into four modules:

• Writing in English at university: An introduction
• Structuring your text and conveying your argument
• Using sources in academic writing
• The writer’s toolbox: Editing and proofreading

The MOOC  Writing in English at University  offers the option to obtain a certificate of completion upon completing the entire course, including the graded assignments at the end of each module. To receive the certificate of completion there is an administrative fee. It is still possible for anyone who does not wish to obtain a certificate of completion to access and complete the entire course free of charge.

Satu Manninen, Ellen Turner, Cecilia Wadsö Lecaros, Nicolette Karst, Fredrik Vanek

The Akademiskt skrivande course (in Swedish)

If you want to know more about the course Akademiskt skrivande, you find information on our Swedish webpage .

Contact information

Linda Dahlberg, course administrator

Linda [dot] dahlberg [at] stu [dot] lu [dot] se (Linda[dot]dahlberg[at]stu[dot]lu[dot]se)  

MOOC stands for Massive Open Online Course, a free university course delivered online and open to everyone.

Please note that you cannot include a MOOC as part of a degree or receive university credits for it.

Non-Credit Certificate Program in Medical Writing and Editing

Master the fundamentals and best practices of medical writing, editing, and communication.

Upcoming Events

Freelancing in Medical Writing and Editing

Apr 9, 2024 • Online

How to Land Your First Job in Editing

Apr 29, 2024 • Online

At a Glance

The University of Chicago’s non-credit certificate in Medical Writing and Editing uses the AMA Manual of Style as the foundation for mastering the fundamentals and best practices of medical writing, editing, and communication.

Developed for professionals with backgrounds in science or writing, the online medical writing certificate program with synchronous course sessions has a comprehensive curriculum focused on creating medical communicators with strong writing, editing, data reporting, and analytic skills. Student have the opportunity to boost their skills quickly in nine months to one year, part-time.

Designed For

Designed for both professionals with a background in science who want to acquire writing skills, and those with a background in writing or an English degree who want to understand medical terminology.

Learn from Industry Experts

Our program instructors have worked with and for a wide range of leading organizations, including the American Medical Association, WebMD, the Mayo Clinic, The Journal of Infectious Diseases, and the Journal of Graduate Medical Education.

Want to Learn More?

View our comprehensive curriculum, taught by seasoned medical writers and editors.

Grow Your Network

Current students and alumni have access to networking events and webinars hosted by our Student Advisory Board and our Professional Development team, who also fund an alumni scholarship program.

Join a Thriving Field in Medical Writing

Driven by the expansion of scientific and technical products, the Bureau of Labor Statistics projects a faster growth rate in the employment of technical writers than that in other fields.

Potential Job Titles for Medical Writers and Editors

• Content Specialist
• Medical Writer/Editor
• Regulatory Writer/Editor
• Technical Editor

Average salaries for Medical Writers and Editors

According to Glassdoor, the salaries of both medical writers and editors average around $97,000.

Focus Areas

• Specialization Track in Freelancing

Offered by The University of Chicago's Professional Education

Ready to Take Your Next Step?

Of interest.

• Non-Credit Certificate Program in Regulatory Writing

Gain in-demand medical writing skills that will help elevate your career in healthcare or medical...

Inescapable Ethics

Essential Courses on Medical Copyediting

From Freelancer to Founder

• Non-Credit Certificate Program in Editing
• Learning the Business of Freelance Medical Writing and Editing

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• CORRESPONDENCE
• 02 April 2024

How can we make PhD training fit for the modern world? Broaden its philosophical foundations

• Ganesh Alagarasan 0

Indian Institute of Science Education and Research, Tirupati, India.

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You have highlighted how PhD training assessment has stagnated, despite evolving educational methodologies (see Nature 613 , 414 (2023) and Nature 627 , 244; 2024 ). In particular, you note the mismatch between the current PhD journey and the multifaceted demands of modern research and societal challenges.

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Nature 628 , 36 (2024)

doi: https://doi.org/10.1038/d41586-024-00969-x

Competing Interests

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We currently offer 10+ master’s programs and 13 certificate programs that can be completed fully online. These programs allow you to further your education in a number of areas like engineering, computer science, data science and business.

Course Structure

Our online graduate degree programs combine synchronous and asynchronous learning. Typically, you’ll participate in one live virtual class each week; however, we record the lecture for those unable to attend this time slot. As a result, some students are able to complete their degrees entirely asynchronously.

Part- And Full-Time Study

Most working professionals are interested in part-time study. Our online graduate programs are flexible, so you can take just one course at a time, take on a full-time course schedule, or take time off if needed. Your academic advisor will help you plan out your course schedule and make changes to your degree plan, if needed.

Online Courses and Professional Development

We’re here whenever your skills need a refresh. And, as America’s Corporate Partner University, we collaborate with employers to create fully online professional development programs for their workforce.

Individual Courses

Clarkson offers fully online or paired online courses to currently enrolled undergraduate and graduate students. Check availability for the fall, spring and summer semesters.

Advanced Certificates

Broaden your knowledge base or pivot to an emerging field. For candidates holding a bachelor’s degree, our advanced certificates introduce you to business fundamentals or applications in supply chain management, human resources, data analytics, healthcare management and other areas. And if you decide to move forward with a master’s degree upon completion of the certificate, you can apply those credits towards your degree!

Micro-Credentials

Specialize your engineering and technical knowledge, explore the foundations of leadership or get a glimpse of what it takes to succeed as an entrepreneur. Taught by Clarkson faculty, our micro-credentials are open to alumni and working professionals, as well as current students. Contact the Office of Micro-credentials at [email protected] for more information.

Take the Next Step

Access a Clarkson education at any professional stage, in a format convenient to you.