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• Eagle Thesis & Dissertation Boot Camp

Apply for our upcoming Boot Camp sessions:

• January 17, 18, 19
• February 21, 22, 23
• March 25, 26, 27
• April 24, 25, 26
• June 27, 28
• July 25, 26 (Registration Coming Soon)

Register TODAY!

What is Boot Camp?

The Eagle Thesis and Dissertation Boot Camp is designed to provide a supportive environment for intense, focused writing time, as well as structure and motivation to overcome typical roadblocks in the dissertation process. It is an interruption-free, stress-free, no-excuses-just-do-it writing time for Master's and Ph.D. students.

We intend for Boot Camp to be a model that you can continue on your own. It is our hope that participants will form small self-motivated work groups, utilize the resources available on campus, and stick to an individualized writing schedule with the momentum gained from Boot Camp.

Am I Eligible?

Sound interesting? Here's what's required of you:

• An approved thesis or dissertation proposal . This is a writing boot camp. You will spend the time writing--not analyzing data or researching. Come prepared to start drafting or revising part of your dissertation.
• Permission from your thesis or dissertation advisor. As part of the application process, we must receive an e-mail from your advisor or the chair of your committee certifying that you are in the writing or revising stage of your project. 
• A clear calendar. Participants need to commit to attending the entire workshop. You will not be excused to teach or attend class. Arrange transportation and childcare so that you are free to attend each day.

If you are accepted and cannot attend, please let us know immediately. It is unacceptable to "no-show" at boot camp. Your advisor will be notified and you will not be allowed to attend the following boot camp.

What Happens at Boot Camp?

Each day includes:

• Several blocks of writing time
• Scheduled, limited time for web browsing
• A lunch conversation with fellow campers
• Space to continue writing in the afternoon

What are others saying about Boot Camp?

"Before the camp, I was just going to quit because I was so overloaded, but now I should actually graduate in May."

"I got more done in the camp than during the entire semester. I wrote about 35 pages."

"This was a good time for me to do this and gave me motivation. I got more done in the last 3 days than the last 3 months. At work it is very noisy. At home it is hard to work because of my son. I am going to go to the Library to work from now on and I also realize that I need to give myself breaks so that I do not get overwhelmed."

Go From Confused to Confident

Join a short course to kickstart your dissertation today

Learn how to craft a clear, convincing research proposal from scratch. Includes our popular proposal template.

Learn how to craft a literature review that lays a rock-solid foundation for your project. Includes free chapter template .

Get a big-picture view of the key methodological concepts, challenges and decisions needed to craft a strong study.

What Is A Bootcamp?

Bootcamps are short, easily digestible and action-centric online courses that help you fast-track your dissertation or thesis, the smart way. 

Our Bootcamps are focused on action, not theory . Throughout each course, we focus on practical actions that you can take to move your project forward, no matter your level of experience. 

If you’re someone who wants to take action and optimise their approach to the dissertation writing process, our Bootcamps are for you. 

Why Join A Bootcamp?

Get a comprehensive, big-picture understanding in less than 4 hours

Fill in the gaps in your knowledge and understand the linkages and connections

Get step-by-step guidance (and loads of resources) to complete your project

Gain the knowledge you need to approach your project with confidence  

What Our Students Say

Over   5000 students   have joined our courses. Here’s what some of them have to say:

Explanations were clear, and concise. The course is well-structured enabling me to see the progress of the chapter. Thank you.

Fantastic course, well worth the time, effort, and expense. Highly recommended for anyone starting their research journey. 

The lessons are really enlightening and I’m improving my knowledge on research. Thanks to GradCoach

The course provided is incredibly comprehensive, offering a well-structured breakdown of content into manageable chunks. The instructor’s upbeat and pleasant demeanor throughout the class enhances the learning experience. The course effectively caters to both fundamental requirements for proposal writing and research as a whole.

I am learning so much about more than just the proposal. This applies to academic writing on other levels, for example, thinking about the verbs we use in discussion. Also, my confidence is growing as a mature student returning to full-time academia after a long break. This course is a gem.

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Thesis and Dissertation Writing Programs

In addition to one-on-one writing appointments, the Graduate Writing Center has a number of programs and workshops that offer support to dissertators and thesis writers.

During the academic year, the GWC offers single-session overview workshops on master's theses, dissertation proposals, and dissertation writing. Click our current schedule or browse past workshops to see when these topics may be offered. We also encourage you to look at relevant workshop videos .

Writing Groups

The Graduate Writing Center sometimes organizes writing groups of various types (online writing groups, facilitated writing groups, or independent writing groups). We are also happy to help groups of graduate students self-organize into writing groups. For best practices on setting up writing groups, see our writing groups resource page . For information about writing groups currently being offered or organized by the GWC, see our writing groups web page.

Master's Thesis Mentoring Program

The Graduate Writing Center offers a program to support graduate students who are working on master's theses (or other master's capstone projects) and doctoral qualifying papers. The program provides workshops and one-on-one writing appointments. For more information, read Master's Thesis Mentoring Program .

Spring Break Writing Retreats

The Graduate Writing Center offers writing retreats for graduate students who are working on master's theses, dissertation proposals, dissertations, and other writing projects. These programs are usually offered in spring break and summer. Retreats are open to all graduate and professional students. For more information and registration instructions for spring break writing retreats, scroll to the bottom of this web page and click on the relevant program. For programs offered during to the summer, go to the summer boot camp and thesis retreat page.

Summer Dissertation Boot Camps and Thesis Retreats

The Graduate Writing Center holds a number of programs during the summer to help graduate students who are at the dissertation and dissertation proposal stages. We also offer dissertation/thesis retreats during the summer. See our most current summer dissertation boot camp and program offerings for more information.

Spring Break Writing Retreat (All Fields) with Online and In Person Options

This program is for graduate or professional students who are writing large-scale projects like master's theses or capstones, doctoral dissertations or proposals, or manuscripts for publication. The program provides dedicated time to focus on your writing and has online and in-person options. For STEM students, it additionally offers workshops related to scientific writing issues. To read more and register, please see the program description below. Deadline to register is Monday, March 18th.

CLICK HERE for application and program details for spring break writing retreat.

SCHEDULE, March 25th – 27th (in person); March 25th – March 28th (online):

Daily Schedule: 9:00-10:00: Online productivity workshops & discussion 10:00-12:00: Online writing groups or individual work (in person) 12:00-1:00: Lunch break 1:00-2:00: Online Workshops or individual work 2:00-4:00: Online writing groups or individual work (in person)

Morning Online Productivity Workshops (9-10 am) Morning workshops will address project organization, time management, and productivity tips.

Online Writing Group or Individual Work If you are doing the retreat online, you will join online writing groups via Zoom at the designated times. If you are at the in-person location, you may work independently or join the online writing groups via Zoom.

How to Sign Up for the Writing Retreat : Fill out the web form (linked here) by Monday, March 18th . We don't anticipate any capacity issues, but if we have any, we will accept registrants on a first-come, first-served basis.

Morning Productivity Writing Workshops (9-10 am)

Monday, March 25th, 9:00–10:00 AM — Project Organization for Writing In this workshop, we will discuss how to set up an organized system for a large-scale research and writing project, especially the writing components.

Tuesday, March 26th, 9:00–10:00 AM—Time Management and Productivity Tips for Writing In this workshop, we will discuss effective strategies for time management, goal setting, and productivity when conducting large-scale research and writing projects, especially for the writing components.

Wednesday, March 27th, 9:00–10:00 AM — Demos of Tools Writing consultants will demo a couple of organizational tools and how they use these tools to support writing.

Afternoon Scientific Writing Workshops (1-2 pm)

Monday, March 25th, 1:00–2:00 PM — Strategies for Writing Effective Scientific Papers This workshop will address basic principles for writing scientific papers and offer strategies for avoiding common pitfalls. We will also introduce key points from Joshua Schimel's book Writing Science on developing good narrative structure and clarity to make writing engaging and impactful.

Tuesday, March 26th, 1:00–2:00 PM — Creating Effective Figures and Visual Aids This workshop focuses on strategies for designing effective figures and visual materials. The workshop will also introduce different software packages that can be used to create high-quality figures and offer further resources for learning these programs.

Wednesday, March 27th, 1:00–2:00 PM — Thesis and Dissertation Writing in STEM Fields (Final Stages) This workshop will give an overview of the final components and writing stages of a STEM thesis or dissertation.

Further Resources

Advice for Thesis Writing If you haven’t seen a final thesis or dissertation in your field, we recommend looking one from your department in the ProQuest Dissertation database available through the UCLA Library. This database allows you to search by institution, advisor, and manuscript type (master's thesis versus dissertation).

Optional Reading: Joan Bolker. Writing Your Dissertation in Fifteen Minutes A Day . 1998. Paul Silvia. How to Write a Lot . 2007.

If you have any questions, please contact [email protected]

The Graduate School

University information technology (uit), main navigation, dissertation/thesis writing boot camps, what is it.

The Dissertation/Thesis Writing Boot Camp is a free program sponsored by the Graduate School and the Marriott Library that gives you a chance to make some serious progress on your dissertation during fall and spring breaks.

Note : You must commit to showing up ready to write, Monday through Thursday from 8:30 a.m. to 1:00 p.m. during the boot camp dates.

Why Attend?

The Dissertation Boot Camps aim to help students learn to write more productively by providing the following:

• Comfortable writing space with minimal distractions
• Writing regiment / routine
• Peer motivation and support
• Subject-matter expert help
• Workshops to help you prepare as you research
• Nourishing breakfast every day

Registration

For more information and to register for the upcoming event visit

Graduate Student Resources

If I attended before, may I register again?

Yes, please attend again. Several students have successfully defended and obtained meaningful professional employment after attending one or more boot camps.

Do I have to leave at 1 p.m.?

While the boot camp officially ends at 1 p.m. each day, you're welcome to stay later! The library typically closes at 6 p.m. during breaks.

Dissertation Boot Camp

Main navigation.

Welcome to Academic Year 2023-24!

DBC Session 7 will run in-person from May 6th - May 17th (weekdays only) from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.  Registration will be online with a link on this page starting April 29  and will be open until May 2  at which point participants will be contacted.

Register for spring DBC #7 here

Planning ahead? View the full year schedule

What is it?

The Dissertation Boot Camp is a free program that gives graduate students a chance to make serious progress on a dissertation, master’s thesis, or other graduate writing project. Students show up, ready to write; the Hume Center provides snacks, supplies, and a highly productive work environment.

With the exception of one "week-long" camp we will run this summer, all camps provide students with a total of 10 writing days. The "Classic" Boot Camp runs from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. We are happy to note that based on feedback from previous Dissertation Boot Campers, we are also offering a "Before Dawn" session beginning at 8 am and a few sessions that begin later at 10am. Please review all dates on the DBC Annual Schedule .

Why does it work?

Dissertation Boot Camp helps students learn to write more productively, and often to produce better writing, by providing four critical elements: 1) space with minimal distractions; 2) writing regimen/routine; 3) peer motivation and support; and 4) expert writing consultants. While the program focuses on helping students improve writing productivity, we also hope that students will take away with them writing habits and strategies that will aid them in writing projects in the future. To learn more about what to expect in a Dissertation Boot Camp, and for information about our policies, please download our Boot Camp handout .

Registration Process

• Registration is available via a Google form link on this web page at 10 a.m. two weeks before each camp begins, except when noted on this page and on the schedule . You will be asked background information and preferences, as well as to agree to a fee if you do not attend (in-person only, discussed below).
• In-person Boot Camps are limited to 16 participants, whereas Online Boot Camps are limited to 26.
• Camps are filled on a first-come, first serve basis. Preference is given to participants who have not attended a previous Boot Camp.
• We will provide a wait list via the Google form once registration meets capacity.
• You will receive an email a few days before the Boot Camp begins to confirm your space.
• If you have any questions regarding Dissertation Boot Camps, please email  [email protected]

Monetary incentive

*Applies to the in-person DBC only and not  the online DBC.

We collect a Fee Agreement to encourage Boot Camp participants to complete the program. This agreement authorizes the Hume Center to charge $100 to participants' Stanford University bill if they do not fully attend the Camp. 

Once you have completed a Boot Camp, we collect your feedback in order to improve our program. Please help us by completing this Boot Camp Survey for 2023-2024. 

Additional Resources 

Establishing an effective academic writing group: starter kit.

This kit is useful as a guide for any student interested in starting up an effective writing group that will last!  There are three basic types of writing groups:  feedback groups (reviewing student writing), "writing job" groups (meeting just to write), or goal-setting groups (meeting to set goals and report).  We strongly recommend that every member of a new writing group read the kit and use the worksheets to establish a writing group that works best for the group.

Dissertation Boot Camp Starter Kit

If you are interested in starting your own Dissertation Boot Camp in a department or program, please email the Hume Center for our Dissertation Boot Camp starter kit.

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Dissertation & Thesis Boot Camps

Whether you can't find a good place to begin or are simply procrastinating, UNMC's Dissertation and Thesis Boot Camps are here to help.

Dissertation is a word that can make even the most on-task graduate students shudder.

Whether you can't find a good place to begin or are simply procrastinating, UNMC's Dissertation Boot Camp is here to help you. With the tools we offer, you'll be well equipped to handle any sort of writing challenge that a dissertation can throw at you.

Held two times a year, the Dissertation Boot Camp is designed to help PhD candidates overcome writing obstacles with tips and strategies so you can complete your dissertation.

Register now for a  four-day event that gives you:

• Access to writing experts
• Dedicated writing time – no more excuses or distractions
• Strategies to get and stay on track
• Resources to utilize after Boot Camp is completed
• Lunchtime workshops with topics that may include tips for writing productively, a grammar refresher course, time management or navigating the electronic submission process

The $75 fee (billed to your student account) will be waived in full upon completion of the four-day Boot Camp. That's right, only those students who fail to complete the program must pay the fee.

Event Details

DATE:  December 18 - 21

TIME:  9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

PLACE:  McGoogan Health Sciences Library

COST:  $75 Fee (waived in full upon program completion)

DEADLINE:  Submit form by November 30, 2023

Register for Dissertation Boot Camp

Whether you don’t know how to begin or are simply procrastinating, UNMC's Thesis Boot Camp is here to help you. With the tools we offer, you'll be well equipped to handle any writing challenge you encounter with your thesis.

Held two times a year, the Thesis Boot Camp is designed to help MS students overcome writing obstacles with tips and strategies so you can complete your thesis.

Register now for a four-day event that gives you:

DATE:  December 18 - 21

TIME:  9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.

PLACE:  McGoogan Health Sciences Library

COST:  $75 Fee (waived in full upon program completion)

DEADLINE:  Submit form by November 30, 2023

Register for Thesis Boot Camp

Boot Camp FAQs

Make sure you read the Frequently Asked Questions to help determine if the Boot Camp is right for you, how you can prepare for the session, and more.

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Are you a late-stage postgraduate researcher? Struggling to finish your thesis? Do you keep putting off your writing? Finding it tough to get motivated? If so, Thesis Boot Camp is for YOU!

The next Thesis Boot Camp will take place on the weekend 18-19 May 2024 

Applications are now closed.

To be notified when autumn boot camp application open, you can join the waiting list on Sussex Direct

Thesis Boot Camp is an intensive and supportive writing environment for late-stage postgraduate researchers. The core idea is to give you the necessary time, space, and encouragement to make significant progress on your first draft. It’s not designed to provide specific advice on editing, restructuring, or polishing a thesis – the focus is on generating text. This might be producing a large number of words or refining and editing existing content.

Support is provided through short tutorials, group discussion, and one-to-one consultations with the facilitators. Attendees are required to complete preparatory tasks to get the most out of the weekend, and there will be a compulsory short introductory session on the Friday before so attendees can get to know one another.

The weekend is fully catered, but no overnight accommodation is available. We encourage attendees to follow Sussex safety guidelines regarding Covid-19 and other national emergencies. 

Who can attend?

Thesis Boot Camp is a free event provided by the Researcher Development Programme. You are eligible to apply if you are:

a postgraduate researcher at Sussex.

in the final stages of completing your degree - that is, you have completed data collection (in whatever form is relevant to your project and discipline) and are currently 'writing up'. The ultimate aim of Thesis Boot Camp is to write significant amounts of first draft material or to rework and edit existing material (with specific goals in mind). It is  not  for proof-reading, preparing presentations or grant applications, or any outputs other than your thesis.

able to clearly identify how you would benefit from an intensive weekend of drafting a particular section of your thesis, and to identify the particular chapter(s) of your thesis that you will work on as part of your Thesis Boot Camp goals .

willing and able to attend  all  sessions, to complete preparatory tasks in the lead up to the event, and to commit to the ethos of dedicated writing required at Thesis Boot Camp.

able to provide details of an academic referee to support your application (e.g. your supervisor or Director of Doctoral Studies).

Important notes for applicants

There is high demand for places at Thesis Boot Camp and it is likely to be oversubscribed. We'll be assessing each application carefully, so please answer the questions as fully as possible. We want to recruit only attendees who will make the most of the opportunity.

If you accept a place on Thesis Boot Camp and fail to turn up on either day you will be charged the cost of your attendance. Please ensure you inform us well in advance if you need to cancel, so we can pass your place to a researcher on the waiting list.

It's important to note that Thesis Boot Camp is an intensive writing environment and the focus is on productivity, not on style. If you want more general help with improving your academic writing, then one of our RDP writing workshops would be more appropriate for you.

There is no specific support for attendees writing in English as a second language. If you need this type of assistance, you can book one-to-one sessions with the Sussex Language Centre .  

Feedback from Thesis Boot Camp participants:

"There were so many positive aspects. I loved the feeling of community; a PhD is something you have to experience to understand. Meeting and talking to people who are also writing really helps put things into perspective. The food was great! The structured days and the physical activities were very helpful. Some good hints and tips were provided."

"Overall the idea of having a space where we could share the struggles, tips and tricks of becoming writers was very useful. Additionally, having a space where we did not have to worry about anything other than writing was a real luxury!"

"Great set-up and organisers with exercises and guidance to help focus. The environment was good as everyone was there for the same purpose - to keep focused on the thesis! Would certainly recommend it to all PhD students to attend."

If you have any further queries or require additional assitance please contact [email protected] .

E : [email protected]

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The feedback loop of shit

I’ve often compared the last part of your PhD to putting your head in a bucket .

In the Researcher developer trade we call this last bit of the PhD ‘The Write Up’. ‘Writing up’ involves hours and hours of detailed work; to end up with a manuscript ready for examiners. There’s a sameness to Writing Up which is crazy making. You’re in that damn document, day after day, adding words, editing words out, fixing mistakes and chasing up stuff your Past Self left unfinished. Meanwhile, Family and social life starts to suffer and your world gets very narrow.

The suffocating feeling of a looming deadline, coupled with feelings of isolation, IS like walking around with a plastic bucket over your head.

If this period of bucket-time is relatively short, say six months or so, it’s bearable, but for many people this bucket period stretches into years. Only about 20% of people hand in ‘on time’: most have to ask for at least one extension. Many get multiple extensions. Taking five years to do a PhD is not unusual at all.

People run out of time for all kinds of reasons: poor supervision, difficulties with writing, an out of control project scope or failed experiments. In the end the reason doesn’t matter and assigning shame and blame is pointless. What matters is dealing with the problems that arise as a result.

One of the problems I’m concerned about is what I call the Feedback Loop of Shit .

As the scholarship money runs out, or the effects of living on a low income for years start to bite, people have to drop to part time study and take on more paid work. At the same time, people find they can’t keep putting off ‘life’ things, like having a baby. Some develop chronic health problems, which are made worse with the stress of an unfinished thesis lurking in the background. A complex Feedback Loop of Shit starts forming, which makes finishing even more important, at the same time as making it seem more out of reach than ever.

At ANU, my team tries to stop this Feedback Loop of Shit, so people can finally take the bucket off their head and get on with their life.

We start by supporting people to write. Ideally, people don’t ‘write up’ their research, they ‘write along the way’ and avoid the problem of producing tons of words near the end. To complete a thesis you need to master the art of continuous, productive and useful writing. But that’s easier said than done. Lots of people write every day during their PhD – and end up with a Hot Mess of Too Many Words that feels more like a swamp monster than a manuscript.

Obviously helping people to learn to write productively is a good place to start fighting the Feedback Loop of Shit. A key part of our strategy at ANU has been Thesis Bootcamp , which we adapted from a concept developed by colleagues at Melbourne Uni ). Thesis Bootcamp is a three day intensive writing retreat where we set people a stretch target: to write 20,000 words. Our version of Thesis Bootcamp includes lots of instruction on how to beat procrastination and write faster. Each time we run it, about four people will hit this 20,000 word target; everyone writes at least 5000 words and many do more than 10,000.

Thesis Bootcamp makes ‘writing up’ fun and social – and it helps a lot of people finish.

The buzz around the ANU Thesis Bootcamp has made it world famous ( we even got a write up in Nature ). ANU management loved Thesis Bootcamp too – because it largely fixed the problem of people dropping out near the end. We proved it with numbers by keeping meticulous records on who did bootcamp over five years. We then used statistical methods employed by medical researchers to study the outcomes of people who were ‘treated’ with bootcamp and compared their outcomes to the ‘non treatment’ condition (never attending). We proved the attrition rate amongst bootcampers was 15% lower than the rest of candidates at ANU.

Cutting the attrition rate from 22% to 7% amongst participants was a massive achievement, but to tell you the truth, we always considered Thesis Bootcamp a failure.

The fact we even needed Thesis Bootcamp meant people weren’t taught how to become productive writers early enough. It’s much better to try and avoid the Feedback Loop Of Shit forming in the first place than to try and stop it when it starts. And our data told us this story too. While Thesis Bootcamp does help some people finish, it doesn’t work for everyone. Around three quarters of the people who came to bootcamp graduated not long after. While most of the rest stayed in program, rather than dropping out, many didn’t finish – sometimes for years. We had to face the fact that, for some people, Thesis Bootcamp just prolonged the agony.

So, how do we help the people stuck in the Feedback Loop of Shit?

The first thing is to stop it happening in the first place by making sure people have the skills they need earlier. Thanks to some serious investment of money by ANU, we embarked on a project to adapt the basic bootcamp model to other writing tasks. We ended up with three writing bootcamps, which can be done in sequence:

• Thesis Proposal Review (TPR) bootcamp : (Our ‘TPR’ is called ‘confirmation’ most other places). This bootcamp helps people write the first substantial piece of writing that formalises your research proposal. In this bootcamp we teach people to structure writing and break up the big task into a series of smaller ones.
• Journal Article Writing bootcamp helps people to plan and write an article, but really this bootcamp helps people write productively by encouraging them to set clear goals and work consistently for a whole day. We also teach some of the publishing ‘tricks of the trade’, like how to leverage search engine optimisation (SEO) strategies to increase the chances someone will find your article and click on it.
• Best selling book bootcamp helps people write a book proposal over three Fridays, with time inbetween to do the research on book markets and publishers. This boot camp helps people understand different writing genres outside academia so their work can have broader impact.

The pandemic hasn’t been easy, but we moved our boot camps online without satisfaction dropping. After two years we are seeing signs of success. The demand for the ’emergency’ Bootcamp to write 20,000 words has dropped significantly.

To replace our ’emergency’ Thesis Bootcamp, we started a new program called ‘The Home Stretch’, loosely based on the Accelerated Completions Program at Latrobe university . The idea of The Home Stretch is to support anyone doing the Write Up, whether or not they are in crisis.

We know that people who join The Home Stretch will have different needs:

• Some are on track to finishing, but just want company while their head is in the bucket.
• Some are struggling with writing, but for different reasons and have been in the bucket for too long.
• Some are experiencing the full force of the feedback loop of shit, trying to manage the competing demands of work and family, possibly with a chronic health condition.

We gathered everyone who signed up to the Home Stretch into a Microsoft Teams site. This gave them access to shared calendars, chat channels, videos, goals tracking sheets and resources:

To this we added some specific program elements:

• Pop-up online ‘writing in company’ sessions, where people can get together and write each week
• Group coaching, where people learn to set goals for themselves and stay motivated.
• A productivity short course , to help people make best use of time and resources
• An editing short course to help people manage the thesis swamp monster
• Short, online writing master classes out of hours , for people working during the day to get back in touch with their writing.

We also did something radical – we just asked people what else we can do to help .

It’s easy to infantilise people by assuming they need help, rather than access to resources, like space, time and money. Universities don’t have infinite resources, but we do have some. Sometimes all it takes is a bit of creative thinking to solve some of the problems the Feedback Loop of Shit produces.

For example, some of our Home Stretch people have moved away from Canberra and lost their campus office. Others find themselves sharing their home offices with family members who have switched to working from home. Some people are just desperate for a change of scene after so many months of pandemic isolation.

We had a number of unoccupied rooms in our corridor. So we scrounged some random furniture left around the building and set up two spaces: ‘The Garret’ (a small room with one desk) and ‘The Writers’ room’ (a room with two desks and a small library of books on writing and doing a thesis):

We’re still early in The Home Stretch, but I’m hopeful we’ve found a way to help people break the Feedback Loop of Shit. If you are stuck in a Feedback Loop of Shit, recognise you probably need some targetted help from your university to break out of it. Don’t let shame stand in the way of asking for it.

As a therapist once said to me: ‘only nice people feel shame’. Shame is an important emotion: it’s one of the ways we socialise ourselves into communities. We’ve certainly seen a lack of shame by politicians lead us to dark places lately. But shame is a pointless emotion in the context of the Feedback Loop of Shit. If you’re smart enough to get into a PhD, you should be able to get out again, holding that piece of paper. And your university should be invested in making sure that happens. You might be surprised what help is available if you ask.

I hope your head in a bucket time is brief and solidarity if you are in the Feedback Loop of Shit. If you’re an ANU student, please get in touch via email.

PS: hey, there’s an election campaign on here in Australia. I encourage you to get out and vote for a party or candidate that aligns with your values. After years of working with climate scientists, and listening to their despair at the lack of action on climate, I’m not only voting my values, I’m acting on them. For more than a year I’ve been campaigning for The Greens here in the ACT: doorknocking and organising. I volunteer for free, but it costs money to campaign; stuff like printing posters and placing ads is expensive, but necessary. So I’d like to ask a favour… If Thesiswhisperer has helped you in the past, and if The Greens align with your values too (and you can afford it) I’d love it if you could donate a little. Maybe the price of a coffee or two ($5 or $10): there’s a a donation page here. Every little bit helps! Thanks so much for considering.

Latest Podcasts:

Jason Downs and I have temporarily gone to a shorter format for On The Reg because of my campaigning. You can see latest episodes and subscription options on our Buzzsprout page.

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The Thesis Whisperer is written by Professor Inger Mewburn, director of researcher development at The Australian National University . New posts on the first Wednesday of the month. Subscribe by email below. Visit the About page to find out more about me, my podcasts and books. I'm on most social media platforms as @thesiswhisperer. The best places to talk to me are LinkedIn , Mastodon and Threads.

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Are you interested in enhancing your leadership, professional, and career skills? Watch our  virtual information session  to learn about the free opportunities that are available to graduate and professional students.

Grad Rebel Writing Boot Camp

Do you need help jump starting a proposal, thesis, dissertation, professional paper, or publication? Are you stuck on how to create an outline? Are you interested in learning about how to avoid plagiarism, how to build the literature review, and what resources are available to help you format your citations? Would you like to become better at time management and meeting goals and deadlines that you set for yourself?

If you answered yes to any of the questions above, then we invite you to apply for the Grad Rebel Writing Boot Camp. The Grad Rebel Writing Boot Camp is a week-long program that provides graduate students with the skills and knowledge necessary to become more efficient and successful writers. It also provides students with the opportunity to learn about the different types of writing groups as well as how to successfully start and maintain their own writing group. The program is a collaborative effort between the Graduate College, UNLV Libraries, and UNLV Writing Center.

Grad Rebel Writing Boot Camp: Weekend Edition

Do you need structured time to write? Are you graduating this semester and need help crossing the finish line on your writing project? Would you benefit from an accountability group? Are you interested in a refresher about Graduate College formatting guidelines?

If you answered yes to any of the questions above, then we invite you to apply for the Grad Rebel Writing Boot Camp: Weekend Edition! The Weekend Grad Rebel Writing Boot Camp is a two-day program that provides graduate students with the skills and knowledge necessary to become more efficient and successful writers.

For information about upcoming boot camps, please check-out the Program Schedule tab below.

Program Schedule

Students will be expected to check-in promptly by 9 a.m. Each day concludes by 4 p.m. Throughout the week, there will be different guest speakers, workshops on various topics, such as overcoming writer's block, strategies for conducting the literature review, time management strategies, and more. In addition, students will typically write for 3-4 hours each day. Students will also have the opportunity to set-up a one-on-one appointment with their subject librarian and a one-on-one consultation with a Writing Center consultant.

Week long boot camps will be hosted 2 weeks prior to the beginning of each semester.

Students will be expected to check-in promptly by 9 a.m. Each day concludes by  5 p.m.

During the 2-day boot camp, students will set-goals, have structured time to write, and attend flash workshops on topics such as thesis and dissertation formatting, graduation forms, and defense prep tips.

Weekend boot camps will be hosted several weeks prior to the end of each semester.

Eligibility Requirements

Any enrolled masters or doctoral student who is in good academic standing in a graduate degree program and who is actively working on a thesis/ dissertation proposal, thesis, dissertation, professional paper, or publication is eligible to participate in the Grad Rebel Writing Boot Camp.

Application Process

The Grad Rebel Writing Boot Camp Applications can be found on The Grad Rebel Gateway . Please log in to the Grad Rebel Gateway and click on The Grad Academy tab to apply.

Application Deadlines

• January Grad Rebel Writing Boot Camp (January 8-12): December 22, 2023 -  Deadline to apply extended to January 3, 2024
• Spring Weekend Grad Rebel Writing Boot Camp (March 2-3): February 27, 2024

Program Benefits

The Grad Rebel Writing Boot Camp provides you with the tips and strategies to become a more efficient, successful, and confident writer. In addition, students will also learn how to start and maintain their own writing groups at the completion of this program. Finally, participants who successfully complete all program requirements will receive a completion certificate and program t-shirt.

Requirements & Policies

• Students must apply and be admitted before they can begin participating in the program.
• Once accepted into the program, students must be actively working on a thesis/ dissertation proposal, thesis, dissertation, professional paper, or publication.
• Students must be able to participate in the program for the full week. This includes logging into WebEx on time each day (by 9 a.m.) and staying for the full day (day ends at 4 p.m.).
• Students must also be actively engaged in all activities associated with the Grad Rebel Writing Boot Camp.
• Students must fill out all Qualtrics surveys associated with the Grad Rebel Writing Boot Camp, including a program follow-up survey which is sent out a semester after the Writing Boot Camp session.
• The Grad Rebel Writing Boot Camp does not carry academic credit and does not appear on student transcripts. Similarly, any workshops associated with this program do not carry academic credit and do not appear on student transcripts.
• If a student is not in good standing in their degree program, or if they create any problems as a participant in the Grad Rebel Writing Boot Camp, they may be removed from the program at the discretion of the Graduate College Dean.
• After the Writing Boot Camp, students must also participate in three follow-up writing sessions during the semester.

Past Cohorts

• August 2022 Participants
• January 2022 Participants
• August 2021 Participants
• January 2021 Participants
• August 2020 Participants
• January 2020 Participants
• August 2019 Participants
• January 2019 Participants
• August 2018 Participants
• January 2018 Participants
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Bristol Doctoral College

Thesis boot camp.

Applications for Thesis Boot Camp are now closed

Thesis Boot Camp  is an intensive writing environment for late-stage  PGRs  to make significant progress on the first draft of their thesis. It does not provide specific advice on editing, restructuring, or polishing a thesis. The focus is on overcoming writer’s block to produce  a large number of  words with the mutual support of a co-working peer cohort.  

In addition to ample writing time, the programme will include breaks for physical exercise and to socialise with other PGRs at the same stage of study.

The next Thesis Boot Camp will be in the PGR Hub (2nd floor, Senate House) ov er three days on the 21 - 23 May :  

• Tuesday 21 May 3:00 pm - 8:00 pm
• Wednesday 22 May 9:30  am - 8:00 pm  
• Thursday 23 May 9:30  am – 8:00  pm

Participants are required to attend all 3 days to support each other as a cohort and complete preparatory tasks in advance to maximise results. There will also be  the option to attend a 30 minute  1:1 consultation with  a writing tutor before or during the boot camp .

For further information refer to our FAQs below.

If you experience any difficulties accessing or filling out the application form on this webpage, please email   [email protected]   for assistance .

Frequently Asked Questions

A list of common queries about how the Thesis Boot Camp works and how to apply. 

Whats the purpose of a Thesis Boot Camp? Will attending benefit me?

Thesis boot camp (TBC) is only suitable for late-stage PGRs as it challenges you to write a significant number of words for your thesis/dissertation in a structured environment with peers at the same stage. Writing together with others in a supportive atmosphere has proven to be an effective strategy for many, rather than the more ‘traditional’ route of writing your thesis alone.

How do I apply?

Apply using the link to the application form on this page. Applications which arrive after the  deadline  or which are not on our TBC application form will not be accepted.

I can’t make the whole of Thesis Boot Camp due to other commitments, can I still attend?

You must attend for the full duration of TBC so that you and the entire group can benefit from the momentum and support of each other. We anticipate high demand for TBCs and thus cannot guarantee places for everyone who would like to attend. We therefore like those who do attend to be able to get the most out of their attendance. 

I have previously attended a Thesis Boot Camp, can I attend again?

Due to the high demand for TBCs we prioritise PGRs who have not previously attended. If you have attended, you can apply to reattend as a Veteran Helper. This will require you to help with some simple tasks over the boot camp. Please complete the application form and answer 'yes' to question 3.

Will I be in front of the screen for the whole time?

For the most part, yes!   This is an intensive event and you will need to be focused on achieving as much as you can on your writing. I n reward for your hard work, we provide refreshments and  frequent breaks for you to get to know your cohort . There will also be some activity breaks where you will have the option to do some gentle exercise or other off-screen activity .  Please wear comfortable clothing which allows you to move for that reason.

What do I need to have with me for TBC?

• A computer/laptop with internet connection:  Thesis Boot Camp is about getting as many words written as possible so you will need a computer/laptop to get the most out of the event. 
• Your preparatory work:  If you are successful in gaining a place on TBC you will be contacted with some preparatory work. This is an essential part of the boot camp training and needs to be completed in advance to have a successful boot camp.
• Key texts only: There may be a couple of books or papers which you feel you may need to refer to in order to write the chapter/section of your thesis which you are working on. If so, you can have those to hand. You should not have substantial amounts of papers or books however, as the bulk of the reading needs to be done before, not during, the TBC.
• Things which make you feel comfortable:  You will be sitting down for many hours at a time (although we highly encourage regular stretching and short breaks) so please feel free to dress in your comfiest clothing – whatever you like to wear when relaxed.

What happens if I'm not successful or can't make these dates? Is there other support available?

We run monthly hybrid  Writer’s Retreats which are day-long supported writing workshops as well as other writing training. Visit our Writing and Referencing  development page for more details of support available.

I have no negative comments, this was an amazing experience. I really appreciated my complete needs being taken care of (food, exercise, scheduled breaks) and having guidance in the process. This Thesis Boot Camp is going to change your life. It will change your view on writing and on yourself as a writer.

I would like to attend every month if there was an option. Thanks for pulling off such a nice event! I attended the Thesis Boot Camp at a highly unmotivated time in my PhD. It just gave me the encouragement. I can't emphasize how helpful it was for my mental health. The feeling of being in a community of writers was so nice. Thanks for everything.

If you have any further questions about TBC, please contact  [email protected] .

Thesis Boot Camp

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Writing a thesis is no small task. This two-day workshop is designed to help you battle through writer’s block, overcome thesis fatigue and progress your manuscript quickly.

What is Thesis Boot Camp?

Thesis Boot Camp is an intensive two-day writing workshop for middle-to-final stage higher degree by research (HDR) candidates with a substantial research writing task ahead of them. Across the year, there are options to participate in-person or online .

The aim of the workshop is to draft a substantial amount of written material for your thesis in a short amount of time. Participants at a previous Thesis Boot Camp wrote over a quarter of a million words together!

An experienced facilitator is on hand to help Thesis Bootcamp recruits:

• battle through writer’s block
• defeat thesis fatigue
• defy analysis paralysis
• achieve substantial progress on their manuscript.

Sessions include motivational strategies, structured goal setting and ‘insider tips’ from an expert on writing quickly and well. Participants will benefit from two focused days to engage in dedicated writing, in a supportive group environment.

Dates and expressions of interest

Dates and the expression of interest applications for 2024 are available on the Research Plus Platform .

The number of places for Thesis Boot Camp are limited. Participants are required to complete pre-program activities, meet eligibility criteria, and commit to full participation in all sessions.

Priority will be given to applicants for whom participation will yield the greatest contribution toward successful completion of their degree. This will depend on candidature and writing stage.

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Acknowledgement of Country

RMIT University acknowledges the people of the Woi wurrung and Boon wurrung language groups of the eastern Kulin Nation on whose unceded lands we conduct the business of the University. RMIT University respectfully acknowledges their Ancestors and Elders, past and present. RMIT also acknowledges the Traditional Custodians and their Ancestors of the lands and waters across Australia where we conduct our business - Artwork 'Luwaytini' by Mark Cleaver, Palawa.

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Thesis Bootcamp

Ucd thesis bootcamp.

Thesis Boot Camp November 2023 details below:

Drop and give me 20,000 words!

• Are you a late-stage PhD student struggling with the writing-up battle?
• Do you put off writing tasks until ‘tomorrow’?
• Are you finding it tough ‘going it alone’?

We have just what you need – Thesis Boot Camp! Dedicated solely to helping you write your first draft, we’ll help you get over that final hurdle, or to kick-start your writing progress if it has stalled.

Sign up to join other graduate researchers in a no-excuses, no-time-for-procrastination, take-no-prisoners intensive writing Boot Camp. Thesis Boot Camp recruits will learn how to battle through late-stage blues, address writer’s block and overcome thesis fatigue to achieve significant progress on their manuscript.

Introductory sessions will include motivational talks, goal setting and strategies for writing quickly and well. Attendees will be required to complete pre-program planning activities and to commit to their own tangible aims for the Boot Camp, such as completing a thesis chapter draft or similar.

Are you up for the challenge?

More about Thesis Boot Camp

There are many ‘boot camp’ style writing programs at universities around the world, though the award-winning Thesis Boot Camp — designed and developed by Dr Peta Freestone in 2012— has proved a winning formula for more than a thousand graduate researchers in Australia, New Zealand, Ireland and the UK.

But don’t just take our word for it! After Thesis Boot Camp was introduced at the Australian National University, Dr Inger Mewburn of the popular Thesis Whisperer blog said:

The experience was amazing for me as an educator and the students loved it. They told others how great it was. Several people who had been contemplating quitting altogether actually handed in their thesis. FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) kicked in again and students who missed out the first time around actually lobbied ANU for more. We’re now about to run our third one.

You can find out what others have said over at  www.thesisbootcamp.com

Now we’re bringing Thesis Boot Camp to campus, with programme creator Dr Peta Freestone to facilitate the event.

Who can attend Thesis Boot Camp?

Thesis Boot Camp is a free event provided by UCD Graduate Studies. You are an eligible Thesis Boot Camp recruit if you are:

• A late, stage two PhD research student at UCD.
• In the final stages of completing your research degree and are ready to ‘write up’. The ultimate aim of Thesis Boot Camp is to write up to 20,000 words of first draft material. It is not  for editing, revising, preparing presentations or grant applications etc. In other words, you must be able to identify the particular chapter or chapter(s) of your thesis that you will specifically work on as part of your Thesis Boot Camp goal.
• Able to clearly identify how you would benefit from an intensive Boot Camp of drafting a particular section of your thesis.
• Willing and available to attend  all sessions and to commit to the ethos of dedicated writing required at Thesis Boot Camp.
• Able to provide details of an academic referee to support your application (E.g. your supervisor or member of your Research Studies Panel).
• The event is limited to 35 participants and we may receive more applications than there are available places. Please note that due to this, we cannot guarantee participation for all eligible applicants. This also means that you should complete all sections of the application in full, with the above eligibility criteria in mind.

Dates and times

Thesis Boot Camp will take place from  Monday 27 th Nov to Wednesday 29 th  Nov 2023.

All sessions will take place Virtually.   The program outline is as follows:

• Day 1, Monday Nov 27 th 10-6pm
• Day 2, Tuesday Nov 28 th 10-6pm
• Day 3, Wednesday Nov 29 th 10-6pm

Applications close on Friday 10th November 2023

Download and complete the online application form Thesis Boot Camp Application form Nov 2023

Successful applicants will be notified the week commencing Nov 15th if they have been accepted into the programme and preparatory work required will be outlined.

Further Resources

Graduate research student handbook.

A summary of guidance and policies for all research degrees

Research Student Hub

A hub of resources for current graduate research students

Research and Professional Development Planning

Student Supports

Services and supports available to graduate research students

Writing Centers of Texas Tech

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Thesis and Dissertation Boot Camps

Summer 2024.

Thesis and Dissertation Boot Camps are intended to help students progress through the writing stages of the thesis and dissertation process. Boot camp motivates participants by providing space, writing support, structured time, and a sense of community. Participants will learn about the thesis and dissertation process and will develop more effective writing practices. Each day of boot camp will include a half-hour goal setting and discussion session followed by 2.5 hours of sustained independent writing time. Writing consultants will be available for brief, 15-minute consultations to provide feedback on your writing or help you get unstuck.     NOTE:   Two, separate boot camps run the same week, but at different times.  The in-person camp will feature guest speakers on relevant topics during the lunch break. Participants in the online camp will be provided access to the guest speaker sessions, and recordings will be sent out to all boot camp participants at the end of the week.  

Summer 2024 Online Boot Camp

Apply Here for Online Bootcamp!

Date and Time: May 13th - May 16th, 6:00 PM to 9:00 PM, daily Location: Online via Zoom    Registration deadline: Monday, May 6, 2024 at 12pm 

Summer 2024 In-Person Boot Camp

Apply Here for In-Person Bootcamp!

Date and Time: May 14th - May 17th, 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM, daily (Lunch is provided) Location: Graduate Center (Third Floor of Weeks Hall)   Registration deadline: Monday, May 6, 2024 at 12pm

Spring Completion Camp

Each spring, in addition to our regularly scheduled Thesis and Dissertation Boot Camps, we offer a Thesis and Dissertation Completion Camp for those students planning to graduate in the upcoming spring or summer semesters. This camp will be held the week following spring break and will be closely tailored to the needs of students defending, revising, and submitting their thesis or dissertation in spring or summer. Please check back in mid-February for the current year's application.

Faculty of Graduate Research Te Here Tāura Rangahau

Thesis bootcamp.

Thesis Bootcamp offers an intensive and supportive writing environment to help you in making progress towards your writing goals

The Thesis Writing Bootcamp is a program designed for doctoral students at Victoria University of Wellington to give them a chance to make serious progress on their doctoral thesis. These bootcamps provide a total of twenty writing hours and the opportunity to speak to and seek feedback from peers.

All Victoria University of Wellington doctoral students who have completed their data collection/experiments and are in the write-up phase of their thesis are eligible to apply for the bootcamp. The Faculty of Graduate Research (FGR) offers two bootcamps every year.

Here is a list of bootcamps offered in 2023. To sign up, click the session of your choice.

Links for registration will be available soon.

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Dissertation and Thesis Writing Boot Camp

Our Dissertation and Thesis Writing Boot Camp will feature four workshops, a silent writing room where you can make writing progress, and a variety of individuals ready to meet with you to address your specific questions during the event (Thesis and Dissertation Office, Applied Research Lab, Library, and Writing Center).

Sign up for the boot camp .

Schedule Details

You can shift between different activities during the boot camp, and can also attend for all or part of the event.

Silent Writing Room

(Open 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.) 

Our Silent Writing room is open throughout our Boot Camp. This is a space where you can write in companionable silence with others. Turn off your video and audio and set aside time to write your thesis or dissertation in the quiet company of other writers. Hosted by Madeleine Rosa, assistant director of the Jones White Writing Center.

• Join from PC, Mac, iOS, or Android: https://iupvideo.zoom.us/j/3853748181
• Or join by phone:  +1 312 626 6799 (US Toll) or +1 646 558 8656 (US Toll) Meeting ID: 385 374 8181
• International numbers available: https://iupvideo.zoom.us/u/azXNEK1Nk  

Tutoring and Consultations

(Open 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m.) in the Boot Camp Lounge

We encourage Boot Camp participants to take advantage of our one-on-one tutorials and consultations that re available throughout the event.

Consultation Schedule:

• Noon–2:00 p.m. – Thesis/Dissertation Office. A staff member from the T/D office will be available for consultations.
• 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m. - IUP Library. A librarian is available for questions on library references, source searching, databases, EndNote, and much more.
• 11:00 a.m.–4:00 p.m. – Writing Center. Advanced graduate tutors from the Jones White Writing Center are available for tutorials, questions, and support.
• 1:00 p.m.–2:00 p.m. and 3:00 p.m.–4:00 p.m. – Applied Research Lab . ARL tutors are available to answer questions about research design, data analysis, Qualtrics, SPSS, or any other aspects of your research.

Tutorials can be requested in advance at [email protected] . Feel free to stop in our lounge anytime during the boot camp and request a consultation or tutorial.  URL for Boot Camp Lounge : https://iupvideo.zoom.us/my/iupwritingcenter  

Interactive Workshops and Presentations

Learn valuable writing and research skills through our advanced writing and research workshops. All workshops take place in the Zoom Room:

• Join from PC, Mac, iOS or Android: https://iupvideo.zoom.us/j/9194357080
• Or join by phone: +1 309 205 3325 (US Toll) or +1 312 626 6799 (US Toll) Meeting ID: 919 435 7080
• International numbers available: https://iupvideo.zoom.us/u/ad4Yy1Yo01

Writing Results: Visualizing and Writing About Data

11:15 a.m.–11:50 a.m. Presented by Dana Driscoll, Writing Center director and professor of English

Presentation of results (chapter 3 or 4 for most dissertations) is often described by graduate students as one of the most challenging to write. This presentation will cover general writing strategies including deciding how to tell the ‘story’ of your data in ways that are clear, attending to the needs of readers through intentional organization, and effectively visualizing and presenting qualitative and quantitative data.

Library Resources for Dissertation Writers: SAGE Research Methods and Keenious

Noon–1:00 p.m. Presented by Christopher Clouser, associate professor and chair, IUP Libraries

SAGE Research Methods is the ultimate online methods library with more than 1,000 books, reference works, journal articles, case studies, podcasts, and instructional videos designed to help users learn about their method. Workshop participants will learn how to:

• use the Methods Map to explore research methods and discover content relevant to their research methods journey;
• find lists of key research methods and statistics resources in Reading Lists created by users;
• use the Project Planner to plan their research;
• choose an appropriate statistical method using the Which Stats Test.

Keenious is a cutting-edge tool that assists in locating articles relevant to your research and writing and expands the scope of your literature reviews and other work. Keenious uses AI techniques to quickly find articles relevant to your work, searching the more than 240 million articles indexed in the OpenAlex scholarly database. In the workshop, you'll learn how Keenious works, how to use Keenious to find additional literature for your theses and dissertations, and how to fine-tune your searches for best results.

Artificial Intelligence and Your Research: A Guide for Graduate Students

1:00 p.m.–1:50 p.m. Presented by Jacklyn Helsop, Writing Center tutor and PhD candidate, Composition and Applied Linguistics

Artificial intelligence supports a range of writing and research processes, including producing scholarly works such as publications and dissertations. This workshop offers an overview of the ethics, affordances, and challenges in integrating AI, emphasizing using AI in ways that support your existing writing process. We will also discuss ethics as they apply to the IUP Academic Integrity policy and AI ethics in major academic journals. The workshop will cover a range of material to support ethical uses of AI in your writing, including leveraging AI tools for research, paraphrasing, and building your knowledge.

So, you’ve collected your quantitative data. Now what?

2:00 p.m.–2:50 p.m.  Presented by Paul Hawkins, director of the Applied Research Lab

In this workshop, the Applied Research Lab will present an effective strategy for approaching quantitative data analysis. Students can expect to learn more about the steps, procedures, and skills needed and expected to be used to accurately assess, analyze, and report their quantitative results.

Formatting and Submitting Your Thesis Dissertation

3:00 p.m.–3:50 p.m. Presented by Amiranda Adams, SGSR Thesis and Dissertation Office, GES tutor, and PhD student, Composition and Applied Linguistics

The SGSR Thesis and Dissertation office will offer a complete overview of the process of preparing your dissertation to deposit. Material covered will include formatting submitting your dissertation, preparing your signature pages, timing, addressing revisions, and choices for copyrighting your work.

Why should I attend the boot camp?

Graduate students who attend our boot camps report  statistically significant  improvements in their writing confidence, focus, time management, knowing how to proceed, progress towards thesis/dissertation completion, and also enjoy a  statistically significant  reduction of procrastination surrounding writing. 

Can I attend while I’m in coursework? 

Yes, you are welcome to attend while in coursework—and we encourage it!  We recommend students attend several of our boot camps, starting  in coursework  and continuing  into thesis/dissertation writing .  Our boot camps offer a number of advanced writing strategies (literature review writing, source synthesis, library resources, and source management, etc.) and these benefit all graduate students.  Our fall and spring boot camps offer different content. 

What if I have specific questions? 

We can answer them! We have a number of people who all support your dissertation writing at the boot camp. You can consult with our reference librarians, the Applied Research Lab, Writing Center tutors, and the Thesis and Dissertation Office.  You can schedule tutorials and consultations with them throughout the day.  

I attended the fall boot camp. Should I also attend the spring boot camp?

Yes!  The content of the fall and spring boot camps is entirely different. The fall boot camps focus more on initial writing and research concerns, whereas the spring boot camps focus on later writing and research concerns.  

Can I attend part of the day? 

Sure, you can attend as much as you would like.

This sounds great! How can I sign up? 

Registrations are required in advance for the boot camp. Please sign up online . Once you sign up, we will email you the week before the boot camp with all details.

If you have questions, please write to us at  [email protected] . Thanks, and we look forward to seeing you there! 

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Graduate Thesis Writing Bootcamp

Run out of steam? Need an extra push to finish your thesis/dissertation?

The Academic Learning Centre, in partnership with the Faculty of Graduate Studies, is hosting an intensive 3-day writing retreat designed to help graduate students progress in writing their theses/dissertations.  This thesis retreat is based on the Australian National University “Thesis Bootcamp,” where attendees focus on writing as much text as possible in a supported environment. Each day starts with a short workshop on writing faster, managing procrastination, and developing a consistent writing routine.  Attendees will be provided with a quiet space, writing tutor support (if needed), beverages and snacks each day, and lunch for one of the days.

The aim for students attending this bootcamp is to write 10,000 words. This is a stretch goal and aiming big encourages commitment and focus. As a result, attendees are required to develop and submit a writing plan in advance of the workshop (See: How to prepare a thesis “road map” )  to academic_learning[at]umanitoba[dot]ca with the subject line “thesis roadmap” by April 28, 2024. Submitting early is encouraged. Students are also encouraged to discuss their writing plans with their advisors and attend a workshop on preparing a thesis road map facilitated by the Academic Learning Centre (see ALC website for description, date and time).

The UM Graduate Thesis Bootcamp runs from May 1 to 3, 2024, on the Bannatyne campus .  Students must apply to attend.  It is NOT virtual and attendees must commit to attending all three days (flex time is available for parents who have children in daycare).

The Academic Learning Centre has developed a workshop, Planning What to Write: Mapping your Thesis/Dissertation , to support students who are interested in attending the Bootcamp. This workshop will be useful for any graduate student who is in the process of writing their thesis/dissertation and is not restricted to retreat attendees.

Planning what to write: Mapping your thesis/dissertation Writer’s block is not caused by a lack of inspiration. Instead, it is caused by insufficient research, lack of organizational planning, and/or negative emotions writers may have about the writing process. Developing an outline and a well-articulated writing plan can help to reduce all three. This hands-on workshop includes a demonstration of several planning techniques, including outlining and reverse outlining, thesis mapping, and the snowflake method. Students will work on developing their own plan during the workshop.

March 19 | 4:30 – 6 p.m.  March Registration (Zoom)

April 17 | 12 – 1:30 p.m. March Registration (Zoom)

Academic Learning Centre

Dissertation , graduate students , retreat , Students , Thesis , Things to Know , writing , Writing Bootcamp

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Thesis Boot Camp

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What is Thesis Boot Camp?

The Australian National University (ANU) runs a Thesis Boot Camp (#ANUTBC) program based on a concept created and developed by Dr Liam Connell and Peta Freestone at The University of Melbourne. 

Research candidates can often encounter difficulties with writing towards the end of their degree. Thesis Boot Camp helps you do a large amount of work on your thesis and develop productive writing habits in a single weekend. The concept of Thesis Boot Camp is disarmingly simple. Put a group of people experiencing similar issues in the same room for a weekend, feed them regularly and provide a reward for each 5,000 words written. An experienced writing teacher is available to help you work through challenges, and regular breaks for physical activity are encouraged. This is a 20,000 word challenge Boot camp funded by the Dean, Higher Degree Research  and is free for ANU candidates to attend.

How can I apply?

The #ANUTBC program is extremely popular and spaces are limited. Places are offered on a needs basis, as with everything that the Researcher Development team offers, our camps are an inclusive and safe space for all students to work. These camps are targeted for students writing towards the end of their degree. Your application will go through an application process assessing your thesis progress, goals for the camp and personal circumstances.

#ANUTBC is advertised in the monthly  HDR Update , which is mailed to all research students at the start of every month. Thesis boot camp is delivered face to face on Kambri, Acton campus and online options are not available.

2024 dates:

23,24 and 25 Feb 

20,21 and 22 Nov

Please submit your Expression of Interest for Feb  here  and  check out our other online offers here.

Eligibility 

We will select based on the following criteria: how close you are to completion (with those who will not have another chance given preference), then we will consider your reported difficulties and any interruptions to candidature. We will attempt to balance this with ensuring a spread across colleges and gender parity. In order to participate in this opportunity, you are required to complete a thesis map.  If you have any questions about this, please email [email protected]. 

We also encourage Veterans' to continue making appointments with Academic Skills for one on one support, and attend relevant workshops.

• Contact ANU
• Freedom of Information

+61 2 6125 5111 The Australian National University, Canberra TEQSA Provider ID: PRV12002 (Australian University) CRICOS Provider : 00120C ABN : 52 234 063 906

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Thesis Writing Bootcamp Provider   Researcher Development Programme

This workshop explores the practicalities of thesis writing, including planning techniques, appropriate writing style and how to make writing more productive.

Duration 1 half day

Course type webinar, booking status waiting list, is this course right for me.

Target Audience: PGR Students

At the start of the workshop, students are encouraged to share and discuss the challenges associated with writing, before we start discussing structure and expectations.

A variety of writing and productivity techniques are introduced and this is complemented by a discussion of software tools that can be helpful. A section on data presentation is also included and examples of good figures are used to illustrate best practice. By the end of the workshop, students will have a clear understanding of what is required of their thesis, they will have initiated their writing, considered the potential pitfalls and know how to avoid them and started to design a writing strategy that works for them.

At the end of this workshop participants will have: • an understanding of the working structure of a thesis; • developed a greater awareness of the different stages of the writing process; • been introduced to techniques for planning their writing & being productive; • explored how to manage their thesis writing so as to make better use of the time, resources and technology available; • increased their understanding of the pitfalls of thesis writing,

Prerequisites

• About the Researcher Development Programme

PG Certificate in Researcher Professional Development

All postgraduate research students are eligible to access the Researcher Development Programme workshops. This workshop can contribute towards the PG Certificate in Researcher Professional Development (PG Cert RPD).

You can find credit and class information in the Researcher Development Programme Handbook and in NEPTUNE (Engineering, HaSS) or SPIDER (Science).

Please check with your department or Supervisor to confirm if you are enrolled on the PG Cert RPD and how many credits you are expected to achieve if you are unsure.

For HDR students who have completed Milestone 1 and are ready to write large chunks of their theses.Three-day writing events that include goal setting, accountability and motivation from other participants. Join us, and write up to 20,000 words in three days!

Dates for 2024 ( find out about Noongar seasons )

• Djeran boot camp: 3-5 April
• Makuru boot camp: 19-21 June
• Djilba boot camp: 3-5 September
• Kambarang boot camp: 20-22 November

Information on how to apply is sent to all HDR students via email; places are limited. See participants in a previous boot camp below, which shows face-to-face and online students celebrating their word count goals with paper crowns. The crowns are also tasty as proven by one of the online attendee’s pet rabbit :-)

Testimonials

Thesis Boot Camp attendee (April 2021, Faculty of Science & Engineering)

Although these two days were tiring, the camp helped me to realise that I was capable of writing a huge amount of words within a short period of time. Thanks again for organizing this thesis boot camp. It was amazing to work with a group of HDR students throughout these two days, thanks everyone for coming together and writing thesis drafts together. I hope to see you all somewhere again in the future.

… and here are other attendees explaining what they liked best about Thesis Boot Camp:

• Encouragement and support
• Dedicated, structured time to do nothing but write.
• …that everyone is working towards a similar target.
• Connection with and support from other students to write my thesis.
• The philosophy of writing, writing, writing without going back for editing. After seeing the number of written words I was able to achieve, I got more encouraged to keep writing.
• Motivation from facilitator and other participants. Commitment to the time to write.

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HDR Thesis Writing Bootcamp

• Friday 19th Jan 2024 All Day Recurs every day until Sunday 21st Jan 2024
• Wollongong Campus 29.G09
• Contact Details [email protected]

The Graduate Research School would like to invite all UOW HDR candidates to participate in their HDR Thesis Writing Bootcamp, from Friday 19 January to Sunday 21 January.

A Thesis Writing Bootcamp encourages candidates to do a large amount of work on their thesis in a short amount of time. The Bootcamp will span three days, each day consisting of several ‘deep work’ writing sessions, broken up by food and activities to re-energise and motivate attendees. Attendees will be expected to create a detailed plan prior to the bootcamp, with measurable goals for each writing session.

This must be submitted to the Training and Development Team prior to the event, and only HDRs who submit this detailed plan will be eligible to attend this Thesis Writing Bootcamp . More information about this plan will be provided after the EOI has been submitted. Attendees will be asked to contribute $30 to go towards catering.