Writing Advice for International UG and PGT Students
International students from any College can make an appointment or come to a class with us to talk about anything related to their academic writing.
We can advise you on current unmarked work, including helping you in how you:
- interpret the question
- think about your argument
- plan your essay
- research and use your sources
- write and edit your work
We can advise you within the context of your subject, but we're unable to advise on specific content. Similarly, we will encourage your ability to edit and assess your work and, therefore, cannot offer proof reading.
We can also advise you on past assignments, and their feedback, to help you to use that feedback to improve your writing.
International postgraduate research students should see Dr Jennifer Boyle.
Dr Mona O'Brien and Amber Hinde
Effective Learning Advisers for International Students
Live classes
We offer a range of open classes throughout the academic year. These begin shortly after the first full week of semester 1. Full details and timetables will be posted here in the next few days.
You can download choronological timetables of our classes using the following links:
2023-24 Semester 1 Class Timetable - International Students
View class recordings (where available) and download class slides at the Moodle link for each class series, below.
Academic Citizenship (for International Students)
This particular course will be led by the team of Effective Learning Advisers for International Students.
> Moodle page for this series (includes slides and any recordings) - https://moodle.gla.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=27830
| Date | Time | Class Title | Description | Building | Room |
| Tue 19th Sep | 14:00-15:00 | Transitioning to Academic Study @UofG | How to successfully transition to new academic institutions by better understanding expectations and some strategies for effectively managing change. | James McCune Smith | 745 (Lecture Theatre) |
| Wed 20th Sep | 15:00-16:00 | Becoming an Academic Reader | Strategies for effective academic reading to enhance learning, including how to select reading, manage reading time and read evaluatively. | James McCune Smith | 745 (Lecture Theatre) |
| Thu 21st Sep | 15:00-16:00 | Ownership of Knoweldge and Avoiding Plagiarism | Explains the definitions of plagiarism at the University of Glasgow and how to avoid plagiarism in academic work. | James McCune Smith | 745 (Lecture Theatre) |
| Tue 26th Sep | 14:00-15:00 | Understanding and Preparing for Assignments | How to effectively understand and fulfill assigment requirements | James McCune Smith | 745 (Lecture Theatre) |
| Wed 27th Sep | 15:00-16:00 | Introduction to Being Critical | What does it mean to be critical and analytical in academic work and how to achieve this. | James McCune Smith | 745 (Lecture Theatre) |
| Thurs 28th Sep | 15:00-16:00 | Academic Discourse | Explains academic discourse and discusses how to identify the ways your academic community communicates. | James McCune Smith | 745 (Lecture Theatre) |
Academic Community Workshops (for International Students)
This particular course will be led by the team of Effective Learning Advisers for International Students.
> Moodle page for this series (includes slides and any recordings) - https://moodle.gla.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=27830
| Date | Time | Session Title | Description | Building | Room |
| Tue 3rd Oct | 14:00-15:00 | Planning to get the most from your studies | Developing skills to effectively plan your time to complete assignments and study effectively wihile maintaining work-life balance. | James McCune Smith | 745 (Lecture Theatre) |
| Wed 4th Oct | 15:00-16:00 | Becoming a Critical Reader | Developing skills to analytically read and evaluate academic texts. | James McCune Smith | 745 (Lecture Theatre) |
| Thurs 5th Oct | 15:00-16:00 | Reading for Structure | Developing skills to identify the structure of academic texts to better understand them and enhance your writing. | James McCune Smith | 745 (Lecture Theatre) |
| Tue 10th Oct | 14:00-15:00 | Reading for Language | How we can use our academic reading to develop and strengthen our academic writing, style and tone. | James McCune Smith | 745 (Lecture Theatre) |
| Wed 11th Oct | 15:00-16:00 | Creating Context in Essay Writing | How to effectively contextualise and frame your academic work to strengthen its coherence and argumentation. | James McCune Smith | 745 (Lecture Theatre) |
| Thurs 12th Oct | 15:00-16:00 | Demonstrating Authority in Writing | Explores why and how to demonstrate your authority and credibility in your work to produce convincing assignments. | James McCune Smith | 745 (Lecture Theatre) |
Amber Hinde
Amber is currently finalising her PhD in English Language & Linguistics, with a focus on rhetoric and genre. She has previously supported international students in roles with the International Summer School, International Student Support, and English for Academic Study.
Prior to working with SLD, Amber was a Graduate Teaching Assistant in the School of Critical Studies. She now coordinates the ‘Power of Language’ module on T2G, the transition course for incoming undergraduate students at the University of Glasgow.
Room 317
McMillan Reading Room
University Avenue
University of Glasgow
G12 8QQ
0141 330 6700
Dr Mona O'Brien
Mona works with international students from all subject areas in classes, workshops, and individually, supporting their development of effective learning, reading, research and writing practices. Additionally, she works to create and expand SLD's online resources.
Before joining SLD, Mona was a postdoctoral researcher at the Herzog August Bibliothek, Wolfenbüttel (2021) and a Graduate Teaching Assistant in History, Information Studies, Comparative Literature and German Culture at the University of Glasgow (2018-2021). She has a PhD in History from the University of Glasgow (2019).
Teaching requests
To find out what teaching she can offer on your course, email or call Mona.
Room 317
McMillan Reading Room
University Avenue
University of Glasgow
G12 8QQ
0141 330 3357