Kick-Start Your Dissertation
What is Kick-Start Your Dissertation?
Kick-Start Your Dissertation will help you do just that. During the programme we will help you overcome some of the barriers to starting your dissertation or final project and help equip you with the skills you need for dissertation success. This course is particularly suitable for students who have never written a dissertation before, international students and students returning to education after a break. During Kick-Start Your Dissertation, you will find out more about academic writing skills, what constitutes a good final project, how to look after your wellbeing during this challenging period, as well as support services and activities available to you.
This programme is free and open to all Postgraduate Taught students.
Kick-Start your Dissertation will be held online 12-16 May for Edinburgh and Orkney Campuses, and 19-23 May for the Scottish Borders Campus.
For updates you can follow us on Instagram @hwustudentsuccess.
Registering for a place at Kick-Start Your Dissertation at HWU
Kick Start Your Dissertation provides a complete academic package, with various sessions that focus on topics like citing and referencing, literature searching, different sections of your dissertation (research question, introduction, literature review, etc.) and research methods. The sessions are led by our Liaison Librarians. As some sessions are school-specific, it is important that students sign up to each individual session, using their HW email address.
Additionally, you can follow the Heriot-Watt Student Wellbeing Services (@hwuwellbeing), the Student Success Advisors (@hwustudentsuccess) the Heriot-Watt Information Services (@hwu_is), and Student Union (@hwunion / @hwunionsbc) on social media for more information on activities available to Postgraduate Taught students.
Places are limited and will be allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.
Programme outline
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harvard citing & referencing 10:00-10:50 | Literature searching for EPS & MACS 10:00-11:30 | IEEE Citing & Referencing10:00-10:50 | Writing Using Sources10:00-11:30 | EndNote21 Desktop10:00-11:30 |
| Introductions & conclusions 12:00-13:00 | Literature searching for SoSS 10:00-11:30 | APA Citing & Referencing10:00-10.50 | EndNote21 Desktop10:00-11:30 | |
| Literature Reviews & Research Questions13:00-14:30 | Literature searching for EGIS10:00-11:30 | Argumentation for Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences 13:00 - 14:30Results & Discussions for Sciences & Social Sciences 13:00-14:30 | Abstracts & Proofreading13:00-14:30 | |
| Research Methods for Arts, Humanities & Social Sciences 13:00-14:30 Research Methods for Scientists 13:00-14:30 Online Mindfulness Session (Wellbeing)15:00-16:00 | Results & Discussions for Sciences & Social Sciences 13:00-14:30 Effective Learning, English Gym & Library Drop-in (no booking required)14:30-16:30 | Afternoon tea & chat (Wellbeing)14:30-15:30 |
Over the week you will have the opportunity to:
Develop some of the academic skills that are essential for success in your dissertation, especially if you have never studied in the UK before.
Find out about some of the resources (IT, Library, myHWU Student Portal etc.) that you will need.
Meet fellow students to chat with tea, and take a breather with mindfulness exercises.
Get essential tips for making the most of your time and resources, including Wellbeing support, career guidance, and extracurricular activities.
Who can sign up?
This programme is open to all students who have successfully completed the first two semesters of their Postgraduate Taught degree. Sign up for Kick-Start your Dissertation here.