dissertation writing retreat

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Dissertation writing retreat.

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The Dissertation Writing Retreat provides up to 19 participants with structure, time, and encouragement to make progress on their doctoral dissertations in the company of other writers.

The retreat is co-sponsored by the Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning and the Graduate School, and is led by Charles Carroll, Assistant Director of the Writing Center. Graduate students must apply to participate.

There will be a pre-retreat workshop on Zoom on Thursday, July 7 from 2-4 pm (required for all participants). The retreat will be held from Monday, July 11 through Friday, July 15, 2022, from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm

Who can Apply?

All doctoral students who are in the process of writing their dissertations; that is, students who have had their dissertation proposals accepted and have sufficient research completed and/or data collected to proceed with writing. 

Apply online by June 17, 2022. The retreat can host up to 19 participants.

Apply Online

What is the Format?

Here is the schedule for a typical day during the retreat (the first and last days of the retreat will vary slightly):

• 9:00-9:15 am: morning goal setting and cohort check-in
• 9:15 am-noon: independent writing time
• Noon-1 pm: lunch (some lunches will have programming related to dissertation writing, while others will be purely social).
• 1-3:45 pm: afternoon cohort check-in

5th Floor, Science Library

Expectations

• Attend all five days of the retreat (9:30am - 4:00pm, Mon.-Fri.) and participate in all morning and afternoon group meetings. 
• Take breaks as needed. We suggest stocking up on coffee and tea in preparation for the retreat!
• Keep what happens during the retreat at the retreat. 

Contact  Charles Carroll , Assistant Director of the Writing Center, Sheridan Center for Teaching and Learning

Previous Retreaters have Experience

What previous retreaters have said about their experience

Goal setting is so important. I have been able to set a personal schedule for myself and learned how to adjust to the time of day and other commitments that compete with my time, while also feeling good about my progress because I learned to set realistic goals."

"I recognized that some days are great for deep work and some are not, and there is a need to roll with the punches accordingly.The retreat served as a needed reset for my usual writing plan

I enjoyed meeting other PhD students working on their dissertations. It's nice not to feel 'alone' during the writing process.

This retreat not only provided a supportive and helpful community, but also gave me a consistent schedule and space to work. What's more, due to the food and tea, I did not need to leave that space, but rather could concentrate that time to work. I also found the skills I learned from the other writers to be incredibly productive.

The deep work presentation and the recent dissertators presentations were the most useful! Also, the timing was really great (starting the week with deep work analysis and ending with the dissertators showing us it will get done!).

--Isabelle R. Notter, PhD candidate in Sociology

Dissertation Writing Retreats

The Graduate School Office of Professional Development is pleased to offer multiple writing retreats for dissertation writers each year. Open to graduate students from all departments who are at the dissertation-writing stage, these retreats offer extensive structured time to write and develop effective writing strategies alongside fellow dissertators.

During the retreat, graduate student writers will:

• Have sustained writing time to develop effective rhythms for writing and make significant progress on a lengthy piece of writing.
• Participate in a community of writers: discuss their writing process, share goals, and offer support to build structures of accountability.
• Experiment with best-practice writing skills for things like drafting, goal setting, and time management.

2025 Tentative Retreat Dates

• January 13-17, 2025 - TENTATIVE!
• March 17-21, 2025 (Spring Break) - TENTATIVE!

2024 Retreat Dates

• January 22-26, 2024
• March 18-22, 2024 (Spring Break)
• June 3-7, 2024 

Why Would I Want to Participate?

Multiple participants have described the retreats as “transformative”!

Although it is only a one-week commitment, students complete an extraordinary amount of writing. Some cite the retreats as the “single most important thing in helping me get my dissertation completed” and others claim that they “got more done in four days than in the previous three months”!

Perhaps more importantly, participants join a community of writers and learn strategies for making progress. Writing a dissertation is hard and often isolating. The retreat has helped many strengthen their confidence and motivate them toward the finish:

"Without the retreat, I would still be struggling with drafting my third dissertation chapter. Instead, I've left the retreat with a complete draft, and have a much clearer understanding of the writing habits and strategies that work best for me. I'm also leaving the retreat feeling more satisfied and optimistic about where I am in my dissertation writing process.” “The retreat taught me the necessary strategies and skills to effectively maintain progress on my dissertation and feel positive about the process.” “Participating in the retreat renewed my confidence in my writing ability and gave me the tools I needed to finish the dissertation process.” “[This week was] helpful to reflect on your own writing habits and connect with other graduate students regardless of your background or stage in the process.” “Yes, you'll get a lot done but, if you're like me, even more worthwhile will be the self-confidence you'll gain in finding a community that shares your same anxieties, fears, and goals.” "Having the space and time to write, the focused and supportive environment, has allowed me to experience the most productive time and output since I started my doctoral degree at UMass. The retreat has allowed me to reflect on practices and habits and, most importantly, to apply them and get a feel of the benefits they can provide. I cannot recommend the dissertation writing retreat enough!” "By participating in the writing retreat, I was able to learn new practices that better helped me structure my writing goals and break down my writing into tasks that are sustainable. It's maybe a little cheesy - but I feel like I have "more wind in my sails" and I can actually see how I can break everything down to actually finish my dissertation."

How Do I Apply?

Acceptance in the program is competitive, and acceptance is based on the strength of the completed application form. We prioritize applicants who are actively writing dissertation chapters as full-time UMass graduate students and  who express interest in having sustained writing time, participating in a community of writers, and experimenting with best-practice writing skills . Participants must commit to attending the entire retreat to be considered for acceptance. Preference is given to PhD dissertation writers. MFAs, master’s students, and those at the prospectus/proposal stage, as well as prior participants, will be considered if space is available.

Applications are solicited a few months before each retreat (approximately October-November for Winter; January-February for Spring, and March-April for Summer). This timeframe allows the accepted applicants to plan the logistics of being on campus that week and prepare their research for an intensive writing week. When an application period is open, a link to the application form will be posted above.

Retreat Structure

We cover best writing practices in a three-hour Bootcamp on Monday morning. Then, the rest of the week, from 9am-4pm, will be structured time to work, reflect on, and experiment with best practices. Lunch, coffee, tea, and snacks are provided.

Attendance all day for the entire week is mandatory, and participants should not plan to arrive late or leave early.

These writing retreats are offered at NO COST through the support of the Graduate School. Childcare scholarships for up to $150 per family are available from the Graduate School.

opdwriting [at] grad [dot] umass [dot] edu (Contact us for more information)  on the Dissertation Writing Retreats.

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10 benefits of academic writing retreats

Here’s something I didn’t realize until I was playing with the idea of hosting our own in-person writing retreat… There are scholars who study and publish research on academic writing retreats.

One of the most well-known researchers in this field is Rowena Murray, professor of education at the University of the West of Scotland. Dr. Murray defines a writing retreat as "a total immersion experience, writing support and mentoring, focused engagement in the writing experience and a community of practice and reflexivity".

Writing retreats typically offer fixed blocks of time dedicated to concentrated and distraction free writing. My company Write the Damn Dissertation is hosting " The Empowered Writing Retreat " in October, and was designed based on the work of Dr. Rowena Murray. It also includes a private 1:1 goal setting meeting prior to the retreat, and support during the retreat.

The Empowered Writing Retreat  follows Dr. Murray's structure, and is based on three key evidence-based principles:

The ‘typing pool’ which means that we all write individually but are in the same room for the duration of the retreat (Grant & Knowles 2000).

The use of a series of strict, fixed writing and discussion slots (McGrail, Rickard, and Jones 2006).

The use of peer discussion to review progress during the retreat (Murray 2009).

While the research provides so many benefits of academic writing retreats, here are my favorite 10 most important benefits of writing retreats.

Focus on Productivity - When attend an in-person writing retreat, you’ll get more writing done. But what’s also amazing, is that the productivity is not only limited to being in the retreat! Research studies indicate that you’ll stay productive longer.

Protected Time and Space - Being in a safe place that is different from your usual writing space can spark creativity. When the environment is calming and inspirational, without the distractions of daily life, you can protect your time and space to focus on writing.

Long Lasting Output - Studies on academic writing retreats conclude that Academics who attend writing retreats publish more.

Undistracted Focus, Scheduling and Protecting Time to Write - Since research-based writing retreats include structured writing sessions that are outcome-based, there is less time wasted with delay, questioning, and distractions.

Stepping Into and Strengthening your Identity as a Writer - Another benefit of writing retreats is that they strengthen a scholar’s identity as a writer. We focus so much on identity work in our programs, so this is one of my favorites!

Being Surrounded by a Supportive and Caring Community of Other Women Scholars - It’s common for academics to write in solitude, isolated from the rest of the world… either in their office, or at home. Participants of writing retreats reported, however, that they particularly valued working around other writers, which led them to experience a sense of connectedness.

Investing Time, Money and Energy - What you pay for, you pay attention to. When you invest resources in writing, you are committing to an outcome. When we or someone on our behalf makes a significant investment, we feel more motivated to get that task done.

Ability to Focus on a Single Project - Writing retreats allow participants to focus on a single project, rather than squeezing writing in between meetings, or when there is time between the competing priorities in life.

Developing Academic Writing Skills - Academics develop their writing process. The distraction-free writing sessions in structured retreats model an ideal writing process. Murray argues in her book "Writing in Social Spaces" that academics can develop a writing discipline in writing retreats. Some academics she interviewed for her studies told her that they hadn’t realized that they were capable of concentrating deeply for prolonged periods for several days. Similarly, academics learn to set boundaries around their writing, as Rowena Murray writes.

Focusing on well being - Studies have reported that academics who attended retreats feel more motivated and confident as writers, and less fearful of writing. You may imagine that there are plenty of benefits of attending academic writing retreats, and this is scientifically proven. Rachel Kornhaber (2016) studied the benefits of writing retreats. This study and others also have also reported an improvement in general well-being. This can be seen as a boost of motivation, confidence, and promote a sense of calm and accomplishment.

There you have it. The ten most important benefits of academic writing retreats.

Are you as blown away by the results of all the studies on writing retreats as I am?

With all this evidence I have to ask… why is it still common practice for scholars to attend a few conferences every year but not writing retreats?

Interested in attending the Empowered Writing Retreat? Go here to register ==> https://retreat.writethedamndissertation.com/

Have more questions and want to talk about the retreat? Book a call with me here ==> https://DissertationCoachingwithWTDD.as.me/retreat

For my nerdy research junkies, I see you... Writing Retreat Research References (in APA format so your eye doesn't start twitching):

Grant, B., & Knowles, S. (2000). Flights of imagination: Academic women be(com)ing writers. International Journal for Academic Development, 5(1), 6-19. https://doi.org/10.1080/136014400410060

Kornhaber, R., Cross, M., Betihavas, V., & Bridgman, H. (2016). The benefits and challenges of academic writing retreats: An integrative review. Higher Education Research & Development, 35(6), 1210-1227.

McGrail, M. R., Rickard, C. M., & Jones, R. (2006). Publish or perish: A systematic review of interventions to increase academic publication rates. Higher Education Research & Development, 25(1), 19-35. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360500453053

Murray, R., & Newton, M. (2009). Writing retreat as structured intervention: Margin or mainstream? Higher Education Research & Development, 28(5), 541-553. https://doi.org/10.1080/07294360903154126

Dr. Amy Boyd

I spent the first 40 years of my life beating myself up. Finishing my doctoral dissertation after spending four years in the “drift”, it took a personal transformation for me to silence the inner mean girl and activate self-kindness. Now, I’m obsessed with helping other women befriend their inner critic, get out of their own way and achieve their biggest dreams. A seasoned K-12 educational leader and coach, when I finished my dissertation, I started Write the Damn Dissertation. Since 2018 the Write the Damn Dissertation Team has helped over 17,000 doc students (and masters thesis students) make progress on their dissertation and thesis. I live on the eastern shore of the Chesapeake Bay in Maryland with my husband and teenage son, two French bulldogs, and a ragdoll cat. Some things you may not know about me… me and my husband have an Airbnb with 98 (5.0-star) reviews, and absolutely love being hosts. I’m a certified Master Gardener, I’ve raised Nubian Goats, Chickens, Turkeys, Peacocks, and I’m a former Lavender Farmer. ~ Dr. Amy Boyd Founder and CEO, Write the Damn Dissertation Coach, Motivational Speaker, Podcast Host

Writing Studio

Dissertation writers’ retreats.

The Writing Studio’s Dissertation Writers’ Retreat series provides dissertating graduate students with time to work individually in a quiet, collegial atmosphere. During retreats, we couple ample writing time with optional, one-on-one consultations and daily workshops meant to focus writers on their argumentation, chapter structure, and daily writing goals. We hold an annual week-long retreat during the summer and mini-retreats during fall and spring breaks.

Information about upcoming or recent retreats can be found below.

2024 – 2025 Dissertation Retreat Schedule

• Fall Break Dissertation Writers’ Retreat (2 days) – October 10-11, 2024  (r egistration deadline: Friday, Sept. 27, 2024 )
• Spring Break Dissertation Writers Retreat (2 days) – March 10-11, 2025 (registration deadline: TBD)
• Summer Dissertation Writers’ Retreat (5 days) – June 2-6, 2025 (registration deadline: TBD)

Fall 2024 Dissertation Writers’ Retreat

Sponsored by the Graduate School and the College of Arts and Science Dean’s Office

When: October 10-11, 2024 | 9:00 AM – 4:00 PM each day

Where: The Writing Studio (1801 Edgehill Ave., Suite 112)

Registration Required: Complete the Retreat Registration Form by Friday, September 27.

Join us as the Writing Studio hosts a two-day Fall Break Dissertation Writers’ Retreat, Oct. 10-11. Our retreats are designed to provide dissertating students with a community of support and opportunities for goal setting and skill building alongside loosely structured time to work individually on writing projects. Lunch and snacks will be provided.

We also welcome participation from graduate and professional students working on master’s theses and other advanced writing projects as well as postdoctoral fellows.

Questions? Please email [email protected] .

Typical Daily Retreat Schedule

• 9:00-9:20 AM – Small Group Check-In with Daily Goal Setting
• 9:20 AM-12:00 PM – Independent Writing Time
• 12:00-1:00 PM – Lunch (provided)
• 1:00-2:00 PM – Optional Daily Writing Workshop
• 2:00-3:50 PM – Optional One-On-One Writing Consultations
• 3:50-4:00 PM – End-of-Day Small Group Check-In

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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]

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Writing Retreat

Writing Retreats are two-day hands-on writing experiences for any masters, doctoral or postdoctoral scholar to make progress on a major writing project in a supportive community. The retreat features dedicated working time (“writing sprints”), advice on time management and goal setting as well as opportunities to learn about relevant campus resources to support you throughout your writing journey. It is designed for participants to focus on a major writing project such as an article manuscript, dissertation, thesis, or capstone paper.

Two, two-day writing retreats will be offered in fall and spring semesters and one retreat will be held over the summer. These retreats will alternate between in-person and virtual Zoom sessions to extend the benefits of writing community to the greater Gradpack. Details about the retreats will be posted each semester.

Participants who attend four days of the writing retreat (ex. two, two-day retreats) can count the experience towards the new Writing Certificate.

Click the button below to view information about the current writing retreat on the registration page:

Fast Facts and Questions:

When does it take place.

Two, two-day writing retreats will be offered in fall and spring semesters and one retreat will be held over the summer. To make this retreat accessible to our “Gradpack,” some of these retreats will be virtual (Zoom) and some will be held in-person. Information about each specific retreat will be announced closer to each event.

Who can participate?

The Writing Retreat is open to all masters, Ph.D., and postdoctoral scholars in any discipline who are working on dissertations, theses, capstone projects, and other large writing projects. Participants who get the most out of this experience are working on larger writing projects that they intend to finish. Since the retreats are intensive, two-day commitments, we also ask that participants have permission from their advisors to attend the writing retreats.

How do I apply?

• Registration information about each retreat will be posted each semester approximately one month before the event.
• The capacity of in-person writing retreats is limited to 30 participants.
• All participants selected to participate in the writing retreat must have permission from their advisor since this is a two day commitment.
• All participants selected to participate in the writing retreat must commit to attending the entire two-day session (9 a.m.-5 p.m.) and sign a statement of expectations.

Is there a cost to participate in the writing retreat?

• Virtual writing retreats will be free.
• Participants in the in-person writing retreats will pay a $40 non-refundable fee to cover the cost of food, refreshments, and venue reservation.

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• Dissertation Writing Retreat

The Dissertation Writing Retreat is offered by the Graduate School and the Willis Writing Center to provide structured writing time and resources for graduate students who are completing dissertation writing.

The retreat leader will offer writing tips, resources, one-on-one consultations, peer feedback, and focused writing time.

June 10-14, 2024 8:30am-1:30pm Sanford Hall 209

Open to post-candidacy doctoral students.

Registration is available to the first 20 students to register.

To register you must submit a letter of support from your major professor or dissertation chair on letterhead indicating you are in good standing and eligible for the retreat by confirming date of candidacy/proposal acceptance.

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• Writing Retreats

During summer sessions, the Writing Center offers writing retreats allow graduate student participants to devote a week to working on their dissertation, thesis, or other major piece of writing.

Participants spend a majority of their time writing; however the program sometimes also includes discussions on topics relevant to graduate student writers, including motivation, goal setting, and time management. 

Participants benefit from the structure of daily writing sessions and the social support of other participants to facilitate progress on their dissertation. They do not receive feedback on their draft; rather, the Dissertation Retreat provides support for their writing process . 

Check this page for information about upcoming writing retreats.

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Dissertation Writing Retreat

Instructions to apply are available  here . If you have any questions, please feel free to get in touch with Katie Levin ( [email protected] ).

Thanks to generous support from the Graduate School, Student Writing Support offers a free annual Dissertation Writing Retreat. Each May Term, 15 dissertation writers from across the University gather for three weeks of concentrated dissertation-writing time in a supportive group setting. This year's retreat will once again take place in  Gather , an online space similar to Zoom.

The 2025 retreat will be held online  Mondays through Thursdays, May 19 through June 5  (no session on Monday, May 26, Memorial Day).  Applications , which involve both the writer and their advisor(s), are due in two stages:

• By 11:59 pm Central time on Friday, April 4 , writer submits online application. Upon submission, the application will generate an automatic email request to the writer's advisor.
• By 11:59 pm Central time on Friday, April 11 , advisor completes and uploads a form indicating whether they endorse the writer's participation in the 2025 Dissertation Writing Retreat. (This step takes no more than 5 minutes; no letter is required.)

To be considered, applicants must commit to participating in all 11 days of the retreat.

You can read quotes from past participants in the "Why Participate" dropdown below. For a sampling of the disciplinary diversity of the retreat, see our list of  Defended dissertations completed by retreat participants .

Past participants have told us that the retreat was “invaluable”:

• The structure and positive environment of the retreat made my work feel less burdensome and POSSIBLE! This is what I have needed most in my dissertation writing process: hope and confidence. The retreat has given me both of those things.
• I'm so glad that I had the opportunity to participate and work with the awesome consultants. This is only the beginning to me becoming a more confident writer. I'm that much closer to being a Ph.D. graduate.
• I gained some important trials (successes and failures) in carving out space for writing (or other dissertation work). I gained important daily structure that helped me place boundaries between work and life time (which was super helpful, coming so soon after prelims).
• Prior to the retreat my dissertation seemed huge and overwhelming. This retreat has given me skills to take on small chunks and work through my writing difficulties. I would like to thank you especially for providing us with resources that we can use now and in our careers. Because of this retreat I have learned to enjoy writing as much as research.
• The retreat has helped me to be even more organized about the dissertation process, particularly with respect to setting reasonable and flexible goals. Moving forward, I feel that I can even more clearly share my goals with my advisors.
• I feel like I gained: 1) joy in writing, 2) days of structured writing work, 3) sense of belonging, 4) many written pages, 5) aha! moments regarding my own struggles with engaging with the dissertation (to name a few).

When asked if they would recommend the retreat to other dissertators, participants told us:

• Yes! Great to connect with other dissertators, great to get some fresh perspective on how writing gets done. Great to have access to writing consultants, and to discuss my work with people outside my field.
• YES!! This is a great environment for any dissertator: the support from both the consultants and fellow writers is priceless.
• YES, because it has reminded me of my own value and voice, that  I can do this thing! , and expanded what feels  possible in the next year.
• Absolutely! I already did. I found it to be inspiring (in the sense of finally realizing that I could actually finish this dissertation—this is the first time I have felt like this is doable and that  I WILL  finish). The sense of community gave me the feeling that the worries and fears I had were pretty common and that people had worked through them and actually finished.

When asked about what Gather was like (first used in Summer 2021), participants told us:

• It was the best online environment I have worked in. I've seen similar attempts for virtual conferences, but this one worked the best. And it was so nice to have a break from Zoom. It also allowed for more natural interactions than Zoom.
• I was honestly pretty skeptical of the space—I imagined it would feel a lot like the energy-sucking vortex, Zoom. But the avatars, the integration of audio and chat, and something that felt like a physical space surprised me in really positive ways. I have found myself day dreaming about to recommend Gather to various online conference I am apart of in the coming months.
• I enjoyed this space, and I enjoyed having my own little "spot" each day. Haha. It was a really nice switch from Zoom and I liked how you could have conversations and walk by and sort of listen in on snippets of conversations, just like in real life. I liked that we could be cameras on, cameras off, use the chat—it was a great use of space.

Participants in the retreat

• Will be able to do  focused, sustained work on their dissertations in scheduled blocks of writing time
• Will have access every day to  optional individual  Student Writing Support consultations   with retreat co-leaders    
• Are expected to participate in  daily warm-up writing activities at 9:00 am Central time . These writing warm-ups are designed to facilitate the day's work and to expand participants' repertoire of writing strategies, all in community with other writers.
• Are expected to participate in  daily closing writing activities at 3:30 pm Central time.  This closing session is designed to facilitate reflection, to maintain momentum, and to expand participants' repertoire of writing strategies, all in community with other writers.
• Are expected to participate in a  weekly 30-minute check-in meeting (scheduled in advance) with one of the retreat co-leaders. These check-ins are designed to reduce the isolation of a remote retreat experience and to help each participant tailor the retreat to their own needs.
• Are expected to participate in  two 15-minute assessments of the program during the course of the retreat (to help make the retreat as useful as possible for current and future participants)
• Pledge to  limit other internet use to essential dissertation-writing tasks during the dedicated writing hours of the retreat. (To be clear, we encourage participants to use music or other streamed content that helps them work! This internet pledge is about deliberately cutting off one's own access to online avoidance/procrastination-methods during the hours of the retreat.)
• Must  have no other teaching or research responsibilities during May Term

If you are selected, you will gather with other retreat participants Mondays through Thursdays, May 19–June 5 (no session on Monday, May 26, Memorial Day), between 9:00 a.m. and 3:45 p.m. Central Time in a designated online Gather space ( learn more about Gather ).

• If you need a designated space on campus to participate in this online retreat, we will work with you to find one.
• The full group will be in Gather for opening warmups at 9 am and for a closing writing activity at 3:30 pm every day.
• We encourage breaks throughout the day, and we build in a scheduled break for lunch from 12:15–1:15 Central Time each day.

Retreaters must commit to participating synchronously in the 9:00 am opening and 3:30 pm closing sessions for the full 11-day retreat schedule; while we encourage retreaters to do all or most of their work in during retreat hours, they will not be required to be in Gather all day long (unless that's what works for them!). So, for example, if you need to spend some time away from the computer in order to focus, or if you are working in a very different time zone, or if you have caregiving responsibilities, or if there are other schedule-related changes you need to make, we will do our best to help you develop a writing schedule that suits your needs and still forwards the goal of creating a supportive group setting for all participants.

All UMN–Twin Cities doctoral graduate students who have passed their prelims and whose dissertation prospectuses (if required by the department) have been approved—or will have been approved by Monday, May 5, 2025—are eligible to apply. Because so much of the retreat is devoted to sustained writing time, writers who have not yet passed prelims and whose dissertation prospectus (if required by their department) will not yet have been approved before May 5 should wait until next year to apply.

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The Grad Center collaborates with campus partners to provide graduate students with the space, structure, and encouragement to make progress towards completing major research-related writing projects. 

Graduate Writers Rooms  

Spring Break Writing Retreat

Fall Break Writing Retreat

The Grad Center collaborates with partners across campus to host 3- to 4-hour "Graduate Writers Rooms" during the academic year. Writers Rooms provide current Penn graduate & professional students with time, space, and a supportive environment for focused writing. Attendees are provided with snacks and basic supplies. 

Please visit our events calendar to see upcoming sessions and register! 

We typically hold at least two 1-3 day writing retreats each year, corresponding with official university break periods.  By offering an environment and support for focused writing time, writing retreats provide participants with additional structure and motivation to overcome typical roadblocks in the writing process. 

Spring Break Writing Retreats typically run for one to three days, with required four-hour individual writing sessions each day, followed by optional writing sessions during the remainder of the day.  

Participation is limited to 20 students and includes group meetings, individual writing support, and 3-7 hours of focused writing each day. . Students must apply in advance and attend all required sessions. 

Three Day Retreat Structure Three-day programs, when offered, include  the following:

Daily check-ins:  Students will be seated in one of four meeting rooms with 4-6 people per room. The participants in each room will hold a brief (5-10 minute) check-in meeting at the start of each day to share goals, progress, and challenges in their writing process.   

Daily co-writing sessions:  All participants are expected to participate in individual writing sessions from 9:00 AM to 1:00 PM each  day. Participants have the option to stay until 4:30 PM. Afternoon sessions will not be staffed but participants should observe program rules and norms regarding acceptable activities and discussion during the session. 

Orientation and writing consultations:  We will have a mandatory orientation session on the first day of the retreat. Additionally, students will be able to attend an individual advising session with a  Weingarten Center Learning Resources  advisor to discuss organization, writing goals, and strategies for completing the dissertation. Students can bring drafts of their work, discuss topic and structure, future publications and work, etc. Weingarten staff will remain available on an on-call basis throughout the program for additional appointments, to help students overcome any habits or problems standing in the way of success.

This program relies on mutual accountability and support among participants. For this reason,  all participants are asked to make a serious commitment to the program and expected to participate in all required sessions and elements.  Any extenuating circumstances must be documented in writing before the start of Camp. If your circumstances would cause too much disruption or modification of the program structure, we will remove you from the program.

We encourage participants to form small self-motivated writing groups, participate in our other writing support programs, and meet with advisors at the Weingarten Learning Resource Center to sustain any momentum and writing habits they build during Boot Camp.

Participation in multi-day writing retreats require a $10 program fee.

The cost of participating is subsidized by funds from the Grad Center and GAPSA. The fee helps us with the cost of providing all participants with basic writing supplies, snacks, staff support, and a wrap-up lunch on the last day of the program. Those with significant financial need can request a fee waiver by emailing Grad Center Director Meredith Wooten (mwooten@upenn).

An additional fee of $25 will be charged to participants who fail to comply with program requirements or drop out of the program without advance notice. This fee is charged via the participant's Penn student account. 

*The 2023 Spring Break Writing Retreat is free of charge!

Participants agree to participate in all required sessions and elements of the program outlined above.

Each participant will have a designated work station and must follow program requirements and shared rules, which will be discussed at the orientation session. 

Participants must bring their own laptops and all materials (e.g., books, data) that are necessary. Books and supplies may be left at your workspace in the Grad Center for the duration of the retreat. 

All participants are asked to make a serious commitment to the program. To encourage this sustained commitment, we charge $25 fee to participants who do not abide by the rules or complete the program.

All extenuating circumstances must be documented in writing before the start of the retreat. If  your circumstances would cause too much absence or disruption, we will forfeit your seat to another student and refund your supply fee. Please contact [email protected] if you have any questions regarding this issue before registering. We will discuss pre-noted and emergency absences in detail during the orientation. As a general rule, we suggest that all students make-up their lost time during the afternoon optional time period.

Our writing retreats are designed for currently enrolled Penn graduate students who are actively working on drafts of a research-based writing project, such as a thesis, dissertation, or journal article. 

Because the Writing Retreats are limited to 15 students, priority is given to students who have not participated in a previous retreat or boot camp.  

We encourage participants to form small self-motivated writing groups, participate in our other writing support programs, and meet with advisors at the Weingarten Learning Resource Center to sustain any momentum and writing habits they build during the retreat. 

All participants must apply in advance. A complete application includes:   

Online application * (link will only work during open application cycles) * 2023 Spring Break Writers Retreat Registration

Submit payment in person at the Graduate Student Center. The $10 payment may be paid by CASH or CHECK only at the information desk in the Grad Center Common Room (first floor).  *The 2023 Spring Break Writing Retreat is free of charge!

Students selected to participate will be notified starting March 1. You will receive additional information and are expected to discuss your goals for the program with your faculty advisor(s).

Students who are selected are expected to attend and participate in all required components of the writing retreat. 

We typically hold 1-2 multi-day writing retreats each year, corresponding with official university break periods.  By offering an environment and support for focused writing time, writing retreats provide participants with additional structure and motivation to overcome typical roadblocks in the writing process. 

Program Overview

Fall Break Writing Retreats typically run for 1 or 2 days, with required group meetings and individual writing sessions each day from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, as well as optional writing sessions from 2:00 to 4:30 PM.

Participation is limited to 20 students and includes group meetings, individual writing support, and 3-7 hours of focused writing each day. 

Students must apply in advance and attend all required sessions. 

Additional details coming soon! 

Participation in the Fall Break Writing Retreat requires a $10 program fee.

This cost covers basic writing supplies, snacks, staff support, and a wrap-up lunch on the last day of the program. Those with significant financial need can request a fee waiver by emailing Grad Center Director Meredith Wooten (mwooten@upenn).

Fall Break Writing Retreats typically run for 1 to 2 days, with required group meetings and individual writing sessions each day from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM, as well as optional writing sessions from 2:00 to 4:30 PM. 

Participation is limited to  20 students. Students must apply in advance and attend all required sessions. 

The Fall 2022 1-day program includes the following:

Group check-ins:  All participants will convene for brief check-in meetings at the start and end of the mandatory writing session to share goals, progress, and challenges in their writing process. 

Co-writing sessions:  All participants are expected to participate in mandatory writing sessions from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Participants have the option to stay until 4:30 PM. Afternoon participants should observe program rules and norms regarding acceptable activities and discussion during the session. 

Because the Writing Retreats are limited to 20 students, priority is given to students who have not participated in a previous retreat or boot camp.  

We encourage participants to form small self-motivated writing groups, participate in our other writing support programs, and meet with advisors at the Weingarten Center to sustain any momentum and writing habits they build during the retreat. 

Online application  (link will only work during open application cycles).  

Submit payment in person at the Graduate Student Center. The $10 payment may be paid by CASH or CHECK only at the information desk in the Grad Center Common Room (first floor).   

Students selected to participate will be notified on a rolling basis, starting September 19. You will receive additional information and are expected to discuss your goals for the program with your faculty advisor(s).

We are happy to explain our policies and discuss the program with you. Please  contact us here  or call 215-746-6868.

Graduate Student Center University of Pennsylvania 3615 Locust Walk Philadelphia PA 19104 215-746-6868

[email protected]

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Grad Students

Graduate Writing Retreats

The Writing Hub conducts multiple graduate writing retreats throughout the year. Retreats give UCSD graduate students the tools, time, and space to make progress on a writing project. Through a combination of workshops, support, and dedicated writing time, graduate writing retreats help expand graduate students' capacities as budding professional academic writers.

All writing retreat sessions will continue to happen online, via Zoom.  Participants will be sent the appropriate Zoom link once their RSVPs have been confirmed by the Writing Hub. 

What to Expect

Retreats explore writing-related topics, such as overcoming writer's block, building sustainable writing habits, and experimenting with new writing strategies. These presentations help orient participants to positive writing practices and create a supportive community of graduate student writers. 

The majority of each session will be devoted to focused, independent writing time where participants can work on their own writing projects.  During this time, participants will have a dedicated space to make progress on a writing project, while in the company and solidarity of other graduate writers.

Retreat Policies

You are welcome to register for as many writing retreats as you wish, but please keep in mind that each retreat will have similar instructional content.

Full attendance in your retreat is expected. Missing more than one retreat session may result in being removed from the retreat. 

Participants who miss the first retreat session will be removed from the retreat. This is to strengthen and protect the community-building that occurs on the first day, which is a crucial aspect of the program. 

Accountability During the Retreat

Committing to a retreat requires that you intentionally make room for each retreat session in your schedule. We trust your judgment about your time and participation when you make the commitment to register for the retreat. On the first day of the retreat, we will develop a variety of strategies to hold ourselves accountable for the remainder of the retreat. We ask that you respect the retreat and make it a priority in your schedule.

• You can reserve your spot by filling out an RSVP form, which can be found on our Events +Sign-Ups page . 
• After you sign up, the Writing Hub will send the appropriate Zoom link to confirm your registration.

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• / Resources for Students
• / Spring Dissertation Writing Retreat

The University Writing Center, with support from the  Graduate School , will host its thirteenth annual Dissertation Writing Retreat in person May 13-17, 2024. We encourage all writers currently working on their dissertations to apply. In past retreats, we have worked with writers representing a range of disciplines from Public Health to Engineering to Social Work to Humanities. Some of these writers had just begun writing, some were in the middle of drafting chapters, and others were getting close to completing and defending their dissertations. Regardless of where they were in the process, all the participants made progress on their dissertations and left with a set of writing strategies that would help them maintain their momentum on their projects. Learn about the experiences of participants from past retreats . 

This year's retreat will occur May 13-17 daily from 9:00 am to 4:00 pm in the University Writing Center in Ekstrom Library (room 132). Each day writers will write for several hours, take part in short, writing-focused workshops, enjoy lunch, and meet with a writing consultant. The University Writing Center consultants who work during the retreat are experienced writing consultants and teachers; many are also PhD students currently working on their own dissertations. Each participant in the retreat will be paired with the same consultant for the entire week. There is no fee for participating. Participants must be willing and able to participate for the full retreat. 

Application information

The application portal is currently closed. Applications for Spring 2025's dissertation writing retreat will be available in February 2025.

Completed applications are considered and accepted on a rolling basis, in the order in which they are received. 

A completed application consists of the following materials: 

• A letter written by the applicant to the retreat coordinators, stating the reasons for applying for the retreat and goals for the week.
• A letter of support written by the writer’s adviser/director. 
• Documents to demonstrate progress and status of the dissertation, (drafts, proposals, etc.).

Priority will be will given to applicants who have not previously participated in a Dissertation Writing Retreat.

If you have questions about the retreat, contact the University Writing Center at  502-852-2173  or  [email protected] .

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University Writing Center

Ekstrom Library 132

Kornhauser Library 218

University of Louisville

Louisville, Kentucky 40292

Ekstrom Library

M 9 am - 5 pm

T, W, Th 9 am - 7 pm

F 9 am - 4 pm

Closed on student breaks and holidays  

(502) 852-2173

[email protected]

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3-day Dissertation Writing Retreat

This jumpstarted my writing and put me in a position to finish my dissertation on time! I wrote just over 30 pages alongside the other dissertators, and it was truly invaluable to connect with others who were in a similar position as me to learn how to set productive writing goals, avoid procrastinating, and work through complex ideas.

The next  3-day Dissertation Writing Retreat  will be held on July 23-25, 2024. This event is held virtually and is free of charge.

The registration deadline is Wednesday, June 28, 2024.

Contact Nick Kanetske ([email protected]) if you do not have access to the Canvas Basecamp site to register or did not receive the email sent to all dissertators.

This WRITING RETREAT is held for three consecutive days and includes supported co-writing, guidance on writing process, and camaraderie. You’ll find your rhythm writing alongside a community of peers. We know working virtually may come with interruptions, but we ask participants to try to commit to three full days of writing as much as possible. You will get more from this if you do.

In past years, participants of these 3-day events have achieved 1-2 chapter drafts, expanded outlines, sections of creative works, edited sections of writing, found confidence in their writing, and gained an understanding of the benefits of co-writing. Many students continue with writing groups after these Dissertation Writing Retreats.

We have listened to student feedback and continue to fine tune this offering in a manner that is well-suited to working virtually, as this allows us to reach the greatest number of individuals. Our breaks, programming, and schedule make participating in the Dissertation Writing Retreat comfortable and productive for everyone.

I had been feeling really stuck with my work, and this event loosened my thoughts up a bit and allowed me to make more critical connections to the literature. I lessened the amount of unnecessary self-editing and just wrote.

Who is the 3-day Dissertation Writing Retreat for?

The Dissertation Writing Retreat is limited to doctoral dissertators and students in the terminal MFA programs. PhD students must:

• Be in good academic standing.
• Have achieved Dissertator status.
• Have passed the proposal stage and be in the writing phase.

What should I expect during the Dissertation Writing Retreat ?

• Three days of writing, eight hours each, spent focused on your dissertation
• A structured day with periods of quiet writing and regular breaks
• Opportunity for connection to other dissertators at UWM
• Introduction to goal setting and effective writing strategies
• Guidance on writing process from faculty experts
• Optional breaktime activities to stay fresh and/or to provide information about dissertation next-steps.
• A community of fellow dissertators at UWM

The real conversations about writing, barriers, and tangible suggestions to be a better writer are incredibly valuable.

What do I need for the Dissertation Writing Retreat?

• A comfortable private space where you can write for long periods and join discussions with other participants.
• Your own computer for writing. (You will need to sustain connectivity across these 3 days, so plan to have access to a power source without disrupting your work.)
• Internet access.
• A speaker and microphone on your device.
• A commitment to focused work on your dissertation during these 3 days.
• Chocolate and coffee?!
• A “can do” attitude. We believe in you!

Registration

The cost for participation is free ! All UWM Dissertators are invited to apply. Eligible participants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis. The 3-day Dissertation Writing Retreat will be limited to a maximum of 50 participants.

To participate, you must commit to attending all three days. Of course, we understand that working virtually from home involves all sorts of interruptions and occasional distractions, but we ask all participants to plan to work as much as possible all three days.

Writing with a group was very helpful to me. So often, I lose motivation and focus when I am on my own, but being surrounded by dozens of other graduate students for three days in a row was great.

We are happy to provide more information and discuss the program with you. Please reach out by email to our professional development intern, Nick Kanetzke ( [email protected] )

Grad Retreats

GRAD Writes intensive writing retreats best suit graduate students who plan to complete theses/dissertations in 2024 or 2025. However, graduate students and postdocs are  welcome to attend  at any stage of their writing process .

CSU Writes retreats have bee designed based on research on “writing in social spaces” and “writing containment.” Each retreat includes 5+ hours of writing time, writing-focused conversations, and scheduling support. Select retreats include consultations with the retreat lead.

Behind-the-Scenes at CSU Writes, we are a program run by students and faculty who also write. We appreciate your patience as we work to serve your writing needs.  Your retreat registration and access will be confirmed with an Outlook calendar invite and a pre-retreat information email. 

PLEASE NOTE: we process your retreat requests manually, which means you will not receive an automated response/calendar invitation. We strive to process registrations within 24-hours.

We appreciate you applying only for retreats you can commit to attending . Your attendance commitment is a win-win for you and our writing community. By honoring your commitment to attend a retreat, you will attend to your goals, contribute to the fulness of a retreat experience for everyone, and help CSU use resources wisely. Thank you!CSU 

IN-PERSON 1-Day Intensive Retreats - GRAD Writes

Aug 31 | lsc 372-74, oct 19 | lsc 372-74, nov 2 | lsc 376-78, 8:30am - 4pm | lory student center.

Once a month, these in-person writing retreats will help graduate students and postdoctoral fellows make steady progress on their writing projects. These retreats are held at the Lory Student Center (LSC). 

Participants will receive information via Outlook Calendar about ways to make the most of an in-person writing retreat. 

Coffee/tea and healthy energy snacks provided. Attendance is limited. Register early.

VIRTUAL 1-Day Intensive Retreats - GRAD Writes

8:30am - 4pm | zoom.

Once a month, these ZOOM  writing retreats will help graduate students and postdoctoral fellows make steady progress on their writing projects.  Virtual writing retreats offer online or remote students enhanced access to our CSU Writes program, providing opportunities for intensive writing, practice, and strategy discussions.

Participants will receive information via Outlook Calendar about ways to arrange their writing space for a virtual retreat. 

GRAD Retreats of Years Past

1.5-Day: JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH, APRIL, JULY, AUG,

Weeklong: MAY + 1-Day Retreats in JUNE, JULY, AUGUST

1.5-Day: JANUARY, FEBRUARY, MARCH, APRIL, AUG, SEPT, OCT, NOV, DEC

Weeklong: MAY, JUNE

2020  2-Day:  FEBRUARY, MARCH (remote) & APRIL (remote) Week-Long: MAY (remote)

2019  2-Day: FEBRUARY, MARCH, APRIL, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER Week-Long: MAY & JUNE

2018 2-Day:, MARCH, APRIL, SEPTEMBER, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER Week-Long: MAY 

2017 2-Day: MARCH, APRIL, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER Week-Long: MAY

2016 2-Day: MARCH, OCTOBER, NOVEMBER Week-Long: MAY#1, MAY #2

GRADs Write Remotely 2020-21

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Dissertation Retreat

Dissertation retreats are multiple-day, focused writing events to help you make significant progress toward completion of major projects. Graduate students in any discipline are eligible to participate. While priority registration is given to dissertation writers, those writing a master's thesis can be accepted if space available. You must be able to attend all days of the retreat. Space is limited so be sure to apply early.

When are the retreats scheduled?

A minimum of four dissertation retreats are held each year: fall semester finals week; spring semester the week before classes begin; spring break; and summer (where several may occur).

Upcoming Retreats

Why participate.

While retreats are not instructional workshops, they do provide the following:

• An intensive writing environment.
• A quiet, comfortable writing space.
• Writing strategies from writing consultants.
• Peer motivation and support.
• A structured writing schedule.
• Light refreshments.

The Graduate School co-sponsors dissertation retreats with the Center for Excellence in Writing.

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School of Graduate Studies

Thesis writing retreat.

Completing a thesis is easier when following a regular schedule and becoming a member of a supportive writing group. Groups keep writers accountable and foster community. With this in mind, the Writing Centre and School of Graduate Studies are pleased to host a 5-day Thesis Retreat for graduate students from August 12-16, 2024. If you are looking for distraction-free time to work and can commit to 5 days of consistent writing, then this group is for you! 

What happens at the Retreat?

The retreat is designed to maximize independent writing time. Depending on the day’s schedule, this will be 5-6 hours per day. Any student registered in a masters or doctorate program may join; however, this program will be the most useful for students who have completed their research and have already begun writing their thesis. Students who are still in the early stages of their projects or who are seeking instruction on how to complete specific project-related tasks or improve their academic writing skills may be better served by contacting the Writing Centre directly to sign up for one-on-one tutoring. All students are encouraged to meet with their supervisors prior to attending to establish goals for their retreat. If you have any questions, please contact the event facilitator directly (Jacinda Sinclair, [email protected] ) or the Writing Centre ( [email protected] ).

Monday, August 12, 2024 - Friday, August 16, 2024

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM Newfoundland Daylight Time (NDT)

Participants are expected to come for five full days. Students who know they will only be able to attend some meetings or a partial number of hours per day should contact the facilitator before registering to determine if an accommodation can be made. Accommodations may be granted for students who can demonstrate need (e.g., childcare responsibilities, conflicting work schedules, etc.).

• In-person at the St. John’s Campus for students in the St. John's Metro Area. Location: MUNSU Council Chambers (UC2001), University Centre 

Online via WebEx for students outside the St. John’s Metro Area.

Registration

If registration is full, please use the waitlist link. You will be contacted if a space then becomes available. Do not register using the other link if your preferred mode is full (i.e., do not register online if you would like to come in-person).

Students who submit incomplete forms or inconsistent responses (e.g., indicating  you would like to come to take writing classes) may be contacted to confirm their intention or have their registration removed.

The event facilitator will take attendance on the first day. Students who are absent and have not arranged for accommodations may forfeit their place. Students who miss more than one day thereafter without accommodation may also forfeit their place.

• In-Person Waitlist
• Online Waitlist

Related Content

Dissertation Writing Retreat

The   Dissertation Writing Retreat will run   in-person   from 8th   July – 10th   July 2024 .   Click here to complete your application.  Please note that this event will run alongside the Thesis  Writing Retreat (formerly Thesis Boot Camp). If you are a Research student interested in attending this event, more information can be found here .

• Are you at the writing up stage of your Masters project or dissertation?
• Do you put off writing tasks until ‘tomorrow’?
• Are you finding it tough ‘going it alone’?  
• Would you like a supportive environment to help increase productivity? 

We have just what you need – the Dissertation Writing Retreat ! Dedicated solely to getting words down on paper (or a computer screen), this once-a-year event is designed to help Masters students  kick-start their dissertation writing progress.   

Sign up to join other postgraduate students in a supportive, structured, intensive writing environment. With the help of your peers and an experienced facilitator, Dissertation Writing Retreat  participants will power through final-year blues, writer’s block, and thesis fatigue to achieve significant progress on their dissertation.  

You are eligible to apply for the Dissertation Writing Retreat if you are a Masters student at the University of St Andrews and are ready to write up your final dissertation/project . This event is  not  for reading articles, taking notes, editing, or polishing existing material. It is also not designed to offer in-depth advice and support in terms of language and writing style.  

What it is designed for is to support and motivate you in moving past writers’ block and procrastination to getting words down on the page.  The ultimate aim of the Dissertation Writing Retreat is to write a significant amount of first draft material .  

Dates and Times

The Dissertation Writing Retreat  will run in-person at the Gateway building from  Monday 8 July – Thuesday 9 July 2024 , 9.15am-6.30pm each day . Participants are expected to attend the entirety of the event.  

Important Information

The Dissertation Writing Retreat is a  free  event provided by  MSkills  which aims to build a writing community based on peer support with access to one-to-one support for each participant when required. As such, spaces are  limited  and will be allocated based on your eligibility and your completed application form (see below). We cannot guarantee participation for all eligible applicants.

Eligibility

To be eligible to apply you must be:

• A current Masters/PGT student at the University of St Andrews
• Be able to attend in person for both days of the event
• Have completed the majority of your research or data collection and be ready to write at the start of the event
• Be able to complete pre-work to prepare for the event

I am up for the challenge, where do I sign up?

The application deadline is  5pm Thursday 30 May 2024 . Late applications will not be considered. 

Applications will open April 2024.

St Leonard's College The Old Burgh School, Abbey Walk St Andrews KY16 9LB [email protected]

Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 2003

Upcoming events

St Leonard’s College – PG Fàilte Welcome party for all postgraduate students! Monday 9 September 2024, 4.30pm-6.00pm Old Burgh School

Welcome event for taught postgraduates Monday 9 September 2024, 1pm, 2.15pm, 3.30pm (three sessions) Parliament Hall

Freshers Week Big Giveaway – Transitions Monday 9 September 2024, 11am -3pm (Behind) University Hall, Kennedy Gardens, St Andrews, KY16 9DL

Welcome event for taught postgraduates (online version) Tuesday 10 September 2024, 2.00-3.00pm Online

Postgraduate Walking Tour – led by Chaplain Rev Dr Donald MacEwan (followed by free lunch at Chapliancy. Thursday 12 September 2024, 11am – 2.00pm, meet at the Chaplaincy, 3 St Mary’s Place at 11am.

1974-2024: Annie Ernaux’s Years- A Global Perspective – International Conference on literature Nobel Laureate Annie Ernaux Saturday 5 October 2024, 9.30am – 6.00pm, Parliament Hall

Susan Docherty- The Smith Lecture, Autumn 2024 Reading the New Testament as a Jewish Text Tuesday 29 October 2024, 6.00pm-7.00pm, St Mary’s College

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on first day of august I and my family will arrive in Irkusk by Transiberian train in the morning,

We'll need to move to Taltsly museum and, after visit, to Listvjanka.

I read that I can move to bus station with tram n.4a, and from there by bus to museum.

Have I to book bus or can i wait for it in bus station?

Or is it better a taxi for 4 persons?

From museum how can we go to Listvjanka?

Thank you very much

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Angarsk city, Russia

The city of Irkutsk oblast .

Angarsk - Overview

Angarsk is a city located in the Irkutsk region of Russia, the administrative center of Angarsky district. The city, named after the Angara River, is situated in the southern, the most economically developed, part of the region, between the rivers Angara and Kitoy.

The population of Angarsk is about 220,000 (2022), the area - 294 sq. km.

The phone code - +7 3955, the postal codes - 665800-665841.

Angarsk city flag

Angarsk city coat of arms.

Angarsk city map, Russia

Angarsk city latest news and posts from our blog:.

4 April, 2019 / Cities of Russia at Night - the Views from Space .

Brief History of Angarsk

In summer 1945, the area between the rivers Angara and Kitoy was chosen for the construction of the plant producing artificial liquid fuel. The equipment for the plant was brought on reparation from Germany. It was planned to build a settlement there too.

In October 1945, the first builders arrived there. In spring 1946, the construction of the settlement began. In April 1948, the construction of two-storeyed stone buildings started. In 1951, Angarsk became a town, in 1958, the population reached 134,000.

Nowadays, it is the third largest city in Irkutsk region, one of the best cities in terms of public services and utilities in Eastern Siberia.

Streets of Angarsk

Angarsk city view

Author: Dina Roumiantseva

Angarsk at night

Author: Yuta A.

The central square of Angarsk

Author: Maria Garth

Angarsk - Features

Angarsk is located about 5,200 km from Moscow, 46 km from the center of Irkutsk, 50 km from the airport “Irkutsk” and 117 km from Lake Baikal.

Trans-Siberian Railway and the federal highway M53 “Baikal” pass through the territory of Angarsky district. The city is an important node of pipeline transport.

Passenger buses and minibuses carry up to 85% of passengers.

Angarsk climate is continental with dry cold and long winter and short hot summer. The first frosts occur in mid-September, the last - at the end of May. The average monthly temperature in January is -22 degrees Celsius (absolute minimum -51), in July - +18 degrees C (+36,9).

Angarsk is in the list of Russian cities with the most adverse environmental conditions. In 2010, it held the third place in Siberia and the sixth place in Russia.

Industry of Angarsk

Angarsk is also known as the city of petrochemists; it is one of the largest industrial centers of Russia with powerful chemical and oil-chemical industries, machine-building, metal-working, light and food industries.

The main plants are: Angarsk oil-chemical company and Angarsk electrolysis-chemical plant (produces fluoric uranium).

The industrial area stretches 30 km along the Angara River.

Parks of Angarsk

Despite the relatively small size, the city has a number of parks.

Petrochemists’ Park is an integral part of the architectural ensemble of the central square of Angarsk. There is a fountain and children’s playground. This park is one of the most favorite places for walks and rest of the locals and visitors of the city.

The park of the 10th anniversary of Angarsk. The park located near Lenin Street has “The Alley of Love” with a sculpture “The Book of Wishes”, symbolic bridges to perform wedding ceremonies, and a fountain.

The park of the recreation center “Sovremennik.” Near the main entrance to the park area, you can find a fountain, children’s rides. In the park, there is a children’s playground, outdoor fitness equipment, a children’s road with markings, traffic signs, and a bridge.

Angarsk builders’ park in the block 87. The park has a memorial stele in honor of the builders of the city, and a fountain.

The park near the museum of Victory in the microdistrict 12a. The park has an Orthodox chapel, a memorial cross in memory of the soldiers killed in global hot spots.

Angarsk city of Russia photos

Pictures of angarsk.

Angarsk industry

Author: Sergey Bulanov

Angarsk Railway Station

Author: Steve Simmonds

Holy Trinity Cathedral in Angarsk

Author: Usachyov Maksim

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