This Thesis Boot Camp is dedicated solely to getting words down on paper (or a computer screen), and help you get over that hurdle of starting to write your thesis, or to kick-start your writing progress if it has stalled.
Join SWBio DTP students in a no-excuses, no-time-for-procrastination, take-no-prisoners intensive writing session. Thesis Boot Camp recruits will learn how to battle through fourth-year blues, address writer’s block and overcome thesis fatigue to achieve significant progress on your thesis.
This Thesis Boot Camp has primarily been set up for final year SWBio DTP students to help them with the thesis writing up process. However, we would like to make this fantastic opportunity available to other students across GW4 in the final stages of a PhD in the biosciences.
Introductory sessions will include motivational talks, goal setting and strategies for writing quickly and well. Support staff will be on hand and catering will be provided to ensure an encouraging, distraction-free environment. To ensure you get the most out of this, you will be required to complete pre-programme planning activities and to commit to your own tangible aims for the duration of the workshop, such as completing a thesis chapter draft or similar.
Who can apply to attend the Thesis Boot Camp?
Registered PhD student at one of the GW4 universities
Undertaking a PhD in the biosciences
In the final stages of completing your PhD and are ready to ‘write-up’
Dates and times
Thes is Boot Camp will take place take place from Monday 29 April – Wednesday 1 May, 2019 in Bristol.
The programme outline is as follows:
Day 1, Monday 29th , 12.00pm – 8.00pm
Day 2, Tuesday 30th, 10:00am – 8.00pm
Day 3, Wednesday 1st, 10.00am – 5.00/6.00pm
You will need to attend all 3 days of the Thesis Boot Camp and commit to the ethos of dedicated writing required at the Thesis Boot Camp.
Are you up for the challenge?
The ultimate aim of Thesis Boot Camp is to write 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 (or papers if you are working on a thesis-by-publication) that you will specifically work on as part of your Thesis Boot Camp goal.
Cost
There will be no cost for the actual workshop so there will only be a charge for catering (£150). You will also need to arrange and pay for your own travel and accommodation if required. If travelling from another GW4 university you can apply for a GW4 Travel Bursary.
Applying
There are limited spaces, so if you are interested in signing up, please complete the below online form as soon as possible. If we are inundated with applicants, your application form will be used to help decide on final attendees.
Application deadline: Midday, Friday 5th April.
Successful applicants will be notified w/c 8th April.
For more information and for any queries, please contact SWBio DTP Manager Dr Samantha Southern.
Quotes from SWBio DTP students
‘The Thesis Boot Camp helped make my thesis not appear like this dreadful spectre I had to avoid but rather to be excited about it and to embrace it’
‘An extremely useful and positive few days with brilliant coaching from Dr Peta Freestone. A fantastic environment in which to make lots of headway with your writing.’