Academic Skills

Compare our services

• Who are we?

  • Writing advice service

    Writing Mentors: fellow students, recent graduates, tutors – all trained by Academic Skills Advisers

  • Individual appointments

    Academic Skills Advisers: qualified language and learning professionals

• How does each service work?

  • Writing advice service

    • 15 minutes for the Writing Mentor to review your paper*
    • One submission per assessment
    • Unlimited number of submissions per semester
    • The service is offered online.
      Contact the service (see below), fill out a short form with details and attach your paper/task. We email you with feedback usually within 1-2 days.**

    _{* Due to time constraints, we can only look at a short section of work–if you would like longer papers looked at, choose the Individual Appointment service.}

    _{** Closed on weekend and University holidays; waiting time may be longer in peak periods e.g. SWOTVAC.}

  • Individual appointments

    • 30-minute* 1-1 appointment with an Adviser
    • 4 sessions per semester
    • No more than 1 appointment per week
    • No more than 2 appointments on the same piece of writing
    • The service is offered via Zoom**
    • Book the service (see below). After choosing your date / time, we will email you a Zoom link.

    _{* Graduate researchers are able to book 1-hour appointments.}

    _{** Appointments can be offered in-person, if needed, contact Academic Skills at the email below to arrange this.}

• What does each service provide?

  • Writing advice service

    • A quick focus on short, specific parts of your writing, e.g. selected paragraphs of your draft work, to provide advice and developmental feedback
    • Answers to specific questions you have about a particular piece of writing, e.g. referencing, a particular grammar point, development of an argument in your introduction etc.
    NOTE: you can email sections of work or whole drafts, but the Writing Mentor can only spend 15 minutes with it – this service is not suitable for checking longer pieces of work. If you would like longer papers looked at, choose the Individual Appointment service.

  • Individual appointments

    • In-depth focus on study and communication skills
    • Answers to questions you might have about academic work, e.g. incorporating sources, academic voice, critical analysis
    • Advice on broader academic skills such as time management, managing reading, strategies for revision and taking exams.
    • Advice on improving your English
    NOTE: your work does not need to be complete, you can send unfinished drafts, finished drafts or sections of work. We are happy to talk to you at any stage of the writing process.
• What doesn't each service provide?

  • Writing advice service

    This service does not offer:

    • A review of complete papers unless they are very short. 15 minutes allows Writing Mentors to review short sections of work only.
    • Proofreading or editing
    • Reviews of anything outside of written work for the University of Melbourne.

  • Individual appointments

    This service does not offer:

    • Management of one particular piece of academic writing from draft to finished product over several sessions. We can see students about the same piece of writing no more than twice*
    • Proofreading or editing: we want to help you become a better self-editor, so will work with you to develop the skills to do this
    • Advice on:
      • Course planning (See Stop 1)
      • IELTS tests or time-limit exam answers
      • IT questions
      • Applications to other universities
      • Resume, Cover letters (See Careers)

    _{* Graduate researchers are able to see Advisers on a longer term, ongoing basis more than twice for the same piece of work due to the nature of Doctoral / research writing.}

• Who does each service work with?

  • Writing advice service

    Undergraduate and graduate coursework students only

  • Individual appointments

    Any enrolled University of Melbourne student*

    _{*If you and a small number (3-4) of classmates or group members have similar questions, you are welcome to join together. Please raise this with Academic Skills before the appointment using the email address below.}

• When is each service available?

  • Writing advice service

    • Starts Monday, week 4 of the semester
    • Finishes on the Friday of Exam Week 2
    • Available during office hours – 9am-5pm
    • Not available on days when the University is closed

  • Individual appointments

    • Available all year (except for days when the University is closed)
    • Available during office hours – 9am-5pm
    • Note that availability may be limited between semester periods
• How do I access each service?

  • Writing advice service

    • No booking required
    • Access via Contact button below

  • Individual appointments

    • Booking required
    • Access via Book button below*
    • Book up to 2 weeks in advance

    _{* You can cancel the booking at the same website}

Other ways you can develop your skills

• The Researcher Development Unit (RDU)

  The starting point for all University of Melbourne graduate researchers at any stage of their candidature to find professional development offerings and resources tailored to their needs.

  Get started by exploring the RDU

• Researcher@Library

  Where graduate researchers can expand their information and digital literacy skills throughout their postgraduate degree.

  Build your research skills with Researcher@Library

• The Graduate Research Hub

  Where graduate researchers can access a range of information, resources and support offered at the University of Melbourne to assist with achieving their academic goals.

  Explore the Graduate Research Hub

• The Graduate Student Association (GSA)

  An independent student association representing all enrolled graduate students at the University of Melbourne, providing representation, events, training and support.

  Connect with GSA