Academic Skills

Click on the headings below to compare the services.

• Who we are

  • Writing advice service

    Writing Mentors: fellow students (trained by Academic Skills Advisers), recent graduates, tutors

  • Individual appointments

    Academic Skills Advisers: qualified TESOL and education professionals

• How the service works

  • Writing advice service

    - 15 minutes for the writing mentor to look at your paper

    - Once per assessment

    - No limit on number of sessions per semester

    The service is offered online. You contact the service (see below), fill out a short form with details and attach your paper/task. We email you with feedback usually within a day.*

    _{*not on weekends or uni closure days}

  • Individual appointments

    - 25-minute* 1-1 appointment

    - 4 sessions per semester

    - No more than 1 per week

    The service is offered via Zoom. You book the service (see below). We email you a link, the meeting is on the day and time you choose from available appointments. You can email us your paper/task.

    _{*PhD students can ask for 1-hour appointments - you can discuss this with your Academic Skills Adviser prior to the appointment.}

• What the service provides

  • Writing advice service

    - Quick focus on specific parts of your writing

    - Reading sections of writing assessment drafts

    - Answer specific questions you have about a particular piece of writing*, e.g. referencing, a particular grammar point, the introduction.

    _{*NOTE: you can email sections of work or whole drafts: the writing mentor will spend 15 minutes with the work}

  • Individual appointments

    - In-depth focus on study and communication skills

    - Feedback on writing drafts, advising on quality of response; advising on broader academic skills such as time management, managing reading

    - Answer broader questions you might have about academic work, e.g. incorporating sources, academic voice, critical analysis, improving your English language, managing time, strategies for revision and taking exams.

    _{*NOTE: you can send unfinished drafts of work or finished drafts. You don't need to have a complete piece of writing. We can talk to you at any stage of the writing process.}

• What we don't do

  • Writing advice service

    We do not offer:

    - Proofreading or editing

    We do not provide advice on:

    - Course planning or course advice

    - IELTS tests or time-limit exam answers

    - IT questions

    - Applications to other universities

    - Resume, Cover letters

  • Individual appointments

    We do not offer:

    - Proofreading or editing

    We do not provide advice on:

    - Course planning or course advice

    - IELTS tests or time-limit exam answers

    - IT questions

    - Applications to other universities

    - Resume, Cover letters

• Who we 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 the Academic Skills Adviser by email before the appointment.}

• Accessing the service

  • Writing advice service

    - No booking required

    - Access via contact button below

    - Mostly same-day response*

    - Available from week 4 of the semester to week 2 of the Exam period

    _{*Not on weekend or University holidays and closure days}

  • Individual appointments

    - Booking required

    - Access via appointment booking button below*

    - Book up to 2 weeks in advance

    - Available all year

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