Academic English courses and workshops

Undergraduate and Masters students

Workshops

Skills@Library offer free workshops to all taught students, which you can attend alongside your degree. 

If you use English as a foreign or second language, the following workshops will help you to revise key language points and develop your confidence in writing clearly and successfully: 

• Structuring Sentences for Academic Writing

• Structuring Paragraphs for Academic Writing

• Key grammar for writing clearly in English

• Developing your vocabulary in English

Other workshops in the Skills@Library programme we would recommend are:

• Writing skills for taught Masters

• Planning your essay

• Writing academically

• Report writing

• Critical thinking

• Reading and note making

• Structuring your essay

• Developing an argument

• Writing a literature review for your research project 

• Revising and editing your work

• Reflective writing

See the full list of Skills@Library workshops and webinars and book your place

Academic English support available from your School

Your School may offer workshops and academic English support specific to your area of study.

Find out about workshops and learning opportunities you can access from your School

Help in person

You can request an appointment with a Learning Advisor who will work with you to develop your academic skills and strategies on a range of topics including academic writing, critical thinking and finding information.  

Book an appointment

You can also improve your writing in our Writing Space, which is an informal space to work on assessments and develop strategies for improving your academic writing. Our friendly student academic writing mentors can help you to get started on your written assignments. No need to book – just turn up.

Language Zone

The Language Zone is our dedicated study space and resource centre for language learning. You’ll find learning materials in English and other languages, as well as workshops and activities to help you practise and improve your skills. 

Find out about the Language Zone

Online resources

In addition to workshops, we have online materials that can help you with skills like writing essays and reports.

Access resources on the Skills@Library website

Discovery theme modules (undergraduate students only)

If you're an undergraduate student whose first language is not English (and you have not previously studied in an English-speaking country), you can choose to study one of the following modules to develop your skills:

• English for Academic Study

• English for Communication

• English through Interpersonal Communication

• Language through Literature and Place: Reading Yorkshire

• Using Writing

You'll find these modules under the subject 'English Language Unit'. Find out more about Discovery theme modules

Postgraduate researchers

During your first year of study (pre-transfer and ideally in the first six months), you are able to study optional courses to help with your academic English language development. We offer Core Language Skills courses and workshops, and one-to-one writing consultations.

Core Language Skills workshops

These are one-off, two-hour sessions.

• Grammar review A

• Grammar review B (to be completed after Grammar review A)

• Writing purposefully

• Working with words

• Becoming a doctoral researcher 

• Reading critically to write critically

• Reading to improve writing

• What is proofreading?

• Speaking about your research

Core Language Skills courses

These are six-week courses consisting of a weekly one-hour class and fortnightly individual writing consultations.

• Academic Writing Skills course Level 1 

• Academic Writing Skills course 2 (Science)

• Academic Writing Skills course 2 (Arts)

All courses and workshops are repeated throughout the year. 

Book your place on a course or workshop

One-to-one appointments

You can request an appointment with an academic writing tutor to discuss a writing issue. 

Book an individual advice appointment

Language Zone

The Language Zone is our dedicated study space and resource centre for language learning. You’ll find learning materials in English and other languages, as well as workshops and activities to help you practise and improve your skills. 

Find out about the Language Zone