Kursbeschreibung

Course language: english

Target group:

Doctoral candidates of Natural Sciences, Life Sciences and Engineering

4-Day-Seminar:

• Wednesday, May 27th, 2026, 02:00 p.m. - 05:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 3rd, 2026, 02:00 p.m. - 05:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 10th 2026, 02:00 p.m. - 05:00 p.m.
• Wednesday, June 17th 2026, 02:00 p.m. - 05:00 p.m.

supplemented by 4 x 1 hour self-study

Trainer:

Dr. Martina Michalikova - Writing Scientist

Contents:

The course conveys the essential know-how for writing up a clear and well-structured thesis effectively and without suffering. The following topics are covered in theory and practiced with exercises:

1. Writing process & productivity

• Why writing is hard and how to make it easier
• How to organize the thesis-writing process
• How to get into writing fast and combat writer's block
• How to write productively in a long-term, sustainable way
• How to combine thesis writing with lab work and other obligations
• Science-based tips & hacks for better writing productivity

2. Thesis structure

• How to choose a macrostructure for a doctoral thesis
• How to structure each chapter or section of the thesis, especially Introduction,
• Results and Discussion
• The do’s and dont’s of thesis writing

3. Paragraph & sentence structure. Text flow.

• Paragraph structure: the key to easy-to-read texts
• Sentence structure: how to create a logical flow in your writing
• Text flow: further methods to improve the readability of your text
• Scientific language & style: how to write clearly & concisely, active vs. passive voice, the importance of action verbs, etc.

4. Scientific language & style. Peer feedback

• How you can write clearly, precisely and concisely
• Active vs. passive voice, the importance of action verbs and further topics for your scientific writing style
• Guidelines for effective text feedback among peers
• Text feedback practice for faster progress with your thesis

Learning objectives

• Organize the thesis-writing process effectively and approach the writing productively
• Structure the doctoral thesis and its chapters (both monograph and cumulative)
• Produce clear and compelling scientific texts

Registration:

Our courses are avilable via the booking portal of Kiel University's Continuing Professional Development Center. You will find them listed under the category  Exclusively for Doctoral Researchers. Courses within this category are part of the Graduate Center's qualification program. They are free of charge for doctoral researchers who are registered with the Graduate Center. To get access to these courses you must be register with the Graduate Center, here.

Registrations are welcome until May 10th, 2026. We will then determine whether the minimum number of 10 participants has been reached. Should the minimum number of participants not have been reached, the event will not take place due to financial reasons. Once the minimum number of participants has been reached, further registrations are possible until 8 days before the event begins.

Organizational details:

•    As a general rule, we expect you to participate in our online events with the camera switched on. Please comply with the request of the trainers and/or lecturers if they remind you to do so.
•    Please note the data protection statement of the Graduate Center.
•    Please find information at the website of the Graduate Center for registration, waiting list and de-registration.
•    Please find information at the website of the Graduate Center for sanctions.
•    In order to book courses through booking portal of Kiel University's Continuing Professional Development Center, you will need to create a personal account. Once you have done so, you can use this account to register for the Graduate Center’s courses. This offers two main advantages:

1.    In addition to the Exclusively for Doctoral Researchers category, you will also have access to the full range of courses offered by the Continuing Professional Development Center and you can explore whether they might be of interest to you.
2.    You will have a consolidated record of all courses you have attended in one place.