Transferable skills workshops descriptors

Turbocharge your Writing: 
2 part Masterclass

Getting your thesis finished (quicker!)

This course will teach you how to maximise your writing output and how to overcome common obstacles that reduce your writing productivity by:

• setting a goal and guaranteeing you achieve it
• producing double the number of words compared to your usual output
• get more written in two hours a day than in eight
• dealing with writer's block and procrastination
• not obsessing over the quality of writing
• not letting distractions get in the way of your writing
• not thinking your writing or research is good enough
• working well with your supervisor to improve your writing
• actually finishing your research on the date you set!

3rd and 24th February 2026 Online

Research higher degree (RHD) students who are in the writing intensive phase of their thesis and/or academic/research staff who wish to increase their writing productivity.

Planning your PhD

A PhD is a major undertaking, yet many people spend more time planning a weekend away than they do planning the next three years of their life. This generally leads to missing deadlines, running overtime, regular crises and lots of stress. If you want to finish on time and enjoy the process along the way then it is important to have a good plan.

You need some very specific skills and tools to plan a PhD. This workshop will introduce you to the PhD Planning Toolkit. You will learn how to use these tools to:

• create your big picture thesis plan
• unpack your thesis down into logical parts
• create tasks lists for each stage of your thesis
• estimate times and schedule tasks
• create a Gantt chart for your thesis
• keep on track as you implement your plan
• plan your writing
• manage the finances
• identify risks and deal with setbacks

At the end of the workshop you will have your own PhD Planning Toolkit and know how to use it to plan your PhD.

4th March 2026 Online

PhD candidates in early to mid-candidature

The Impostor Syndrome

Why successful people often feel like frauds

How can it be that so many clever, competent and capable people can feel that they are just one step away from being exposed as a complete fraud? Despite evidence that they are performing well they can still have that lurking fear that at any moment someone is going to tap them on the shoulder and say "We need to have a chat".

The session will explain why high performing people often doubt their abilities and find it hard to enjoy their successes. It will also show the links to perfectionism and self-handicapping strategies such as procrastination, avoidance and overcommitment.

At the end of this session you will:

• know what the latest psychological research tells us about the impostor syndrome is and how it operates
• realise how widespread imposter feelings are and why highly successful people can feel like frauds
• be aware of evidence-based strategies that reduce impostor feelings

25th March 2026 Online

Anyone who wants to find out more about the impostor syndrome.