Overview
This course is an exciting new qualification for graduates and professionals interested in studying, researching, and teaching writing.
The focus of the course is on writing, rhetoric, and literacies research, and on how this research can inform the teaching of writing and writing development. The course programme builds upon the strength of the Centre for Academic Writing in the teaching of and research into academic writing, as well as Coventry University’s pioneering establishment of a Centre for Academic Writing.
What our students say...
I chose to study Academic Writing because I teach Academic Writing, mainly to international students, and find it’s one of the hardest skills to get a hang of. I teach them other skills as well, but writing is definitely the subject that we’ve spent the most time working on. It’s also the area I see students make the least amount of progress on by the end of the semester. The main reason I’m studying this course is because I really want to learn how to become a better teacher of writing.
Course information
The course begins by teaching key pedagogies for supporting academic writing for both study and professional writing purposes.
It also provides grounding in the theories and practices of how to set up and manage a writing centre, programme, or initiative. The course then offers in-depth learning about how to support postgraduates, academics, and researchers in writing for publication in English.
Modules
We regularly review our course content, to make it relevant and current for the benefit of our students. For these reasons, course modules may be updated.
In more detail...
- Innovative degree course (unique in Europe) exploring the fast-expanding field of Academic Writing Development.
- Focuses on academic writing development for university students (undergraduate through doctoral level) and professional development in writing for publication.
- Aims to provide essential training in how to set up and manage a writing centre or writing programme.
- Analyses the academic writing needs and practices of both native and non-native English speakers.
- Opportunity to study flexibly via blended or distance learning.
- Specialist teaching and support provided by lecturers at Coventry University’s Centre for Academic Writing.
Pioneering course in Academic Writing development and research in Europe
The course will give you the opportunity to:
- Learn about student and professional academic writing pedagogies and research.
- Learn how to apply writing pedagogy and research to support both native and non-native English-speaking students.
- Learn how to develop and manage a writing programme, writing tutoring programme, or writing centre.
- Learn how to assess the writing needs of academics, postgraduates and professionals.
- Learn how to develop academics’, postgraduates’ and professionals’ ability to write for publication.
The programme is delivered through a combination of online module materials, optional face-to-face teaching, and independent study, allowing you to fit your studies around other commitments. A wide variety of resources are made available via the online study platform, including: lecture notes, videos, specialist resources from the Centre for Academic Writing’s library collection, and discussion forums, as well as information on the academic writing research projects and findings produced by members of teaching staff.
Module lecturers will be available to address your questions and to offer guidance relating to your studies. As a student on this course, you will also be allocated a Personal Tutor, who will provide pastoral care and support.
Starting in September each year, the PGCert is designed to be studied over 1 year either by blended learning or distance learning.
At each stage of the programme, you will have the opportunity to attend a short, residential workshop (up to 5 days) to provide core learning. Although these workshops are optional, we strongly encourage attendance to underpin your learning, to meet your cohort and teachers, and to build your professional network. Workshops may be held at Coventry University’s main campus in Coventry, or in another location. (Please note: There is no additional teaching fee for the optional workshops. However, you will need to obtain a short-term study VISA if required, and to organise and pay for your own accommodation, food, and travel, including any VISA costs). Students who are unable to attend the workshops can continue to study independently using online materials.
This course will be assessed using a variety of methods which will could vary depending upon the module. Assessment methods include written coursework.
The Coventry University Group assessment strategy ensures that our courses are fairly assessed and allows us to monitor student progression towards the achieving the intended learning outcomes.
Upon successful completion of this course, students will able to:
- Apply and evaluate different approaches to teaching and supporting academic writing, ranging from student writing to writing for scholarly publication.
- Demonstrate the ability to identify, resolve and reflect upon problems arising from applying academic writing pedagogies in practice.
- Propose theoretical and practical solutions for key challenges facing native and non-native speakers of English who wish to engage in the process of writing and publishing their research.
- Recognise ways in which different institutional and cultural constraints shape the practice of academic writing provision.
The contact hours may be made up of a combination of face-to-face teaching, individual and group tutorials, and online classes and tutorials.
As an innovative and enterprising institution, the University may seek to utilise emerging technologies within the student experience. For all courses (whether on-campus, blended, or distance learning), the University may deliver certain contact hours and assessments via online technologies and methods.
The course offers the opportunity to learn about and compare writing development theories and practices from around the world.
The course also introduces you to (and encourages you to participate in) national and international writing development conferences and professional organisations (subject to availability).
Entry Requirements
Fees & Funding
Fees breakdown: Students will pay for the course in a staged process. All students will pay £2,066 for the PGCert (60 credits) in year one of the course. Students who are continuing to the PGDip will pay £2,066 for a further 60 credits in year two of the course. Students who are continuing to the MA will pay £2,066 for the final 60 credits later in year two of the course.
EU student fees
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year remain eligible for the same fees as home students and the same financial support. Financial support comes from Student Finance England, and covers undergraduate and postgraduate study for the duration of their course, providing they meet the residency requirement.
For tuition fee loans
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year must have resided in the European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland for the three years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that three year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.
For maintenance loans
EU nationals starting in the 2020/21 academic year must have resided in the UK and Islands for the five years prior to the start of their course. The purpose of that five year residency should not have been mainly for the purpose of receiving full time education.
Career prospects
Graduate Immigration Route visa
Based on current information from the UK Government, international students whose study extends beyond summer 2021 may be eligible for a visa under the UK Government’s Graduate Immigration Route, which will enable students to stay and work, or look for work, in the UK at any skill level for up to two (2) years. Check the most up to date guidance available to check your eligibility and any updates from the UK Government before making an application or enrolment decision.
This course enhances your career prospects for working with students, academics, and other colleagues through supporting and teaching academic writing.
This course combines the theory and practice necessary for working effectively as a writing developer in writing centres, learning centres, staff development centres, and research centres, and for providing writing support in disciplinary or workplace contexts, in the UK and internationally.
Disclaimer
By accepting your offer of a place and enrolling with us, a Student Contract will be formed between you and the university. A copy of the 2020/21 Contract can be found here. The Contract details your rights and the obligations you will be bound by during your time as a student and contains the obligations that the University will owe to you. You should read the Contract before you accept an offer of a place and before you enrol at the university.
The tuition fee for the course that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For UK and EU students, if Parliament permit an increase in tuition fees, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study in line with any such changes. Note that any increase is expected to be in line with inflation. Following the UK’s exit from the European Union, EU students should be aware that there may be a change to UK laws following the UK’s exit, this may change their student status, their eligibility to study part time, and/or their eligibility for student finance. We will act in accordance with the UK’s laws in force in relation to student tuition fees and finance from time to time.
For International students the tuition fee that is stated on the course webpage and in the prospectus for the first year of study will apply. We will review our tuition fees each year. For international students, we may increase fees for each subsequent year of study but such increases will be no more than 5% above inflation.
