One-to-One Tutor appointments

Depending on the nature of your query this may be most effectively done via email or through live channels.  

Sometimes we can answer your query without you needing to wait for a response from one of our tutors. 

  • Online Resources: Check our Student Resources to see if you can find the help you need there. These resources have been created in response to the most common types of queries we receive. The tutor who responds to you will be working on the expectation that you have already consulted these resources and that you require further support.
  • Course tutor: Ask your tutor to clarify any subject-specific queries. Whilst we can offer academic skills advice, we cannot help you with any matters that relate to your actual course material, or the administration of your modules.

Types of Appointments

The Academic Skills Centre (ASC) offers two types of one-to-one appointment

  • Writing Support with a Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellow – or in shorthand, an ‘RLF’- a published author who can support the development of your writing.  

  • Academic Skills Support with an Academic Skills Tutor – a highly experienced tutor in higher education. 

 We want to help you as quickly as possible so please read the following carefully to ensure you book the correct type of appointment.

Writing Support – RLF Appointment 

RLF Appointments are currently unavailable and will resume in October 2021. In the meantime, please see below for associated online resources. ‘ASC Tutor Appointments’ (below) remain available year-round

RLF appointments are currently unavailable, they will resume October 2021. 

RLF appointments cover most aspects of academic writing, including essays, dissertations and theses, general academic writing skills, grammar and punctuation, and how to edit and proofread your own work. You can read more about RLF appointments in this RLF Leaflet 2020‌

What aspects of writing are NOT covered by RLF Appointments?  
  • Referencing - RLF tutors can help you to paraphrase or use quotation more effectively but they are not able to offer advice on referencing – an ASC Tutor will be happy to help you in this area. You might also find the advice you need in the University’s Cite Them Right resource. 
  • English Language - RLF tutors are also unable to support queries regarding English as a second language - please see below for further guidance on this. 
  • Non-UK-residents - the RLF Fellows are not employees of the University of Dundee but provide their services to the University as part of the work of the Royal Literary Fund. Due to the Royal Literary Fund's charitable status, RLF tutors are only able to offer you an appointment if you are currently resident in the UK. If you are currently resident outside the UK, please make an Academic Skills appointment and one of our ASC tutors will be happy to support you with your writing. 

How to book a Writing Appointment with an RLF Fellow 

RLF Appointments are currently unavailable – please book an ASC Tutor Appointment (below) instead

Sessions are for 50 minutes and currently take place online. To book an appointment, choose your preferred day and contact the RLF fellow at the relevant email address. The tutor will email you back to arrange your appointment. Use your University of Dundee email address – emails from personal accounts might go into junk folders and be missed.  

RLF Online Resources 

The RLF also provides online resources

Academic Skills Support - ASC Tutor Appointment 

Our tutors can offer advice and support in several areas, including writing, referencing, effective learning and studying, presentation skills, time management, and planning and organising your studies.   

How to book an ASC Tutor Appointment 

Sessions are for normally for 30 minutes and currently take place online. To make an appointment, use our ASC Booking System. Once logged-in you’ll be able to browse available appointment times and select one that suits.    

If you are struggling to make an appointment, feel free to contact us at writing@dundee.ac.uk  

Don’t forget to also check out our range of online resources - you can find them here: https://www.dundee.ac.uk/academic-skills/advice-and-toolkits/  

What we can’t offer – and where to find help with these topics 

 Proofreading

Neither RLF nor ASC tutors can offer a proofreading service. Our mission is to help you develop the skills to be able to carry out these tasks with confidence yourself, and you should therefore see the work you do with ASC as part of your longer-term development rather than as a quick fix. If you do choose to engage an external proofreader, you should ensure that both yourself and the proofreader are familiar with the University’s Guidance on Proofreading and that any work done adheres to these guidelines.

English for Academic Purposes 

If you are an international student whose first language is not English, you can also contact the English for International Students unit in a drop-in session or you may be interested in taking a short course https://www.dundee.ac.uk/subjects/english-international-students  ASC are happy to support international students in the areas we’ve mentioned above but cannot advise on English Language issues.

 

Benefits

  • Enhance your grammar, punctuation and writing style.
  • Learn how to structure a critical analysis.
  • Learn how to approach essay writing under exam conditions.
  • Improve your time management.
  • Read information effectively.
  • Develop your critical thinking.
  • Develop effective study and revision strategies.
  • Give confident presentations.
  • Learn how to reference, use quotations and structure paragraphs more effectively.
  • Enhance your ability to respond to tutor feedback.
  • Develop your own proofreading skills.
Request an ASC Tutor Appointment

Enquiries