One-to-One Tutor appointments

Sometimes we can answer your query without you needing to wait for an appointment with one of our tutors. Try these:

  • 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. If you have an appointment with an academic skills tutor, they will expect you to have already consulted these resources but find that you would like further support or clarification.
  • City Campus Quick Query drop-ins: If you have an academic skills or exam-related question that our tutors could answer quickly you can use our City Campus Drop-in service instead of booking a full appointment. We will be available in person every Wednesday during semester from 11am-1pm, beginning on 22 September, in the Global Room
  • 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 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 2021‌ (PDF 154KB)

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. You should first look for the advice you need in the University’s Cite Them Right resource. If you’re unable to find the answer there, an ASC Tutor will be happy to advise you (see ASC Tutor Appointments below).

  • English Language - RLF tutors are also unable to support queries regarding English as a second language - please see below for further guidance on how to find English language support.

  • 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 (see below) and one of our ASC tutors will be happy to support you with your query.

How to book a writing appointment with an RLF Fellow

Sessions are for 50 minutes and currently take place online. To book an appointment, choose your preferred day (below) 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.

Checking Citations and References

Whilst our tutors are happy to help you understand citation and referencing in general, and will also help you to find answers to more specific referencing queries, we cannot ‘check’ citations or reference lists nor confirm that they are 100% accurate. If you have a query regarding referencing, we recommend you first consult the Library and Learning Centre’s Cite Them Right resource. Most appointments with us regarding referencing will involve the tutor helping you to navigate this resource to find what you are looking for.

Please note also that we cannot assist with queries regarding electronic referencing software. The Library & Learning Centre provides training and support for Endnote, and may also be able to advise on other software such as Mendeley or Zotero.

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