Writing support for coursework and dissertations

Are you currently in the middle of writing your term paper or dissertation and feel like you’re losing track of things between the subject matter and the academic requirements? Would you like someone to support you with practical tips who has already gained experience in writing academic papers themselves?
Then our writing support for term papers and dissertations is just what you need. Together with experienced writers, you’ll quickly and effectively address any questions that may arise during the writing process. This will help you make more efficient progress on your project and improve your academic and writing skills.

What you can expect:

• Up to 6 hours of support from a writing coach – flexible over 6 months, tailored to your specific project (term paper or dissertation)
• Practical help with all the challenges you face during the writing process
• Feedback from experienced and qualified writers who understand the process and know where the common pitfalls lie
• Further development of your academic skills
• A clear, practical approach to writing

Important: The writing mentors do not provide advice on content. The programme therefore does not replace the subject-specific supervision provided by your lecturer.

Who can make use of the writing support service?

Undergraduate and postgraduate students in all subjects who wish to complete their writing project by the end of September 2025 at the latest

How to register:

Introductory meeting: Arrange a no-obligation meeting by email: lernwerkstatt.zskb@uol.de. We’ll discuss the challenges you’re facing with your writing and clarify whether the writing support is suitable for your project or whether another service might be a better fit for you.

Registration form: If you decide to go ahead with the writing support, you’ll receive a short form asking for your contact details, information about your project and organisational details (e.g. times and frequency of meetings).

Matching: Once we have all the information, we’ll take care of the matching process. We’ll let you know as soon as a suitable writing mentor has been found and put you in contact.

Initial meeting: You arrange an appointment yourself to get to know your writing mentor. During the initial meeting, you’ll work together to set out the goals and framework for the writing support.

Individual sessions by arrangement: You have up to 6 hours available with your writing mentor. You arrange when and how often you meet directly with your writing mentor.

Why you shouldn’t miss out:

Writing support offers you assistance exactly when you need it – from people who have faced similar challenges and know how to overcome them. This makes the writing process not only easier, but also more effective.

Supporting students, developing your own writing and earning money at the same time. Sounds good? Become a writing tutor!

Are you studying on a Master's programme or doing a doctorate at UOL and have experience in writing academic texts? Are you good at putting your thoughts on paper and would like to get to know working with students (better)?

As a writing tutor, you have the opportunity to further develop your own writing skills and counselling approaches. You accompany students in the writing process and promote their academic skills. Writing mentoring is therefore not only a valuable experience for the participating students, but also for yourself: You strengthen your communication skills, improve your mediation skills and develop personally and academically.

Why should you work as a writing tutor?

• You will deepen your expertise: You will acquire basic writing didactic knowledge in a qualification. You will be able to apply this directly in practice when accompanying students. You will also reflect on your approach to academic writing and further develop your own writing skills.
• You will receive valuable feedback: As a writing tutor, you will have the opportunity to reflect on the process with other writing tutors as part of peer counselling sessions led by experts.
• You expand your network: As a writing tutor, you will be in contact with other experienced academics and expand your academic appointment network.
• You will receive an attractive fee.
• By the way: If you are doing a doctorate, the qualification you have completed can be credited towards the University of Oldenburg's university didactics certificate.

How does writing support work?

Matching: We put you in touch with students who need support with their writing project.

Initial meeting: You arrange an appointment to get to know each other. In the initial meeting, you will define the goals and framework conditions of the writing support together.

Individual appointments by arrangement: You have up to 6 hours at your disposal. You agree directly with the participating student when and how often you will meet.

What can you expect during the qualification?

The writing tutor qualification programme consists of five modules of four hours each (spread over one half-day and two full-day workshops). In these workshops, you will be prepared for working with students in a practical and professional manner.

The focal points of the training are

• Basic knowledge of writing didactics: Learn the basics of writing didactics and how you can apply them in practice.
• Writing strategies: Reflect on your own writing behaviour and raise your awareness of other approaches to writing.
• Writing methods for counselling practice: Get to know writing methods for the different writing phases and test them in practice.
• Giving constructive text feedback: Develop skills to give and receive constructive and effective feedback.
• Basics of non-directive writing counselling: Learn how to guide students to their own solutions through targeted questions and interventions.
• Practical phase: Apply the knowledge from the workshops directly in your work with students and learn how to document the sessions. During this time, you will be accompanied by a supervisor.

What skills will you acquire?

As part of the qualification, you will acquire valuable skills to effectively support students in their writing process:

• You will be able to analyse the writing activities of participating students and offer tailored support.
• You will be able to recognise challenges in the writing process at an early stage and work on them in a targeted manner.
• You can identify the strengths and weaknesses of a text and enter into a solution-oriented dialogue with the participating students.

Who can apply?

Prerequisites are a Bachelor's degree and in-depth experience in writing various academic texts (paper, seminar paper/thesis, etc.). Mentors in the Master's programme accompany Bachelor's students; doctoral students supervise both Bachelor's and Master's students.