Campus is quiet – those on a semester schedule are taking a break – and for many of us in the PG research world, we carry on with (hopefully) a brief reprieve from some of the regular semester-bound commitments. If you’re wanting to maximise the quiet time to supercharge your thesis progress, then you’re in the right place.
There is an important change to note this month if you want to access workshops from the talented team at Te Mātāpuna AUT Library & Learning Services. From the start of Semester 2, their workshops are no longer on eLab and will be bookable via the Library website. The listings below will lead you to the right place.
This is an especially great time to bring your questions about your research format & milestones to the Graduate Research School Dean, Professor Nigel Harris. He has four online Q&A sessions this month:
- Format 2 (thesis by publication) Q&A on 8 July
- Format 3 (practice-led, with an artefact and an exegesis) Q&A on 16 July
- Confirmation of candidature Q&A on 17 July
- Doctoral oral examination Q&A on 29 July
We also have closing dates coming up to enter into some PG events & programmes:
- Entries for the 3 Minute Thesis competition close on Friday 4 July
- Abstracts for the AUT Postgraduate Research Symposium are due by Friday 4 July
- Applications for the new free 8-week programme Te Ara Whakamua: Navigating our Doctoral Futures close on Friday 11 July
And of course, we have lots more workshops going on this month! Read on below for the full listings.
Postgraduate Research Workshops in July 2025
| What? | Where? | When? |
|---|---|---|
| Thesis writing: Understanding thesis structure Discusses how the different parts of a thesis connect to each other. We will analyse examples and practice using language to clearly show how existing knowledge connects to new research, to what others may do with it in the future, and where that information gets organised across a thesis. We also apply knowledge from the workshop to explore how Copilot can assist with the research writing process. Bring your device, plus an article you have read recently and a sample of your own writing. | Online | Tue 1 Jul 2025, 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM |
| Thesis writing: Introductions An overview of the structure of an Introduction section of a thesis. Identifies typical functions and distinctive features of this section in relation to the whole research project. Participants analyse and discuss text examples and relate these to their own writing. We also apply knowledge from the workshop to explore how Copilot can assist with the research writing process. Bring your device! | Online | Wed 2 Jul 2025, 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM |
| Copilot writing lab: Using GenAI for research significance We begin by summarising important knowledge about arguing for the significance of your workshop and then introduce a ‘choice map’ to outline the types of tasks we could ask Copilot to perform. Together we will craft and refine prompts and continuously critique responses. Bring your own reading and writing as we dynamically use Copilot for research writing. | Online | Thu 3 Jul 2025, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM |
| Thesis formatting: The works This workshop focuses on the best ways to use Microsoft Word to handle a long document such as a thesis. Topics covered will include: using styles, section breaks, table of contents, page numbering and using various techniques to move around a long document easily. | City campus | Sat 5 Jul 2025, 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM |
| Understanding Format 2 at AUT: Q&A forum This forum is an opportunity to ask questions about aspects of Format 2. Please note, you must watch the relevant video available on the Academic Resources page of the PG_Me organisation on Canvas within the “Research Journey” section prior to attending. | Online | Tue 8 Jul 2025, 10:00 AM – 10:45 AM |
| Thesis writing: Using literature to support your view Discusses writing strategies and reasons for bringing in past research to support your own arguments. Participants will practice precise language that changes the extent to which you may agree or disagree with the views of others. We also apply knowledge from the workshop to explore how Copilot can assist with the research writing process. Bring an article you have read recently and a sample of your own writing. | Online | Tue 8 Jul 2025, 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM |
| Thesis writing: Discussions Discusses writing strategies and choices for bringing in past research to support your own arguments. Participants will practice precise language that changes the extent to which you may agree or disagree with the views of others. We also explore how Copilot can assist with the research writing process. Bring your device, plus an article you have read recently and a sample of your own writing. | Online | Thu 10 Jul 2025, 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM |
| Understanding Format 3 at AUT: Q&A Forum This forum is an opportunity to ask questions about aspects of Format 3 (‘practice-oriented research’). Please note, you must watch the relevant video available on the PG_Me organisation on Canvas prior to attending. | Online | Wed 16 Jul 2025, 1:00 PM – 1:30 PM |
| Thesis writing: Literature reviews An overview of the structure of literature reviews within a thesis. Identifies typical functions and distinctive features of this section in relation to the whole research project. Participants analyse, discuss and relate text examples to their own writing, and explore how Copilot can assist with the research writing process. Systematic reviews are not covered. | Online | Wed 16 Jul 2025, 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM |
| Confirmation of Candidature: Q&A forum This forum is an opportunity for doctoral students to ask questions about aspects of the confirmation of candidature. Please note, you must watch the ‘Confirmation of Candidature: Processes’ and ‘Confirmation of Candidature: Presenting Well’ videos available on the PG_Me organisation on Canvas prior to attending. | Online | Thu 17 Jul 2025, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM |
| Writing clear and persuasive arguments Considers fundamental differences between writing descriptively and persuasively. Participants will look closely at why some arguments are easy to follow. We also apply knowledge from the workshop to explore how Copilot can assist with the research writing process. Bring an article you have read recently and a sample of your own writing where you are either writing about past literature or discussing your research findings. | Online | Thu 17 Jul 2025, 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM |
| CV, cover letter & job interview tips for working in industry This workshop can help you understand what you should be adding to your CV or articulating in a job interview for a job in industry. | Online | Tue 22 Jul 2025, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Interviewing skills for qualitative researchers This workshop aims to help researchers decide when interviews are suitable as a data gathering tool. It will look at the aim of interviews, what research questions they can answer and what they can’t. | Online | Tue 22 Jul 2025, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM |
| Session 1: Systematic Literature Review (SLR) – Curious! Part one of a series of three workshops exploring systematic reviews. How is a systematic review different from a literature review? Why do people have different ideas on what a SLR actually is? Is it the right type of research for me? | Online | Tue 22 Jul 2025, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM |
| Copilot writing lab: Using GenAI for Discussion sections Explores how we can use Copilot for aspects of the research writing process. We begin by summarising important knowledge about Discussion sections and then introduce a ‘choice map’ to outline the types of tasks we could ask Copilot to perform. Together we will craft and refine prompts and continuously critique responses. Bring your own reading and writing. | Online | Wed 23 Jul 2025, 5:00 PM – 6:30 PM |
| CV, cover letter & job interview tips for academic roles Getting a job in academia is hugely competitive. If you want to stand a chance of succeeding, you’ve got to stand out. This workshop can help you understand what you should be adding to your CV or articulating in a job interview for a role in the academic world. | Online | Thu 24 Jul 2025, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Thesis writing: Connecting results and literature review sections Provides an overview of the structure of literature reviews within a thesis. Identifies typical functions and distinctive features of this section in relation to the whole research project. You will analyse and discuss text examples and relate these to your own writing. We also explore how Copilot can assist with the research writing process. | Online | Mon 28 Jul 2025, 12:00 PM – 2:30 PM |
| Doctoral oral examination: Q&A forum This forum is an opportunity to ask questions about aspects of the doctoral oral examination. Please note, you must watch the ‘Doctoral Oral Examination: Processes’ and ‘Doctoral Oral Examination: Presenting Well’ videos available on the PG_Me organisation on Canvas prior to attending. | Online | Tue 29 Jul 2025, 1:00 PM – 1:45 PM |
| Thesis writing: Connecting sections and chapters Explores how we can organise research writing so that our readers clearly see how paragraphs and sections within a chapter and different chapters connect. Participants will use the principle of ‘writing in layers’ to critically examine their own reading and writing samples. This principle can be applied to writing theses, dissertations, book chapters, and journal articles. We also explore how Copilot can assist with the research writing process. | Online | Wed 30 Jul 2025, 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM |
| Thesis writing: Highlighting research significance Explores where and how you can make your research findings stand out. Participants will consider ‘what matters’ and ‘who cares’ and where this information goes. Bring an article you have read recently and a sample of your own writing. Suited to PG research students who already have their research findings. | Online | Thu 31 Jul 2025, 5:00 PM – 7:30 PM |
