July marks the start of Semester 2 at AUT – and with a new semester comes a fresh slate of workshops and events for postgraduate research students.
This month there are 25 workshops and events on offer, covering thesis writing, qualitative research methods, GenAI tools for research, presentation skills, career development, and more. There’s also a big month ahead for Three Minute Thesis competitors: two drop-in coaching sessions, the pre-heats, and a viewing party to round it all out.
If you’re just starting to draft your thesis and want to prepare well for a smooth write-up, we recommend Getting Started with Research Writing (6 July) and Thesis Writing: Understanding Thesis Structure (2 July). Thesis Writing: Connecting Sections and Chapters (8 July) is also great for building an understanding of how the different parts of a thesis can link together to build a cohesive whole.
If you’re working on your literature review, there is a ton of support this month. Check out Thesis Writing: Literature Reviews (21 July) and Developing a Systematic Search Strategy to Find Literature (14 July). The trio of Using Literature workshops (15, 22, 29 July) will give you a good grounding in how to work with literature to strengthen your arguments and frame the significance of your own research. For those considering or starting a systematic review, the trio of Systematic Review workshops (21, 22, 30 July) will help you understand how it differs from other types of reviews and how to approach the process.
And if you’re thinking about what comes after your degree, Industry Careers for Doctoral Students (23 July) and Academic CVs, Cover Letters & Job Interview Expectations (17 July) are both not to be missed.
Last but not least, if you have signed up to give an oral presentation at the AUT PG Research Symposium, you may like to join our Crafting an Oral Presentation for a Conference or Symposium workshop (22 July). This session will help you take your presentation from abstract to podium.
Read on for the full July workshop listings.
Postgraduate Research Workshops in July 2026
| What? | Where? | When? |
|---|---|---|
| Copilot writing lab: Using GenAI for research significance of a thesis/dissertation Explores how we can use Copilot for aspects of the research writing process. We begin by summarising important knowledge about arguing for the significance of your research 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. | City campus | Wed 1 Jul, 10:00 AM – 11:30 AM and Tue 28 Jul, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM |
| Interviewing skills for qualitative researchers This workshop looks at the aim of interviews, what research questions they can answer and what they can’t. Discover different types of interviews and when they might be employed, and learn the different styles of questioning and strategies that researchers can use to elicit the fullest answers from interviewees. | City campus | Thu 2 Jul, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Thesis writing: Understanding thesis structure Discusses how the different parts of a thesis connect to each other. We will analyse examples and practise 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 | Thu 2 Jul, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM |
| AUT 3MT Competition drop-in workshop for competitors A drop-in session for 3MT competitors to get feedback and support on their presentation before the competition. No need to register – just bring your draft slide and your draft talk (or your ideas) to WU524 and we’ll help you to identify ways to refine and polish your presentation. | City campus – WU524 | Fri 3 Jul, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM and Thu 9 Jul, 10:00 AM – 11:00 AM |
| Getting started with research writing Focuses on strategies to help researchers digest reading in preparation for writing about what you’ve read. Try free-writing and mapping concepts as strategies to get words on the page and then create more structured writing. We will also explore how Copilot can assist with the research writing process. Bring your device and an article you have read recently. | Online | Mon 6 Jul, 10:00 AM – 12:00 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 8 Jul, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM |
| Copilot writing lab: Using GenAI for discussion sections of a thesis/dissertation 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 as we dynamically use Copilot for research writing. | City campus | Tue 14 Jul, 12:00 PM – 1:30 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 | Tue 14 Jul, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM |
| Developing a systematic search strategy to find literature This Library workshop will take you through a systematic literature searching process: developing a search strategy; using different search techniques; and best practices for recording and managing results. Please have your research question handy so you can use it to develop and practice your search during the workshop. | Online | Tue 14 Jul, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM |
| Research impact: the importance of visibility and profiles This workshop covers the importance of managing research profiles and IDs. It introduces the Research Health Check form and how to use it to enhance and update profiles, increasing research visibility and impact. | Online | Wed 15 Jul, 5:30 PM – 6:30 PM |
| Using literature 1: To support your view 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 apply knowledge from the workshop to explore how Copilot can assist with the research writing process. Bring your device, an article you have read recently, and a sample of your own writing. | Online | Wed 15 Jul, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM |
| Academic CVs, cover letters & job interview expectations This workshop will introduce attending postgraduate research and doctoral students to structuring an academic CV, writing a tailored cover letter, and preparing for typical academic interview formats. | City campus | Fri 17 Jul, 10:00 AM – 12:00 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 | Tue 21 Jul, 10:00 AM – 12:00 PM |
| Systematic Review 1: An introduction What is a systematic literature review and how is it different from a literature review? Why do people use the same terminology but seem to have different ideas on what a SLR actually is? This workshop outlines key differences between types and involves activities to help you decide which one is right for you. This workshop is one of a series of three SLR workshops. Attend any one or all three. | Online | Tue 21 Jul, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM |
| Crafting an oral presentation for a conference or symposium This workshop covers the key principles of designing and delivering an effective oral research presentation, including structuring your talk, engaging your audience, and managing nerves. Whether you’re presenting at a conference or the AUT PG Research Symposium, this session will help you feel prepared and confident. | Online | Wed 22 Jul, 11:00 AM – 12:30 PM |
| Systematic Review 2: The search process Part 2 of a three-part series. Learn advanced literature searching and search strategies; search databases in a systematic way, where to locate existing systematic reviews, how to create alerts and learn best practices for recording and managing results. | Online | Wed 22 Jul, 5:30 PM – 7:00 PM |
| Using literature 2: For 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 consider the way language enables us to control how much we align with other points of view. We also apply knowledge from the workshop to explore how Copilot can assist with the research writing process. Bring your device, an article you have read recently, and a sample of your own writing (about past literature or discussing your research findings). | Online | Wed 22 Jul, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM |
| Responsible use of AI in research This workshop will introduce a selection of popular AI tools for research, exploring their benefits and the ethical considerations associated with their use. | City campus | Thu 23 Jul, 12:00 PM – 1:30 PM |
| Industry careers for doctoral students This workshop will introduce attending doctoral students to the job search beyond academia, as well as helping them know themselves and leverage their transferable skills. There will also be information about strategic networking, with the opportunity to practise. | City campus | Thu 23 Jul, 2:00 PM – 4:00 PM |
| International and distance students’ group monthly lunch meet-up A casual monthly get-together for international and distance postgraduate students. A great opportunity to connect with fellow researchers and share experiences over lunch. Please contact red@aut.ac.nz for details if you would like to attend. | TBC – please contact red@aut.ac.nz | Tue 28 Jul, 12:00 PM – 1:00 PM |
| Publishing Part 1: Open Access – the benefits and options What’s so good about open access? 72% more citations is just one answer! To find out more, join the Research Services librarians as they demystify the jargon and confusing rules around open access and explain how you too can reap the benefits of publishing openly. | Online | Tue 28 Jul, 12:00 PM – 1:00 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 | Tue 28 Jul, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM |
| AUT 3MT Competition Pre-Heats viewing party for competitors Join your fellow 3MT competitors to watch the Pre-Heats together and celebrate your participation. A chance to connect, reflect, and cheer each other on. Competitors will be invited directly by the Graduate Research School. | City campus | Wed 29 Jul, 4:00 PM – 5:30 PM |
| Using literature 3: for 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 across a thesis or research output. 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. You will need a device to participate in reading and writing activities. | Online | Wed 29 Jul, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM |
| Systematic Review 3: Writing the introduction and method Builds on content covered in sessions one and two by providing an overview of the structure of introduction and method sections for a systematic literature review. Identifies common parts and distinctive features of these sections. Participants analyse and discuss text examples and relate these to their own writing or reading. | Online | Thu 30 Jul, 5:00 PM – 7:00 PM |
