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Thesis Boot Camp is an intensive and supportive writing environment for late-stage postgraduate researchers (PGRs). The core idea is to give you the necessary time, space, and encouragement to make significant progress on your first draft. It’s not designed to provide specific advice on editing, restructuring, or polishing a thesis – the focus is on generating text. This might be producing a large number of words or refining and editing existing content.

Support is provided through short tutorials, group discussion, and one-to-one consultations with the facilitators. Attendees are required to complete preparatory tasks to get the most out of the weekend, and there will be a compulsory short introductory session on the Friday before so attendees can get to know one another.

The weekend will provide lunch on both days, but no dinner or overnight accommodation is available. We encourage attendees to follow Sussex safety guidelines regarding Covid-19 and other national emergencies. 

Who can attend?

Thesis Boot Camp is a free event provided by Researcher Development. You are eligible to apply if you are:

• a registered postgraduate researcher at the ÅÝܽ¶ÌÊÓƵ (including IDS and BSMS).

• in the final stages of completing your degree - that is, you have completed data collection (in whatever form is relevant to your project and discipline) and are currently 'writing up'. The ultimate aim of Thesis Boot Camp is to write significant amounts of first draft material or to rework and edit existing material (with specific goals in mind). It is not for proof-reading, preparing presentations or grant applications, or any outputs other than your thesis.

• able to clearly identify how you would benefit from an intensive weekend of drafting a particular section of your thesis, and to identify the particular chapter(s) of your thesis that you will work on as part of your Boot Camp goals.

• willing and able to attend all sessions, to complete preparatory tasks in the lead up to the event, and to commit to the ethos of dedicated writing required at Thesis Boot Camp.

• able to provide details of an academic referee to support your application (e.g. your supervisor or Director for Postgraduate Researchers).

Important notes for applicants

There is high demand for places at Thesis Boot Camp and it is likely to be oversubscribed. We'll be assessing each application carefully, so please answer the questions as fully as possible. We want to recruit only attendees who will make the most of the opportunity.

If you accept a place on a Boot Camp and fail to turn up on either day you will be charged the cost of your attendance. Please ensure you inform us well in advance if you need to cancel, so we can pass your place to a researcher on the waiting list.

It's important to note that Thesis Boot Camp is an intensive writing environment and the focus is on productivity, not on style. If you want more general help with improving your academic writing, one of our writing workshops or an appointment with the Library's Royal Literary Fund Fellows would be more appropriate for you. 

There is no specific support for attendees writing in English as a second language. If you need this type of assistance, you can book one-to-one sessions with the Sussex Language Centre. 

Feedback from Thesis Boot Camp participants:

"There were so many positive aspects. I loved the feeling of community; a PhD is something you have to experience to understand. Meeting and talking to people who are also writing really helps put things into perspective. The food was great! The structured days and the physical activities were very helpful. Some good hints and tips were provided."

"Overall the idea of having a space where we could share the struggles, tips and tricks of becoming writers was very useful. Additionally, having a space where we did not have to worry about anything other than writing was a real luxury!"

"Great set-up and organisers with exercises and guidance to help focus. The environment was good as everyone was there for the same purpose - to keep focused on the thesis! Would certainly recommend it to all PhD students to attend."

If you have any further queries please contact researcher-development@sussex.ac.uk.