English for Academic Research


The overarching aim of this course is to improve the productive (speaking and writing) skills of students for academic purposes with particular reference to participating in seminars, and writing a Master’s thesis in English. Two broad subsidiary aims are to increase students’ confidence in the use of academic English, and to provide them with an awareness of tools and resources for continued self-study and enhancement of their abilities. Throughout the course, students analyze texts from their own research field.

When making an application, note that the course is given in both period 1 and period 2. There are separate applications for each period. Note also that in period 2 of the autumn term 2025, the course is offered both as a Campus and a distance course (with seminars on Zoom). Make sure that you check which one you apply for. Attendance at seminars is obligatory for the Campus course, as well as the distance course. Students taking this course as an obligatory course within a master's programme at Stockholm University should apply to the Campus course. Please also read the instructions under "more information".

Registration information, autumn 2025

Registration is mandatory and will be open in Ladok for admitted students between 4 and 19 August. You need to register on time to confirm and keep your place. If you are admitted to the Campus course, you also need to select a group on Athena after you have registered through Ladok. Make sure you read under "More information" for details on registration and group selection. For Period 1, group selection on Athena will open in August in conjunction with registration.

More detailed course information and material will be made available on Athena, which admitted students get access to after registration. We do not recommend printing of the module descriptions from the web. All material will be available on Athena at the start of the course.

Course description (Period 1, campus) Pdf, 311.1 kB.

Course description (Period 2, campus) Pdf, 309.1 kB.

Course description, distance (Period 2) Pdf, 308.2 kB.


Teaching Format

The teaching comprises seminars. Attendance at a minimum of 80% of the seminars is required in order to complete the course. Students will often work with different tasks and assignments during the teaching sessions in preparation for the examination. Apart from scheduled teaching, time will be spent reading course literature and completing mandatory assignments.


Assessment

Written assignment and written and oral seminar tasks.

Examiner

HT25:

Bo Ekelund
Beyza Jacobsson
Kathrin Kaufhold

The schedule will be available no later than one month before the start of the course. We do not recommend print-outs as changes can occur. At the start of the course, your department will advise where you can find your schedule during the course.

See schedules for Period 1, Period 2 or the distance course, depending on what you have applied for. Note that seminar attendance is required. See instructions for group selection under "more information", if you have applied to the Campus course.

Note that the course literature can be changed up to two months before the start of the course.

Chapter 1 in Cooley, L. & Lewkowicz, J. (2003). Dissertation Writing in Practice: Turning Ideas into Text. Hong Kong: Hong Kong University Press. (Available on Athena).

All other materials will also be provided at the start of the course through Athena. Students will get access to the Athena site for the course after registration.

Course reports are displayed for the three most recent course instances.


Registration

You need to register to confirm and keep your place. Note the dates for registration ahead of each term.

Registration is done online. You can register online through Ladok if you are accepted to the course without conditions. If you are new to Stockholm University, do not forget that you also need to activate your university account.

Ladok for students

If you are conditionally admitted, the conditions have to be fulfilled in order to register and start the course. Contact our Student Affairs Office when registration opens (and in good time before it closes) if you have questions.

Group selection

The Campus course has more than one group. Registered students need to select a group on Athena.

If you are taking the Campus course in Period 1, you need to select a group on Athena in August. Group selection for Period 1 on Athena will be open from 5 August at 9 a.m. until 19 August. You will get access to Athena after you have registered through Ladok but note that it will take a while after registration before the course page appears on Athena. Try again later in the day, if the page does not appear after you have registered.

Athena

Places in each group are limited. Log on to Athena, go into "Plans" and you will find the group selection and information under "General course material and information">"schedule and group selection".

If you are taking the Campus course in Period 2, group selection will open on Athena before the period starts. See Athena for dates and instructions.

Applying within your program

If the course is obligatory within your master's programme in the humanities at Stockholm University, please note that you need to apply for the course via www.antagning.se (or www.universityadmissions.se in English) ahead of the relevant term. Priority is given if you apply within the regular application deadlines and if you make the application within your master's programme.

Note that in period 2 of the autumn term 2025, the course is offered both as a Campus and a distance course (with seminars on Zoom). Priority is only given for the course on Campus, so students taking this course as an obligatory course within a master's programme at Stockholm University should apply to the Campus course.  The course given as a distance course (with seminars on Zoom) is aimed at students who do not have it as an obligatory course within a master's programme at Stockholm University.