Academic Writing Support for UT students

Drop-in and appointment sessions last 45 minutes maximum, but you are not obliged to use all of the time. Quick questions are welcome!   

In most cases, this is enough time for the tutor to help you with your text and give you some helpful strategies or resources that you can continue to use on your own. We understand that you might have more questions, but we encourage you to work on what was already discussed in the session before returning to drop-in hours or booking an appointment for another session. You are welcome to return when you need more support! There is no limit to the number of times you can get help. 

The UT Writing Centre also provides a selection of workshops and courses to help students improve their writing skills. Please visit our website to view the Course Finder. 

The official language of communication at the University of Twente is English, which means that all of our services are primarily in English. We have tutors who speak many languages other than English and Dutch who are happy to support you in one of those languages. See the available languages in the tutor profiles in our Appointment Booker. 

Drop-in hours and appointments with a peer tutor are free for all students at the University of Twente. 

Before you join drop-in hours or an appointment on campus, we recommend doing the following: 
 
Print your text so that you can share it with the tutor 
We recommend bringing a printed text with you to drop-in hours. Working on paper is often more effective, especially when looking for issues related to grammar and mechanics. If you would prefer to work on a digital copy of your text, you are welcome to bring your laptop instead. Please note that there are limited power points in VR240.  
 
Come prepared with questions about your writing 
If possible, please come prepared with specific questions about your writing. Sometimes it is difficult to know what's not working during your writing process or why you are having trouble writing part of your text. The tutors are here to help you figure out how to improve your writing. Coming to a session with specific questions helps the tutors support you. Bringing the instructions or grading criteria for your assignment, as well as your teacher's feedback, will also help the tutor give feedback on your writing. 
 
Come before your deadline so you have time to implement changes 
We recommend coming to a session well before you have to submit your text so that you have time to make changes based on the conversation with the tutor. Tutors are trained to help you with your writing -- they are not going to make changes for you or edit your text. Planning to visit drop-in hours or making an appointment before your deadline gives you and your tutor more time to discuss potential improvements and plan revisions at a manageable pace.  

During a session, you will meet with a tutor to discuss the concerns you have about your text. During the session, the tutor will offer support by, for example, helping brainstorm or cultivate ideas. We are trained to help you learn to recognise and correct issues related to structure and language. We are also trained to teach you strategies for improving your writing and guide you through useful resources. 

When your session begins, your tutor will collect some basic information. This will include your full name and your student email address. Your data is collected for administrative purposes in line with university policies on personal data processing. Please email writingcentre@utwente.nl if you have a question about how your information is collected and used. 

The tutor's job is to create a safe environment for you to share your concerns and questions about your writing. We are there to support you and provide you with helpful resources and strategies to improve your writing and, more importantly, you as a writer. We can help with all kinds of academic writing assignments at all stages of the writing process, whether you are just starting to write or preparing to submit the final draft of your text. 

The tutor will ask you questions 
During the session, the tutor will ask you questions about your writing assignment, goals for the text, and writing struggles. The tutors ask a lot of questions to ensure that the session is focused on your text and your individual needs.  

The tutor will read your writing 
You will read through your text with the tutor. We recommend reading aloud because it helps most writers identify problems or mistakes. While reading through the text, the tutor will ask you more questions to help you think about what you want to achieve. The tutor will also give you feedback on your writing. During the session, the tutor might use resources or speak with a colleague to find answers to your questions.  

The tutor will help you make a plan
At the end of the session, the tutor will help you make a plan for revision. We encourage you to work on what was already discussed in the session before returning for another session. You are welcome to return when you need more support! There is no limit to the number of times you can get help. 

The tutors are not allowed to write or rewrite your text for you. The goal of the UT Writing Centre is equip students with the skills they need to independently develop their academic writing, which means that we emphasise providing you with the tools you need to improve yourself as a writer. Learning to identify and correct your mistakes can help you avoid making those same mistakes in the future. 

Our opening hours for the 2024-2025 academic year are:

• Mondays from 13.00-17.00 hrs in VR240 in the Vrijhof 
• Wednesdays from 13.00-17.00 hrs in VR240 in the Vrijhof  

The UT Writing Centre is pleased to offer face-to-face writing support on Mondays and Wednesdays in VR240, which is located on the second floor of the Vrijhof. Please contact us at writingcentre@utwente.nl if you have questions.

Opening hours are subject to change throughout the academic year.