Part 1 (1 day): 14 September 2026.
Part 2 (2 days): 16-17 November 2026.
Part 3 (1 day): 14 December 2026.
Day 1 (Part 1), Day 2 (Part 2) and Day 4 (Part 3): 10.00 AM – 05.00 PM.
Day 3 (Part 2): 09.00 AM – 04.00 PM.
Robert (Bobby) Zachariae, professor, MSc., MDSc.
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Research only exists once it has been transformed into a form that is public, citable, transparent and open to criticism, i.e. through scholarly writing and peer-reviewed publication. Academic writing is a core scientific process that requires researchers to articulate their research questions and hypotheses, define their constructs, justify their design choices, challenge their assumptions, specify their analytic strategies, and justify their conclusions. Through peer review, editorial scrutiny and post-publication citation, manuscripts are evaluated, challenged and integrated into the evolving knowledge base of a scientific field. Therefore, the ability to frame results for the appropriate journal, respond to reviewers, and position findings within the international literature is a fundamental scientific skill.
Academic Writing is a PhD course dedicated to all aspects of this process. It supports participants in writing a scientific paper based on empirical data with the aim of publication in an English-language, peer-reviewed scientific journal.
The course consists of three parts. These are approximately 8 and 4 weeks apart. Participants will work in small peer-review groups and are required to: (A) produce a first draft of their manuscript between Parts 1 and 2, (B) write a brief, structured review of other group members' manuscripts, (C) give and receive feedback on their manuscript during Part 2, (D) revise their manuscript between Parts 2 and 3, and (E) give and receive feedback on their final draft during Part 3. Activities during Parts 1–3 will alternate between plenary presentations and individual, group and plenary exercises. See also the requirements below and the brief course overview.
Throughout the course, participants will develop a systematic understanding of the scientific publication framework. This includes the IMRaD model, the differences between various publication types and the conventional communication of claims, evidence and uncertainty in scientific writing. They will also acquire knowledge of the scientific journal system, impact factors, the criteria used by editors and reviewers, the peer-review process and editorial decision categories. Additional topics include research integrity in the context of publication, such as responsible use of AI, authorship criteria, plagiarism and self-plagiarism, selective reporting, p-hacking, conflicts of interest, and various reporting standards (e.g. PRISMA, CONSORT and STROBE).
The course will support the PhD students in producing, revising and submitting publishable manuscripts. This involves articulating scientific arguments and research questions, defining aims, and contextualising contributions in relation to existing literature. Students will also learn how to write a coherent introduction that describes what is known, knowledge gaps, and the study aims, as well as how to present methods in a transparent and reproducible way. They will also learn how to present results, and write discussion sections on interpretation, limitations, implications, and perspectives. Participants will also learn how to respond to peer reviews by writing professional and persuasive response letters, and by knowing when and how to accept, reframe and rebut critiques. Participants will develop their scientific peer-reviewing skills by reviewing and providing feedback on each other’s manuscripts. Finally, participants will learn how to recognise and overcome personal challenges in the writing process, such as writer's block and procrastination.
The general competencies supported by the course include developing editorial judgment, evaluating publishability, positioning scientific work within the field, understanding the quality criteria of scientific writing and professional and ethical responsibility.
Several relevant articles and materials, including an introduction to systematic review and meta-analysis, various checklists for reporting different types of studies, examples of a peer-review process, examples and templates of cover letters, and examples of press releases, will be made available during the course.
English
PhD students from all faculties who are planning to submit an article based on empirical data — including quantitative, mixed methods and systematic reviews — are welcome.
Aarhus University, 8000 Aarhus C. TBA.
Please complete the online application form.
10 August 2026.
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