Academic Writing Lab

Course Objective

The Academic Writing Lab is a special component of the RT, because you yourself take the lead and are responsible for your own educational process. During the Research Cafés you learn what the peer-review-method entails and how to apply it.

Course Content

This course is part of the Research Track (RT, see below Other information).

In period 3-6 you will work on your own article on which you will receive feedback from your fellow students. You, in turn, provide feedback on their work.

Additional Information Teaching Methods

Research Cafés will be organized once every three of four weeks. These Research Cafés are gatherings themed around doing research. In the first half of the gatherings, (guest)speakers are invited to talk about their own experiences with writing scientific articles, ‘do’s and don’ts’ of interviewing or doing research abroad. The second half is a peer-review-gathering: students discuss the progress of their portfolio-assignment with each other and give each other feedback, supervised by the teacher. A calendar with the dates, times and locations of the Research Cafés will be posted on Canvas.

Attendance of the Research Cafés is mandatory.

Method of Assessment

Upon commencement of the course you will write an action plan, in which you indicate what you will be doing and what your learning objectives for this course are. During the course and afterwards, you will write a critical self-reflection report. This will force you to think about if and how you have achieved your goals and what improvements could be made. Your teacher will give a motivated assessment and decides whether you have passed the course.

Literature

Additional Information Target Audience

This course is part of the Research Track (RT, see below Other information).

This selective extracurricular programme is aimed at talented Master-students who are interested in doing research.

The RT is open to students of the following programmes: Law, Tax Law, Notary Law, Law and Politics of International Security, and International Crimes, Conflict and Criminology.

Additional Information

The Research Track is a selective programme meant for motivated students with a genuine interest in academic research who would like to advance their research skills. You learn and experience how academic research is executed. This will help you in deciding whether a career

in the academic world is something for you and/or reinforce your opportunities on the (academic) job market.

The RT (18EC) consists of three courses: Empirical research skills (6 EC), Academic research skills (6 EC) and Academic Writing Lab (6EC).

If international students apply for the Research Track, the courses will be given in English.

The RT is an extracurricular programme. If all three components of the track have been passed, the RT will be noted on the master's degree. This means that the courses Empirical research skills (6 EC), Academic research skills (6 EC) and Academic Writing Lab (6EC) have to be individually completed with at least a 6.0. These EC cannot be used as elective credits in the regular Master programmes. However, starting in the 2025–2026 academic year, the course *Academic Writing Lab* can be included in the free elective space by students who pursue the programmes Law, Tax Law, Law and Politics of International Security, and International Crimes, Conflict and Criminolog. It cannot be an elective for the programme Notary Law.

Custom Course Registration

Selection for the Research Track takes place during the autumn of 2026.

Your application must contain your CV, a recent grades-list and a motivation letter. The application is made via Canvas. To this end, you should subscribe to the Canvas page of the Research Track, where you can upload your application. See the website for more details: https://vu.nl/en/about-vu/faculties/faculty-of-law/more-about/research-track-law - or email the Research Track coordinator.

If applicable, please also indicate which major (‘afstudeerrichting’) you are following. You might be invited for an interview with the RT-coordinator.