Key competences of academic writing
Last modified on 19-10-2024 16:15
As a student you often have to write texts. Academic writing is a skill you will develop during the course of your studies.
Show information for your study programmeor
What is your study programme?
- Accountancy and Control (master)
- Accountancy and Control (premaster)
- Actuarial Science (bachelor)
- Actuarial Science and Mathematical Finance (master)
- American Studies (master)
- Ancient Studies (bachelor)
- Arabische taal en cultuur (bachelor)
- Arbeidsrecht (master)
- Archaeology (master)
- Archaeology (premaster)
- Archaeology (bachelor), EN
- Archaeology and Heritage (research master)
- Archeologie (bachelor), NL
- Archival and Information Studies (duale master)
- Art and Performance Research Studies (research master)
- Artificial Intelligence (master)
- Bèta-gamma (bachelor)
- Bioinformatics and Systems Biology (master, joint degree)
- Biological Sciences (master)
- Biologie (bachelor)
- Biomedical Sciences (master)
- Biomedische wetenschappen (bachelor)
- BMS: Cell Biology and Advanced Microscopy (master)
- BMS: Cognitive Neurobiology and Clinical Neurophysiology (master)
- BMS: Developmental and Therapeutic Biology (master)
- BMS: Experimental Internal Medicine (master)
- BMS: Infection and Immunity (master)
- BMS: Medical Biochemistry and Biotechnology (master)
- BMS: Molecular Neurosciences (master)
- BMS: Oncology (master)
- BMS: Physiology of Synapses and Networks (master)
- BMS: Psychopharmacology and Pathophysiology (master)
- Boekwetenschap (duale master)
- Boekwetenschap (schakelprogramma)
- Brain and Cognitive Sciences (research master)
- BS: Ecology and Evolution (master)
- BS: Freshwater and Marine Biology (master)
- BS: General Biology (master)
- BS: Green Life Sciences (master)
- Business Administration (bachelor)
- Business Administration (master)
- Business Administration (premaster)
- Business Analytics (bachelor)
- Business Economics (master)
- Business Economics (premaster)
- Chemistry (master, joint degree)
- Chemistry (premaster)
- Chemistry: Analytical Sciences (master, joint degree)
- Chemistry: Molecular Sciences (master, joint degree)
- Chemistry: Science for Energy and Sustainability (master, joint degree)
- Child Development and Education (research master)
- Classics and Ancient Civilizations (master)
- Cognition, Language and Communication (bachelor)
- Commerciële rechtspraktijk (master)
- Communicatiewetenschap (bachelor)
- Communication and Information (duale master)
- Communication Science (bachelor)
- Communication Science (master)
- Communication Science (premaster)
- Communication Science (research master)
- Comparative Cultural Analysis (master)
- Comparative Literature (master)
- Computational Science (master, joint degree)
- Computer Science (master, joint degree)
- Conflict Resolution and Governance (master)
- Conservation and Restoration of Cultural Heritage (master)
- Cultural Analysis (research master)
- Cultural Anthropology and Development Sociology (bachelor)
- Cultural Data & AI (master)
- Culturele antropologie en ontwikkelingssociologie (bachelor)
- Cultuurwetenschappen (bachelor)
- Curating Art and Cultures (duale master)
- Data Science (master)
- Data Science and Business Analytics (master)
- Data Science and Business Analytics (premaster)
- Documentaire en fictie (duale master)
- Duits, Educatie en communicatie (master)
- Duits, Educatie en communicatie (schakelprogramma)
- Duitslandstudies (bachelor)
- Duitslandstudies (master)
- Earth Sciences (master)
- East European Studies (master)
- Econometrics (master)
- Econometrics (premaster)
- Econometrics and Data Science (bachelor)
- Economics (master)
- Economics (premaster)
- Economics and Business Economics (bachelor)
- Engels, Educatie en communicatie (master)
- Engels, Educatie en communicatie (schakelprogramma)
- English Language and Culture (bachelor)
- English Literature and Culture (master)
- Entrepreneurship (master)
- ES: Environmental Management (master)
- ES: Future Planet Ecosystem Science (master)
- ES: Geo-Ecological Dynamics (master)
- European Competition Law and Regulation (master)
- European Policy (master)
- European Private Law (master)
- European Studies (bachelor)
- European Studies (premaster)
- European Union Law (master)
- Europese studies (bachelor)
- Exchange programme Economics and Business
- Exchange programme Humanities
- Exchange programme Law - Amsterdam Law School
- Exchange programme PPLE - Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics
- Exchange programme Science
- Film Studies (master)
- Filosofie (bachelor)
- Filosofie (master)
- Finance (master)
- Fiscaal Recht (bachelor)
- Fiscaal Recht (master)
- Fiscale Economie (bachelor)
- Fiscale Economie (master)
- Fiscale Economie (premaster)
- Forensic Science (master)
- Frans, Educatie en communicatie (master)
- Frans, Educatie en communicatie (schakelprogramma)
- Franse taal en cultuur (bachelor)
- Future Planet Studies (bachelor)
- Geneeskunde (bachelor)
- Geneeskunde (master)
- Geneeskunde (schakelprogramma)
- General Linguistics (master)
- Geschiedenis (bachelor)
- Geschiedenis (master)
- Geschiedenis (research master)
- Geschiedenis (schakelprogramma)
- Geschiedenis van de internationale betrekkingen (master)
- Geschiedenis, Educatie en communicatie (master)
- Gezondheidsrecht (master)
- Gezondheidszorgpsychologie (master)
- Global Arts, Culture and Politics (bachelor)
- Griekse en Latijnse taal en cultuur (bachelor)
- Hebreeuwse taal en cultuur (bachelor)
- Heritage and Memory Studies (duale master)
- Holocaust and Genocide Studies (master)
- Human Geography (master)
- Human Geography (premaster)
- Human Geography and Planning (bachelor)
- Identity and Integration (master)
- Informatica (bachelor)
- Informatiekunde (bachelor)
- Informatierecht (master)
- Information Studies (master)
- Information Systems (master)
- Internationaal en Europees belastingrecht (master)
- International and Transnational Criminal Law (master)
- International Criminal Law - Joint programme with Columbia Law School (master)
- International Development Studies (master)
- International Development Studies (premaster)
- International Development Studies (research master)
- International Dramaturgy (duale master)
- International Dramaturgy and Theatre Studies (premaster)
- International Tax Law (advanced master)
- International Trade and Investment Law (master)
- Italië Studies (bachelor)
- Jewish Studies (master)
- Journalism, Media and Globalisation (Erasmus Mundus Master's - joint degree)
- Journalistiek en media (duale master)
- Kunst, cultuur en politiek (master)
- Kunst, cultuur en politiek (schakelprogramma)
- Kunstgeschiedenis (bachelor)
- Kunstgeschiedenis (master)
- Kunstgeschiedenis (schakelprogramma)
- Kunstmatige intelligentie (bachelor)
- Language and Society (master)
- Language, Literature and Education (master)
- Language, Literature and Education (premaster)
- Latin American Studies (master)
- Latin American Studies (premaster)
- Law & Finance (master)
- Lerarenopleidingen
- Linguistics (bachelor)
- Linguistics (premaster)
- Linguistics and Communication (research master)
- Literary and Cultural Analysis (bachelor)
- Literary Studies (premaster)
- Literary Studies (research master)
- Literature, Culture and Society (master)
- Logic (master)
- Mathematics (master)
- Media and Culture (bachelor)
- Media and Information (bachelor)
- Media en cultuur (bachelor)
- Media Studies (premaster)
- Media Studies (research master)
- Medical Anthropology and Sociology (master)
- Medical Anthropology and Sociology (premaster)
- Medical informatics (master)
- Medical informatics (premaster)
- Medische informatiekunde (bachelor)
- Midden-Oostenstudies (master)
- Midden-Oostenstudies (schakelprogramma)
- Militaire geschiedenis (master)
- Museum Studies (duale master)
- Music Studies (master)
- Music Studies (premaster)
- Muziekwetenschap (bachelor)
- Natuurkunde en sterrenkunde (bachelor, joint degree)
- Nederlands als tweede taal en meertaligheid (duale master)
- Nederlands als tweede taal en meertaligheid (schakelprogramma)
- Nederlands, Educatie en communicatie (master)
- Nederlands, Educatie en communicatie (schakelprogramma)
- Nederlandse taal en cultuur (bachelor)
- Nederlandse taal en cultuur (master)
- New Media and Digital Culture (master)
- Nieuwgriekse taal en cultuur (bachelor)
- Onderwijswetenschappen (bachelor)
- Onderwijswetenschappen (master)
- Onderwijswetenschappen (schakelprogramma)
- (Forensische) Orthopedagogiek (schakelprogramma)
- Oudheidwetenschappen (bachelor)
- P&A: Advanced Matter and Energy Physics (master, joint degree)
- P&A: Astronomy and Astrophysics (master, joint degree)
- P&A: Biophysics and Biophotonics (master, joint degree)
- P&A: General Physics and Astronomy (master, joint degree)
- P&A: GRAPPA - Gravitation, Astro-, and Particle Physics (master, joint degree)
- P&A: Science for Energy and Sustainability (master, joint degree)
- P&A: Theoretical Physics (master, joint degree)
- Pedagogical Sciences (master)
- Pedagogische wetenschappen (bachelor)
- Pedagogische wetenschappen (master)
- Philosophy (master)
- Philosophy (research master)
- Physics and Astronomy (master, joint degree)
- Political Science (bachelor)
- Political Science (master)
- Political Science (premaster)
- Politicologie (bachelor)
- PPLE - Politics, Psychology, Law and Economics (bachelor)
- Preservation and Presentation of the Moving Image (duale master)
- Preventieve jeugdhulp en opvoeding (schakelprogramma)
- Privaatrechtelijke rechtspraktijk (master)
- Psychobiologie (bachelor)
- Psychologie (schakelprogramma)
- Psychologie (bachelor), NL
- Psychologie (master), NL
- Psychology (premaster)
- Psychology (bachelor), EN
- Psychology (master), EN
- Psychology (research master), EN
- Public International Law (master)
- Publieksgeschiedenis (master)
- Quantum Computer Science (master)
- Rechtsgeleerdheid (bachelor)
- Rechtsgeleerdheid met HBO-vooropleiding (schakelprogramma)
- Rechtsgeleerdheid met WO-vooropleiding (schakelprogramma)
- Redacteur/editor (duale master)
- Religiewetenschappen (bachelor)
- Religious Studies (research master)
- Russische en Slavische studies (bachelor)
- Scheikunde (bachelor, joint degree)
- Science, Technology & Innovation (bachelor)
- Security and Network Engineering (master)
- Sign Language Linguistics (bachelor)
- Sociologie (bachelor)
- Sociology (bachelor)
- Sociology (master)
- Sociology (premaster)
- Software Engineering (master)
- Spaanse en Latijns-Amerikaanse studies (bachelor)
- Spirituality and Religion (master)
- Spirituality and Religion (schakelprogramma)
- Staats- en bestuursrecht (master)
- Stads- en architectuurgeschiedenis (master)
- Stochastics and Financial Mathematics (master)
- Strafrecht (master)
- Taalwetenschappen (bachelor)
- Technology Governance (advanced master)
- Television and Cross-Media Culture (master)
- Theaterwetenschap (bachelor)
- Theatre Studies (master)
- Universitaire Pabo van Amsterdam (bachelor)
- Urban and Regional Planning (master)
- Urban and Regional Planning (premaster)
- Urban Studies (research master)
- Vertalen (master)
- Vertalen (schakelprogramma)
- Wiskunde (bachelor)
Academic texts are subject to different, and generally more stringent, requirements than texts you produced at secondary school. With academic writing, it’s important that readers can always determine where information comes from. In addition, it must always be possible to check if you have used the information you have obtained correctly. This ensures that you avoid plagiarism, which is a serious offence in the academic world.
How to write an academic text?
The requirements for an academic text vary according to the degree programme or discipline. Generally speaking, the requirements can be found on Canvas. Set out below is a point-by-point list of what we expect from you in terms of your writing if you have received instruction in academic writing.
Dealing with feedback
Your written texts will always be assessed by one or more readers. This may be your lecturer, but it could also be a fellow student or an employer. A good text is rarely written in one go, it evolves over time. In other words, the text should be revised several times. Improve your text by incorporating the feedback you have received from others. Don’t take it as a personal insult if you receive critical comments about your text, rather be open to other people’s suggestions.
Extra help with academic writing
Want help with or advice on writing or improving your academic texts? The UvA provides free opportunities for you to improve your writing skills in Dutch or English. See the page on help with academic writing.
Proficiency in Dutch
If you are having problems with language and/or writing because Dutch is not your mother tongue, for example, or is not the language that you speak at home, you can follow a course to improve your Dutch. Please contact the UvA’s Institute for Dutch Language Education for help with this.