Thesis Writing Retreat

Completing a thesis is easier with a regular schedule and the support of a writing group. The Writing Centre and the School of Graduate Studies are pleased to host a 5-day thesis retreats for graduate students from April 21 to 25, 2025. If you're looking for distraction-free time to work and can commit to 5 days of consistent writing, this retreat is for you!

What happens at the Retreat?

The Retreat is NOT a writing course. It is designed to maximize independent writing time (approximately 5 to 6 hours per day). All students are encouraged to meet with their supervisors before attending to establish their retreat goals. Students are expected to come prepared to write independently for 5 full days. Please note that the facilitator will NOT be providing lectures, individualized instruction, or feedback during the sessions.

Students who are still in the early stages of their projects, who are seeking instruction on how to complete specific project-related tasks, or who want to improve their academic writing skills will be better served by contacting the Writing Centre directly to sign up for one-on-one tutoring or to learn about other available resources.

Dates/Time/Location

  • Monday, April 21, 2025, to Friday, April 25, 2025
    9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. daily (Newfoundland Daylight Time)

The Retreat will be offered in online (via WebEx) and in-person formats at the St. John’s Campus.

In-person location: MUNSU Council Chambers UC2001, University Centre, St. John's Campus

Eligibility

The Retreat is intended for:

  • Graduate students registered in thesis-based masters or doctoral programs who have completed their research and written at least one chapter of their thesis.

The Retreat is NOT intended for:

  • Students registered in course-based (non-thesis) programs
  • Graduate students in the early stages of their projects (coursework, proposal, data collection, etc.)
  • Graduate students seeking instruction on how to complete specific project-related tasks
  • Graduate students seeking instruction on how to improve their English or academic writing

If you are unsure about your eligibility, please feel free to contact the Retreat Facilitator, Jacinda Sinclair, at jmsinclair@mun.ca.

Non-eligible students seeking writing support are encouraged to contact the Writing Centre to learn about available resources and book tutoring sessions.

Attendance Policy

Attendance will be taken daily. Participants are expected to attend all 5 days of the Writing Retreat.

Students who know they will only be able to attend some days or a partial number of hours per day should contact the facilitator before registering to determine if an accommodation can be arranged. Accommodation may be granted for students who can demonstrate need (e.g., childcare responsibilities, conflicting work schedules, etc.). As in-person space may be limited, students requiring accommodation may be asked to transfer to the online mode.

Students with unexplained and unapproved absences may have their spot forfeited. 

Weather Closure Policy

In case of weather-related school closures, the day’s meeting will continue online at the designated time for all students.

Registration

Participants may register for either the in-person or online mode (see the links below). Once registered, you must attend in the mode you are registered for. (If your circumstances have changed post-registration, please contact the facilitator to see if an accommodation can be made.) 

The number of in-person spots available is limited. Once the maximum number has been reached, the link will deactivate.

Students interested in being waitlisted for an in-person spot should complete the Online/In-person Waitlist registration form and click “YES” when asked if you would like to be added to the in-person waitlist. You will be contacted IF an in-person space becomes available. Participants who are not promoted to the in-person group by the first day of the Retreat are strongly encouraged to participate online.

Students who submit incomplete forms or inconsistent responses (e.g., indicating they would like to come to take writing classes) may be contacted to confirm their intention or have their registration removed. Students who register multiple times may have their registration removed.

April 21 – April 25, 2025 (9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. NDT)

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact the Retreat Facilitator directly (Jacinda Sinclair at jmsinclair@mun.ca) or the Writing Centre at writing@mun.ca.