Current Students

Individual Consultations

The Learning Centre aims to help students develop the academic skills and techniques they will find helpful for university education, and to become independent learners and successful students. UNSW students enrolled in an award program can make an appointment at the Centre to receive individual assistance with any study-related concern.

What happens in a consultation?
How do I make an appointment?
Preparing for your consultation
What we can and can't help with

What happens in a consultation?

An individual consultation allows you to seek help with any specific problems or issues you may have with your studies. Peer Writing Assistants (PWAs) and students work together to discuss and explore useful strategies that students can apply to their studies.

In an initial consultation, you can discuss your concerns with a PWA. They might read a sample of your written work, and then discuss ways to improve your writing with you. They may then either refer you to other Learning Centre programs, or arrange a further consultation.

PWAs can't necessarily read and comment on entire assignments; however, they will try and cover as much as possible within a 50-minute time frame.

How do I make an appointment?

Individual consultations are by appointment via our Consultation Booking System (your zPass is required).

Each consultation is 50 minutes long. Demand is high, so make your appointment well in advance, rather than a day or so before an assignment is due.

When are consultations held?

During Semesters 1 and 2, The Learning Centre consultation hours are:

Monday to Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 1pm

Consultations can be arranged outside these hours on request. If you are a part-time student or can only attend appointments outside office hours, please contact The Learning Centre Director Dr. Sue Starfield.

How many consultations can I have per Semester?

Students may book consultations for the current week and one week in advance through our web-based Consultation Booking System. Further appointments are made after these consultations if the Peer Writing Assistant recommends it.

Due to the high demand for Peer Writing consultations, all students will be limited to ONE appointment per week and FIVE consultations per semester.

Consultation bookings are not transferable. Appointments made under a particular student ID must be attended by that student ONLY.

What happens if I have to cancel a consultation?

There is a high demand for consultations, so if you can't come, please cancel the day before. Missing your appointment without canceling in advance means a limitation on any further bookings.

If you need to cancel an appointment, please cancel online via the Consultation Booking System or telephone us on 9385 2060 (messages can be left after hours).

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Preparing for your consultation

What should you bring?

To get the most out of a consultation, try to be at least working on your first or second draft. Writing Assistants need to see your work. Bringing in a draft (rather than finished work) means we can help you much more (drafts are much easier to revise than finished pieces).

Please Note: You must bring a printed copy of your assignment with you. We are unable to work on-screen, or to print out student assignments.

Please also bring along:

a copy of the assignment question and (if possible) your subject outline
a draft of your work—2 pages is enough to start a discussion. Leave a wide margin on the left-hand side of the page (for our comments and your own ideas). Double-space your work and number the pages.

As a rule, bring whatever might help us (and you) to better understand your task or problem.

After a consultation, think about what you discussed:

What specific actions were suggested or recommended?
How can you incorporate these recommendations or suggestions into your writing?
What three meaningful steps can you take to follow the advice your received?
What can you do to prepare for the next consultation (if needed)?

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What We Can and Can't Help With

We Do . . .

offer constructive and helpful learning support
work with you to improve your written work, presentations skills and academic communication.
encourage you to develop the skills to become an independent learner
help you clarify the purpose and structure of an assignment
discuss strengths and weaknesses in a draft
assist you to organise and improve you work using a wide variety of strategies
help you develop the strategies and skills to work independently.

We Don't . . .

offer quick fixes. Instead we provide long-term strategies so that you can develop your skills and work independently.
correct or check grammar and spelling, or offer a proof-reading or editing service. It is not our role to 'proof-read' or correct grammar or other errors in an assignment. It's important to develop your own editing strategies. Try attending a workshop in editing skills or grammar. Use a computer spell-check, find a competent friend and a good dictionary.
estimate your final grading. The final grade your assignment receives depends on the judgement of your lecturer or tutor. We can only tell you where we think you can improve your draft in terms of academic writing.
offer subject tutoring
write your paper for you or supply content for your assignment. We can't tell you what to say, we can only help you improve the way you say it. While we can sometimes act as 'sounding board's for your ideas, content problems require the specialised disciplinary knowledge of a lecturer or tutor. Take content questions directly to them.
'fix up' assignments on the day they are due. Looking at an assignment on the day it is due leaves no time to make any changes. If you think you need help, then plan ahead.
help with job applications or résumés. The Learning Centre works with academic writing only. For assistance with job applications and résumés, please see Careers and Employment service.
help with personal correspondence or applications. The Learning Centre works with academic writing only. Ask a helpful friend for some feedback and advice.
advise on IELTS tests (although there are books available from our resource library).
offer you individual sessions on take-home exams. Take-home exams should be your work alone, so we can't offer assistance, as it wouldn't be fair to other students.
intimidate or embarrass you

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What UNSW students say about consultations

"I always have trouble when it comes to writing essays. Through consultations, I get tips on how to make my writing more organised, coherent and make more sense to the reader."

"Well, for my first assignment I received a bare PASS—disappointing. I then booked 2 individual consultations to help with essay writing and to get feedback on ways to improve. I also accessed online resources on referencing and essay writing. For my second assignment I achieved 37/40—amazing—and I feel the LC has given me confidence to write/ argue and structure an incredibly great essay. THANK YOU LEARNING CENTRE."

"I love you guys! Thank you to [the PWA] who helped me so much. I got a distinction for my essay with her help, my last essay that I did on my own I got a pass. Such an fantastic resource, I have been telling my friends and I will be coming in next semester for sure."

"I really gain lots of knowledge and info about academic writing and gain confidence as well.
Much appreciated all the staff are so nice and very patient and helpful. it means lots to me!"

"What an excellent service, the resources, the one-on-one help, the feedack - I feel really set up to write well. Before I came to the LC my first mark was a PASS, after my sessions I received a High Distinction for my next essay—THANKYOU"

"I'm very grateful for this service and the dedicated staff that assist you to achieve your best. It is encouraging to see the progress that I don't believe would have happened without the help of this vital service."

(Comments from The Learning Centre 2009 Evaluation Survey)