You are in the homestretch! The final step to graduation is writing your dissertation – no small feat. In addition to the essential support and feedback that your faculty advisor, mentor, and committee members will provide, be sure to take full advantage of the following opportunities.
Dissertation support groups
Led by University Health Services, these groups are designed to provide support and discussion around the common emotional, behavioral and organizational challenges in the dissertation process. Participants establish weekly goals related to research and overall life tasks, and share experiences, suggestions, insights, and perspectives on common themes (e.g. procrastination; isolation; negotiating with advisors; relationships and family). Learn more about dissertator support groups.
Rules and deadlines
For detailed rules, see the Guide to Preparing your Doctoral Dissertation.
Questions about dissertation rules or deadlines? Contact a degree coordinator in the Graduate School Office of Academic Services at 217 Bascom, 608-262-2433, gsacserv@grad.wisc.edu.
Each spring semester, the Office of Academic Services hosts a session on “Last Steps to Completing your PhD”. Be sure to attend!
Related resources
Dissertation Writing Camp
Winter-Spring 2025 Writing Camps
The UW–Madison Writing Center and the UW–Madison Graduate School sponsor two Dissertation Writing Camps in winter and spring. Acceptance in the program is competitive, and participation is limited to 20 dissertators per camp.
Facilitated by senior Writing Center staff, this week-long camp provides participants with intensive, focused time to write and revise their dissertation chapters in a supportive atmosphere alongside other writers. Those selected to participate have multiple opportunities to share writing goals, experiment with various writing strategies, and receive feedback on their work.
Camp 1: January 6 – 10, 2025
Modality: Online
We are now accepting applications to the January 2025 Dissertation Writing Camp. To start your application, use the “Sign In” button at the top of the application page. The deadline to apply is Friday, November 8, 2024.
Apply for Dissertation Writing Camp
Camp 2: May 2024 – TBD
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Camp description
The dissertation writing camps focus on three core components:
- They provide participants with intensive, focused time to write in a supportive atmosphere amid other writers. Those selected to participate must attend the entire camp and should plan to write for at least five hours every day.
- Since research shows that successful research writers talk about their work and that talk is essential for effective writing, participants have multiple opportunities to discuss their work. Writing support is provided in the form of one-to-one conferences, in which participants can discuss any aspect of their dissertation writing process with Writing Center instructors. Participants may be expected to occasionally share their writing with other camp participants.
- Dissertation writing camps offer brief daily writing exercises and workshops on topics such as setting realistic goals, managing one’s time, organizing a major project, obtaining useful feedback, and staying motivated.
Value of Writing Camp
Writing a dissertation can feel like a mountain you have to climb to finish your PhD, and often, one that you’re climbing alone. But graduate students at UW–Madison can embrace that journey with a group of other dissertators at the Dissertation Writing Camp.
The dissertation writing camp, which takes place each year in January and May, provides students with dedicated time to write and discuss their work with peers, while also engaging in workshops about goal-setting, time management, and staying motivated.
“Being able to focus all my energy and time to writing and [being] in an environment where others were motivated to do the same made all the difference,” said dissertator Chelsea Blackburn Cohen, who participated in the writing camp in January 2018.
When she applied for the camp, Blackburn Cohen wasn’t close to being finished with data analysis for her thesis, which focuses on the forced displacement of academics worldwide due to the political or ideological nature of their intellectual work. Being accepted to the camp prompted her to prepare her data. During camp, she was able to write almost an entire analytical chapter.
In addition to providing extra motivation for many students, the camp serves as a support group. Fei Sun, a dissertator in the dairy science program, said being a dissertator can feel isolating if you’re the only one in your department. For Sun, being around other dissertators at the camp makes him feel like he’s not alone in his journey.
“I’m surrounded by 20 other people who have the same goal, and meanwhile we’re supported by the instructors if we have any questions,” he said.
Eligibility requirements
Participation in UW–Madison’s dissertation writing camps is limited to UW–Madison dissertators who are pursuing a PhD degree. Acceptance in the program is competitive, and each camp is limited to a maximum of 20 participants. You are eligible to apply for dissertation camp if you meet all of the following criteria:
- You are pursuing a PhD degree
- You have achieved dissertator status
- Your dissertation proposal has been approved
- You have a vision for your overall project as well as for specific chapters
- You have completed the research or data collection that is needed to underpin the writing you will do in camp
- You have drafted at least one chapter of your dissertation
- You have your advisor’s approval (see below)
Applicants will be selected based on their anticipated time to degree completion, the importance of dissertation camp at this stage of their project, and to ensure broad disciplinary representation.
Space is limited, and selection preference will be given to those who have not participated in Dissertation Writing Camp in the past.
Application process
Application information
The Dissertation Writing Camp application has two components:
Additional resources for attending Dissertation Writing Camp
Child Care
Students with children may be eligible for financial assistance through the Child Care Tuition Assistance Program (CCTAP), including during participation in a Dissertation Writing Camp. Applicants must have a confirmed space at an approved (licensed/accredited) child care provider in Wisconsin. For those looking for short-term coverage, the Office of Child Care and Family Resources sponsors a fund for reduced-rate, drop-in care called KidsKare. Little Chicks provides care in their non-traditional program on an hourly basis. This reduces the hourly rate from $14 per hour to either $5 per hour for faculty and staff or $0 per hour for any students currently receiving CCTAP.
Reduced and low-cost parking options
UW–Madison Transportation Services is offering reduced and low-cost parking this academic year. All UW–Madison graduate and professional students are eligible. Parking options include semester permits, annual permits, flex permits, afternoon permits, and night permits valid in different parking lots across campus. Product availability will vary and may be limited. Learn more and apply for reduced and low-cost parking options.
Communicating PhD Research to the Public
WISL Award for Communicating PhD Research to the Public
The Wisconsin Initiative for Science Literacy (WISL) Award for Communicating PhD Research to the Public is open to all doctoral students in the biological and physical sciences who submit a PhD thesis chapter that describes their research to non-science audiences. Throughout the award process, students work with chemistry professor Bassam Shakhashiri and a professional editor to refine their chapter. Students who successfully submit a chapter for general audiences receive a $250 award.
Students who are interested in participating and know a time frame in which their thesis chapter will be completed should contact scifun@chem.wisc.edu.