Why, What, Who, and How?
Why a Dissertation Writing Boot Camp?
If you’ve taken a break over summer and would like to get back to prioritizing your dissertation, or if you could benefit from connecting with a community of fellow dissertation writers after a period of writing alone, then the GCAC’s Dissertation Boot Camp, from August 19-21, is for you. The GCAC Dissertation Boot Camp is designed to provide U of T graduate students with uninterrupted time and a distraction-free space to focus solely on your writing. With instructor-led training sessions, you will receive much-needed support and advice to help you progress on your dissertation.
What is a Hybrid Dissertation Boot Camp?
The GCAC’s Dissertation Boot Camp offers structure and guidance for three full days of writing and writing-related activities. You’ll be required to set aside other demands on your time for these three days, giving you the opportunity to make significant progress on your writing. Each day of the camp includes structured blocks of writing time as well as opportunities to learn process-related strategies for building momentum in your writing that will last beyond our virtual time together.
The boot camp will be offered in two formats: in-person and online synchronous. In order to create a consistent community of supportive writers, you will be asked to commit to one of these formats for the full three days. The in-person boot camp will be held on the St. George campus; concurrently, the virtual format will be conducted synchronously over Zoom.
Each day will run from 9:30am to 4:30pm (optional 5pm) and will feature a schedule that includes instructor presentations, at least four-and-a-half hours of uninterrupted writing time, and group discussions (to be conducted in Zoom rooms for those attending virtually).
Who is eligible to enrol in the Dissertation Boot Camp?
In order to sign up for the Dissertation Boot Camp, you must meet the following conditions:
- You are actively engaged in writing a doctoral dissertation in any department at U of T; the dissertation boot camp is not open to Master’s students.
- You are finished with course work, qualifying exams, and primary research and/or data collection; the boot camp is designed for writing, not further reading and research.
How will the Dissertation Boot Camp work?
The boot camp will be held in-person at the St. George Campus and concurrently cast over Zoom on three consecutive days (Tuesday, Wednesday & Thursday, August 19, 20, & 21, 2025) from 9:30 am to 4:30 pm ET (optional 5pm) each day.
For in-person participants: Each in-person participant is asked to pay $20 (twenty dollars) to defray the cost of coffee and cookies (lunch excluded). Please bring the cash with you on the first day. In-person enrolment is limited to 20 PhD candidates, and eligible applicants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
For virtual participants: There is no cost for virtual attendance. Virtual enrolment is limited to 25 PhD candidates, and eligible applicants will be accepted on a first-come, first-served basis.
Applications for all participants (in-person and online) are due by August 8, and confirmations will be sent by end-of-day August 12.
How to Register
Registration is now closed.
Questions about the Hybrid Dissertation Boot Camp should be sent to Dr. Jordana Lobo-Pires: jordana.lobo.pires@utoronto.ca.
In order to participate, you must be available to attend either in-person or online for the full three days, without exception.
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Sample daily schedule (subject to adjustment based on group preferences):
9:30 – 10:00: Brief lecture and guided warm-up/goal-setting exercises
10:00 – 12:00: Writing time
12:00 – 12:15: Check-in on morning writing and planning for the afternoon
12:15 – 1:00: Lunch Break
1:00 – 2:30: Writing Time
2:30 – 3:00: Stretch break and small-group discussions
3:00 – 4:00: Writing Time
4:00 – 4:15: Guided exercises to prepare for your next writing session
4:15 – 4:30: Closing Discussion Time
Writing in the company of others can be an excellent way to stay focused and combat isolation. Join the GCAC’s Dissertation Boot Camp to discover the benefits of developing your dissertation-writing practice in an intentional, informed, and socially engaged way.