Academic Writing Needs of International Psychology PhDs in a South African University

Authors

  • Samuel UMOH School of Applied Sciences University of KwaZulu-Natal. Email: samumo800@gmail.com https://orcid.org/0000-0002-3036-939X
  • Matshepo Catherine MATOANE School of Applied Sciences University of KwaZulu-Natal. Email: samumo800@gmail.com

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24193/subbpsyped.2023.2.07

Keywords:

academic writings, PhD doctoral program, analytical, research, and communication skills

Abstract

The paper examines the academic writing experience amongst international psychology PhD students at a South African public university. The paper also discusses the challenges of academic writing and the support structures of academic writing. Sixteen (16) international students studying at PhD level in psychology were selected by purposive sampling from a public South African university in KwaZulu-Natal. Drawing from generated by iproposalss, findings suggest that participants experienced academic writing challenges in drafting PhD proposal, supervisor’s feedback and plagiarism. Academic writing challenges were aggravated for international PhD students from non-native English-speaking countries. Findings also suggest that university support structures such as academic writing retreats improved the academic writing of participants and exposed them to the rigors of academic writing.

Author Biographies

Samuel UMOH, School of Applied Sciences University of KwaZulu-Natal. Email: samumo800@gmail.com

School of Applied Sciences University of KwaZulu-Natal. Email: samumo800@gmail.com

Matshepo Catherine MATOANE, School of Applied Sciences University of KwaZulu-Natal. Email: samumo800@gmail.com

School of Applied Sciences University of KwaZulu-Natal. Email: samumo800@gmail.com

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Published

2023-12-22

How to Cite

UMOH, S., & MATOANE, M. C. (2023). Academic Writing Needs of International Psychology PhDs in a South African University. Studia Universitatis Babeș-Bolyai Psychologia-Paedagogia, 68(2), 131–146. https://doi.org/10.24193/subbpsyped.2023.2.07

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