3-Day PhD Writing Retreat

Writing is an essential part of every PhD trajectory, but finding the time, focus and structure to actually sit down and write can be surprisingly hard. This retreat gives you exactly that: three dedicated days to make real progress on your paper, proposal or chapter. You will write alongside other PhD candidates, set daily goals and receive support where needed.

This retreat is not a traditional writing course. The main focus is on creating the right conditions for productive writing: time, structure, focus and reflection. Depending on the needs of the group, we may also discuss aspects of the writing process, such as breaking writing tasks into manageable steps and using strategies to write more effectively.

By the end of the retreat, you will have made tangible progress on your own writing project. You will also have gained more insight into your writing process and what helps you to keep writing after the retreat.

During the retreat, you will:

• Make substantial progress on a paper, proposal or chapter of your choice
• set concrete and realistic writing goals each day and learn to work towards them effectively
• Receive at least one individual coaching session tailored to your personal writing process
• Gain insight into strategies for segmenting the writing process - where relevant and useful for you
• Build connections with PhD researchers from across Utrecht University and beyond

The retreat helps you make progress during the three days themselves, while also supporting you in developing habits and strategies you can continue to use afterwards.

This retreat is suitable for PhD candidates from all disciplines who:

• Are at least 9 months into their PhD trajectory
• Have a concrete piece of writing to work on: a paper, proposal, or chapter

No specific prior knowledge or writing skills are required. Whether you feel confident in your writing or are looking for structure and support. You are welcome!

The participation fee is € 1,525.

The mission of Onderwijsadvies & Training is to improve education. In line with that mission, we operate on a non-profit basis and this retreat is no exception. PhD candidates can often have the costs reimbursed through their personal development budget or via their graduate school.

Utrecht University staff can participate at a reduced rate of € 1,290 or 9.1 O&T units.

The retreat spans 3 consecutive days. Each day has its own focus, while leaving ample room for uninterrupted writing time.

In preparation for the retreat, you will be asked to complete an intake form and submit a sample of your own writing, as well as an example of a text from your field that you consider to be well-written.

The writing retreat will take place from Monday 6 to Wednesday 8 July 2026.

The programme runs from 09:30 to 16:30 each day.

Miriam de Boer is passionate about helping writers find their academic voice. Her work focuses on the relationship between writers, the writing process and the final text.

She teaches writing courses, facilitates writing retreats and investigates how writing can support critical thinking and self-regulation in higher education. During this retreat, Miriam supports participants in setting realistic writing goals, reflecting on their writing process and making progress with their own academic text.

We are pleased that you are interested in the writing retreat. You can register using the yellow registration button on the right-hand side of this page. The registration deadline is 22 June 2026.