Academic Writing
UndergraduateTAS-XAB0212025
Learn how to write like a university student. Academic writing skills are essential for successful essays, exams, reports, and more. You’ll cover the entire writing process—including planning, drafting, referencing, and editing.
Enrolments for this course are closed, but you may have other options to start studying now. Book a consultation to learn more.
- Study method
- 100% online
- Assessments
- 100% online
- Entry requirements
- No ATAR needed, No prior study
- Duration
- 14 weeks
- Start dates
- 24 Feb 2025,
- 21 July 2025
- Loan available
- HECS-HELP and FEE-HELP available
Academic Writing
About this subject
Upon completion of this subject, the student should be able to:
- Identify and apply critical components for academic writing
- Plan and write in academic formats in accordance with university standards and principles
- Exercise critical thinking to evaluate, analyse and integrate sources into academic writing
- Writing with purpose, academic style and academic research
- Essay structure and the writing process
- Paragraphs
- Evidence and referencing
- Academic style: sentences
- Peer review and skills development
- Editing and proofreading
- Self-assessment and reflection
- Skills development
- Long essay development and consultations
- Deep work and consultations
In this subject you will develop your ability to communicate in written form in a university environment. You will gain the skills and develop strategies to plan and write academically. In particular, you will analyse assignment tasks, learn how to structure an essay, draw on your critical thinking skills, and synthesise multiple academic sources and reference these in-text.
- Essay Plan (15%)
- Integrating Evidence Quiz (10%)
- Short Essay (35%)
- Long Essay (40%)
For textbook details check your university's handbook, website or learning management system (LMS).
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- 20
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- 19
Entry requirements
No entry requirements
Additional requirements
- Other requirements - Teaching Arrangements: 2-hour online Workshop once per week.
Study load
- 0.125 EFTSL
- This is in the range of 10 to 12 hours of study each week.
Equivalent full time study load (EFTSL) is one way to calculate your study load. One (1.0) EFTSL is equivalent to a full-time study load for one year.
Find out more information on Commonwealth Loans to understand what this means to your eligibility for financial support.
Why study a single subject?
Bite sized study
Try studying a particular area to see if online study suits you, or upskill in just a few months with a single subject that you’re interested in.
Pursue a dream
With thousands of single subjects to choose from, you can find topics that get you on the path to your higher education goals fast.
Gain Uni credit
Most single subjects are part of a full degree. That means if you’re keen to keep learning, you can gain credit for the subjects you’ve successfully completed.
What to study next?
Once you’ve completed this subject it can be credited towards one of the following courses
Diploma of University Studies (Business)
UndergraduateTAS-USB-DIP
Diploma of University Studies (Psychology)
UndergraduateTAS-USP-DIP
Diploma of University Studies (Science Pathway)
UndergraduateTAS-USS-DIP
University Preparation Program
UndergraduateTAS-UPP-DEG
Single subject FAQs
What’s a single subject?
Single subjects are the individual components that make up a degree. With Open Universities Australia, you’re able to study many of them as stand-alone subjects, including postgraduate single subjects, without having to commit to a degree.
Each of your subjects will be held over the course of a study term, and they’ll usually require 10 to 12 hours of study each week. Subjects are identified by a title and a code, for example, Developmental Psychology, PSY20007.
How can I use single subjects to get into a full degree?
First, find the degree that you would like to study on our website.
If that degree allows entry via undergraduate subjects, there will be information about this under the Entry Requirements section. You will find a list of 2-4 open enrolment subjects you need to successfully complete to qualify for admission into that qualification.
Once you pass those subjects, you will satisfy the academic requirements for the degree, and you can apply for entry.
Our student advisors are here to help you take that next step, so don’t hesitate to reach out when you’re ready! We’ve also made it easier to figure out the right way to get started on our pathways page.
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How do I pay for my subjects?
You can pay up front with your credit card, or you may be eligible for a HELP loan from the Australian government depending on your citizenship status and where you’ll live during your studies.
For more information about how to pay for your studies visit our fees page or contact a student advisor.
How do I enrol?
When you’ve made your choice, click ‘Enrol now’ on the relevant course page and follow the prompts to begin your enrolment. We’ll ask you to supply some supporting documentation, including proof of your identity, your tax file number, and a unique student identifier (USI) during this process.
Your university will get in touch with you via email to confirm whether or not your application has been successful.
If you get stuck at any time, reach out to us and we’ll talk you through it.
You can also take a look at our online self-service enrolling instructions.
When is the cut-off date for enrolling?
Close of enrolment times vary between universities and subjects. You can check the cut-off dates for upcoming study terms by visiting key dates.