Struggling with your thesis?

Finding it difficult to study at home?

I run online study retreats, drawing from my own experience of researching and writing my PhD thesis, and my years of experience as a coach specialising in higher education settings.

I know exactly what you need to get through this and to get through it triumphantly, all dancing, all singing, happy with the outcome, proud of yourself and knowing you said everything you wanted to say. You want to finish your PhD in style, not in pain.

In my online Study Hub retreats you:

- - - Work in a small, virtual group for support
    - Have an experienced PhD level coach (me!) mentor you
    - Take part in innovative motivation and creativity exercises
    - Participate in structured writing sessions
    - Are held to account for your time by like-minded peers

You NEED the…

Study Hub is an intense, structured, online study experience

I am online all the time with you and a small group of postgraduate students (either Masters or Doctoral) on Zoom. I guide you through setting your goals for the day, creativity exercises, mind mapping the next thing you are working on, so you can:

Write your chapter or article
Analyse data
Work on a presentation
Actively read something and make notes on it
Transcribe data
Anything PhD/Masters related!

Each person gets:

20 minute one-to-one coaching session with me, an accredited coach, experienced writer and academic, in which we will unlock anything holding you back and make a plan for your next steps
Supportive writing atmosphere broken up into blocks of 25 minutes
Technical expertise in qualitative methods
Creativity booster session
Structured day in which you do not burn out and are able to stay focussed for six hours!
A pre-Study Hub inspirational video full of ‘PhD wisdom’ and guidance for setting specific goals to ensure you get the most from the Study Hub
The real-time accountability of a group
Encouragement and motivation from a small, focused group
Six hours of supervised writing

I get how demanding it is to complete a PhD. You have to keep exhaustion, procrastination and imposter syndrome at bay.

I have experienced and overcome a sense of paralysis when attempting to write. Part of the secret is to build a support network with your peers, and to write in groups. I distilled what I found worked into Study Hub.

“Study Hub is a great environment to work on my thesis in a positive, productive and supportive atmosphere. I realised there is actual stuff I can do to overcome my writing obstacles and confidence issues.”

An example Study Hub looks like this:

Pre-Study Hub inspirational video: 30 minutes

You will be sent the Pre-Study Hub inspirational video a week before the Study Hub to get you into the ‘zone’. I talk you through everything you need to have on hand for the Study Hub, from Sprint Goals to lunch! I also get you motivated and energised by talking in a refreshing way about the writing process, with a sprinkling of Lancer hacks and tips to get your work done without the pain.

Study Hub Day: sample six hours

Do you want to try this innovative way of home-working, so you are connecting and accountable to others, and pushing forward in your work?

The next Study Hub is Wednesday 9th February 2022: 9am-3.30pm UK time

Who is this for?

This is aimed at Masters or PhD students although anyone can join who is studying something.

“Natalie is brilliant. The perfect host of such a day. Pragmatic and creative and no nonsense.”

How much is it?

Each regular, one-day Study Hub is £47.

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You can ‘bulk buy’ four regular, one-day Study Hubs for £141.

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The dates of the sessions to choose from are:

Wednesday 9th February 2022: 9am-3.30pm UK time

Tuesday 22nd February 2022: 9am-3.30pm UK time

Wednesday 9th March 2022: 9am-3.30pm UK time

Tuesday 29th March 2022: 9am-3.30pm UK time

April 2022 Residential Mega Study Hub:

Monday 11th April 3.30pm to Thursday: 14th April 1.30pm. Our first in person Writing Retreat in a secluded retreat house outside Newcastle. Early bird price if booked by January 21st 2022 is £499 all in (including board and lodging, and the event itself). Thereafter, price is £550. Email Natalie to book: [email protected]

Wednesday 27th April 2022: 9am-3.30pm UK time

Tuesday 10th May 2022: 9am-3.30pm UK time

Thursday 19th May 2022: 9am-3.30pm UK time

Tuesday 7th June 2022: 9am-3.30pm UK time

June 2022 Mega Study Hub: Monday to Wednesday, 20th, 21st, 22nd June 2022: 9am-3.30pm UK time each day; pre-session on Tuesday 14th June, 12 noon – 1pm

Tuesday 5th July 2022: 9am-3.30pm UK time

Thursday 25th August 2022: 9am-3.30pm UK time

Tuesday 13th September 2022: 9am-3.30pm UK time

Tuesday 11th October 2022: 9am-3.30pm UK time

Wednesday 2nd November 2022: 9am-3.30pm UK time

Wednesday 23rd November 2022: 9am-3.30pm UK time

To book:

Please use the paypal link above or email me to make a bank transfer if you prefer.
Fill in the Registration form so I know a bit about you.
You will receive a confirmation email.

If for any reason a session does not go ahead, due to insufficient numbers, then you will receive a full refund.

Mega Study Hub Three Day Online Retreats:

20th – 22nd June 2022 with a pre-session on 14th June 2022

Block out three days to devote to your PhD in 2022.

As well as three back to back ‘usual’ Study Hub days, there are evening sessions on the 20th and 21st June. So block out all day and night on those days. You will achieve total immersion and flow in your work.

Be prepared to get loads done.

The pre-session on 14th June, 12noon -1pm, is optional and will be recorded and sent to you. However, it would be great to get to know you and the group before this time, because, as you know, we dive straight in when the Mega Study Hub starts ‘proper’.

Fully refundable.

Please click on the Paypal link to pay £175 for the Mega Study Hub

Pay Now!

After you have made payment, please register for the Mega Study Hub by completing this form:

Complete Questionnaire

You can also suggest to your university that they fund this. If you need help with any forms for this, I will help you. Universities often fund students to go to these sorts of things, just as they would pay for you to go to a conference.

Money Back Guarantee

If you attend all the online hours and you are not satisfied that you have made a lot of progress, you can request a full refund.

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Testimonials

“Your supervision is the best I’ve ever experienced…

Natalie was my supervisor whilst I was writing my second MSc dissertation. Without her depth of knowledge, academic rigour and imagination, I feel my dissertation would not have had the breadth in the subject area, structure and insights it now has. Writing my dissertation became an experience with Natalie, not a process. Her feedback was via Loom (face to face and recorded) and it was prompt and fearless, with her personality and humour in there too.

I never felt she was inhibited about how I was going to hear the feedback. She didn’t waste time on trying to package it. I liked her precision and clear style – it was very motivating. I looked forward to receiving her feedback as I knew as a result of it, my knowledge and research capability was going to increase and my dissertation was going to improve. Natalie’s feedback included structure, order, grammar, subject matter, pairing of ideas, bringing insights to the surface, drawing out my own style, and being braver in my assertions and contribution to the field. Natalie left it up to me as to whether I incorporated her feedback but her feedback was immediate (literally within 4 minutes of sending her something once), instinctive, and grounded in logic and the subject matter so it was difficult not to.

Natalie identified links I hadn’t noticed, and at the same time, was very generous to the work, and appreciated that it was my idea we were trying to craft, and she ensured that that remained the purpose, but took it to a level I hadn’t appreciated. I completed by dissertation whilst working full time and it wouldn’t have worked if I hadn’t experienced her conscientiousness and discipline.

My words to Natalie at the end of my academic journey with Natalie was ‘your supervision is the best I’ve ever experienced, prompt and fearless, exactly what you need to write something worth reading’

“I feel Natalie goes above and beyond…

I approached Natalie for some tutoring in relation to my Level 3 Social Psychology degree. I was having particular difficulties with my proposed qualitative research project. I have to admit I was really struggling and was contemplating pulling out of my studies. Thankfully, I searched for a tutor first and found Natalie through the suggestion of a friend. After supplying Natalie with an overview of the objectives, she demonstrated a clear understanding and picked up on what I was aiming for and having difficulties with.

Our tutorials took place over face time as I live abroad, however, this was not an issue Natalie made me feel at ease and comfortable. Natalie consistently provided fantastic clarity, explaining areas I didn’t understand clearly. For example, literature searches proved difficult for me and Natalie took the time to walk me through the procedure, assisting me in finding some fabulous papers before giving me the next step to take.

She was extremely patient and clear in explaining how to approach my area of study, she quite obviously had a vast knowledge regarding psychology and teaching. As a mature student who had lost their confidence, I felt Natalie’s empathy and support really encouraging - she really gave me the push I needed!

I am genuinely thrilled to bits with her undivided attention and dedication in helping me to both understand my topic thoroughly and attain a mark to be proud of.

As a tutor, I feel Natalie goes above and beyond to help her students succeed and I cannot recommend her highly enough. I will most definitely be calling on her help and indisputable expertise in the near future.

“ I learnt some good tips and techniques….

“I was stuck in a sea of low motivation surrounded by procrastination land (both looking bleak). Study Hub has given me something tangible to hold on to. I learnt some good tips and techniques I had not come across for getting motivation going, and for getting a plan of action together to keep it going. Thank you.”

“I valued the impartial fresh set of eyes…

“I valued the impartial fresh set of eyes on my concerns with clear guidance and suggestions. An excellent space to get energy from others and to wholly focus on my thesis.”

“Individual coaching time was very helpful….

“Before Study Hub, I was unconfident and had low self-esteem about my ability to study. Now I’m more confident and motivated. Individual coaching time was very helpful.”

“Study Hub is a great environment to work on my thesis….

“I actually wrote a number of significant pieces of writing. It was completely brilliant. Thank you.”

“I really believe you’re just what I need to help me …

I'm pleased you're happy to supervise me- I really believe you're just what I need to help me through these last few months!

“Natalie is brilliant……..

“Natalie is brilliant. The perfect host of such a day. Pragmatic and creative and no nonsense.”

“Thank you so much…

Thank you so much for all your help. I could not have done it without your help.

Finished with just over 9 hours to spare.

“ I needed someone to kick my butt and make me actually sit down….

“Before I went on Study Hub, I didn’t have a single useful thing written for my lit review. Thanks to Study Hub, I have 1000 words written, and even better, I know what I want to write next. I needed someone to kick my butt and make me actually sit down and write.”