Abstract
This short project presents an analysis of the varying nature of academic-writing problems of the students at the University of Oslo, the effects of these problems on the students’ progress, and the main factors of these problems, with recommendations. The main purpose of this study is to apprise the Academic Writing Center (the University of Oslo) of the issues the university students face regarding their writing style while studying at Oslo University, and to recommend measures to enhance its operation. However, this study can be insightful for the students too. The investigation is based on the views collected from the students belonging to different disciplines at graduate and postgraduate levels. The data (i.e. the students’ views) have been elicited through open-ended interviews with the students. Additionally, the consultant’s (i.e. the researcher) personal experience as an international student at the University of Oslo also proved to be relevant and useful in this investigation. This is, primarily, an observation-based study. The results show that mainly the international students, and among them the non-European and non-American ones, face problems with their prose style. These problems appear equally relevant to the varying (educational) backgrounds of the students and to the errors in their language use.