53 hashtags for academia to expand your academic network on Twitter

Twitter has revolutionized academia for some who have embraced it. If you are trying to build your academic brand or expand your network then utilising academic hashtags on Twitter is an important tool.

Hashtags alone won’t instantly expand your network so make sure you dedicate time to nourish your network. If you are feeling bogged down with the time you spend on Twitter check out this post on how to manage Twitter in 10 minutes a day.

General Academia Hashtags

#AcademicTwitter

The catch-all academic hashtag which is used by most in a meta way to discuss the academic community on twitter.

#AcWri

Short for ‘academic writing’. Discussion and peer support group for all those with an interest in academia. With a slant towards being successful in the writing process, this hashtag also has motivation and tips towards academia in general.

#HigherED

Used more often for content around administration however it is used for anything higher education related.

#ScholarSunday

An academic specific version of #FollowFriday. Academics share on Twitter who they recommend others follow and why. Do not use for work on Sunday! Actually… do not work on Sundays! Take some downtime instead.

#AcademicLife

Another catch-all hashtag used for both serious and non-serious social media posts.

#MyDayInHE

Tell the world about your day. Successes, failures.. this hashtags is a mixed bag.

Research/Writing Academia Hashtags

#GetYourManuscriptOut

Getting papers to the finished and submitted stage can be a frustrating process. This hashtag is to tweet about your progress on a manuscript that needs to get out. If you see this hashtag in your feed give the writer a few words of encouragement!

#AmWriting/#AmReading/#AmEditing

Tell Twittersphere/Insta/Facebook that you are writing/reading/editing. It is not just used in academic writing but is a fantastic way to let your followers know that you should not be disturbed and for some ata-girls/ata-boys from your followers.

#ShutUpAndWrite

This one does just what it says on the can -> Shut Up and Write! Check out @SUWTues, @SUWTUK or @SUWTNA to participate in virtual writing groups.

#Reviewer2

Reviewer 2 is the embodiment of all that is wrong with the peer review system. This hashtag is used to share your experiences with ‘reviewer 2’

Teaching Academia hashtags

#eLearning

Tweeting about electronic learning? #eLearning is the hashtag for you.

#Students

The good, the bad and the ugly. Use this to highlight the best and worst of students. Or, follow others to know that you are not alone! Students at other universities are just the same as yours.

#EdChat

This hashtag spans all of education including K-12. Use this for more general educational information.

Hashtags for the lighter side of Academia

My favourite group of academic hashtags! Academia can be all-consuming and when we look around it can seem like everyone is overworking themselves so we feel that we need to do likewise to succeed. These hashtags let you know that it is okay to have some downtime.

#AcaDowntime

Anything you do to de-stress, relax and enjoy life. Hiking, drinking, fiction reading, meditation, eating, travelling, exploring… If you feel like you can’t use this hashtag you are working too hard. Log out of your computer, put down the tablet and get outside or invite some friends around for a board game.

#AcademicsWithCats 

Have a cat? This one should be accompanied with an image. An image of your cat/s combined with your laptop, paper, or readings is the go-to Instagram snap. Don’t forget your filter.

#AcademicsWithBeer 

Drink beer? This one should also be accompanied with an image of that brew. Even if it is a misquote of Benny Franklin, it still rings true that “Beer is proof God loves us and wants us to be happy”.

#AcademicsWithWine

Okay, so this one isn’t really a thing… yet!

You know the drill, wine + academic = #academicswithwine

#RuinADateWithAnAcademicInFiveWords

An academic version of the #RuinADateInFiveWords. Make sure you are in the right mood cause these can get deep fast. This hashtag includes beauties such as

#AcademicForecast

Describe your day/week as a weather forecast. This was popular in 2015 but there is nothing like a retro comeback right?

#ScienceAMovieQuote

Take a classic movie quote, add a dash of science humour. Again this is so 2015 but it’s never to late to add some academic humour to the social media world.

Hashtags for Women in Academia

#AcademicMama

Connect with other academics as they navigate motherhood and academia. Together we can laugh, cry and push for change in academia. While #academicmom and #academicmum are also used, #academicmama is universal and will ensure you connect with academics on both sides of the pond.

#WomenInAcademia

Use this hashtag to connect with women, call out the patriarchy and lift up women in academia. Give the woman a retweet.

Academic Hashtags for Minorities

Practices in hiring, retention, promotion all create additional hardships for minorities in academia. Despite it being 2019, much work is still to be done and not by those that are in the minority. A place to find people like you. Please let me expand this section by sending me a message or leaving a comment below.

#BlackAcademics /#BlackProfessor /#BlackAndSTEM

/ #LatinaProfessor/ #QueerSTEM/ #TransInSTEM/ #lgbtstem

Academic Hashtags for Early Career

Doing your PhD and being an early career academic can be isolating. Academic social media has opened up a support network… all you have to do in engage.

#ECRChat

ECRchat is a fortnightly Twitter chat about all things Early Career. See @ECRchat

#TenureTrack

Tweets from the trenches of life on the tenure track.

#WriteThatPhD

Motivational quotes, stories of success, replies of support. This is the hashtag for when you need a lift me up.

#PhDAdvice /#PhDChat

Unsolicited advice on completing your PhD. Tips on writing, reading, literature reviews, data analysis. You name it there is some PhD advice out there, if you can’t find it ask and you shall receive.

#PhDForum

A supportive community for those undertaking or thinking about doing a PhD. For more information on this hashtag see @PhDForum  Check out this tweet to see the value of this hashtag.

#PhDLife

Similar to #AcademicLife just PhD candidate specific. A general hashtag used for good and evil.

Hashtags for Adjuncts in Academia

#AdjunctLife/ #Adjunct/ #AdjunctProfessor/ #AdjunctProblems 

Mostly used to commiserate with fellow adjuncts. Everyone can agree adjunct work is a major issue, but there isn’t much conversation past the issues.

Hashtags for Life Outside/After Academia

#WithAPhD/#AltAc/#BeyondProf/#PostAc/ #TheProfessorIsOut/ #TheLeveragedPhD

While each of these hashtags has slightly different focuses they are all related to life outside or after academia. These are increasingly popular hashtags as fewer than half of all United States PhD graduates now work at universities.

Discipline-specific Academic Hashtags

#soctwitter (sociology)

#scicomm (science communication)

#twitterstorians (historians)

#histmed (history of medicine)

#medhist (medieval history)

#histchild (history of children/childhood)

Please send me/tweet me more discipline-specific academic hashtags so that I can expand this list.

Follow The Leveraged PhD on social media to keep up with new blog posts and academic insights.

Instagram | Twitter | Facebook