Studying
Much of the academic work at university will be similar in many ways to students’ previous experiences of study. They will be reading, attending classes, writing essays and producing other kinds of coursework, and will receive help and advice on all of these from their course tutors and central departments.
Academic study and assessment at
university takes various forms. The first
difference students will notice will probably
be class size. In some courses they may
attend lectures with over 100 students.
These sessions are mainly designed to
convey key information and ideas in the
subject and to introduce new research.
Lectures normally last around an hour, and
students are expected to take notes to help
them recall and process key points. They
will normally be expected to speak only if
specifically invited to do so, though they
can ask questions at the end. Handouts
may also be available.
In most courses, these large lectures will be
balanced by small group teaching sessions,
sometimes known as seminars, which are
more informal and in which students are
expected to actively participate. Other kinds
of teaching will include tutorials (one-to-one
or very small groups) and depending on
the particular course, practical sessions
in laboratories or workshops, and perhaps
field trips or work placements.
Students’ work is assessed in many ways
including:
- Assignment's – it is not unusual for each
10-credit module to require at least two
assignments (for example, a seminar
presentation or lab report, as well as a
formal essay). If a student is taking six
10-credit modules during a semester, that
would mean 12 seperate assignments,
almost one a week on average, as well as general reading and preparation. - Group work – most courses will include assignments that should be researched and completed in groups. Organising time, allocating work, communication and group skills are additional elements to this kind of assessment.
- Exams – many modules or courses end with an exam. They are held under strict conditions and usually require the student to memorise some of the material they have learnt on the course.
- Dissertation – also called a thesis. In the final year, most courses require the submission of a dissertation. Word count varies on the course, but this is likely to be a large piece of work which includes the findings of research.
Another important difference between school and university study is that universities are constantly engaged in creating and discovering new knowledge. This means that right from the start, students are expected to question what they hear and read, to think critically aboutthe evidence for particular theories or points of view, to develop their own ideas and to identify and solve problems. This is one of the primary purposes of universities and the reason why graduate skills are so highly valued in the workplace.
How you can help
The right course?
- If a student is unsure if they are on the right course it can be difficult to get motivated and approach studies with enthusiasm. It is sensible to address the issue as soon as possible.
Motivation
- At some point students may wonder if it is all worth it. If you are supporting a student during this time your job will be to try and keep them motivated and encourage them to seek support from, for example one of their tutors.
Stress
- All courses have stress points – this could be when assignments are due in, or when exams are looming – your support and encouragement at this time is essential (perhaps you can take on extra chores to help the student or by proof reading assignments, etc).
- If possible being able to listen to your student will be hugely • beneficial but also encourage them to seek help.
- The university knows that study isn’t always straightforward • and that sometimes complex difficulties can come into play - in some circumstances the university can give extensions to deadlines – the student will need to contact their Personal or Course Tutor