Students' top study tips

We asked students in the School of Pharmacy and Biomolecular Sciences for their top tips on studying. Here is the feedback that we received:

Keep your files and notes organized! Know where your material is so it doesn’t take all day to dig up notes you need. Keep on top of your filing - thin out old semester notes, and keep a file for current modules or subjects being studied.Marcus Williams, Biological Sciences student

Don’t leave studies until the end! Candy Koenig, Pharmaceutical and Chemical Sciences student

"Book a library study room...

...and revise as a group. Use the boards to make notes on key points; they might know something you missed."

Find out more about booking a library room

Don’t be afraid to ask lecturers questions! Ali Mahdi, Pharmacy student

Block time out in your schedule for study; set small achievable objectives to complete what you want to do in that time and then reward yourself (meet up with a friend, watch a favourite program - what ever floats your boat) when you have done it.Di Smith, Nursing and Midwifery Senior Lecturer

If you are studying on your own, set yourself goals; e.g. read 2 chapters, write out summary notes and then take a break. You always need motivation!Erin Dolan, Pharmacy student

Get your research articles as soon as possible.Tanya Conway-Grim, Biological Sciences student

Every time you learn something new, either think to yourself or write down how you can relate what you have just learnt to the bigger picture. This makes things much easier to remember in the long term as your new facts are now associated with other memories.It all sounds a bit abstract, but it seems to work! Terry Dowling, Pharmacy student

Seriously....unplug the internet if you’re using the computer for work. I get easily distracted browsing on the internet. Don’t fall into the trap of looking on Facebook, Hotmail or ebay! Marcus Williams, Biological Sciences student

Draw diagrams to summarise complicated topics, memorise them and practice re-drawing. Learning off reams of text for essays won't help and probably won't facilitate the question asked, but having a diagram in front of you that presents the information in a logical sequence, which can then be shaped to fit the question asked is much more helpful.Cathy Naylor, Pharmacy student

Book a library study room and revise as a group. Use the boards to make notes on key points; they might know something you missed. Caroline Champion, Biological Sciences student

I study really well when I've just woken up from sleep -whatever time of day. My mind seems to be able to hold a lot more information, and stuff from lectures just miraculously comes crawling back to my brain. I always take short breaks every hour and try and switch subjects around otherwise I get bored easily. If I've only got one module to revise for, I switch and do some drawing (nothing to do with my course - it just relaxes me!) Amirah Ahmed, Biological Sciences student

When you are starting on a project, keep a file for anything relating to that project, which is separate from other work. This will help you to keep track of your work and not mix it up with other projects that you may be working on (do the same for them if you have several projects on the go). Di Smith, Nursing and Midwifery Senior Lecturer

students chatting

Don't be alone - talk to other people on your course to thrash ideas about - it really helps! Emma Burton, Community Phrmaceutical Health Care student

Make good use of your diary and enter the dates of work that have to be submitted. Then work back from those dates to plan when you need to do the work. Di Smith, Nursing and Midwifery Senior Lecture

Practice questions and exam papers fully. Aneri Shah, Pharmacy student

Don't panic

Whatever you do, do not let your problems go on until your academic performance falls apart; please alert a member of staff about these problems. Find out more about this

If using a voice recorder, it doesn’t mean you can fall asleep in lectures! Ali Mahdi, Pharmacy student

Take regular breaks and if at all possible try to do something at least once a day to give your mind a rest such as a walk or run or whatever you're into, that doesn't require thinking and completely removes you from your books.Cathy Naylor, Pharmacy student

Organise a timetable for topics and modules and stick to it. Aneri Shah, Pharmacy student

Get into a routine - same time, same place for your studying, get into a good studying habit. Emma Burton, Community Pharmaceutical Health Care student

I know it's really obvious but eat well! A lot of students who may eat well during the year survive on junk food around exam time which affects their energy and immune system. Neither of which are likely to enhance their exam performance or study ability.Cathy Naylor, Pharmacy student

If there is a piece of work you're really dreading, do it first. Tell yourself you'll get the work out and just do 10 minutes or 1 small item off the list. Melissa Graham, Applied Biomedical Sciences

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