Tips for university study

What's it all about?

This is all about setting your own goals, making study plans, and monitoring your own progress. Doing this keeps you on track and helps to develop skills of independence and self-management. You'll be able to demonstrate your ability to meet deadlines, use initiative, plan projects and spot development opportunities.

Top tips 

Be clear on your motivation

Remind yourself of the reasons why you chose to study your subject. This can be a great way to dig in to your motivation, and reflect on your plans and goals. Talking to supportive family and friends about your plans can also help you to get your thoughts in order, and perhaps get different viewpoints on the opportunities you could pursue. 

Understand your strengths and areas for improvement

You’ll have developed lots of interests and skills whilst you have been learning in school, college, or in the workplace. Now is a great time to note those skills down. There are loads of ways to collect your ideas – you could use a mind map, a journal or diary, or if you prefer to keep things on your mobile, maybe explore some study apps and Microsoft Office 365 when you get here.

Create a study schedule

In addition to your timetabled on-campus and remote learning you’ll have a lot of learning to do in your own time. So, getting organised is essential to make sure you have a good balance between studying and socialising and help you feel in control. A simple weekly time planner is a great first step to mapping out all of your classes and assignment tasks, as well as time for hobbies and socialising, rest and sleep! 

What's it all about?

The transition between school, college and university is a really valuable time to take a step back and evaluate what study techniques have worked for you in the past, as well as what didn’t go so well. This reflection will help you to learn more effectively and to continue to develop and grow.

Top tips 

Ask yourself the following some simple questions to help you understand your study habits and build the answers into your personal study plan: 

Where do I study best and why?

Is there a type of location where you find it easier to focus, and to concentrate on studying more effectively? Are there things that you find easily distracting?

When do I study best?

Is there a particular part or parts of the day when you are most productive? Think about how you can build this time into your regular weekly schedule.

Which study techniques work best for me?

What types of information sources do you find yourself engaging with most? You might prefer watching video clips, reading texts, listening to podcasts or talking your ideas through with other people. Remember the importance of exploring a range of materials, and don’t just gravitate to the same website or streaming channel to find all of your information. 

Do I tend to leave things to the last minute?

It’s very easy to feel overwhelmed by many looming deadlines whilst running out of available study time. Cramming before a hand-in might have just about worked for you in the past, but planning and tackling the task ahead of time will provide you with better chances of getting a higher grade – and help reduce your stress levels. 

What's it all about?

Online classes will be an important feature of your learning during your first term and will allow you to explore topics as part of a group.

Large group sessions, like lectures, are likely to be pre-recorded so that you can watch them at a time that suits you. Your lecturer is likely to set some questions for you to explore based on the lecture topic and to share your thinking with them via online discussion boards or in a scheduled online group discussion with other students.

Smaller group teaching sessions will allow you to directly interact with your tutor and other students in online discussions, and to share ideas and links via a group chat.

Top tips 

Participate

Timetabled online classes are intended to help you get involved. So, ask and answer questions and take the opportunity to speak if you can.

Prepare 

Pre-reading will help you to feel more confident, so check your reading lists or go online to see what you can find out about the topic. 

Watch back 

Some classes will be recorded when the tutor has everybody’s permission, meaning you can watch them again. This can be a better time to take notes as you are not being required to participate. 

Take notes

As mentioned above, this can be easiest when you are looking back at a recording of the session. However, there may well be times during a presentation when you can treat it like a normal lecture and take notes. 

Challenge yourself

Before the classes start, think about what you would like to get from this experience. It’s certainly okay to set yourself the goal of asking or answering just one question during class – this can help you to take a small step towards building confidence for the next class. And it’s likely that other students will be thinking about the same question, so everyone benefits! 

What's it all about 

Spending time and sharing thoughts with other students on your course is a really important aspect of your studies. So, make sure you make the most of every opportunity – and remember that everyone will feel a little bit out of their comfort zone.

Find out about ways to stay connected with each other.

Top tips 

Start as you mean to go on

The first few days and weeks of university provide crucial new opportunities to get to know your course mates, and this is when friendships will start to form. Try not to miss any on-campus or online classes or events that you’re invited to, and have a look for clubs and societies you might also be keen to join. 

You might find it a bit more challenging to connect and make friends in-person after so long interacting online. Remember these basic rules to help you:

• Be open to new people and new experiences
• Smile and be positive when chatting to new people
• Get to know fellow students’ names
• Show curiosity for other peoples’ interests and perspectives
• Ask friendly questions, and be prepared to answer those questions yourself
• Listen attentively, and acknowledge others through nodding or smiling
• When in a small group, try not to focus on one person – ensure everyone feels included in a conversation
• Have in-depth one-to-one conversations outside of class or group work.