Exam essentials !!! and How DMU supports their Students

As we all start to approach exam time , I’m sure that just like me some people are starting to realise that they might need help with course work and maybe even help understanding concepts you missed in class. I know that as an engineering student who does 5/6 modules per semester I can use all the assistance that I can get. So here is a brief look at some of the support DMU offers that comes in handy especially in exam season.

Let me start off by saying that to begin with DMU has an amazing culture of supportive lecturers😊. If for whatever reason my lecturers ever see this , Dr Ian Dupere you deserve an award for the being the most helpful lecturer at DMU. He is a reflection of the extent of support that’s available on my course. I have booked multiple one-on-one sessions to help me navigate my coursework and concepts I couldn’t grasp in class and also in all seminars , we cover what the class wants to cover .This may be past papers , example questions for content covered in the lecturer or even course work support and exam revision. Lecturers are always an email away and ready to assist you in any way they can and I take full advantage of this every chance I get.

Other forms of support outside of the classroom:
Engineering Learning centre :

This is only applies to engineering students but we have a dedicated learning centre that covers all engineering modules . You can book a one-on-one session or a group session with someone who can assist with coursework , revision or reteaching concepts you don’t understand. I used this a lot in first year but not so much in second year as the support I’ve had from my lecturers and my class mates has been sufficient for me.

Centre for learning and study support (CLASS):
This is a service offered by the library that offers free resources , materials and workshops to help with learning study skills which include writing , presentation skills , referencing and motivation. I used this service early last year to help me learn how to do IEEE referencing because I have always used the Harvard style of referencing .

Library workshops :📚
The library hosts workshops to help improve your chances of succeeding in all types of assessments. These workshops include : Revision strategies , exam strategies , presentation planning , critical writing and managing stress. As exam time approaches especially for first year students it is beneficial to pop into the library and attend some of these workshops , they teach you life long skills that make managing the exam stress a lot better. I attended a time management workshop last year before exams and that helped me use my time a lot better and now I don’t always have to be up till 2-3Am to get my work done.

Maths learning centre:
This one may not be applicable to all courses but if you study a degree that has a maths component the maths learning centre is a good place to get assistance. They have drop in sessions where you can book to get help with a question or a topic or even revise for an exam. I have used the learning centre multiple times in the last 2 years even after I finished doing engineering maths because my Mechanics coursework had a bit of math that I needed someone to look over. Definitely a good place to get assistance that is customised to your needs.

Beyond academic help DMU also offers mental health assistance if you need it. Sometimes exams can take a toll on us and all the pressure can be too much. The well being team on campus offers counselling and they do assessments of whether practical adjustments could be made to teaching, coursework hand-in times or exams, to reduce the impact that a mental health condition has on your studies at university.

If I had to go on about the support at DMU it would be endless as the university has comprehensive strategies to support students with a number of different area’s including with : deferrals , extensions , appeals , exams , administrative , student complaints , disability assistance ,welfare and academic support. All the support is tailored to your needs , its just a bout having the courage to reach out and ask for help , the best part is that its all one click away on the DMU website. Whenever I need help , no matter what kind of help it is , I just look online and request assistance .

In a world where almost everything is difficult if you are a student at DMU rest assured that getting through university doesn’t have to be. We are a community that supports one another and I hope this post goes to show how accessible assistance is. If you have any questions about the support systems I’ve used or those that I haven’t please feel free to ask my any questions I would love to chat about it.
To all those writing exams . Goodluck and I hope you get help if you need it !

Cece ✨
Energy Engineering student
De Montfort University

(edited 1 year ago)