How to study at uni????
Hey, after a rocky start to my university experience (transferring and stress) I’m almost ready to fully focus on studies….but I don’t know HOW.
Can anyone give me some tips on how to study? The workload was not unexpected but definitely less manageable than I first imagined, and with the extra stress it hasn’t been easy to fully concentrate. I want to do my best but don’t know the first thing about writing essays or completing exams or remembering the chaotic amount of work we’re given.
Any advice would be SO appreciated!
Thanks!
Can anyone give me some tips on how to study? The workload was not unexpected but definitely less manageable than I first imagined, and with the extra stress it hasn’t been easy to fully concentrate. I want to do my best but don’t know the first thing about writing essays or completing exams or remembering the chaotic amount of work we’re given.
Any advice would be SO appreciated!
Thanks!
Reply 1
Original post
by AnonymousHey, after a rocky start to my university experience (transferring and stress) I’m almost ready to fully focus on studies….but I don’t know HOW.
Can anyone give me some tips on how to study? The workload was not unexpected but definitely less manageable than I first imagined, and with the extra stress it hasn’t been easy to fully concentrate. I want to do my best but don’t know the first thing about writing essays or completing exams or remembering the chaotic amount of work we’re given.
Any advice would be SO appreciated!
Thanks!
Can anyone give me some tips on how to study? The workload was not unexpected but definitely less manageable than I first imagined, and with the extra stress it hasn’t been easy to fully concentrate. I want to do my best but don’t know the first thing about writing essays or completing exams or remembering the chaotic amount of work we’re given.
Any advice would be SO appreciated!
Thanks!
What course are you doing?
Reply 2
Original post
by AnonymousHey, after a rocky start to my university experience (transferring and stress) I’m almost ready to fully focus on studies….but I don’t know HOW.
Can anyone give me some tips on how to study? The workload was not unexpected but definitely less manageable than I first imagined, and with the extra stress it hasn’t been easy to fully concentrate. I want to do my best but don’t know the first thing about writing essays or completing exams or remembering the chaotic amount of work we’re given.
Any advice would be SO appreciated!
Thanks!
Can anyone give me some tips on how to study? The workload was not unexpected but definitely less manageable than I first imagined, and with the extra stress it hasn’t been easy to fully concentrate. I want to do my best but don’t know the first thing about writing essays or completing exams or remembering the chaotic amount of work we’re given.
Any advice would be SO appreciated!
Thanks!
Hi,
I hope you are well! I felt exactly the same as you when I started uni last year and had to complete my first few assignments. It can be very stressful I know but there are people that can help you! I know at LJMU they offer student support teams who can help with things like this. You can book an appointment with them and then they can read through your work to give you feedback or assist you in the structuring of the essay. I would suggest that you see if your uni offers the same or a similar sort of thing as it will definitely help you out!
With regards to remembering your workload then I would suggest writing a to do list. Whether it is online or on paper it will help a lot with knowing what you need to focus on. If you put the most important tasks towards the top of the to do list and then the lesser important ones towards the bottom then you can prioritise different tasks! There are multiple apps for to do lists but I would recommend actually writing a physical list and sticking up somewhere in your room and then you can cross off the task once completed!
I hope this response has helped slightly and I hope a few more people manage to get back to you with some suggestions! Let me know if you have any other questions, I am more than happy to help!
Thanks, Matt 🙂
Official LJMU Student Rep
Reply 3
Original post
by AnonymousHey, after a rocky start to my university experience (transferring and stress) I’m almost ready to fully focus on studies….but I don’t know HOW.
Can anyone give me some tips on how to study? The workload was not unexpected but definitely less manageable than I first imagined, and with the extra stress it hasn’t been easy to fully concentrate. I want to do my best but don’t know the first thing about writing essays or completing exams or remembering the chaotic amount of work we’re given.
Any advice would be SO appreciated!
Thanks!
Can anyone give me some tips on how to study? The workload was not unexpected but definitely less manageable than I first imagined, and with the extra stress it hasn’t been easy to fully concentrate. I want to do my best but don’t know the first thing about writing essays or completing exams or remembering the chaotic amount of work we’re given.
Any advice would be SO appreciated!
Thanks!
Hi there!
I hope you are doing well and have managed to settle into your new University. Everything you are feeling is completely understandable so please do not panic too much (easier said than done I know!). With help in any academic way, Your University would generally have a student hub team who will always be there to help support you in all ways that you may need. Additionally, you may have an academic tutor within your department who can help you with any academic related work (particularly essays).
I would recommend getting ahead of all work, whether this be making notes, completing small quizes or beginning to write an essay. Writing to do lists has been the most helpful way, for me, to remember what to do, you can prioritise different tasks as well to understand how you should complete this. There is nothing more satisfying than completing everything on your to do list and crossing it all off!
Hope this helps!
Rachel (UoS Student Room Rep)
Reply 4
Original post
by Talkative ToadWhat course are you doing?
History!
Reply 5
Original post
by AnonymousHey, after a rocky start to my university experience (transferring and stress) I’m almost ready to fully focus on studies….but I don’t know HOW.
Can anyone give me some tips on how to study? The workload was not unexpected but definitely less manageable than I first imagined, and with the extra stress it hasn’t been easy to fully concentrate. I want to do my best but don’t know the first thing about writing essays or completing exams or remembering the chaotic amount of work we’re given.
Any advice would be SO appreciated!
Thanks!
Can anyone give me some tips on how to study? The workload was not unexpected but definitely less manageable than I first imagined, and with the extra stress it hasn’t been easy to fully concentrate. I want to do my best but don’t know the first thing about writing essays or completing exams or remembering the chaotic amount of work we’re given.
Any advice would be SO appreciated!
Thanks!
Have you ever written a history essay before?
Reply 6
Original post
by AnonymousHistory!
Thanks, I don’t do that course but yeah.
I was basically going to suggest doing what the two reps have said.
Does your university have an academic skills team of some sort? They can probably help you when it comes with how to structure essays, how referencing works etc.
I’d also recommend talking to your lecturers about this if possible or you might find that during lectures/seminars/tutorials they’ll go through what’s expected of you when it comes to structuring essays for each module or in general.
Are you eligible for a study skills tutor under DSA by any chance for example (you don’t have to answer this question if you don’t want to)? If you are eligible for such support then you could maybe do things such as creating a timetable or just planning your studies in general with them.
(edited 1 month ago)
Reply 7
Original post
by ageshallnotHave you ever written a history essay before?
I studied it at gcse and a level but I’ve heard so many people say that writing it at degree level is so different!
Reply 8
Original post
by AnonymousHey, after a rocky start to my university experience (transferring and stress) I’m almost ready to fully focus on studies….but I don’t know HOW.
Can anyone give me some tips on how to study? The workload was not unexpected but definitely less manageable than I first imagined, and with the extra stress it hasn’t been easy to fully concentrate. I want to do my best but don’t know the first thing about writing essays or completing exams or remembering the chaotic amount of work we’re given.
Any advice would be SO appreciated!
Thanks!
Can anyone give me some tips on how to study? The workload was not unexpected but definitely less manageable than I first imagined, and with the extra stress it hasn’t been easy to fully concentrate. I want to do my best but don’t know the first thing about writing essays or completing exams or remembering the chaotic amount of work we’re given.
Any advice would be SO appreciated!
Thanks!
Hiya!
I’m sorry for the rocky start, but it’s really great you are so motivated to learn.
Studying can be broken into three chunks. Preparing for lectures, notetaking, and revising post lectures.
Lectures
Do your lecturers post course material ahead of time? Mine does.
Before the lectures I would just spend some time going over them, and write down some headings and notes I will for sure take during class (I use just pen and paper), leaving room for other notes to be taken. It’s also the space to put down questions, and if you know what you will be confused about ahead of time, during the lectures there’s a much higher chance of getting them answered. It’s also great for getting an idea of what the lecture will talk about and I found that as long as I looked at it beforehand the lectures got so much easier to follow.
Note taking
Taking notes is super important, some use a laptop, some use traditional pen and paper and some (with permission) even record lecture audios on your phone. My recorder app provide a transcript and it’s great to study with.
Revising
Get a study group! I have a group of girls taking the same course, and after lectures we stay a couple hours at the library studying together, and then get food together. Try to build such a group if you could, we all ended up with really good grades last year.
Do you have any specific questions we can try to help answer?
I hope this helps.
Best, Maddie (Kingston Rep)
Reply 9
Original post
by AnonymousI studied it at gcse and a level but I’ve heard so many people say that writing it at degree level is so different!
Hopefully. A Cambridge history admissions tutor told me that he and his colleagues spend most of the first year beating the PEE/PEEL structure out of their students with large sticks.
Reply 10
Original post
by Kingston MaddieHiya!
I’m sorry for the rocky start, but it’s really great you are so motivated to learn.
Studying can be broken into three chunks. Preparing for lectures, notetaking, and revising post lectures.
Lectures
Do your lecturers post course material ahead of time? Mine does.
Before the lectures I would just spend some time going over them, and write down some headings and notes I will for sure take during class (I use just pen and paper), leaving room for other notes to be taken. It’s also the space to put down questions, and if you know what you will be confused about ahead of time, during the lectures there’s a much higher chance of getting them answered. It’s also great for getting an idea of what the lecture will talk about and I found that as long as I looked at it beforehand the lectures got so much easier to follow.
Note taking
Taking notes is super important, some use a laptop, some use traditional pen and paper and some (with permission) even record lecture audios on your phone. My recorder app provide a transcript and it’s great to study with.
Revising
Get a study group! I have a group of girls taking the same course, and after lectures we stay a couple hours at the library studying together, and then get food together. Try to build such a group if you could, we all ended up with really good grades last year.
Do you have any specific questions we can try to help answer?
I hope this helps.
Best, Maddie (Kingston Rep)
I’m sorry for the rocky start, but it’s really great you are so motivated to learn.
Studying can be broken into three chunks. Preparing for lectures, notetaking, and revising post lectures.
Lectures
Do your lecturers post course material ahead of time? Mine does.
Before the lectures I would just spend some time going over them, and write down some headings and notes I will for sure take during class (I use just pen and paper), leaving room for other notes to be taken. It’s also the space to put down questions, and if you know what you will be confused about ahead of time, during the lectures there’s a much higher chance of getting them answered. It’s also great for getting an idea of what the lecture will talk about and I found that as long as I looked at it beforehand the lectures got so much easier to follow.
Note taking
Taking notes is super important, some use a laptop, some use traditional pen and paper and some (with permission) even record lecture audios on your phone. My recorder app provide a transcript and it’s great to study with.
Revising
Get a study group! I have a group of girls taking the same course, and after lectures we stay a couple hours at the library studying together, and then get food together. Try to build such a group if you could, we all ended up with really good grades last year.
Do you have any specific questions we can try to help answer?
I hope this helps.
Best, Maddie (Kingston Rep)
Thank you SO much!
Reply 11
Original post
by ageshallnotHopefully. A Cambridge history admissions tutor told me that he and his colleagues spend most of the first year beating the PEE/PEEL structure out of their students with large sticks.
Note taken - I will not be going anywhere near that structure, thank you!
Reply 12
Original post
by AnonymousHey, after a rocky start to my university experience (transferring and stress) I’m almost ready to fully focus on studies….but I don’t know HOW.
Can anyone give me some tips on how to study? The workload was not unexpected but definitely less manageable than I first imagined, and with the extra stress it hasn’t been easy to fully concentrate. I want to do my best but don’t know the first thing about writing essays or completing exams or remembering the chaotic amount of work we’re given.
Any advice would be SO appreciated!
Thanks!
Can anyone give me some tips on how to study? The workload was not unexpected but definitely less manageable than I first imagined, and with the extra stress it hasn’t been easy to fully concentrate. I want to do my best but don’t know the first thing about writing essays or completing exams or remembering the chaotic amount of work we’re given.
Any advice would be SO appreciated!
Thanks!
Hey there,
I am Ilya, a final year Cyber Security student at De Montfort University. I can share with you some of my tips, please let me know if you found any of them useful
The first and the most important thing is to organise the way you are tracking things that you are doing. I use Google Calendar for that. I put all my lectures and extra curriculum activities on calendar, and then I can easily track everything from the app on my phone or smartwatch. It also has a useful feature called Google Tasks, which is essentially like a To-Do list but in the app and traceable through the calendar.
Writing essays is a tricky one. At DMU we have a whole support team in the library who do tutorials on academic writing and referencing. I would advise you to reach out to your university if they have something similar? For referencing guide feel free to use this brilliant resource https://www.citethemrightonline.com/
And the last but not the least - 60% of your academic success (in my humble opinion) is efficient and organised note-taking. I use Obsidian and sometimes Notion for that. Keeping all notes in one place, digital and organised really helps to keep track of everything.
Please let me know if you find some of those tips useful, or if you have any questions
Ilya
Cyber Security student at De Montfort University
Reply 13
Original post
by AnonymousHey, after a rocky start to my university experience (transferring and stress) I’m almost ready to fully focus on studies….but I don’t know HOW.
Can anyone give me some tips on how to study? The workload was not unexpected but definitely less manageable than I first imagined, and with the extra stress it hasn’t been easy to fully concentrate. I want to do my best but don’t know the first thing about writing essays or completing exams or remembering the chaotic amount of work we’re given.
Any advice would be SO appreciated!
Thanks!
Can anyone give me some tips on how to study? The workload was not unexpected but definitely less manageable than I first imagined, and with the extra stress it hasn’t been easy to fully concentrate. I want to do my best but don’t know the first thing about writing essays or completing exams or remembering the chaotic amount of work we’re given.
Any advice would be SO appreciated!
Thanks!
Hi there!
I'm a second year history student at MMU and it can definitely feel like a lot at first, especially with the readings and essays! A few things that really helped me get into the flow were:
•
Break the workload into small, realistic goals - instead of trying to read everything at once, set a timer for 2-30 mins and focus on one text or topic. It makes it less overwhelming. For me, that still feels like a lot so I break it into chapters/subheadings.
•
Use a reading table - I use one with columns for the source name, type, key points, context, and my own insight. It helps keep things organised and helps when it's time to plan essays.
•
For essays, start with the question first. Spend time really unpacking what it's actually asking before diving into sources. Then build a short plan with 2-3 main arguments and develop from there. Remember argument -> evidence -> analysis for paragraphing.
•
Deepen your analysis of sources - content (whats being argued), context (whats the historical setting/author background) and critique (what are the strengths/weaknesses). Compare two different historians on the same topic. Note where they agree/disagree and which argument you find stronger. What does the source not tell you. Be wary of letting anachronisms creep into your analysis. Judge the century by the circumstances of that century.
•
Use office hours or drop-ins - history staff are happy to go over essay plans or clarify readings.
Let me know if you have any questions, I'm happy to help and good luck with your course!
MMU Student Rep,
Innaya x
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