ANN RUSSELL
STUDENT LEARNING SERVICES
Study Skills for University
OVERVIEW
Identify the gap/myths
 Understand why they are there
 Highlight the differences
 How to address them
 Practical steps to prepare students for the move
from college to university

STUDENT ASSUMPTIONS
Teaching styles similar to college/school.
 Levels of direct instruction, support, prompting,
ongoing feedback.
 Support will be offered as needed.
 To write ‘academically’ you need to use long fancy
words?
 Words mean the same in academia as they do in
the real world.
 University just means working harder.

UNIVERSITY STAFF EXPECTATIONS
Students are organised and prepared.
 Students know how to do academic assignments.
 Students are reading to learn.
 Students are taking responsibility for their own
learning.
 Students know why they are at university.
 Students can manage their time effectively.

DID YOU SPOT THE DIFFERENCES?
Writing style?
 Language?
 Research?
 Use of evidence rather than opinion?
 Citations and referencing?
 Structure – introduction, main body, conclusion?

WRITING STYLE
Concise clear writing which makes use of
appropriate sentences, grammar and
punctuation.
 Appropriate use of subject jargon/terminology.
 A more formal tone.
 Written in the third person unless requested to
do otherwise.
 Avoid use of contractions (can’t don’t) and
abbreviations e.g. etc.

RESEARCH AND USE OF EVIDENCE
Gives academic work credibility.
 Is using information from scientific and
systematic research.
 Research and reading to inform understanding
of the topic.
 To avoid answering with personal opinion.
 To help support the argument used in response to
a set task.

REFERENCING
One of biggest areas of confusion.
 Resources that have been used must be
acknowledged in the appropriate way in the
essay and in a terminal reference
list/bibliography.
 Vital to avoid plagiarism.
 Demonstrates how much relevant reading has
been completed.
 ‘Harvard’ is not a one size fits all system.
 Many different systems in use in any university.
 Students could potentially be using different
systems.

STRUCTURE
Needed to construct a clear coherent response to
a set task.
 Does not stop at introduction, main body and
conclusion.
 Individual paragraphs need to be structured
appropriately to stay focussed, incorporate
evidence and include analysis.
 Will to a certain extent be determined by the
task/ essay question.
 Is always a key component of any writing
assignment not just essays.

DIFFERENCES BETWEEN COLLEGE AND
UNIVERSITY
Taking responsibility for own learning.
 Understanding

different teaching styles
 how to break down and plan tasks.
 time management underpins everything.


Knowing where and how to access support and
help
HOW CAN YOUR STUDENTS PREPARE FOR
UNIVERSITY?

Note taking


Writing


Practise writing with a more formal tone, paying
attention to grammar and spelling. Avoid waffle try
to be concise and clear.
Resources


Practise doing this to find out which way works.
Try to find good quality resources and materials.
Think about how reliable they are.
Time management
Identify problems/bad habits or areas that they waste
time on now.
 Explore different ways of planning study time.

READING
Understand that this is the key to undergraduate
learning.
 Use different strategies for different purposes.
 Practise the different types of reading.
 Try reading more challenging texts, breaking
them down into smaller sections if necessary.


Information that is sent/given to students is how
they are ‘told’ what, where, when, how etc.
HOW CAN YOU SUPPORT YOUR STUDENTS?
FINALLY
Understand differences in teaching styles and
what is expected from them.
 Break down and plan tasks.
 Attend everything that is offered to support
transition - workshops/induction days/online
materials.
 Use everything that is in place to support and
help.
 Find out where that help is and what it is.
 Start being proactive now.


Start thinking about skills that could be improved in
preparation e.g. Spelling, grammar, IT skills,
reading, writing, time management, researching.
RESOURCES
University websites – Study skills
services/Learning support materials
 Palgrave MacMillan website – variety of
university preparation/study skills materials.
 Future Learn free MOOC starting 15th June.
 https://www.futurelearn.com/courses/preparingfor-uni-3
