Independent Learning
Study at university is very different from study at college, or
other study you've done in the past. You should be prepared
to do a lot more independent work.
On average, university students have around 15 hours of contact
time with lecturers and tutors each week, and spend 16 hours on
private study - but remember that this can vary a lot depending on
where and what you study.
The kind private study you do will depend on your subject, but
whatever your course there'll be a few things you need to keep on
top of:
- Motivation: It can be hard to face your
assignments on your own, so it's easy to let things slip. Sometimes
it can help to work with other people. This is particularly helpful
if they are also parents, as they will understand the pressures you
face and your schedules are more likely to fit together.
- Getting help: Everybody gets stuck
sometimes, whether it's not understanding an assignment or
struggling with referencing. Remember that just because you're
working independently doesn't mean you can't ask for help. Tutors
will normally be happy to help, but won't be able to give you much
time: you might have to wait to see them, and you'll have to make
sure you know exactly what you're asking in advance! Sometimes it
can be easier to ask coursemates. Even if they're having the same
problem, you're more likely to work it out if there's more than one
of you.
Types of Teaching
There are four main ways university courses are taught:
- Lectures: a lecturer discusses the subject matter,
usually for about an hour. Although there may be questions (from
the lecturer or the students) lectures are usually not very
interactive. To make the most of them, you need to listen carefully
and take effective notes. Some lecturers might not let you into the
lecture theatre if you're late, so find out what the university's
policy is on this and try and contact your lecturer in advance if
you think you'll be late or will miss it. If you're going to
miss a lecture, find out if the lecture notes are available online
or if you could borrow somebody else's.
- Seminars: These are held in smaller groups than
lectures, and involve more discussion. They usually also need more
preparation. You may be asked to deliver a short presentation,
write an essay, complete a set of problems or just prepare for a
discussion. Remember, you'll get more out of seminars by taking
part more fully - it can be more important to get involved in the
discussion than to note down everything anyone says. It can be
daunting speaking in front of others at first, but remember that
everybody else is probably as nervous as you are, and the more you
say the more your confidence will improve.
- Practical work and placements: Some subjects, like
sciences or engineering, will involve lab work. Others such as
social work and nursing will involve work placements. Practical
work is sometimes just for teaching purposes and sometimes forms
part of your assessment - make sure you know the difference! Also
remember to find out how many placements you have to do during your
course and at what time of year so you can plan your time
effectively. You may need to travel to get there which will impact
on your timetable and budget.
- Individual study: A lot of work will be done on
your own. This might mean working through set textbooks, or doing
independent research. You need to think about when and where you
study best and make arrangements for childcare if you need to. Also
check your course timetable so you can identify free periods when
you could make it to the library on campus.
Plagiarism and Copyright
Lots of university students - and even lecturers - get tripped
up when they refer to books and articles in their work.
The key thing to remember is that if you use somebody else's work,
you have to acknowledge it. This applies whether you quote them
directly or just base your work on their original ideas and
research.
Leeds University has a useful
guide to plagiarism but it's always a good idea to check your
own university's guidelines.
You also need to be careful when photocopying library books, as
there are limits to how much you are legally allowed to copy. This
is usually 5% of the book or one full chapter (whichever is
greater), but you can check with the librarian if you are not
sure
Tutors
- Let your tutors know if you think you'll be late for seminars
or meetings. People often feel uncomfortable or intimidated telling
tutors about their children, or sometimes don't want to appear like
they're asking for special dispensation, which is understandable,
but it's better for everyone if you let them know
- Don't worry about approaching tutors if you're unsure about an
assignment or an essay. Most will be happy to help. However, they
often won't be able to give you much time, so try to make an
appointment in advance and make sure you know exactly what you need
to ask before you go.
- Teaching Resources: Many universities have online teaching
resources such as lecture notes, course guides and sometimes even
recordings of lectures. These can be very helpful if you miss a
lecture, or if you just want to refresh your memory.
- When it comes to doing coursework, you can often see sample
work from previous years in university or faculty libraries. This
can be very useful if you're unsure about things like layout or
referencing.
- What's available varies by university and by faculty. Tutors
and librarians should be able to help you find out what is
available.