There are plenty of workshops and tutorials on offer at university covering topics like essay writing, referencing, research, presentation skills and computer skills. Check with the library or student services to find out what workshops you can attend to assist with developing your study skills.

Your library is a very important source of information during your time at university. Make sure you familiarise yourself with the different sections, and different borrowing rules. Enquire about online library access, which is handy for accessing journals and papers. Ask a librarian to set you up with a tutorial on how to use the online database.

When you are researching an assignment Google Scholar is an awesome free academic tool! Go to the Google Scholar home page at www.scholar.google.com and select settings on the top right. Now click on Library links on the left and type in the name of your university. This will link nearly all the databases your university provides students with to one simple search tool.

Trying to get your head around concepts like academic writing can be a bit overwhelming. Your university will have online tips and tutorials to transition you to the skills required for university level for note-taking, critical thinking and essay writing. Ask at your university library if there are essay writing and study workshops you can join.

Referencing where you get your research from is a valuable skill to learn and can have a huge impact on your marks. There are different referencing conventions, such as APA and Harvard. It’s important to find out what referencing style is expected of you, as different subject areas have different referencing requirements. Your university library will have explanations of referencing styles and offer tutorials in the different referencing systems.
There are some very good computer programs like www.citethisforme.com,  www.endnote.com and www.refworks.com to help with referencing. Many universities will provide these programs for free while you are studying with them. Microsoft Word also has a referencing function and there are tutorials on the internet to help learn how to use it.

Plagiarism is a serious offence at university. It is important to always acknowledge and reference any words and ideas you use from textbooks and other sources. Turn it in is an online resource you can submit your essays and assignments to and have them double checked for plagiarism. Check it out at www.turnitin.com.

It is also a serious offence to have someone else write an assignment for you. Don’t fall for scams that ask you to pay money to have your assignments done for you.

Plagiarising or having someone else complete your work can result in a subject fail, or even being expelled from the university.

When you attend lectures it’s a good idea to take notes. You can’t be expected to remember everything you hear, especially when you are being introduced to so many new concepts. Keep your notes concise by summarising what you see and hear into key points.

When revising your notes, don’t just read them, but ensure you understand the key concepts and can explain them in your own words.

If lecture notes are available in advance it can be really useful to print them out and use them during the lecture to take further notes and highlight important information.

Different people have different study habits.  Some people find study groups helpful, others like to make flash cards and study alone. You will need to find out what works best for you.

Your student services centre will be able to provide you with information about online study programs and face-to-face workshops.

Remember to always save your work! An external hard drive is a worthwhile investment. If ever you are having computer problems, start with turning it off and back on again (rebooting it) before you panic – sometimes this is all you need to do. If you are having issues with your university website, university email account or library website, remember IT support is available at all institutions.

1. Buy a hard drive and BACK UP ALL YOUR WORK. You wouldn’t believe how many students lose work that wasn’t backed up.
2. Learn how to reference and which referencing system your subjects use. Get on to this early as it will never go away and is required for every academic assignment. (NB: some students have been marked down and have even failed assignments because they have not referenced correctly!)
3. Be on top of your tutorial and class sign ups. That 8am tutorial option is still there for a reason… Book in early to get what works best for you.
4. Keep on top of your study, assignments and readings. Don’t leave things until the last minute… you’ll always regret it.
5. Be sure to check the attendance requirements for each of your subjects as some lectures and tutorials are compulsory and if you miss classes you can fail.
6. Your relationship with your lecturers and tutors will be much less formal than high school.
7. You won’t get spoon-feeding at university and most lecturers and tutors will not chase you up for an assignment. Don’t be afraid to ask for help, but remember the initiative needs to come from you, not your lecturer or tutor.
8. Plagiarism is a HUGE academic crime at university! Don’t cut and paste from the internet or copy someone else’s work. Do your own thinking and produce original work for every assignment.
9. Use websites and software like turnitin.comthat help check your assignments for plagiarism, spelling mistakes and grammatical errors.
10. Never give up. When things get tough just stay calm, keep going and remember to ASK FOR HELP.

Most universities offer the option of distance study. This means you complete the bulk of your degree online and don’t need to attend face-to-face classes every week. Check with your course coordinator to see if this is an option for you.

You can defer your course at the beginning of each semester if you are unable to continue at the time. Most universities allow deferment for up to 18 months. When you defer it’s like you are pressing the pause button on your degree and you are often able to pick up from where you left off at a later date. Make sure you check your university’s rules on deferment and consider all your options before initiating this step.

You will hear the word “census” a lot when you begin university. What it means is the last day you can withdraw from a course or subject without being charged a full semester of fees. Each census date may be different so make sure you check your university calendar and mark this date in your diary, even if you think you won’t need it.

We don’t all get it right the first time and at some point in your degree you might be wondering if you have picked the right course. Don’t panic, there’s options to transfer to other degrees at university. Speak to a career advisor or your course director to find out how you can change courses. Don’t stop showing up to your current classes though, as flunking can limit your chances of transferring to another course. Besides, you could be eligible for credit points for the subjects you have already completed.

If you are really organised you can borrow textbooks or other reading materials from your university library or a public library. But you’ll need to get in quick and watch out for late fees!

Check with your library to see how many copies of a textbook they have and if there is an ebook version. In demand textbooks might only be available for loan for short periods.

If you have the budget, buying your own copy of a textbook means it’s on hand whenever you need it. Find out from your lecturer if you really need the newest version of a book – some newer editions may not be too different from the old one. If so, buy an older, cheaper edition.

Some students share textbooks to save on costs. You will need to trust the person you are sharing costs with and set up a fair system for using the textbook.

Another way to save a bit of money is to become a life member by joining the Co-op Bookshop for $25, to get discounts on purchases and special offers.

 

You can also buy textbooks at:

www.unibooks.com.au/

www.fishpond.com.au/

www.thecampusbookstore.com/

www.bookdepository.com/

Students advertise second-hand textbooks on campus and online noticeboards. Websites like www.studentVIP.com.au and www.zookal.com connect sellers and buyers of secondhand uni textbooks.  And be on the look out for Facebook pages for buying, swapping and selling textbooks and resources.

Renting textbooks is another option. These websites will rent uni textbooks for the duration of the semester:

www.jekkle.com.au

www.zookal.com

www.thecampusbookstore.com

It’s also worth investigating whether a book you need is available as an ebook either from a library or for purchase. Advantages of ebooks include remote access, enhanced searchability, no bulky books to carry, they are often cheaper and some include assessments, quizzes and lecture slides. The disadvantages of ebooks include IT issues, no onselling and some people find them more difficult to read and take notes from.