Studying – it’s the main reason you come to university (or so you tell everyone)

But university study can be daunting. There’s new names for things like ‘Lectures, labs, tutorials and seminars’, the reading lists seem endless and the library is a mine of resources that make you feel like you’re wading through clay. So here are a few tips for adjusting to university level study.

1. Breathe. Everyone is in the same position and all of your lecturers and tutors were in that position once –they understand! Don’t put pressure on yourself to get everything right first time and ask for help if you need it.

2. Seek advice from those who know what they’re doing. Asking your friends about something you’re both unsure about can sometimes result in the blind leading the blind. You can talk to your lecturers, your academic tutor or a learning developer (contact learningdevelopmentfhm@lancaster.ac.uk) about any study related challenges instead and be confident of the right advice.

3. Alternatively, there will be workshops available throughout the year that cover things like ‘using the library’ or ‘referencing’ which can help you if you just don’t know where to start.

4. Look online! There are numerous study tips and advice online including our own student study blog.

5. Manage your time. Put time aside to do your reading, revise for your tests and write your reports. Writing a brief plan or draft can help you identify the gaps in your knowledge early enough for you to fill them and not be panicking the night before.

6. Be persistent! Independent study at university can be a lot to get used to but it gets easier with practice. By the time you reach your final year you’ll look back on your first year work and be amazed at the difference in quality.