Learning to study

Get some helpful study tips and tricks for your first year—managing your time and assessments, avoiding plagiarism, and figuring out who to ask for help.

The new study environment

At university, you'll be expected to spend a lot more time studying independently.

Successful study habits

It’s easier to keep up, rather than catch up. Ask for help if you need it.

Get into a good routine

To make the most of your time at university, build a study routine that suits you and find study spaces where you can focus and feel productive.

Doing your required course readings and being on time to classes will help you get more out of your courses. You’ll understand what's being taught more easily, take more helpful notes in lectures, and feel less overwhelmed overall.

Time management

For each hour of contact time (lectures, tutorials, labs, and studios), you should plan to do two extra hours of study, such as:

• Reading and revising notes after lectures.
• Doing research in the Library or reading course materials.
• Working on assignments, laboratory reports, and studio projects.

An average week for a first-year student includes:

• 12 hours of contact time (lectures and tutorials)
• 24 hours of independent study.

That's a total commitment of around 36 hours per week. If your courses include studio or laboratory sessions, you may need to dedicate up to 45 hours for your studies each week.

During exam periods or when completing major assignments, you'll need to allow even more time.

Take a look at the time management resources on StudyHub and start building successful study habits of your own.

Assignments

Assignments are a vital part of your studies—your assessments are designed to help you learn and explore subjects more deeply.

Plan ahead for deadlines

Having an organised approach is important. When you look ahead in your course outlines, you may notice that you have several assignments due around the same time. It’s a good idea to complete some of them early rather than trying to finish and submit them all at once.

For some courses, you won't have an assignment due until the fifth or sixth week of the trimester. Keeping up with the lectures and course readings—and participating in tutorials—will make sure you're on track until you receive feedback from your first assignment.

You’re responsible for submitting your assignments and projects on time. If you have special circumstances that may affect this, you should talk to your course coordinator as early as possible.

Assignment types

You may be expected to complete different types of assignments during your studies, including:

• Academic essays, especially in Humanities and Social Sciences courses.
• Assignments involving exercises related to the week's lectures, particularly in  Science and Engjneering courses.
• Laboratory reports or field notes, especially for Science subjects.
• Literature reviews, which summarise existing research on a topic.

Reference sources correctly

It's also important to understand how to reference properly to acknowledge the sources you used in your assignment. Correct referencing is essential for avoiding plagiarism.

If you’re not sure how to reference correctly, attend a workshop run by our Student Learning team.

Learn to think critically

To succeed at university, it's important to think critically about what you're studying. Facts and theories alone are not enough—you need to form your own opinions, develop arguments about the topics you're learning, and support those arguments with evidence from your reading or research.

Critical thinking isn't just for written work. You may also be asked to comment during classes or tutorials, so it helps to come prepared with thoughtful ideas to contribute. University is a great time to open your mind to new perspectives, rethink assumptions, and to challenge your own ideas.

Say hello and ask questions

Most new students feel nervous or unsure for the first few weeks. Talk to the people sitting beside you in class and tutorials—they may know the answer to your questions, and it's always helpful to have someone to borrow notes from if you miss a class. You might also want to set up a study group, as learning together can be a great way to learn.

If you're not sure about something, you're probably not the only one. Your fellow students will often be grateful when you ask your lecturer, tutor, or lab demonstrator for clarification or guidance.

Many courses use Nuku, where you can post questions to other students and staff. If you want to ask your lecturer questions one-to-one, you can approach them at the end of the lecture or request a time to talk in their office.

Using the library

We have four libraries across our campuses and faculties. They provide a wide range of resources and facilities to support your study, including books, journals, online materials, and study spaces. Library staff are available to help you access the information you need.