A tutorial is where you meet a lecturer either for a one-to-one session or as a small group, usually either in the lecturer’s office or a seminar room. You will probably have to read something to prepare for the tutorial … Read More
I can’t ask that question – my tutor will think I’m stupid Then ask me! I may regret this 🙂 but in an effort to find out how to help you all better I’m going to answer the top 5 … Read More
Freshers’ or Induction Week is most students’ introduction to University. Most people anticipate a fun-filled week of partying, getting to know what clubs are available and generally celebrating new-found freedom. There is an element of this but after the adrenalin-filled … Read More
Step 1 – learn things (you’ve been doing this since you were born) Step 2 – teach things (top tip: accept that it will not go to plan 🙂 ) Step 3 – learn how to learn and teach things … Read More
Exams – again… How do you survive? The bad news about resits is, well, they’re exams … again. The good news is that they are only exams and while no-one ever wants to do more exams than they have to, … Read More
How To Gain Confidence Surviving University requires more than academic skills. Increasingly students are being asked to do things to make themselves more marketable in the workplace so rather than ‘simply’ writing essays they often have to do presentations. Even … Read More
I’ve just seen a post on my Facebook page asking for ideas on research topics. This is tricky since I have no idea what sort of research it refers to. Students often email me with very open questions when they’re … Read More
Ever felt breathless, sick, heart pounding and racing, dizzy just before an exam or a presentation? That’s adrenalin (I’m not the right sort of doctor to pronounce on medical issues so I’m assuming that you will visit your GP if … Read More
Depression is not a weakness. It is an illness. There is help out there so please try it. If you can’t cope with seeing someone then please check out online resources as a starting point and then speak to someone … Read More
I know some of you are finding it rather tough at University at the moment so I’ll share some well known Churchillian motivational comments with you. Churchill suffered from depression or ‘the black dog’ as he called it so he … Read More
We have UK national elections this week. For most of this country’s history most people did not have the right to vote or freedom of speech. The 1832 Reform Bill enfranchised sections of the middle (but not working) classes. Before … Read More
If you live in the UK ( particularly if you are a woman) then these legal reforms affect you: your everyday freedoms, hopes and lifestyle are based upon them. They are surprisingly recent, some in living memory. I could have … Read More
It’s spring, which means that lambs are running happily around the fields (in my area at least) and students are running around in desperation worrying about how to face the coming exams. The good news is that you still have … Read More
‘My Colleague Is Always Belittling Me. What Can I Say to Him?’ It’s easy to see that violent or sexually inappropriate behaviour is bullying but constant belittling and criticism can make for a very unpleasant working environment and need to … Read More
Practical Stuff – I Feel Small Literally and Figuratively When I’m Around This Colleague Take a Step Back – Literally If they are taller than you walk up to them but keep a good step away – this evens up … Read More
Dealing With Bullies: ‘Aah But…’ ‘Every Time I Try To Say Something I freeze. I’m not Strong Enough to Confront Them’ Of course you will want to say something if a bully behaves outrageously but you may not be able … Read More
Stress doesn’t just come from the pressure of study (as if that isn’t enough). Universities are workplaces (even for students 🙂 ) and like any other workplace you may encounter bullies. So how do you deal with them? What follows … Read More
What can students do? Breathe. Eat as well as you can, sleep and exercise daily, preferably in fresh air. Take a few minutes to listen to your favourite music, go for a brisk walk. This is basic advice which you … Read More
‘Will my lecturer check all my references?’ I have never yet met a lecturer who has the time to check all the references for every essay. Have you any idea how many essays they have to mark? 🙂 Seriously… NB … Read More
What is Plagiarism and How Can I Avoid It? Plagiarism is the unacknowledged use of someone’s else’s material ie passing off someone else’s ideas as your own. That’s why we have referencing systems 🙂 . Avoiding plagiarism is easy: give … Read More