Take advantage of support offered by your university
If you’re coming to a university in the UK from another country it may take some time for you to adjust to life and study here. You will be adapting to a new life in the UK and there may be a different culture of teaching and learning for you to get used to.
Studying at a UK institution will most likely involve a combination of lectures, seminars and independent reading. During the lectures you will be expected to take notes which you should keep in a file and read regularly. Seminars will involve a group discussion on a particular topic, often one which was covered in the previous lecture – this is a more open session and you are free to ask questions of the tutor as you feel necessary. Most courses will have a reading list – you won’t necessarily be expected to read every book on the list but it will provide some guidance on where to focus your reading.
You may find that you need some help to aid the transition to studying in the UK and here at Leeds Metropolitan University you can get this from our Skills for Learning team, which offers support in developing academic and study skills.
Web resources include the use of IT, numeracy, academic literacy, problem solving, critical thinking, reflection, working with others and research skills, with a daily “Skill Tip” highlighting key information.
Podcasts are available to download from the website offering hints and tips on topics such as essay writing and time management, including contributions from current students sharing their experiences with peers.
Students can also buy “Little Books” from the Libraries and University shops to help them with study skills such as punctuation and information skills.
The team also offers free drop-in workshops and tutorials on academic communication, maths and IT skills and works with Faculties and Schools to deliver customized sessions to students on courses across our University.
Our Academic Librarians specialise in finding information for the courses taught at our University. Each School has a named Librarian and they help students develop digital literacy and information skills, from choosing and evaluating resources to referencing them. Our libraries are open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year – whenever you need them!
The transition to studying in the UK may not be easy, but a supportive university can really help make this the best decision you ever made!
