Life as a Student

1. Created a Timetable.

I write my timetable every semester after I have gotten my lecture and tutorial timetable and I plan out my schedule in a flexible way because my routine changes as the semester goes by. I don’t stick to a purely study timetable, I have it revolve around my other activities. But I do get an academic calendar (and use my phone to set reminders) where I set out my academic deadlines, exam periods, etc. I write out the time I have for lectures and tutorials, preparation and reading time, time to cook, learn new things such as listening to a podcast or taking a LinkedIn course, call home, have fun and some free time for just anything that comes up etc. be flexible and know that it will change as studies and responsibilities change, such as getting involved in clubs and societies, attending university events, starting a part-time work etc. Take it easy in your first weeks of following your timetable and don’t be too rigid on yourself! This guide on How to Make a Study Timetable is very insightful. 

2. Limit phone use.

My phone was one of my biggest distractions in studying effectively and I had to address it before it became detrimental to my studies, it was taking so much of my time scrolling and watching YouTube videos. What I did was to put my phone on airplane mode especially in the night to have a good night sleep and avoid waking up to a list of notifications. I realised I still had to use my phone and then set it on do not disturb for my mornings and evenings, in that way I could use my phone, but notifications were blocked from social media. Do look at your phone settings and utilise these functions. They go a long way in keeping you on track with your time.

3. Interact with lecturers and engage during tutorials.

Your lecturers are there to ensure you understand the topic and have an interest to see you pass your degree. So, ensure to ask questions if you are unsure of an aspect. Send emails to have meetings to understand assessment tasks and attempt past questions (for exams).  My tutorial time is one of my best interactive sessions with my lecturers. I usually come to the tutorials prepared to engage, ask questions and leave with a better understanding of the topic discussed. Unlike lectures, tutorials is the opportunity for students to demonstrate their understanding of the topic, here the lecturer speaks less and wants to hear from you. Don’t be afraid of expressing your opinion as it is a learning experience and tutorials are designed to be in a small group. You will mostly get immediate feedback from the lecturer based on your response, and you should use this to improve your understanding of the topic. Always try to answer a question and or contribute to the discussions. I strongly encourage you to actively participate in your tutorials; treat it like a mini-exam and it will pay off during revisions.

4. Attempt past question.

Past questions are the perfect opportunity to test yourself under exam condition and it is an incredible aid to reading. Solving past questions makes you familiar with the types of questions you can expect to be asked and it is a good practice to answer the questions to gauge your understanding and interpretation of the topic. It also allows you to check your knowledge of what you know and what you don’t know, so you know how to plan your revision and improve your weak areas. (You can attempt past questions and reach out to your lecturer to see if they can mark for you: the feedback you will get will be invaluable to your exam success). 

5. Rest well and de-stress.

I cannot over emphasise the importance of having a good night sleep, especially a day before an exam.  I’m a fan of short powernaps, and I tend to sleep for as little as 20 mins during the day to take a break from everything else and I wake up feeling refreshed and alert. Studying for long periods is not very helpful all the time and can be counterintuitive to achieve your desired result. Provided you follow the above strategies it will be easier to avoid burn-out in the days leading up to the final exams or coursework.

De-stress is a time to relax after a period of work or tension. My main de-stress activity is to cook alone or together with my flatmates, I do this frequently during the winter months when I’m unable to go out for walks during the cold winter. I try to be active in the kitchen to cook or bake something with my flatmates, have some discussions while cooking and enjoy our meal with a cup of tea. This allows us to share our experiences, talk through our feelings and other personal related issues. Read more about 10 stress busters. 

1. Making the best of opportunities and try out new things. 

Looking back at my time at QMUL I’m glad I sought to make the most from my university experience. Attending university is more than getting a degree, it involves a building upon existing and learning new skills. My public speaking and presentation skill has greatly increase due to trying out new things and stepping out of my comfort zone. I volunteered with qLegal and was able to deliver a workshop to start-ups whilst enhancing my professional skills, attended various career sessions, participated in the QIncubator entrepreneurship programme, worked as a Student & Curriculum Ambassador and loads of other things. To a new student there are tons of QMUL activities to support your personal, and career development. You can start by joining the Student Union clubs and societies, attend different career sessions, participate in QTaster, in QHack and QIncubator become a Student Ambassador and sign up access part-time employment on QTemps. 

2. Speak up and seek help when you need it.

When I started uni, I missed my induction week, and I did not know how to access some resources. I attended my course drop-in sessions to ask questions and sent emails on how to access the resources and I knew who and where to contact. Keeping silent wound not help as I would not know how to access the resources and this might have affected my studies. There will always be a point of contact for your course and school and if you are unsure visit the Student Enquiry Centre in-person or online and they will signpost you to the relevant team. You can also access Student welfare and Support to receive advice on matters relating to counselling, exam stress, finances, health, disability, international student etc.  

3. Improve your academic skills.

Writing at university requires formal language and other various etiquette which you should strive to be familiar with during your first semester to ease your writing and assessment. There is a greater level of responsibility and expectation required from you and you should be familiar with this. Check with your school to understand the writing and referencing style required. Even if you feel you are a native speaker or are very confident with your English, it doesn’t hurt to refresh your memory of academic skills. Also, consider signing up for in-sessional modules and use the Academic Skills Centre services to learn about citation, plagiarism, referencing software such EndNote all of these will enhance your marks and you will look back and be happy with the time you spent learning about them.  

4. Take it easy on yourself.

It’s a big change coming to Uni, whether you are like me that had to leave a new country, moving away from home, living with new people, being in a new environment, dealing with home sickness sometimes. It’s okay and normal to have these feelings. But if it persist and goes beyond what you feel you can handle, pleas seek professional help from the QMUL confidential Advice and Counselling Service. Use technology to your advantage, call home often, do video calls and catch-up with your friends and families.  Don’t put pressure and always remember there are tons of support available from the University. 

Most of all - enjoy your time at Queen Mary!