Whether you have studied recently or are returning to study; at the start of your time at University it is worth spending time and effort ensuring your study skills are effective, as this helps you get the most out of your course and helps you achieve.

In this section of the website you will find useful tips and links to resources that can help you review or develop your study.

Top tips for studying effectively:

• Think about what skills you need to study effectively. These include:
  • Time management
  • Note taking
  • Writing skills
  • Preparing for tutorials
  • Exam preparation
  • Referencing
  • Effective reading
• Review you study skills, what has worked in the past and what hasn’t. This gives you a base to start from.
• If you are returning to study or feel your skills are not effective get help.
• Plan you time – you need to work, rest and play.
• Plan around when work is due in, work backwards from deadlines. It is better to allow too much time, rather than to little.
• Think about where you are going to study.
• It may help to study with others, if you work in this way.
• Make good use of any lectures, lecture notes and handouts and any module resources available online.

Resources:

The University of Derby have a range of resources that will assist you to develop effective study skills, these include:

• A Study Skills and Study Advisor Scheme. To see a study advisor “simply fill out a blue ‘Study Advisor Scheme request form’ which can be found at the Subject Enquiry Desk at Kedleston Road Learning Centre, or at the lending desk of the other library sites, or print off the Pdf version at www.derby.ac.uk/studyskills. Once complete return this form by email, post or to any learning centre counter and the scheme co-ordinator will contact you as soon as possible.
• Or you can contact the scheme co-ordinator directly in the following ways:
  • Calling in to the Study Skills drop-in centre in Room L205, 2nd floor of Kedleston Road Learning Centre” (Varney 2008)
  • The above forms also can be found at the Learning Centre at the Dome in Buxton, but at present students at Buxton are best to contact the co – ordinator directly; Email studyadvisors@derby.ac.uk or Telephone 01332 591369 (24 hour answer phone). Study advisors are available at both Derby and Buxton.
• Study skills packs on a range of topics such as – essay writing, note taking and time management, can be found online at www.derby.ac.uk/studyskills.
• The above packs can also be found outside room L205, 2nd floor of Kedleston Road Learning Centre and at the Learning Centres at the Dome at Buxton campus and Britannia Mill.
• A study skills guide that can be found at all the learning centres (reference number 378.17/GRE) is Greaves, J. and Hewka, R. (2005). Study Skills and Tips Study Guide. 3rd ed. Derby: University of Derby.
• A study skills bibliography can be found at www.derby.ac.uk/studyskills/bibliography
• Online study skills tutorials can be found at www.derby.ac.uk/studyskills/onlinetutorials

Useful websites:

• Helping Yourself with study skills at http://www.ccn.ac.uk/library/online.asp
• Look under Learning at http://www.connections-direct.com/
• http://dyslexiastudyskills.group.shelf.ac.uk

If you would like more information, guidance or assistance to access any of the above resources please contact one of the advisors’ at the Source who would be happy to see you.