Preparing for University (FutureLearn)

Preparing for University (FutureLearn)

Build the academic skills you need for learning at university and ease your transition from school learning to higher education. Develop writing, critical thinking, and analytical skills for university study. Learning at a university level requires enhanced critical thinking skills, as well as being able to hold a supported, substantive argument and critically analyse sources or data.

Class Deals by MOOC List - Click here and see FutureLearn's Active Discounts, Deals, and Promo Codes.

On this course, you’ll build the foundations of these skills, so that you can prepare yourself for the challenges of this new learning environment.
You’ll hear from university lecturers on what they value in students and get advice on the more difficult aspects of learning at university.
At the end of each week, you’ll receive a summary of key skills, which you’ll find useful to refer back to as you start your university journey.

Syllabus

Week 1: Asking questions
Week 2: Independent study
Week 3: Structuring Writing
Week 4: Persuasive writing
Week 5: Textual analysis
Week 6: The power of data
Week 7: Academic currency
What will you achieve?
By the end of the course, you'll be able to...

  • Understand the skills needed to do well at university
  • Practice the key skills required for success at university
  • Understand what lecturers value in their students, and what skills their students excel at and struggle with
  • Locate top tips for coping with the university learning environment
Go to Class
MOOC List is learner-supported. When you buy through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission.

Related Courses

An Introduction to Screenwriting (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of East Anglia

An Introduction to Screenwriting (FutureLearn)

Discover the key principles of screenwriting and improve your creative writing skills in this course for aspiring screenwriters. Learn how to be a successful screenwriter. Can you see yourself writing an award-winning screenplay in the future? If so, you’ve come to the perfect place. This 2-week screenwriting course will introduce you to the basic elements and key concepts behind a professional screenplay.

Self Paced
2 Weeks
English for Academic Study (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
Coventry University

English for Academic Study (FutureLearn)

Prepare to study at university, explore the qualities of a successful student, and learn key vocabulary in an academic context. Increase your knowledge of English for academic study. If you are preparing to study at a university where the first language is English, either on campus or online, this course aims to help you understand what is expected, and develop skills to help you learn independently and build your confidence.

Self Paced
2 Weeks
Global Education for Teachers (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University College London

Global Education for Teachers (FutureLearn)

Discover key issues in global citizenship education and learn how to prepare your students for the global challenges of tomorrow. Incorporate global learning and global citizenship education into your teaching. Teachers today must prepare their students for a global future. Young people will need to learn how to positively engage with people from all over the world and build the skills and knowledge to become a global citizen.On this course, you’ll increase your confidence and ability to introduce global issues into your teaching. You’ll get CPD training in how to address global issues in your teaching and support global citizenship in your school.

Self Paced
3 Weeks
A Beginners' Guide to Writing in English for University Study (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Reading

A Beginners' Guide to Writing in English for University Study (FutureLearn)

Learn how to use English for study at university or college and develop your writing skills, vocabulary and grammar. Academic writing can be very different from other types of written English. This course has been developed to help you learn the basics of academic writing and develop your English language skills.

Self Paced
5-12 Weeks
Innovative Teaching: Engaging Adult Learners with Active Learning (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Padova

Innovative Teaching: Engaging Adult Learners with Active Learning (FutureLearn)

Discover the power of active participation in adult learning, encouraging teamwork and collaboration among students. Explore the power of teaching and how interactive learning can aid the classroom. Active learning is the leading innovative teaching approach in education today. It encourages teachers to foster a more student-centred, interactive and participatory approach to learning.

Self Paced
4 Weeks
Getting Started with Teaching Data Science in Schools (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Glasgow

Getting Started with Teaching Data Science in Schools (FutureLearn)

Learn the basics of data science and how to introduce data science in the classroom. Learn practical ways to teach data science. Understanding how to use and interpret data will be essential for the next generation, but many schools and teachers aren’t equipped to teach basic data science to students. This course will help you introduce data science in the classroom so that your students are prepared for the future.

Self Paced
3 Weeks
Making Blended Education Work (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Edinburgh,EMBED

Making Blended Education Work (FutureLearn)

Explore challenges and advance blended learning practices in higher education. Improve high-quality and mature blended learning practice in higher education. On this course, you’ll explore emerging practices in blended learning and get introduced to a maturity model developed in a partnership of seven European higher education organisations.

Self Paced
5-12 Weeks
Migration, Mobilities and Citizenship (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Bristol

Migration, Mobilities and Citizenship (FutureLearn)

Explore who counts as a ‘migrant’ to better understand the processes and experiences of migration. Develop critical thinking skills around the concepts of migration and mobilities. This two-week multidisciplinary course will enable you to develop all the critical thinking skills you need surrounding the twin concepts of migration and mobilities. You’ll explore contemporary human movements within their historical context, and will also cover the current global situation of COVID-19, as well as the relation of race and racism to migration.

Self Paced
2 Weeks
Improving Your Study Techniques (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Groningen

Improving Your Study Techniques (FutureLearn)

Improve your study skills and get better results by learning to use the 'three-step study model'. Develop effective study skills for life. Learning is a fundamental part of life; many of us continue studying even when we leave formal education. This means good study skills are vital for all of us. Many, however, lack these skills and struggle to study effectively.

Self Paced
4 Weeks
An Intermediate Guide to Writing in English for University Study (FutureLearn) FutureLearn
University of Reading

An Intermediate Guide to Writing in English for University Study (FutureLearn)

Improve your academic English skills further, learning about critical analysis, using sources, avoiding plagiarism and more. On this course you will expand your academic English skills and learn the necessary extended writing and research skills for producing a thorough and high standard extended essay.

Self Paced
5-12 Weeks