Skills to Succeed at University (FutureLearn)

Explore time management methods

Studying at university is different compared to studying at school or college. The biggest difference is having more control over how you spend your time and how you choose to learn.

After you assess how prepared you are to start your degree using university-style scenarios, you’ll learn effective time management methods in order to keep a work-life balance.
Learn effective note making

Independent study is essential in university and good note making will help you to retain information more easily, organise your thoughts, and plan for assignments.

As you learn some effective note making techniques, you’ll hear how our students access support services and what to do should you need help.
Improve your critical thinking skills

Critical thinking is a vital skill for success at university. After understanding what critical thinking skills you need, you’ll learn how to evaluate your sources and explore a toolkit to help you question what you read.
Master academic writing

Writing is a highly valued skill at university. On this course, you’ll learn what academic writing is and how to do it successfully. You will also get to practice yourself after seeing examples of undergraduate academic writing.
Make the most of it

You will also explore the new and exciting opportunities that you can get involved with so that you can make the most of your time as a student.

Syllabus

Week 1: The fundamentals of university

Week 2: Becoming a successful undergraduate

Learning on this course

You can take this self-guided course and learn at your own pace. On every step of the course you can meet other learners, share your ideas and join in with active discussions in the comments.
What will you achieve?

By the end of the course, you‘ll be able to...

- Apply some simple techniques to help you manage your time effectively to help you prepare for university.

- Explore ways of developing you’re the note making skills use will use at university.

- Investigate some of the sources of support available to you at university.

- Develop strategies to help you to improve the critical thinking skills you will need in higher education.

- Identify the features of good academic writing so that you can apply them in your essays and reports.

Who is the course for?

This course has been designed for students considering going to University or those that have been accepted onto an undergraduate course and want to explore the skills you need for a successful academic life.

You may have just completed different qualifications such as BTEC, A level or Access to HE and participated in widening access to Higher Education programmes or you are returning to education as a mature student; no matter your entry route into higher education, this course will support your successful transition to university.

This course is also a useful tool for current university students especially those in their first or foundation year of their undergraduate degree.

Material from the course can be used as a teachers’ classroom enrichment resource.