Hi there, let me introduce myself: I’m a lecturer with one of the UK’s leading universities and have taught both undergraduates and postgraduates – as well as GCSE and A level – for over thirty years. During that time, I have probably encountered every problem, query and cause of stress that all students encounter from time to time and it has been my pleasure and privilege to help my students overcome their problems and achieve their goals.
I shall be contributing a regular blog to this site from now on with some of the questions I have come across answered for you so that you, too, can benefit from my years of teaching experience. I have also been through the process myself, of course, gaining A levels, a BA, MA and a Ph.D., so I know how it feels to be a student as well as a teacher!
So, check back in to the site regularly to see what queries I’m answering each time and why not send in anything you need to ask via the comments? Remember, I’m here to help you!
You can find more of my advice below.
Find out about the secrets of the University Library Within your first few weeks at University it is likely that your faculty will arrange a tour of the library. Although unlikely to be the most radical experience of your University career, it’s worth going on one of these tours. Most students think libraries are self-evident … Read more
How to get the right language and tone in your essays Selecting the appropriate language and tone is an important part of essay writing which most students develop over time. But there are some simple errors that students make time and time again which are easily avoided when you know about them. Follow these five … Read more
Writing an essay is a skill which takes time and practice to develop, and although you might have some fantastic ideas and arguments in your head, if you don’t put them all down on paper in a well presented essay format you are not going to get a good grade. To help you write an … Read more
Find out how the Pareto Principle can positively impact your learning The Pareto Principle, also called the principle of 80/20, argues that 80 percent of the results in any endeavour result from 20 percent of the effort put into the task. The Pareto principle can be applied to many different disciplines and subjects, ranging from … Read more
How best to structure your university essays Once you’ve thoroughly prepared your essay by researching the topic widely and identifying key facts, quotations and arguments, you can to begin to map out a loose structure for your essay, which you will refine as you go along. Follow these five tips to ensure your essay structure … Read more
By the time you reach University you should be no stranger to writing essays, but even if your college or foundation course essays were good, there’s still a lot you’ll need to do to make the grade at undergraduate level. Follow these five tips and read all the articles in this series to make the … Read more
Which student jobs work best around your course? There might be a common perception that students do nothing but sit around and eat pot noodles all day, but the reality is that with the financial pressures of modern day studying there’s little time for watching daytime TV and having endless duvet days. What with lectures … Read more
How you can stretch your weekly food budget even further The average student spends around £20-28 a week on food. It is likely that this will make up a large part of your weekly budget. Therefore, it is important that you spend this money wisely, to get the most out of it. Follow our top … Read more
Find out about keeping pace at University Studying for a degree or an equivalent qualification is something which requires pace. Many students don’t feel as though they achieve their full potential at University, and this happens for a number of reasons. These five tips will help you make the best of studying for your degree, … Read more
Survive and thrive in the halls of residence You’ve waved your parents off and are now the proud renter of a box room, no bigger than a cupboard that is now home for the next year – along with a group of people, if you had the choice would not even go for a pint … Read more