STEP 1: BE SUPER ORGANISED

STEP 1: BE SUPER ORGANISED

Use a diary or a planner to help organise your assessments, exams and College term dates. Planning and organising your time will help you to stay on top of your college work. Regular attendance is crucial. If you miss more than one class you can easily fall behind. Be on time!

This might sound obvious, but you would be surprised how many students fall out of the habit of actually going to class. Don’t rely on your friends’ notes to get by - You will need to put more work in reading their second hand, and potentially incorrect, notes.

This course is an investment in your future - Don’t waste your potential by staying in bed, or lounging at home instead!

ATTEND EVERY CLASS

These 3 tools can help you attend class:

• The academic calendar. The college year is split into three 12 week blocks. The college is open year round and only closes for an extended time over the Christmas break. Use the academic calendar and use the facilities like the Library when you need to.

• Your timetable. Make sure you know your timetable. Check on CityLife in the My Life section. In the first few weeks your timetable might change, so make sure to check it every regularly in the first few weeks.

• Your phone. If you have a smartphone, use it to set a daily planner and reminders for classes, assignment deadlines and class assessments. This will help you to organise your time effectively.

MONEY

It can be a real challenge to make ends meet when you’re a student. This can impact on your ability to attend classes so make sure you’ve accessed all funding and benefits available. Use the following tips to maximise your money:

• Buy a monthly travel pass – if you receive your funding monthly or four weekly, make sure you can travel to college by buying a monthly ticket. This can save you money in the long term and gives you the means to get to college.

• Use student discounts – This is a great way to save money. There are plenty of discount websites for students including UniDAYS and StudentBeans.

• Set a realistic budget – create a budget tool to include costs relating to your studies. Make sure to include travel costs and course materials costs as you might be surprised how much these impact on your cash.

• Apply for hardship funds – If you think you’re going to find it difficult to manage your money each month, don’t just stay home. Speak to the Student Advisors about extra help from the Hardship Funds.

LEARN TO PLAN AND PLAN TO LEARN

The worst thing you can do is leave everything to the last minute whenever you have an important deadline. Even though you might think so, hardly anybody actually produces their best work under extreme pressure, so it really helps to make clear plans so that you can make the most of your study time. These tips can help you to plan:

Use calendar, wall planner or diary - Having an online or paper planner can be a lifesaver in college. At the beginning of each block take a note of your class timetable, together with all assignments deadlines and exam dates. Use it to mark out your regular study timetable too. Try colour-coding your subjects so that you know exactly what needs to be done. All of this will help you identify really busy weeks so that you can give yourself the best chance to succeed.

• Set reminders - Set alarms on your phone to remind you about your study plans. A regular reminder helps you get into gear and keep your plans on track.

• Make to-do lists - Use lists to break big tasks down into smaller, manageable chunks. At the start of each week, make a list of the things that you need to have done by the end of the week. Also, make a to-do list at the beginning of each study session, so that you're clear about what you need to be doing with your time. As you complete each task feel the satisfaction of checking off each assignment from the list.

• Set time limits - Before you begin each study session, have a look at your to-do list and give yourself a set time to spend on each task. If you don't get something done in the set time, decide whether it's the best use of your time to keep going with it, or to start working on something else.

• Use your library account - Search for books and journals you're interested in and create a list for future reference. Log into your library account here.

MAKE A BACK-UP

Computers always seem to break down at the worst moments. To avoid any dramas, you should always make a back-up, either on an external drive or on the cloud. You never know when you will need it!

ASK FOR HELP

Your lecturers will be happy to answer any questions you may have about the subject material. If you're having trouble with a subject, if something just doesn't seem to make sense, or you want to make sure you are studying the right topics, make a list of questions to ask your lecturer.

The library teams are always here to help you with getting access to books and journals that can support you in your studies, for a further flavour of what's available, visit our subject guides and find out what's on offer or ask any of the library team for guidance on resources you are interested in.

THERE'S AN APP FOR THAT

There are loads of apps out there for helping you be productive and study well. Have a chat with your friends and teachers or lecturers to see which apps they recommend. Check out Step 2: Get Connected for our specific guide.

TIPS FROM YOUTUBE

• Scientifically Proven Best Ways to Study

• Planning & Organization

• How to Stop Falling Behind on Your Homework

• How to Avoid Procrastination

• Making Time Management Work for You

• How to Avoid Being Late

• 8 Things to STOP Doing When You Wake Up in the Morning

• How to Make a Budget and Stay on Top of Your Money