Returning to study
Returning to study after a long absence can be daunting for students. The Learning Development Centre can help you ease back into study and revise the skills that you have not used for a while.
Many students find their biggest issue is managing study, family, jobs etc. Click here for our materials on time management. Look at our guide and tips below for ideas on forming study groups and feeling part of the University. Additionally, don’t forget our workshop programme that runs in Trimester A and B of each academic year!
Top tips
Don’t get in your own way!
Many people think they just aren’t very good at some things and leave it at that. You might tell yourself that you’ve never felt very ‘academic’, that you aren’t very good at writing or maybe you feel your computer skills are way behind everyone else’s. DON’T let these feelings get in your way and stop you having the confidence to return to study and succeed in your programme. There are many different support mechanisms in place to help you when you are here.
Recognise that you already have a lot of skills that will be invaluable at University.
Have you ever had a job? Do you have a child? Do you have caring responsibilities? Have you ever organised an event? These are just some examples of things you may have done/are doing which have many skills which will be useful when you are at University! If you have managed to hold down a part time job, get kids off to school on time or organise a party then you have time management and organisational skills!
Recognise this and put them into action for your studies.
Keep your end goal in your mind
University isn’t easy but if you keep reminding yourself why you are here, it is easier to motivate yourself and keep up the hard work. Getting a degree may only be the first step. Try and imagine where all this hard work is taking you.
Take advantage of all the opportunities the University has to offer
Be it in the form of learning development centre workshops, study groups, the careers service, the student mentors or the student association to name but a few. The support and opportunities are out there if you look. You may feel like you don’t have time to do everything but participating in some of these activities now will save you time and stress in the long run.
Guide for some common concerns
The aim of this guide is to highlight some of the concerns that students returning to study may have and to offer some advice. You may recognise some of these issues or may have some others. Either way, it is important to remember that you are not alone at University and there are many support mechanisms in place to help you reach your full potential. Like all University students, you will have to work hard to reach your goals and while there may be no ‘quick fix’ for any issues you have, Caledonian University has many systems in place to help.
Clink on the concerns below to see some advice.
Concern:
I won’t be able to write essays or do exams. I’ve never written an essay/it’s been years since I’ve written an essay and I’m worried I won’t be able to write at University level.
Advice:
No-one comes to University as the perfect student; you are here to learn about your subject area but also to develop your writing and general academic skills. This happens over time and there are many ways that you can develop your writing skills and get yourself ready for exams. The Learning Development Centre (LDC) runs a series of workshops to help with academic writing issues which are free for all students to attend. You simply have to book a space on a workshop.
Some students feel more comfortable discussing issues in a more private setting. If you feel this is something you would benefit from, you can make an appointment with a tutor to discuss your academic issues in a one to one setting and work out a plan of action.
Concern:
I don’t know how to use a computer; I can barely text on my mobile phone never mind write a word document or make a graph or table!
Advice:
Come and speak to our Digital specialist in the LDC, who runs workshops and drop in sessions. Chances are that you aren’t as bad on computers as you think, but even if you are, we have sessions developed to help complete beginners, more advanced users and all that lie in between.
Concern:
I have a family/caring commitments and I’m worried about being able to juggle University life and my home life.
Advice:
We recognise that this is a valid and major concern for many of our students. There is of course no quick response to this but if you are passionate about doing your chosen programme, there are many different strategies you can put in place to help you succeed. If you have many different responsibilities and roles, such as looking after a relative, being a parent or trying to work around a part time job on top of your studies, then managing your time effectively is one of the most important things to master from the outset. Visit our section on time management where we give you some tips.
We also have a section for those with caring responsibilities. If you feel like the demands of University and home life are becoming too much for you, we also have a Student Wellbeing service (opens in a separate tab) where you can go and speak to an advisor in a confidential setting, about your concerns.
Again, it is important to remember that you are not alone. Friends and family may not understand how difficult University can be so please do not suffer in silence.
Concern:
I won’t fit in.
Advice:
Many students feel this way when coming to University, but this can be much more stressful if you haven’t studied for a long time. Caledonian University has students from all over the world and of all ages, so the campus is a very diverse and inclusive place. Within the School of Health and Life Sciences (SHLS), the majority of our students are mature students (over 21) so if you were expecting to turn up and be surrounded by school leavers, you’re mistaken! Forming study groups early on at University can be a very useful and rewarding activity. They give you a place to talk to your fellow students about upcoming assignments, how they are coping with study and just anything that will help you really! They can also be a great support network all the way through your course so we would recommend that you try and form a study group early on. You should make sure you aware of the students association who have a wide variety of clubs, groups and events that you can be a part of.
Concern:
I’m a direct entry student and will be entering at an advanced level. Everyone will know each other and all about how the Uni works.
Advice:
Feeling like you won’t fit in can seem like more of a problem if you are entering at an advanced level at University. You may feel like everyone else will have formed their network of friends and that they know much more about how the University works, where everything is, and that they will be more ready than you to study at this level. There are several things you can do about this. You could, as suggested above, form a study group with likeminded colleagues. If you email fellow students suggesting this, or speak to one of your tutorial groups, you may be surprised at how many likeminded students there are on your programme. You can also speak to a student mentor. Mentors (opens in a new tab) are current students and they are there to provide friendly advice, practical information and are also there to signpost you to the correct staff member or service that you require. As they will have been through many of the challenges you will be facing, you may find it useful to speak to them.
Concern:
If I ask for help, people will think I’m not good enough.
Advice:
Asking for help not a weakness! It actually shows self-awareness as you have identified an area that you feel you need to develop. Do not suffer in silence if you feel you are struggling at University. We want you to succeed but you have to let us know if you feel you aren’t coping. You can approach academics on your programme, academic development tutors, student mentors, the positive living team etc. and if we can’t help you, we’ll point you in the right direction.
A final thought...
Remember, you wouldn’t have received an offer for a place at University if we didn’t think that you could be successful on your chosen programme. Even students who have been in higher education more recently may find studying a challenge. You have to be confident enough to recognise that you already have a lot of skills and that studying is a journey. If it was easy it wouldn’t be as rewarding!
The most important thing to take from this guide is that you are not alone when you come to University. You will hear a lot about being an independent learner but this does not mean learning completely on your own and never asking for help. Students who perform best are those who recognise when they need help and ask for it.