You will have so much fun during Freshers Week that you may forget what it is that you are really here to do. So it might be a bit of a shock to find that you have things called lectures and tutorials that you are expected to go to.

Our handy study guide will help you prepare for university life and give you some tips on how to get the most out of the time you spend studying. So there will be no need to neglect that all-important social life of yours.

Hitting the books

At university, unlike school, you won’t be given all the information you need on a plate; you will be expected to find at least some of it yourself. Lectures – in which you listen to a talk on a particular subject – will provide you with the basic background to your course, and further detail will be found in the books that you are recommended to read yourself. Tutorials – small groups in which in-depth discussions are led by a tutor – give you the chance to share what you’ve learned and debate different viewpoints.

Sounds a bit too much like hard work? Don’t worry, it won’t take you long to get used to the routine. The library is open from early till late so it’s easy to find the resources you need, whenever you need them, and there is always help at hand – from lecturers, tutors, library staff, mentors and fellow students. You’ll find it refreshing that you’re not told what to think; university is all about formulating your own opinions. And the flexibility of the way you study will give you plenty of time to pursue other interests.

What’s studying at Heriot-Watt really like?

- Although there are many computers on campus, there are still more students! So, at times, you may have to wait for a bit before a computer is free. Get to know which labs are less busy and you’ll find that you can always get on right away.

- Teaching here is good, and lecturers are very clear in their objectives and what you have to do. They are big fans of university email here, so it is the main method of contact and finding out information. You’ll probably have to read your emails twice a day just to keep on top of them!

- It is helpful to get to know the staff because if you encounter any difficulties you will find it easier to ask for assistance if you know someone friendly who you can go to.

- The staff are helpful, but you are expected to help yourself. A lot of time is devoted to completing exercises for exam practice instead of actual teaching, because you are expected to do the learning bit yourself.

- Many courses have study aids and helpful documents on the course web page so take advantage of the great computing facilities on campus.

Study tips

• Try not to leave it all until revision week. But, as terms seem to pass so quickly, this is a lot easier said than done.
• To save yourself from all the cramming, aim for one or two hours per module each week throughout the term.
• Don’t leave things till the last minute, but at the same time don’t try to do too much at once. Come up with a flexible routine that spreads your study out over the week. And perhaps allow yourself a long lie if you’re just in from a night out.
• Do as much or as little studying as you like – but remember that you’ll only get out of it as much as you put in.