Student life
Ten study tips for surviving your uni degree
Unless you’ve studied at university before, it can all seem a little overwhelming. Between attending lectures, doing assignments and readings, and fitting in the odd coffee or run, life can get busy. We asked some CDU students what their ultimate study tip is for those who are just starting their uni journey. Read on to learn from the best.
1. Zarah Tenorio, Bachelor of Law
“Plan everything, find a great support system, believe in yourself and always appreciate what you do. Because more often than not, you’re actually doing better than what you think.”
2. Nam Thien Tan, Bachelor of Clinical Science
“Wherever possible, try not to simply memorise content. Instead, come up with fun mnemonics* (the sillier the better!) and form connections between different pieces of content and aspects of your life to make it more memorable.”
*A fun and effective study technique for remembering large amounts of information. It involves creating songs, rhymes, acronyms, images or phrases to remember a list of facts in a certain order. Remember using the phrase “Never Eat Soggy Weet-Bix” to remember North, South, East and West? That’s a mnemonic.
Shannon is pictured here in the center.
3. Shannon Kieran, Bachelor on Engineering/Master of Engineering (Civil & Structural)
“Find a study buddy who either shares your enthusiasm for doing well, or who will infect you with their enthusiasm for getting things done. Studying with others is helpful, because there are always going to be situations when you can't figure something out and it’s handy to bounce your ideas off someone else.”
4. Bridie Duggan, Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science
“Take care of your physical health whether it be by exercising, stretching, resting, relaxing or nourishing your body with healthy wholefoods. Make time for ‘me time’ by doing something each day that makes you smile and be grateful for everything you have in life.”
5. Rachel Ashton, Bachelor of Nursing
“Ask your friends and family to remind you of why you started your studies in the first place if ever you feel like you’re ready to throw in the towel. They need to be supportive of your study, so don’t feel selfish if you need to lock yourself away to complete assignments. It is an investment in your future and will pay off in dividends!”
6. Emma Host, Bachelor of Accounting
“Less thinking, more doing. Have a plan by setting time aside for each unit and shut down distractions like your mobile phone.”
7. Jason Porplyzia, Bachelor of Exercise and Sport Science
“If you are just starting your studies, create a schedule and become very good at time management. Organising, staying on top of your study requirements and not letting things get to the stage of overwhelming you is important. Don’t procrastinate!”
8. Kelly Jackson, Bachelor of Science
“If you are studying on campus, make full use of peer assisted study sessions (PASS), The Academic Language and Learning Success Program (ALLSP) and the workshops that CDU offers. If you have internet, watch your lectures online as they happen and do your own research (I love Crash Course and College Info Geek on YouTube). Staying focused can be challenging, so have a strategy. If you can only focus well for an hour, don’t sit there for 5 hours! Do an hour and then do something else for a while and come back. One style of study doesn’t suit everyone so figure out what study works for you and makes you enjoy learning.”
9. Alwyn Jose, Master of Information Technology (Software Engineering)
“Time is of the essence and prioritising my study was the key to being successful in my studies. The initial difficulties were overcome by seeking help and managing my time effectively. Understanding that my primary goal was to gain knowledge and skills in an area of study that I love was the first step in being successful.”
10. Stephanie von Kanel, Bachelor of Humanitarian and Community Studies
“The best thing for assessments is to start them early. It’s very difficult to motivate yourself to do this, but when you do it, it’s so rewarding and reduces your stress levels tenfold.”
If you’re looking at getting organised and ready to study, read CDU’s top 3 study tips >
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