• CAPD Home
• About Us
• PGCert TLHE
• Blackboard Use Protocols
• Learning and Teaching Development Framework
• Strategies and Policies
• Research and External Projects
• Signposts and Guidelines
• Curriculum Design
• National Enhancement Themes
• Links
• Contact Us
• Study Skills
• Departments Home

The University is currently seeking approval to change name to University of the West of Scotland. We anticipate a decision on the name change later this year.

Study Skills Resources to Help You to Work Smarter

Studying at University isn't a matter of working as hard as possible: it's more about working smarter. However long you've been a student there are always times when some help would be welcome. Help about approaches to study, exam preparation, learning strategies and so on.

Brief advice and tips about various aspects of study are available by viewing the guides below. Select a guide from one of the following drop down lists:

Guides for Reading:

Select from ... Case Study – how an academic reads Checklist for Reading Reading Reading for your first essay Reading and Note-taking Reading at University

Guides to writing:

Select from ... Avoiding I and Me Essays: What are lecturers looking for? (Part 1) Essays: What are lecturers looking for? (Part 2) Essays: Evidence of Reading Essays: Analysing the question to answer it Essays: Good Presentation Examples of Instruction words How to avoid plagiarism Lecture Notes Note-taking and note-making Referencing Your Writing When you know your essay topic Writing: Getting the language right Writing for Coursework and Exams Writing at University

Guides for Exam Preparation and Revision:
Select from ... Active Revision Checklists for Your Exams Essay Writing in Exams Exams Better Next Time Positive Thinking for Your Exams Preparation for Avoiding Stress in the Exam Revision Tips Revision – an active and interactive process Study Skills Tackling Common Exam Problems

Memory Aids:

Select from ... Memory - the principles

Plagiarism

An additional guide about how to make sure the work you present is your own.  The guide includes links to further information and help.

Making Sure the Work you Present is Your Own  [ PDF ]

Referencing and Bibliographies

A guide about using referencing in your work and preparing a bibliography. The guide includes links to further information and help.

Referencing and Bibliographies [ PDF ]

Study Skills Modules

Library website supporting pdf documents for five study skills modules

Library Guides

The library has a series of guides on learning resources relevant to each subject area. As well as the subject specific guides, there are useful generic sections on bibliographies and referencing, evaluating websites, online resources off campus and support for learning from the library.

Library Guides

Useful Books on Studying

There are many of these available from the Library and the University bookshop. It is probably best to have a browse through them first to see whether they suit your own particular learning style. Here are some suggestions. The list has been written using the Harvard Method of Referencing. You may be asked to use this method of referencing for your own essays (there is a handout on this if you want further information).

Buzan, T (2000) Use Your Head. London: BBC Books ( New Edition)
Cottrell, S (2003) The Study Skills Handbook (2nd Edition). Basingstoke: Palgrave Macmillan Northedge, A (2005) The Good Study Guide (2nd Edition). Milton Keynes: The Open University
Race, P (1992) 500 Tips for Students. Oxford: Basil Blackwell

In addition, more detailed self-study materials covering a variety of study skills are available either online or on paper. For more information about how to obtain these use the contact us form and select study skills.