How do I take notes in lectures and prepare for exams?

For advice on note-taking techniques, essay-writing skills, or preparation for examinations you should visit LEADS (Learning Enhancement & Academic Development Service).

How do I organise my studies?

Each student would have their own strategies and preferences. But perhaps the following list of recommendations will help you to plan the way forward:

  •  check your timetable in MyCampus: days of the week, times and venues (if lectures or tutorials or seminars are scheduled to take place physically in Campus)
  • there should be no timetable clashes in your courses;
  • you are expected to attend (online or physically, as appropriate) all classes and seminars/tutorials/labs, etc.;
  • if teaching happens physically, locate the venues for your classes before you start attending;
  •  all classes should start 5 minutes past the hour and finish 5 minutes to the hour;
  • check the Moodle site for each of your courses: in there you will find the course documents as well as outline information for your courses;
  • diary: take note of essay and other coursework deadlines; organise your studies accordingly and work on your time-management skills.
  • how much should you be working? 20 credits per course = 200 hours (notionally). Remember that you will have to factor in independent study on top of your basic contact hours

Is it hard to study three languages in first year?

This depends on your previous linguistic qualifications. But, in any case, we would not really encourage first-year students to take more than two languages, and even in that case we would advise that one of them should be at non-Beginners level and the other at Beginners level (for example non-Beginners French and Beginners Italian), or that (on the basis of previous qualifications) both languages be studied at non-Beginners level (for example non-Beginners German and non-Beginners Spanish). It would also be sensible to invest in your first year on a non-language subject that you could take into Honours, just in case the plans with the languages do not go well. Remember that modern-language Honours degrees last for 5 years and that they involve a compulsory year abroad.

Having said this, it is certainly possible to choose two languages in first year. Most languages are taught both at Beginners level and at non-Beginners level. MyCampus should help you choose which level you need: generally, a Higher/A-Level qualification in a language means that you are a non-Beginner. Gaelic language has three levels, Beginners, Intermediate and Advanced. This goes from no experience/very little experience for Beginner, to Beginners Higher/some competence in the language for Intermediate and Higher Gàidhlig for the Advanced. The subject area themselves can help you out if you are not sure.

What happens and when it happens

This is a very general idea of what happens and when it happens every year in the College of Arts & Humanities. The dates will change, but the structure remains constant.