Student Perspectives: Balancing Part-Time Work and Study

Posted on February 26, 2025February 26, 2025 by tim.worth

It’s very common for students to have part-time work and study at the same time, but that can bring pressures and difficulties in managing your time. Here, the Bristol Futures Student Advocates share their ideas, tips and experiences of balancing part-time work and study.

How do I split my time and priorities between work and study?

Many students choose to take on part-time jobs to support them financially while at university. However, it is important to keep in mind how many contact hours you have a week/ how many hours of work you are expected to put in outside of those hours. For example, some weeks I’ll have quite a lot of contact hours, which means that I have less availability to work and so flexibility within a job is important to me.

Additionally, time management becomes more important when taking on a part-time job that fits around your studying. Some people may prefer to work more weekends and complete most of their course-related tasks during the week, while others may prefer to work in a job during the week and use the weekend to catch-up on university work. Either way, it can help to visualise the next week ahead before it starts and make sure you know when your shifts are, when you have university and anything else you might have planned.

Having a job as a student might also make having a good work-life balance challenging. Making sure you have time do things that you enjoy outside of a job and university is important for your mental-wellbeing, so don’t be afraid to politely decline a work shift if it means you won’t have the time to do things you enjoy too.

Ana Maria FB, BVSc1

Photo of Eliana, a contributor to this blog post — Eliana Garcia Bustos

Balancing part-time work with studies, especially in engineering, requires careful planning to ensure that academic progress isn’t negatively impacted. As an international student, adhering to the 20-hour work limit is essential to maintain visa compliance. It’s crucial to manage work hours in a way that doesn’t conflict with important study times, especially during major deadlines.

In group projects, effective communication is key. I rely on platforms like Slack or Microsoft Teams to keep everyone updated. Ideally, I’d prefer a job near campus with flexible hours, so I can work around lab sessions and group meetings. Academics must always take precedence, as a strong academic record can open more career opportunities. It’s important to recognise personal limits and explore alternatives like scholarships or financial planning. Discussing plans with tutors or supervisors can also offer valuable insights and help avoid potential challenges.

Ultimately, balancing work and study is possible with clear priorities, effective time management, and self-awareness.

Eliana Garcia, Mechanical an Electrical engineering, year 3

How do I manage my work shifts around my studies?

As a student, studying has always been my first priority but sometimes I would also like to do some part-time work to have some extra money. The key is to have some flexibility so that you have room to adjust. For example, I will have 2 days in a week for academic preparation, revision and coursework completion (if necessary). I always arrange my part-time shifts in between my lectures for other weekdays. Most university part-time jobs are flexible so you can arrange shifts that fit your schedule in most of the time. If not, you are always welcomed to email the manager to address that issue.

Ho Wang Adrian Tung, BSc Biomedical Sciences Year 2

A picture of Louna Larose, a contributor to this blog post — Louna Larose

On paper, following a plan works really well, but sometimes, life gets in the way and all you can do to tackle it is flexibility. During busy assessment weeks and times where I feel overwhelmed, asking people for help is always the solution: speaking to my manager to take on less shifts a certain week, asking if anyone can help cover my shifts, or as simple as blurting out everything on my mind to a friend.

Louna Larose, Psychology BSc Year 2

I have two criteria when selecting a part-time work: whether the shifts are flexible and whether it is far from the university. Most of parttime jobs I do are flexible in time: If I have a time conflicts, I contact the team leader as soon as possible, and they can find someone to cover for me. But for some works, I am required to give, for instance, three days’ notice. Therefore, my suggestion is to discuss this with your team leader, know their requirements, and contact them ASAP if your plan changes. Also, I prefer to work near the university to save time. If a work requires me to travel for an hour, generally I will not consider it.

Jiamiao Chen, PhD, Department of English

What are the specific impacts of my course on managing a part-time job?

The most significant impact of a part-time job on my study is losing my revision and free time. However, this can be solved by organized time-management (having flexibility) as mentioned above. Part-time jobs might increase stress as you are bearing more responsibility. Always talk to someone whom you feel comfortable with if you find your stress is affecting your wellbeing. Regarding legal requirements, always check how many hours your visa allows you to work and make sure you commit to it.

Ho Wang Adrian Tung, BSc Biomedical Sciences Year 2

Balancing part-time work and studies isn’t always easy, especially as a final year student, but with some planning and flexibility, it’s definitely doable.

Since I’m in final year, studying is my top priority so I keep everything organised by scheduling my classes, shifts and study sessions on my phone calendar. Having it all in one place helps me stay on top of things and avoid double-booking myself. I always block out at least three full days each week for revision, coursework, and exam prep, while planning my shifts on other days around my other commitments.

When deadlines pile up or my course gets more demanding, I’ve found it really helpful to communicate with my manager. I love the flexibility that part-time university jobs offer because they make it so much easier to fit work around my academic commitments, which is so important during a busy year like this.

Of course, balancing work and study can sometimes feel overwhelming, but having a clear schedule and being able to adjust when needed really helps. Taking breaks and talking to friends when I’m stressed also keeps me feeling grounded.

Maansi Gupta, Economics Year 3

As an international student how do I manage legal requirements, work and study?

A picture of Jiamiao Chen, a contributor to this blog post — Jiamiao Chen

As an international student working on a student visa and restricted to work no more than 20 hours per week, the most important thing to bear in mind is that I should keep my working hours strictly within this limit. Considering how expensive living in Bristol is, I am often tempted to work for 20 hours each week. However, studying should always be prioritised over working, and whenever there are time conflicts between my work and my seminars or lectures, I always choose to attend academic lectures. There will be plenty of time for us to work after graduation, and what you learn now can prepare you to find more suitable work in the future. So, the most significant thing is to resist the temptation to spend too much time on your part-time work!

Jiamiao Chen, PhD, Department of English

Being an international student has many challenges, firstly, coming to a new country, new place, and getting to know new people. It is scary how you can adjust to university life with a blink of an eye. I enjoyed my academic life, assessments, and modules. I loved how interactive and social University of Bristol is, especially when it comes to its diverse schemes for student jobs. Being a student advocate has opened so many doors for me. I loved working with students, interacting with different tutors and mentors, it was a nice change from all the academic studying.

Sarah Al-Shahabi, MSci Cancer Biology and Immunology

As an international student, my legal requirements are to work no more than 20 hours per week during term time, ensuring that enough time is focussed on my studies at the same time. Balancing work and studies can be tricky but it is a learning curve and just takes some practice. And overall, makes my university life just that much more fruitful and fulfilling.

Louna Larose, Psychology BSc Year 2

How does a part-time job impact my wellbeing?

Balancing work, life, and academics is something everyone strives for, and with proper organisation, it can be quite achievable. Managing my time was actually one of my favourite parts. Something as simple as an Outlook planning session each week made a huge difference in keeping my schedule organised. I loved having the flexibility to set my own working hours, report to my managers, and connect with students from different courses and backgrounds. It made balancing everything so much easier and more enjoyable. The people I met through study skills at the university were some of the kindest, most inspiring individuals, and I feel lucky to have been part of that.

Sarah Al-Shahabi, MSci Cancer Biology and Immunology

A big part of university is the experiences you gain alongside your studies. For me, that’s balancing academics with social life, sports and a part-time job. I plan my day by time-blocking hours dedicated to each activity and prioritising. This challenges me to work more efficiently and effectively in the time period I give myself. At the same time, having a range of activities helps motivate me to work harder during my study blocks.

Louna Larose, Psychology BSc Year 2

If you want to learn more about balancing work with studies check out the other blog posts in our series.

Balancing Part-Time Work and Study: You are not alone!

Posted on February 21, 2025 by tim.worth

In this part of our series on balancing part-time work and study, final year French and Italian student Dylan Webster-Deakin discusses the stigma and mental health pressures around working part-time and offers some practical tips on how to deal with those and the work itself.

As someone who had to balance a part-time job and full-time studies at the University of Bristol for the majority of their time here, and someone who is also a keen writer, I jumped at the opportunity to share my experiences and offer some advice. Balancing work, studies, leisure and a social life is tricky, and is often regarded by many as a ‘taboo’ due to its perceived connotations and the stigma surrounding it. In this blog I will offer as much advice as I can on topics such as time management, mental health and study techniques for students who work part-time.

To give a very brief overview of my personal experiences working part-time while in education – I’ve been working part time since I turned 16, with my first job coming in the form of a sales assistant at the local greengrocer’s. I stacked shelves, served customers, and performed endless mental arithmetic. Then at the start of University I started working as a lifeguard at a leisure centre in Stoke Gifford, which came with it’s own challenges, particularly with regards to commuting (45 minutes by bike!). Since my year abroad I’ve been doing some agency work and also worked in a pub over the summer. Now, onto the advice!

The first thing to realise is: you are not alone. Over 50% of students in the UK have part-time jobs, so it’s not an uncommon situation to be in. A lot of people are embarrassed by the fact that they have to work to finance their studies, but in reality, it’s more uncommon to not be employed while at University than the other way around. The University itself employs students in a variety of ambassadorial roles precisely because they recognise how normal and common it has become. While the University itself recommends no more than 15 hours work per week during term time for Undergraduates (20 for PG), it is not uncommon to work more, especially with rising living costs. Why is this the first thing to realise? Because mental health matters. If you feel isolated, stressed or low, then that will impact your productivity – at work and at Uni.

You can find links to various support services for students from the University of Bristol here. These include support for mental health and wellbeing, financial advice, and general student queries.

Don’t let work ruin your social life. As mentioned, staying happy and healthy are vital when it comes to keeping on top of your studies. Make sure to meet up with your friends, go to social events – continue to do the things that make you happy. It may require a bit more planning than it did pre-job (which we will tackle shortly), but it’ll be worth it.

But how do you manage it? It’s hard enough balancing uni work, a social life, exercise etc. adding a part time job into the equation can be a daunting thought! Time management is key. Trying to make sure that you’re at Uni, be it in a lecture or in a study space, from 9-5 every day will make this so much easier. Most employers will take into account your availability during the selection process for the job, so would not (and should not) be hiring students if they’re unwilling to be flexible in terms of weekly hours and shift start/end times. Try to be vocal and let your manager(s) know when, where, and for how long you can work each week. You’ll accrue payed holiday and are entitled to unpaid holiday, so if you need a week off because you have lots of deadlines then take one. It’s likely that if they’ve employed you, then they may well employ other students so talk to each other and work together – offer to cover a shift for them if something comes up at late notice, then ask for them to return the favour.

Try to prioritise the most important and urgent pieces of work. A technique that really helped me was making a tier list of importance for my Uni work – and allocating my time accordingly. You will have opportunities to catch up, or do extra work, throughout the academic year (reading weeks, Christmas / easter holidays) so don’t worry if you feel like you’re struggling in the moment. Prioritise the most pressing pieces of work, and make a note of what you were unable to do, or need to revise, and go back to it when you have time.

Study skills has a number of excellent resources on time management techniques, including a blog post series and a self-paced online resource.

To summarise:

You are not alone: talk to your peers, they will likely be in the same boat!
Let neither Study nor Work rule your life. Find a balance, communicate with your manager and colleagues.
Continue to make time for the things you enjoy.
Plan your week and learn to prioritise (top tip! use the Outlook calendar/task tabs in your Uni email)
Time management is key

Dylan Webster-Deakin, French and Italian, Year 4

Balancing Part-Time Work and Study: Flexible jobs help you stay sociable and focused on study

Posted on February 21, 2025 by tim.worth

In this part of our series on balancing part-time work and study, final year economics student Maansi Gupta shares how she uses her phone calendar to help her stay in control of balancing work, social life and staying focussed on study.

A photo of Maansi, a contributor to this blog post

Throughout my three years at university I have worked several part-time jobs, but balancing these jobs alongside academics, sport, extra-curriculars and a social life isn’t easy. While I try to find a middle ground, there are times when it feels overwhelming, so the only way I manage everything is being very organised with my scheduling.

My phone calendar is my lifeline – every lecture, shift, sports session and social plan is logged to ensure I don’t double-book myself or forget something important. That being said, even the best organisation doesn’t make more hours appear in the day.

There are weeks when deadlines pile up, so it is a constant balancing act. However, I always make a conscious effort to set aside time to socialise with friends. University isn’t just about studying and working, it’s also about enjoying the experience, and I don’t want to look back and regret missing out on making memories with friends. Even if it’s just a quick coffee catch-up or a study session together, those moments help keep me sane. At the same time, guilt creeps in. If I spend too much time socialising, I feel like I should be working or studying. If I spend all my time working or studying, I feel like I’m missing out on the university experience. The mental tug-of-war between responsibilities and actually enjoying university life can get exhausting.

Being in final year, my academic work is definitely a main focus. There are weeks when I need to cut back on work to focus on assignments, but thankfully, my university jobs as a Student Assisted Guidance in Economics (SAGE) Leader, Bristol Futures advocate and a School of Economics Student Ambassador, allow for that flexibility. I’m able to adjust my shifts alongside my studies in a way that feels manageable. Whether it’s working a few hours between classes or picking up extra shifts during quieter academic periods, these roles have always fit seamlessly into my schedule.

University-based jobs are normally very flexible, conveniently located, and run by people who understand student life. So if you’re thinking about getting a part-time job, my biggest piece of advice is to find one that fits around your studies, not the other way round. Also, finding the right balance is an ongoing process (one which I’m still figuring out!). There will always be weeks when one aspect takes precedence over another. What’s important is learning how to adapt, set boundaries, and make time for both responsibilities and enjoyment!

Maansi Gupta, Economics Year 3

Balancing Part-Time Work and Study: Restrictions and benefits as an international student

Posted on February 21, 2025 by tim.worth

In this part of our series on balancing part-time work and study, English Literature PhD student Jiamiao Chen discusses the limitations but also the skills development opportunities that working part-time can bring.

Therefore, I am very selective about what types of part-time work I do. I usually choose part-time work which aligns with my current research interests and will contribute to my personal development. For instance, I work as a study skills student advocate and deliver workshops to help students improve their study skills. I was an introvert before, and I know that after graduating from the University, I want to teach English Literature. Communicating with people and having some teaching experiences are the core skills I need to become a qualified lecturer in the near future, and my work experience provides me with an opportunity to practice and develop these skills. This work experience also improves my teamwork skills, and although I am not yet a team leader, I can observe from my team leaders very good leadership skills, which I can learn and apply to my future work. Most importantly, I get some extra income! This greatly eases my financial burden and boosts my self-confidence, as I know that I can use what I learn to help other people, and I am confident to find a job I am interested in with my current work experience.

I achieve a nice balance between studying and working, and my part-time work also helps to improve my wellbeing and makes me feel a deeper sense of belonging to the community of the University.

Jiamiao Chen, PhD English Literature

Now Recruiting: Study Skills Student Advocates 2025/26

Posted on January 29, 2025March 13, 2025 by tim.worth

*Please note that the deadline for applications for the Student Advocate roles for the 2025/26 academic year has now passed.*

Be part of a dynamic team promoting and delivering Study Skills support in the 2025/26 academic year.

As a Study Skills Student Advocate you’ll be an ambassador for Study Skills , promoting the service to members of the University and public alike. You’ll also support fellow students by running Study Skills drop-ins and workshops, staffing pop-up stands, attending events and having input into online learning resources and more. You’ll develop skills in organisation, teaching, support, public speaking and team working, all of which will be valuable for your future career development.

We’re looking for applications from any student at the University of Bristol to join our Advocate team for the 2025/26 academic year, whether you’re undergraduate or postgraduate, home or international, as long as you’ll be a registered student in 2025/26. We’ll train you in all the skills you need and work with you throughout the year to ensure you develop and gain the best experience possible from working with us. We are also seeking students with skills in coding to assist at our weekly Coding Clubs.

Core duties of the Advocate Role:

Act as an ambassador within your faculty to promote the Study Skills service.
Deliver one-to-one peer support sessions to students for Study Skills. These may take the form of drop-in sessions at the Study Skills Hub in Senate House, or peer support in regular study groups.
Facilitate workshops on Study Skills. Workshops may run face-to-face or online.
Advocates with skills in coding may assist with our weekly Coding Clubs.
Attend and assist in organizing promotional activities (such as pop up stands and lecture ‘shout-outs’).
Assist in gathering feedback from students and academics in your faculty to help develop and shape Study Skills.
Meet regularly with your Study Skills faculty tutor.
Work collaboratively with Study Skills staff to help further develop the Study Skills service.
Additional activities will be required as the role continues to develop.

Benefits of the role:

This is a paid role (see wage details below).
You will be provided with comprehensive training that will equip you with the knowledge and skills to carry out this role. Ongoing training will be provided throughout the duration of your contract as the role develops.
Work experience to enhance your CV i.e. marketing, group-work delivery, time management, leading and influencing.
An opportunity to shape the development of an ambitious, innovative university-wide project.
The source of a reference for future employment / LinkedIn recommendations.
This role can provide evidence that will contribute to the Bristol PLUS Award / Bristol PLUS Outstanding Award. (All team members are encouraged to participate in this award).

Wage:

Advocates are paid the Real Living Wage, which will be £12.60 per hour in September 2025. This role attracts a holiday increment of 12.07% per hour (so total paid per hour is £14.12). Workshop delivery (expected to start in the autumn after training) is paid at £16.76 per hour (plus 12.07% holiday pay). Wages are paid monthly in arrears via the Temporary Staffing Service (TSS).

Hours / Contract:

Working hours will be discussed at interview, but will range from 0 – 6 hours per week (you will not be expected to work during University holidays or assessment periods)
Training will begin in September 2025 and continue throughout the year. Contracts will begin in September 2025.
Please note that to be eligible for this role you must be a registered student at the University of Bristol in the 2025/26 academic year.

How to apply:

Please apply with a CV and covering letter outlining your suitability for the role. You can find our advice on writing a cover letter here.

Submit your application to Dr Tim Worth (Study Skills Coordinator) at tim.worth@bristol.ac.uk by 11.59pm on Friday 07 March 2025.

Further information:

If you require clarification of the above information or have further questions about the role, please contact study-skills@bristol.ac.uk

Closing date: 11:59pm Friday 07 March 2025

Provisional interview dates: Monday 24 March – Friday 04 April 2025.

Student perspectives: preparing for December assessments

Posted on November 18, 2024November 28, 2024 by tim.worth

In the latest blog from our Student Perspectives series the Student Advocates provide top tips for preparing for December assessments.

1. Think about how you’re being assessed

Around exam time, it’s very easy to get so caught up in trying to learn the content that you forget to check how the exam is formatted and what exactly is expected. Don’t forget to check mark schemes, timings and past papers. Consider:

How many questions are there?
Is there an opportunity to choose from a list of questions? If so in-depth knowledge of certain areas will be more beneficial than a surface-level understanding of all of them.
How much time do I have in total?
How long is advisable to spend on each section?
What knowledge or skills are they looking for?

Whilst these considerations are easily overlooked, having definite answers to these questions will make you feel much more centred and prepared come the big day.

Rachel Shortall, English and Philosophy, Year 2

2. Create an effective study routine

Photo of Emma, the author of this blog post First, create a revision schedule, which will help you to stay organized and focused. For example, I block out time on my calendar to revise specific topics and include dedicated break times.

Secondly, set up a good study environment. Our external environment can affect our revision efficiency significantly. Here are some important considerations when setting up our study environment:

Have a natural light source.
Remove distractions from the dedicated workspace.
Noise control using ear plugs or white noises or calming music.
Have a comfortable chair.

Finally, buddy up! Joining revision groups or revising with friends can really help to maintain motivation.

Emma Lau, Veterinary Science, BVSc5

3. Be aware of your units’ Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

Focus on the Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) of your units to identify the skills and knowledge that you’re being assessed on. Based on the ILOs set yourself some questions similar to the exam format to test yourself on that particular topic. If you are not familiar with that topic, go over it again and try to recall it after a certain period.

Adrian Tung, Biomedical Sciences, Year 2

4. Give yourself a break

A photo of Maansi, a contributor to this blog post

Make sure to schedule regular breaks during study sessions. Stepping away from your work (even for just 10 minutes) can help clear your mind and reduce stress.

Go for a short walk, have a snack, or listen to music to reset before going back to your revision.

Maansi Gupta, Economics Year 3

5. Don’t be afraid to ask for help

Meeting and talking to the right people often helps to solve my problems or, at least, makes me feel less stressful. There are lots of people you can go to:

If you have questions regarding your subject see if you can schedule a meeting with your lecturers. Most of them have weekly office hours where they meet with students who need help. If you have a mentor or supervisor, you can also contact them.
If you feel stressful, you can book an appointment and chat with the University Wellbeing team.
For Study Skills support you can come to our drop-ins at the Study Skills Hub in Senate House to talk about anything related to study skills, time management, assessment preparation, etc.

Jiamiao Chen, English Lit, PhD

If you’d like any more support with preparing for assessments then check out our online resources, drop-ins, tutorials and workshops – all available via the Study Skills webpage.

Student Perspectives: top tips for studying at university

Posted on October 4, 2024October 4, 2024 by tim.worth

As we settle down into the new academic year our Student Advocates give their top tips for studying at university. For more study skills support from our advocates come and talk to them at our drop-ins at the Study Skills Hub in Senate House.

Upgrade to University

Photo of Emma, a contributor to this blog post — Emma Lau

The most significant difference I noticed between school and university is the increased autonomy in how we study. Unlike in school, we have access to options like Re/Play and Livestream, which allow for more flexible learning. This independence necessitates stronger time management skills, as the responsibility for our learning falls more heavily on us.

– Emma Lau, Veterinary Science, Year 5.

Perhaps the biggest difference in comparing university to A-levels is having much more freedom – both time-wise and content-wise – and this can be both exciting and daunting. In my experience the Arts and Humanities courses give a lot of information on broad topics within your subject, and you can choose to investigate things more or less depending on how interesting you find them. One of my top tips would be to check well in advance when your assessments are and how you are being examined, because at university it is up to you to structure your learning around your own interests and what you think will help you excel in your assessments.

– Rachel Shortall, English and Philosophy, Year 2.

At the start of each unit or topic you’ll be given Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs). These tell you what you’re expected to learn. I found it helpful to revisit them when reviewing for exams or assignments. If you can tick off the ILOs, you’re on the right track. Each unit at university can also have a different approach to learning, as each one will have different learning outcomes. Some may provide asynchronous videos for you to watch before attending lectures, while others might require you to complete problem sheets in advance. Stay flexible, and adjust your study habits accordingly.

– Yifan Qiao, Aerospace Engineering, Year 4

For more help on transitioning to studying at university level see our Upgrade to University online resource.

Managing your time

During my first year, I used Trello to create a structured weekly schedule that helped me to prioritize tasks by focusing on what was most important and urgent, set reminders for upcoming deadlines, and create detailed to-do lists to track my progress. I color-coded tasks based on their urgency and subject, making it easy to see what needed immediate attention. Aditionally, I applied the Pomodoro Technique, where I studied for a set amount of time followed by a short break.

– Eliana Garcia, Mechanical and electrical Engineering, Year 3

Keep track of deadlines and obligations with a to-do list! Whether you prefer a physical list or an app like Things 3 (my personal favourite), writing things down is key. As soon as you become aware of a deadline or other task coming up, jot it down into your to-do list. Then, once you have a moment, make a plan for when and how you’re going to tackle it. If you make this a habit you will be sure to stay on top of all of your deadlines.

– Josh Perry, Physics, Year 4

Break tasks into smaller goals and set deadlines. I used to procrastinate when faced with long essays because I felt like I had to sit down and write the whole thing in one go, which seemed impossible. So I started breaking it down into daily goals that fit into my routine. On day one, I might spend 30 minutes gathering sources and skimming them for useful quotes. The next day, I’d dedicate an hour to outlining the essay and drafting a plan. By day three, I’d aim to write just 300–500 words at a time. Taking it step by step not only made the process feel less overwhelming but also gave me the satisfaction of ticking off smaller accomplishments throughout the week.

– Maansi Gupta, Economics, Year 3

For more tips on managing your time check out our Time Management online resource.

Taking notes

A photo of Dylan Webster-Deakin, a contributor to this blog post — Dylan Webster-Deakin

Particularly in first year note taking can be very much a ‘trial and error’ process. You may take too many or too few, or note down something you believe to be super important which then turns out to be useless, so my first tip is: don’t worry if you get it wrong. Like with a lot of things at uni, with time you’ll figure out what works for you.

My second tip is to always think ‘how am I being assessed in this module? What will the essay or exam be on?’ and then identify what information is necessary for this assessment.

– Dylan Webster-Deakin, French and Italian, Year 4

I would suggest using first year to try out different methods of note-taking and studying to find a good routine that works for you. As most students like to take notes and study digitally, there are numerous apps and sites that are available to try. Examples that I often hear about or have used include Goodnotes, Notion, Anki and OneNote. The best way to find what works for you is to try them out, and if it isn’t working don’t be afraid to change it up and try another, or use a combination of methods.

– Ana Maria FB, Veterinary Science (BVSc1)

OneNote has been amazing to have different tabs for each module – it’s done wonders for my organisation! I’d also say having a Notes section on your phone with a ‘plan of the day’ makes it much easier to structure your time. For those with closed-book exams, active recall is your best friend! Lots of people use flashcard apps, e.g. Quizlet or Anki to continually review high-yield content from previous lectures and keep that information fresh in your mind.

– Shraddha Sriraman, Medicine, Year 4

Personally, I found both OneNote and Notion useful for digital note taking. However, different people may prefer different applications. Therefore, I recommend considering the following factors when picking your note taking tool:

Compatibility: Ensure the tool integrates well with the university’s systems (e.g., syncs with Outlook).

User Interface: Choose a tool with a layout and design that appeals to you and is easy to navigate.

Features: Look for features that match your needs, such as task prioritization, reminders, or progress tracking.

Accessibility: Consider whether you need access across multiple devices (computer, phone, tablet).

Learning Curve: Evaluate how much time you’re willing to invest in learning a new system.

– Emma Lau, Veterinary Science, Year 5

For more support with note-taking check out our Making and Using Notes online resource.

Other study skills top tips

Study with a buddy! Having a study buddy not only makes learning more fun, but it can also be helpful for group assessments, which are more common in uni. Collaborating with others can deepen your understanding and give you new perspectives on the material.

– Yifan Qiao, Aerospace Engineering, Year 4

Create a structured system, such as a mind map, to understand the interconnectedness of your units. Branch out core concepts and methods for each unit and identify the overlaps with other units. Use the map as a study tool – always ask how new concepts relate to others, link the theory and the data, and see the big picture.

– Dana Gutu, Economics, Year 3

Take a good rest when you are tired and don’t feel guilty; I have experiences staying up late until 2am or 3am, and that makes me work less effectively in the long run. When you feel really tired it is important to go to sleep and tell yourself “tomorrow is another day”. It’s easier for you to follow your plan and manage your time effectively when you feel energetic.

– Jiamiao Chen, Department of English, Year 4

A photograph of Ryan Lam, a contributor to this blog post — Ryan Lam

Think about your lifestyle. What are you eating? When do you exercise? How much do you sleep? While this might not be related to studying at first glance, I often find a day not as productive as usual only because I stayed up too late the day before.

Being mindful of your lifestyle could be helpful when you feel like you are struggling with studying. Hitting the gym might tire you out immediately after, but you might find yourself more energetic to start work the next day! So in general, I would encourage others to keep up with your life as well as your studies.

– Ryan Lam, Mathematics, PhD

For more study skills support visit our website to access online resources, drop-in sessions, one-to-one tutorials and workshops.

Your guide to tackling Clinical Years: Things I wish I’d known

Posted on September 27, 2024 by tim.worth

In this post Student Advocate Shraddha Sriraman (Medicine) reflects on her experience of clinical years, and offers 10 top tips for making the most of the opportunities available. Shraddha, the author of the blog post

1. Know what’s expected of you

Check your portfolio requirements and try and plan exactly how you’re going to achieve these goals, e.g. getting 2 histories a week to keep you on track to meet your targets. Planning this out in my first week helped me figure out exactly what needed to be done.

2. You’re not expected to know everything

Coming to placement can feel a little daunting, especially after a couple of years of lectures. It can be tricky to put the content from Year 1 and 2 into real-life, but you’ll definitely get used to it in time! Everyone’s first couple of histories can be a bit rusty (I look back on mine and laugh at the quality). The goal is to show progress in your clinical skills throughout the year and in time you’ll gradually become more confident in your aptitude.

3. Use Online Resources

Online resources can be incredibly valuable when there’s no more structured lectures to support your learning. For medics Passmedicine and Quesmed are valuable resources to emulate the exam situation, with tens of thousands of multiple-choice questions and mock tests.

4. Practice OSCEs

Practice, practice, practice! I was incredibly nervous with my OSCE skills at first, but roleplaying uncomfortable scenarios with you friends or family is honestly the best way to practice your skills. I worked in a group of 3, with one as the examiner, patient and student, and found this worked pretty well. Make sure that the examiner is as strict as possible, as that’s the best way to learn what the mark schemes are looking for. For the medics: Geeky Medics have several free OSCE checklists for a range of stations which were quite helpful!

There’s no better experience than talking to patients on real wards, so definitely make the use of it when you can.

5. The majority of patients enjoy talking to you

When I started, I was quite nervous about chatting to patients. After I got into the groove of it, a lot of the patients really enjoyed having a chance to talk to someone. You often have more time to spend with patients than other staff have, so it’s also really useful to the doctors when you present – you might’ve found something they’d missed!

6. Always have a pen on you

Or even 2 pens. You may find that some get (inadvertantly) taken by doctors if left lying about!

7. Practice the entire examination as often as you can on wards

Getting used to rehearsing it makes it stick much better in time for OSCEs. Patients are great to practice on so you can get used to giving them instructions and explaining what you’re doing as you go.

8. Get feedback on your histories and exams

I found this really constructive. Practicing at bedside is helpful to get feedback from clinicians on your technique.

9. Share your goals with the doctor

Let the doctor you’re with know what you want to get out of the day at the beginning – they’re more likely to be helpful! For instance, if you need to get 2 clerkings done, a drug chart and a mini-CEX, letting a doctor know makes them much more likely to give you patients to clerk and help you get the most out of your time on placement.

10. If you’re not sure what to do… ask the doctor ‘How can I help?’

In these situations be proactive and show your willingness to assist rather than waiting around with nothing to do.

Do you have any more tips for clinical years, or have questions to ask about the experience? Share them in the comments below.

Study Skills: September 2024 Update

Posted on September 5, 2024September 5, 2024 by tim.worth

Welcome to the new academic year at the University of Bristol! We extend our warmest wishes to all students, both new and returning. In this update you can learn about the Study Skills service and how to access our support. If you have any questions, please email study-skills@bristol.ac.uk

What is Study Skills?

The Study Skills team are here to support you with the core skills that underpin studying at university. We can help you with time management and learning independently, with academic writing and essay planning, research projects and dissertations, and a whole lot more. Visit our website or watch the short video below to learn more.

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Talk to a Study Skills tutor or Student Advocate

Drop in to see us at the Study Skills Hub on Floor 2 in Senate House – no booking required! We’re open 11am-3pm on weekdays from Welcome Week onwards. Visit our drop-ins information page for the latest timetable. Drop-ins are run by our team of Student Advocates.

For more in-depth support you can book an online or in-person tutorial with a Study Skills tutor. Book a tutorial.

If you have a quick question about study skills you can also post it anonymously to our ‘Ask a question’ Padlet and our team will be very happy to answer it for you.

Discover your Study Skills Mascot

Take our quiz on your study habits to reveal which animal is your personal Study Skills mascot. Will you be the critically-minded owl, the team-working lion, or perhaps the ever-communicative cuttlefish? Once you’ve completed the quiz visit the Study Skills Hub in Senate House to pick up a free bookmark featuring your new Study Skills mascot.

Online resources

Our Study Skills page has a huge range of useful interactive resources covering many different topics. These ones may be particularly helpful to help you make the best possible start to the new academic year:

Find all the online resources here.

Coming soon: workshops

Our small-group workshops cover a huge range of topics, from managing your time to critical writing and using AI during your studies. Our program for workshops for September and October will be finalized and available to book into soon. Keep an eye on our workshops page to view the latest plans.

Any questions? Email us at study-skills@bristol.ac.uk

Visit our website: bristol.ac.uk/studyskills

Student perspectives: 5 last minute revision top tips from a health sciences student

Posted on April 30, 2024 by tim.worth

Photo of Emma, the author of this blog post

Student Advocate Emma Lau (Veterinary Sciences) shares some tips and techniques for preparing for upcoming assessments.

With summer exams approaching, we inevitably start gearing up in preparation for our intense revision in the upcoming revision week! Here I want to share the top 5 tips I have from studying for university exams in the past four years.

A bit about myself: I am a fourth-year student studying veterinary science. As many of you may know, it is quite a content-heavy subject. The following tips may not be as applicable to some of you doing a more applicable subject, such as Mathematics and computer science, or those doing essay subjects, such as History and Psychology. However, I believe there are some transferable skills for revising for exams.

1. Stay flexible to prevent procrastination

This is one of the transferable revision skills regardless of the subject you do. It may sound simple, but if a topic is tedious or not your interest or focus, we may want to procrastinate.

Question: How can I prevent procrastination?

Some people plan their revision schedule a few weeks prior to revision week or even a month before their exam date. I have tried that in previous years. Unfortunately, this method did not work as well for me. My tip will be to stay flexible on the topics to revise. Setting a goal to go through a set number of topics instead of a defined topic works better for me. Mixing around different topics will keep our motivation, maximising our revision efficiency.

2. Use modified Cornell note-taking method

As you may have heard, the Cornell note taking method is known to be an effective way of note taking. I modified this method when I revisited my initial notes to create a summary revision table.

First, I put the relevant Intended Learning Outcome (ILO) on the top of the page. I then organise my notes into two columns – one with questions/ hints and another column with answers. For content that can be organised into a table, I also put a table underneath the ILO.

Here’s an example of my own adapted Cornell-style notes

3. Mind mapping

Mind maps are a great way to perform active recall of taught materials! There are several different applications that I have tried and found useful. Click on each one to view an example of how I use them in practice:

They all have different pros and cons, so have a look at some of my examples to see which app you prefer. If you are looking for collaboration with your friends, only Miro and Padlet will have the function.

4. Use AI for summarisation and incorporate the “Read Aloud” function

Seeing the long list of ILOs can be daunting, making it difficult to find a starting point to condense your notes. I recommend inputting the ILOs into a large language model (LLM), such as Claude or ChatGPT, followed by your notes and ask it to summarize your notes for you. This will provide you with a quick overview of the specific topic.

In addition to that, I would recommend using the “Read Aloud” function to listen to the summarised content. The multisensory learning approach has proven to be a powerful tool to enhance information comprehension and retention. I must admit that I remember way more content in a shorter time frame than I would have otherwise been able to. Therefore, it is definitely worth considering during your last couple of weeks for revision.

Here I use Claude to generate summaries of specific topics based entirely on my own written notes.

However, it is worth noting that the university has a strict copyright policy regarding teaching materials, and you musn’t upload lecture slides or materials created by your lecturer or other people. Therefore, when putting notes onto AI tools, it must be from our own paraphrased notes. In addition, if we do not want the chat to be remembered or used as further AI training data, logging into Microsoft Copilot would be a better alternative than ChatGPT and Claude. The only limitation with Microsoft Copilot is that you are limited to pasting 4000 characters per message.

For more guidance and support on using AI tools for your studies check out the Study Skills team’s Using AI at University online resource.

5. Practice, practice, practice

Lastly, I must emphasise the importance of practice. For subjects with past papers access I recommend doing as many of those as you can. For health science subjects that do not have access to past papers, Peerwise and your own flashcards will be good alternatives. Spaced repetition (regularly returning and reviewing) is key to remembering factual content, while understanding past papers will help set more realistic expectations on the exam format. These allow you to be more confident and calmer on exam dates.

That’s my five top tips for when revising during the revision week. If you want to try out any of the mentioned tools above and learning about details on how to access it, you can find more information on this page. Hope you have found this blog useful, and best of luck with your exams!

Do you have any revision tips of your own? Share them in comments below!