Exams, Assessments and Study Advice
Finding the right balance of activities can be hard - whether that's working out how to balance your studies and a part-time job, or how to split your study time across your different courses. We have a range of classes and resources here that will help you make the most of your study time, get all the general skills you need for your courses, and help you go into your exams and assessments feeling confident and well-prepared.
While some of our classes are tailored for different cohorts, all classes are open to everyone so feel to attend any that look of interest to you.
Looking for some specific advice? Make an appointment with one of our advisers:
Live Classes (Semester 1)
Navigating Semester 1
This particular course will be led by the team of Induction & Transitions Advisers
> Moodle page for this series (includes slides and any recordings) - https://moodle.gla.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=52555
| Date | Time | UG/PGT/ All |
Class | Class Description | Location / Zoom Link |
| Wednesday 8th October | 13:00-14:00 | PGT | Demystifying the Step Up to Postgrad Learning | What does the step up to PGT-level study look like? What does it mean to be a Master's student? This session focuses on transition to and expectations of Master's-level study, introduces the concept of 'mastersness', and discusses how it can help you understand and evaluate your strengths and development areas relating to postgrad study. | https://uofglasgow.zoom.us/j/82951165039 |
| Thursday 9th October | 12:00-13:00 | UG | Demystifying Undergrad Learning | Starting university can feel like stepping into a whole new world. In this session, we’ll demystify the 'hidden curriculum': the unspoken rules and expectations of university life, so you can build confidence and succeed as an independent learner. | Boyd Orr 611 (LT E) |
| Wednesday 15th October | 13:00-14:00 | All | Demystifying Independent Learning: Tools and Strategies | This session looks at what 'independent learning' means, its practical challenges, and some organisational and time management tips and tools to boost your learning. | Boyd Orr 611 (LT E) |
| Thursday 16th October | 12:00-13:00 | All | Demystifying Independent Learning: Overcoming Procrastination and Perfectionism | This session will help you to identify and tackle common barriers to managing your time and learning effectively. | Boyd Orr 611 (LT E) |
| Wednesday 22nd October | 13:00-14:00 | All | Demystifying Assessments: Approaches & Expectations | Not sure what university assessments will be like? In this session, we’ll compare how you’ve worked before with what’s expected now, then explore practical strategies, from using Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs) to making the most of tutors' feedback, to help you approach assessments with confidence. | Boyd Orr 611 (LT E) |
| Thursday 23rd October | 12:00-13:00 | All | Demystifying Assessments: Writing as a Process | Struggling to start writing or feel you need the perfect idea before you can begin? In this session, we'll explore writing as a process, working from the basis that the best work isn’t written once, but rewritten. We’ll look at how to break free from the fear of the blank page, get your ideas flowing without worrying about perfection, and turn rough drafts into polished work. | Boyd Orr 611 (LT E) |
| Wednesday 29th October | 13:00-14:00 | All | AI & Academic Integrity: How Do You Use AI? | AI is constantly evolving and changing how we learn and work, but what does this mean for you? In this open, discussion-based session, we’ll unpack your experiences with AI so far, and start to explore how it will look at UofG. | Boyd Orr 611 (LT E) |
| Thursday 30th October | 12:00-13:00 | All | AI & Academic Integrity: How You Can Use AI at UofG | AI is evolving fast, and so is the guidance around how universities expect students to use it. In this session, we’ll look at the current UofG guidance, why it may change throughout your studies, and how to use AI tools effectively and responsibly at university. | Boyd Orr 611 (LT E) |
| Wednesday 5th November | 13:00-14:00 | PGT | Considering a PhD | Thinking about undertaking postgraduate research after your postgraduate taught degree? This session will discuss what PhD research looks like, how to choose a topic, how you can look for funding, and writing a research proposal. | Boyd Orr 611 (LT E) |
| Thursday 6th November | 12:00-13:00 | PGT | Considering Your Career | Starting to think about your career after you complete your postgraduate taught degree? This session will help you set your career goals, align these with your learning, skills, and experiences, and how to find CV-boosting opportunities. | Boyd Orr 611 (LT E) |
| Wednesday 12th November | 13:00-14:00 | UG | Navigating Key Relationships & Communication | University isn’t just about study: it’s also about the people you’ll meet and work with. In this session, we’ll explore how expectations around relationships and communication with staff and peers as an undergrad student may look different to those you've experienced in other learning contexts. We'll discuss how to handle these confidently, and to thrive in an intercultural learning community. | Boyd Orr 611 (LT E) |
| Thursday 13th November | 12:00-13:00 | PGT | Navigating Key Relationships & Communication | In this session, we’ll explore how expectations around relationships and communication with staff and peers as a postgrad student may look different to those you've experienced at undergraduate level. We'll discuss how to handle these confidently, and to thrive in an intercultural learning community. | Boyd Orr 611 (LT E) |
| Wednesday 19th November | 13:00-14:00 | All | Making Feedback Work for You | Tutors' feedback is a valuable tool to help you direct your learning. In this session, we’ll show you how to understand and use feedback from essays and other work to strengthen future assessments, including exams. | Boyd Orr 611 (LT E) |
| Thursday 20th November | 12:00-13:00 | All | Preparing for Your Exams: Revision Strategies | Find out about the revision strategies that actually work, and how to organise your time to use them. | Boyd Orr 611 (LT E) |
| Wednesday 26th November | 13:00-14:00 | All | Making Feedback Work for You (repeat) | Tutors' feedback is a valuable tool to help you direct your learning. In this session, we’ll show you how to understand and use feedback from essays and other work to strengthen future assessments, including exams. | Boyd Orr 611 (LT E) |
| Thursday 27th November | 12:00-13:00 | All | Preparing for Your Exams: Navigating the Exam Period & Dealing with Stress | Feeling stressed about exams, or experienced exam stress in the past? Come along to this practical and supportive session for guidance on getting through the exam period. | Boyd Orr 611 (LT E) |
Co-working Spaces and PhD Application Workshops
This particular course will be led by the team of Induction & Transitions Advisers
> Moodle page for this series (includes slides and any recordings) - https://moodle.gla.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=52555
| Date | Time | UG/PGT/ All |
Class | Class Description | Location (in-person class)/ Zoom Link (online class) |
| Monday 27th October | 12:00-13:00 | All | Peer Co-working Space | Bring your own coursework or assessments to this open peer co-working session where you can try out approaches and strategies discussed the Demystifying Independent Learning and Demystifying Assessments sessions. You should come prepared with your own coursework and device/pen and paper to work on. |
Southpark House Teaching Room |
| Tuesday 28th October | 16:00-17:00 | All | Peer Co-working Space | Bring your own coursework or assessments to this open peer co-working session where you can try out approaches and strategies discussed in the Demystifying Independent Learning and Demystifying Assessments sessions. You should come prepared with your own coursework and device/pen and paper to work on. |
Southpark House Teaching Room |
| Wednesday 29th October | 16:00-17:00 | All | Peer Co-working Space | Bring your own coursework or assessments to this open peer co-working session where you can try out approaches and strategies discussed in the Demystifying Independent Learning and Demystifying Assessments sessions. You should come prepared with your own coursework and device/pen and paper to work on. |
Southpark House Teaching Room |
| Thursday 30th October | 13:00-14:00 | All | Peer Co-working Space | Bring your own coursework or assessments to this open peer co-working session where you can try out approaches and strategies discussed in the Demystifying Independent Learning and Demystifying Assessments sessions. You should come prepared with your own coursework and device/pen and paper to work on. |
Southpark House Teaching Room |
| Monday 10th November | 17:00-18:00 | PGT | PhD Application Workshop (Arts & Humanities and Social Sciences) | This workshop will focus on turning an idea for a PhD topic into a robust research proposal in the Arts, Humanities, and Social Sciences. You should come prepared with a rough idea for a PhD topic to work on during the session. |
Adam Smith 487 |
| Tuesday 11th November | 17:00-18:00 | PGT | PhD Application Workshop (Sciences) | This workshop will focus on turning an idea for a PhD topic into a robust research proposal and/or how to write a persuasive PhD application. You should come prepared with a rough idea for a PhD topic or type of research project you'd like to work on during the session. |
Clarice Pears 103AB |
Tailored for International Students
Starting your Academic Citizenship (for International Students)
This particular course will be led by the team of Effective Learning Advisers for International Students. Every session will be run twice - once in-person and once online.
> Moodle page for this series (includes slides and any recordings) - https://moodle.gla.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=27830
| Date | Time | Title | Description | Location/Zoom Link |
| Friday 26th September | 15:00-16:00 | Transitioning to Academic Study @UofG | How to successfully transition to new academic institutions by better understanding expectations and some strategies for effectively managing change. | |
| Tuesday 30th September | 09:00-10:00 | Transitioning to Academic Study @UofG (online repeat) | How to successfully transition to new academic institutions by better understanding expectations and some strategies for effectively managing change. |
https://uofglasgow.zoom.us/j/82229209188 (Meeting ID: 822 2920 9188) |
| Wednesday 1st October | 15:00-16:00 | Becoming an Academic Reader | Strategies for effective academic reading to enhance learning, including how to select reading, manage reading time and read evaluatively. | |
| Thursday 2nd October | 15:00-16:00 | Academic Integrity, Avoiding Plagiarism, and Artificial Intelligence | Explains the definitions of plagiarism at the University of Glasgow and how to avoid plagiarism in academic work as well as looking at some do's and don'ts for AI in academic work. | |
| Friday 3rd October | 15:00-16:00 | Understanding and Preparing for Assignments | How to effectively understand and fulfill assigment requirements. | |
| Tuesday 7th October | 09:00-10:00 | Becoming an Academic Reader (online repeat) | Strategies for effective academic reading to enhance learning, including how to select reading, manage reading time and read evaluatively. |
https://uofglasgow.zoom.us/j/85105229767 (Meeting ID: 851 0522 9767) |
| Tuesday 7th October | 11:00-12:00 | Introduction to Being Critical | What does it mean to be critical and analytical in academic work and how to achieve this. | |
| Wednesday 8th October | 09:00-10:00 | Academic Integrity, Avoiding Plagiarism, and Artificial Intelligence (online repeat) | Explains the definitions of plagiarism at the University of Glasgow and how to avoid plagiarism in academic work as well as looking at some do's and don'ts for AI in academic work. |
https://uofglasgow.zoom.us/j/84912567920 (Meeting ID: 849 1256 7920) |
| Wednesday 8th October | 15:00-16:00 | Academic Discourse | Explains academic discourse and discusses how to identify the ways your academic community communicates. | |
| Thursday 9th October | 09:00-10:00 | Understanding and Preparing for Assignments (online repeat) | How to effectively understand and fulfill assigment requirements. |
https://uofglasgow.zoom.us/j/87332937663 (Meeting ID: 873 3293 7663) |
| Wednesday 15th October | 09:00-10:00 | Introduction to Being Critical (online repeat) | What does it mean to be critical and analytical in academic work and how to achieve this. |
https://uofglasgow.zoom.us/j/84409973217 (Meeting ID: 844 0997 3217) |
| Thursday 16th October | 09:00-10:00 | Academic Discourse (online repeat) | Explains academic discourse and discusses how to identify the ways your academic community communicates. |
https://uofglasgow.zoom.us/j/81422457351 (Meeting ID: 814 2245 7351) |
Academic Community Workshops (for International Students)
This particular course will be led by the team of Effective Learning Advisers for International Students.
> Moodle page for this series (includes slides and any recordings) - https://moodle.gla.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=27830
| Date | Time | Title | Description | Room |
| Thursday 9th October | 15:00-16:00 | Managing Your Time in University | Developing skills to effectively plan your time to complete assignments and study effectively wihile maintaining work-life balance. | James McCune Smith Building: Room 641 |
| Tuesday 14th October | 11:00-12:00 | Becoming a Critical Reader | Developing skills to analytically read and evaluate academic texts to enhance your learning and assignments. | James McCune Smith Building: Room 641 |
| Wednesday 15th October | 15:00-16:00 | Incorporating Evidence in Academic Writing | How to incorporate evidence in academic assignments as a foundation for effective analyses and arguments. | Joseph Black Building: B419, Main Lecture Theatre |
| Thursday 16th October | 15:00-16:00 | Reading for Language | How we can use our academic reading to develop and strengthen our academic writing, style and tone. | James McCune Smith Building: Room 641 |
| Tuesday 21st October | 11:00-12:00 | Creating Context in Essay Writing | How to effectively contextualise and frame your academic work to strengthen its coherence and argumentation. | James McCune Smith Building: Room 641 |
| Wednesday 22nd October | 15:00-16:00 | Demonstrating Authority in Writing | Explores why and how to demonstrate your authority and credibility in your work to produce convincing assessments. | Joseph Black Building: B419, Main Lecture Theatre |
| Thursday 23rd October | 15:00-16:00 | Constructing an Effective Argument | Developing skills to construct an effective argument in your academic writing. | James McCune Smith Building: Room 641 |
| Tuesday 28th October | 11:00-12:00 | Skills to Succeed Throughout Your Studies | Developing skills for furthering your development as a scholar in your field and academic problem-solving. | James McCune Smith Building: Room 641 |
Tailored for Specific Colleges
Lab Calculation Refresher Sessions (for MVLS students)
These sessions cover the common calculations needed for lab experiments, such as how to dilute a stock solution to the correct concentration. And don't hesitate to get in touch with the Maths Adviser if you have questions.
Moodle page for this series (see the life sciences section) - https://moodle.gla.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=140
| Date | Time | Venue | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 29th Sep | 11:00-12:00 | Joseph Black Building C407 |
These sessions cover the common calculations needed for lab experiments, such as how to dilute a stock solution to the correct concentration. The two sessions are the same content. |
| Fri 3rd Oct | 12:00-13:00 | Zoom |
Drop-ins
Maths Drop-Ins (for any UofG student)
> Moodle page for Maths advice - https://moodle.gla.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=140
More drop-ins will be added in the run up to the December exam diet.
| Date | Time | Venue | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Mon 29th Sept | 14:00-16:00 | All in Room 305 of the McMillan Round Reading Room |
Open to any student with any maths question (other than Honours level mathematics students) No booking required |
| Mon 6th Oct | 14:00-16:00 | ||
| Mon 13th Oct | 14:00-16:00 | ||
| Mon 20th Oct | 14:00-16:00 | ||
| Mon 27th Oct | 14:00-16:00 | ||
| Mon 3rd Nov | 14:00-16:00 | ||
| Mon 10th Nov | 14:00-16:00 | ||
| Mon 17th Nov | 14:00-16:00 | ||
| Mon 24th Nov | 14:00-16:00 |
Stats Drop-Ins (for any UofG student)
> Moodle page for Stats advice - https://moodle.gla.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=42233
Every 2 weeks:
| Date | Time | Venue | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fri 10th Oct | 10:00-11:00 | All in James McCune Smith Learning Hub: 429 |
Open to students with any statistics question (other than Honours level statistics courses). Come in for help with theory or issues with statistical software. No booking required. |
| Fri 24th Oct | 10:00-11:00 | ||
| Fri 7th Nov | 10:00-11:00 | ||
| Fri 21st Nov | 10:00-11:00 |
Pre-recorded Classes and Online Materials
These classes offer a mix of online materials and resources you can work through at your own pace. Some are classes held in the previous semester. All contain useful resources, sometimes including recordings of past live classes. Check back regularly for updates.
Assessments at UofG (CoSE & MVLS)
This course provides an introduction to the purpose, structure, and expectations of various different assessment formats. You can find useful and practical advice on a range of assessment types, including some that centre around academic writing skills (e.g. essays, lab reports, reviews) and some that focus on scientific communication skills (presentations, posters, blogs, podcasts).
Exams and Academic Development (CoSE & MVLS)
> Moodle page for this series - https://moodle.gla.ac.uk/course/view.php?id=10317
This is an asynchronous resource which you can access anytime.
| Title | Description |
| Lectures, labs, and tutorials | We discuss how to approach your classes in a strategic way so that you get the most out this valuable time with your lecturers. |
| Working in groups | Group work is an integral part of many degree courses. This class will show you how to get the most out of assessed and informal group work. |
| Exam revision strategies | We will show you the best revision strategies, and how to combine them to the best effect in the weeks before an exam. |
| Avoiding procrastination | Procrastination is normal! But this class will help if you feel that it is getting in the way of your studies. |
Good Academic Practice
This course focuses on Academic Integrity, helping you to understand the Uinversity of Glasgow's policies on plagiarism; advice on use of GenAI; and introduces referencing techniques to support your becoming ethical and rigourous researchers and writers.
Making the Most of Lectures
This is an interactive course that has been designed to help you use lectures and lecture recordings to enhance your remote and/ or on-campus learning. Drawing on evidence-based techniques, this non-credit course will introduce you to some of the ways in which you can integrate lectures and lecture recordings (if available) into your studying.
Time and Project Management
This course provides you with the fundamental principles of good time and project management. The course is designed to take you through the key elements of working with multiple deadlines, competing priorities, and different workloads.