Effective Learning Service
The Effective Learning Service (ELS) offers guidance and support to all students who wish to develop their academic writing and study skills. Our aim is to help you become as self-reliant as possible as you progress through your degree programmes here at QMU.
Online and In-Person Appointments
Both ELS and ELSinternational are now offering a mixture of online and in-person appointments. In an online appointment we will communicating guidance and advice on your assignments via e-mail. If you have any follow up questions on the advice given, then just contact us by email. If you have an appointment please try to send your work to us (along with the assignment brief if possible) at least 24 hours in advance of your appointment time. All in-person appointments will be in the ELS room (1153 in the LRC). Make an online or in-person appointment with the ELS team
Please do not send any work to us if you do not have an appointment.
Study Skills Workshops
Regular study skills workshops on a wide range of topics will be run throughout the academic year. The workshops below are small, informal, and aimed at undergraduate students, although postgraduates can join too if there is space available. This semester these workshops will be delivered online via Collaborate.
The next programme of workshops will be published in the first weeks of the coming semester.
Criticality Café
Starting from October this coming semester, ELS will be running a regular 'Criticality Café' to offer a space for strengthening that side of your academic work. Look out for further details and dates from September.
Resit Programme
Every summer we also run a Resit Programme to help students to get through their resits successfully and to develop their academic skills and confidence for the following year. It is designed for undergraduate students, resitting modules as a second diet, but students sitting assessments as a first diet in August can also apply. This programme runs for two weeks in July.
Details and information on how to apply for the Resit Programme
Getting in Touch With Us
What happens in an appointment?
An ELS advisor will discuss any concerns you have, such as taking notes, reading effectively, planning and structuring essays or exam techniques; and then work out various strategies to help.
The ELS does not proofread or check completed essays – the aim of the sessions is for you to build up the skills and confidence you need to tackle academic tasks successfully yourself.
Appointments will usually be held in room 1153. One session is enough in many cases, but students often have several sessions over a semester.
How to book an appointment?
The best way is to choose a day and time which suits you and book it using this link.
If you need to get in touch for any other reason then just send an email message to:
Workshops and Classes
Study Skills Workshops
Do you want to find out
- what ‘studying’ is all about?
- tips and strategies for independent learning?
- effective ways to plan, write and research?
The workshops below are small, informal, and aimed at undergraduate students.
|
Reading and Note-making |
February 15th 15.15 - 16.15 ONLINE |
February 17th 10.15 - 11.15 IN-PERSON |
|
Positive Time Planning |
February 22nd 15.15 - 16.15 ONLINE |
February 24th 10.15 - 11.15 IN-PERSON |
|
Essay Planning and Structuring |
March 2nd 15.15 - 16.15 IN-PERSON |
March 3rd 12.15 - 13.15 ONLINE |
|
Referencing APA and Harvard |
March 7th 15.15 - 16.15 ONLINE |
March 11th 10.15 - 11.15 IN-PERSON |
|
Proofreading and Wordcount |
March 15th 15.15 - 16.15 ONLINE |
March 17th 12.15 - 13.15 IN-PERSON |
|
Understanding Feedback |
March 21st 15.15 - 16.15 IN-PERSON |
March 23rd 10.15 - 11.15 ONLINE |
|
Balancing Children or Caring (or both) with Studying |
March 22nd 15.15 - 16.15 ONLINE |
March 24th 10.15 - 11.15 IN-PERSON |
|
Exams and Revision |
March 28th 15.15 - 16.15 IN-PERSON |
March 30th 10.15 - 11.15 ONLINE |
Workshops take place via Collaborate and places can be booked on Student Central, or for further information contact els@qmu.ac.uk.
Guides and Resources
Guides and Resources
The LRC also has a wide range of study skills books available in individual subject areas.
Leaflets:
- Managing and Organising your Time
- Active Reading
- Planning and Writing Essays
- Making Effective Notes
- Presentations
- Reflection
- Critical thinking
- Report writing
- Revision
- Exams
- Planning a critical review
- Writing a literature review
Quick guides:
- Keywords used in assignment titles
- Planning essays
- Writing and structuring assignments
- Reading for study
- Dealing with lectures
- Groupwork
- Coping with stress
- Memory tips
- Revision tips
- Exams tips
- Academic writing
- Editing and proofreading
- The paragraph
- The sentence
- Punctuation one
- Punctuation two
Key study websites at QMU:
See our Library section for useful study and information skills.
Other key study websites:
Academic Phrasebank - A site containing lots of examples of academic English arranged by function.
Video Guides
ELS has launched our new ‘Three By Threes’ this academic year. They are a set of interlinked short videos, which break down key Study Skills topics into manageable steps.
If you are enrolled at QMU, the best way to access the 'Three By Threes' is by registering on Canvas.
If you have not yet enrolled at QMU, you can access the videos and resources via Sway.
International English Language Support
Effective Learning Service for international students
The Effective Learning Service for international students at QMU is here to provide support for all students wishing to develop their English language skills.
Where are we?
We are based in room 1153 in the Learning Resource Centre – just follow the signs.
What do we offer?
Individual appointments, in-sessional Academic Writing Classes, and a Pre-sessional English Course
What happens in an individual appointment?
During an appointment the tutor will work with you to identify your specific needs and develop a plan of action. We can offer personal help with any aspect of your coursework, study skills or exam preparation. We can help you improve but we will not complete your assignment for you or proof read your work.
It would be useful if you could send us by email any writing you want us to look at in advance. If the piece of writing is over 1,500 words long please indicate clearly which portion of it you would like to be considered. We would also like you to send us the assignment title, instructions and any marking criteria that you have been given.
Pre-sessional English Course
This course is designed to prepare non-native speakers of English for university study in Britain. For more information about this course, or to book a place see Pre-sessional English Course.
How to contact us
Come along to the Effective Learning Service at the LRC and we can make an appointment at a time which suits you. Alternatively, you can make an appointment by email at the following address: ELSinternational@qmu.ac.uk
ELS Support Enquiries
The ELS is based in room 1153 in the Library.
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday 09.00 a.m. - 16.30 p.m.
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