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Learning at University is different
Learning at university is of course a very different experience to that of being at school. For a start, as a student you are considered an adult learner, capable of managing your own study schedule and putting in the time to read textbooks, articles and other materials so that you really understand your chosen subjects and feel more confident as you progress.
The lectures, seminars, laboratory classes and other timetabled classes are actually only a small part of the total effort that you need to put in to succeed. All of the assessment, coursework and
available credit are based on the idea that you are spending a minimum of 40 hours per week, every week of the semester, on learning and assessment. In some courses it may be a little higher than this because of the nature of the subject.
The other big difference between university-level courses and some other types of qualification is that you really need to try to understand the subject and the ideas you come across in class or your reading. It’s not about memorizing and regurgitating facts, but about seeing the ideas that lie behind them and being able to make use of knowledge to tackle new problems.
The good news is, that this is exactly what learning something new is like for everyone. There are always ideas that are really tricky to grasp at first and which don’t make sense until you try again and again, hopefully getting some feedback on your efforts and maybe through working with fellow students. But when it does ‘click’, things fall into place and you get a sense of satisfaction that hopefully makes some of that struggle worth it! That’s why we say you need to spend so many hours
on self-study, because we know from experience (and extensive research on education) that you will need that time.
If you are experiencing difficulties or take ill please make sure that you contact your lecturer or the appropriate person in your College or School (information should be in your course handbook). You may have an individual advisor or may need to speak with the Head of School or Dean. Please don’t hesitate in letting us know of any issues so that we can provide help where possible.
Academic and support staff in this university are very
approachable and used to helping students with all sorts of issues that might impede their studies.
NUI Galway | Student Guide 2018/19 |
www.nuigalway.ie
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