Before Term Begins

Research your Resources

CHEAT SHEET

Before your first class for each course, write a cheat sheet containing key course links and details. This might include direct links to lectures, forums, and resources, your class schedule, the course assessment outline, and the contact details of your tutors and course staff. Having this information handy will ensure that during stressful times, you can quickly access your course resources and academic support system throughout the term.

TEXTBOOKS

UNSW courses provide many of their resources on Moodle or another learning platform, so be sure to check for emails from your course admin, lecturer or tutor. Course textbooks can be bought new from the UNSW Bookshop. Otherwise, the UNSW Textbook Exchange Facebook groups are the go-to place for buying and selling textbooks. StudentVIP and Zookal both have textbook exchange markets where you can buy and sell textbooks. Zookal also has textbooks available for loan.

Enrich your Environment

HOME LEARNING

Everyone’s home environment is different, so this will vary depending on what works best for you, and how you can adapt your study space.

01. KEEP IT TIDY

Online learning can cause clutter across your desk, whether it’s paper, books, stationery or a week’s collection of coffee mugs. Make the time after each session to spend five minutes cleaning your desk. Not only does it create a better learning environment but also gives you a few minutes to breathe away from your screen.

02. ELIMINATE DISTRACTIONS

Set an exact time you intend to work for, and try to stay focussed for the entire duration of your lecture, tutorial, or study session. Don’t flick to computer games, instead leave your phone off or even in a different room, and be determined to get as much out of the session as possible.

03. SHAKE UP YOUR STUDY ENVIRONMENT

If you can, take a study session at a local cafe, the library, or even just outside! Being in the same place all term can make your study space a boring place pretty quickly, so shaking up where you study can help you stay motivated and enthusiastic.

IN-PERSON LEARNING

If you’re studying in person, use O-week to explore campus before you’re deep in university grind.

01. FIND YOUR CLASSROOMS

Don’t leave finding your classroom until 8:59am before your 9am tutorial (trust us, it doesn’t end well). Explore your course buildings well in advance, so you avoid the last minute panic. UNSW’s campus is massive and full of stairs, so ensure that you account for travel time across the university to get to your class. Use the extra time to make new friendships!

02. CHOOSE YOUR HANGOUTS

Find your favourite study spaces and recharge hangouts on campus so you have some go-to places to refresh and rewind. (Hint: checkout the recommendations on our handy campus map on page 18!)

03. PREPARE YOUR BAG

Two years of mostly online learning has probably left us all used to having shelves of books, stationery and creature comforts at hand. Make sure you decide how you want to organise your notes (handwritten or digital?) and pack your bag accordingly. Have everything ready before for your big first day, and don’t forget the snacks!