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Studying at university level means that much of your learning will take place independently, using the various resources available to you. This means you will need to take much of the responsibility for your own study.

Some of the academic skills you are expected to use at university may be new to you. You are expected to research your subject, write clear and concise essays with correctly presented referencing, produce reports, give presentations, take exams, and manage your time effectively.

Investing in your skills development will ease the transition to university life, as you face new, diverse demands on your time and energy. It will also improve your academic work and employment prospects – both for part-time work while here and for full-time work when you graduate.

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Key Skills for University Study

Visit the Key Skills pages () to find out how to develop your skills and to access the resources ÂÒÂ×Ðã provides to support your skills development. This page explains the Key Skills System, Key Skills Grid as well as access to Key Skills courses on Moodle and resources to help you develop specific skills.

Developing Skills

The following transferable skills can make you a more effective learner and will help to improve your prospects in the future, after you complete your studies. You will have many opportunities to develop such transferable skills during your time at SSEES:

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WRITTEN COMMUNICATION: Communicates easily on paper with speed and clarity. Presents ideas concisely and in a structured way. Uses appropriate language and style. Grammar and spelling are accurate.

ORAL COMMUNICATION: Speaks to others with ease and clarity. Expresses ideas well and presents arguments in a logical fashion. Gives information and explanations which are clear and easily understood. Listens actively to others.

LEADERSHIP: Shows skill in directing group activities. Has natural authority and gains respect of others. Capable of building an effective team. Involves all team members, gives advice and help when required.

TEAM MEMBERSHIP: Fits in well as a peer and as a subordinate. Understands own role and the role of others within the team. Shares information and seeks help and advice when necessary. Offers suggestions and listens to the ideas of others.

PLANNING AND ORGANISING SKILLS: Can make forward plans and forecasts. Can define objectives and allocate resources to meet them. Sets realistic targets and decides priorities. Devises systems and monitors progress. Makes good use of time available.

DECISION MAKING: Evaluates alternative lines of action and makes appropriate decisions. Identifies degrees of urgency for decisions. Responds to situations quickly and demonstrates flexibility.

MOTIVATION: Shows energy and enthusiasm. Works hard and is ambitious. Able to work on own initiative with little detailed supervision. Sets own targets and is determined to achieve them.

PERSONAL STRENGTH: Is self-confident and understands own strengths and weaknesses. Is realistic and willing to learn from past failures and successes. Is reliable, honest and conscientious. Can cope with pressure and control emotions.

ANALYTICAL REASONING SKILLS: Can quickly and accurately comprehend verbal and numerical information. Able to analyse arguments objectively and to reach logical conclusions. Can present well-reasoned and persuasive arguments.

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University: Terms and Terminology

The following list will help to clarify some of the more common terminology used by staff at SSEES and around ÂÒÂ×Ðã:

• CLASSES, TUTORIALS AND SEMINARS: These are small group sessions, and may be referred to by any of the above names. Typically, the role of the student in these sessions is much more proactive, requiring a range of contributions, such as presentations, participation in discussions, group work, or role-play. NOTE: the term ‘classes' in the UK always refers to this small-scale interactive learning style and not to 'lectures', as for example in the U.S. Some modules are taught exclusively through small classes; others are taught through a combination of lectures and tutorials/seminars. In the latter case, the teacher of the small class may be a different member of staff from the lecturer, e.g. a postgraduate teaching assistant with expertise in a particular area.
• MODULE: This is the term we use to describe a particular module, regardless of its length or value in course-units (see below) e.g. the option ‘SESS2005 Topics in Financial Management’ is a 'module', worth 0.5 course-units.
• COURSE-UNITS: Course-units are the unit by which ÂÒÂ×Ðã measures its credits. Students at ÂÒÂ×Ðã are required to complete and be examined in 4 course-units (cu) each academic year. A module running for one term usually has a value of 0.5 cu (although some departments, including SSEES, have year-long modules worth 0.5 cu) and one running throughout the year usually has a value of 1.0 cu.
• LECTURES: Lectures refer to that part of the module attended by all students in the full group; the lecturer plays the predominant role. Not all modules at SSEES are lecture-based.
• LECTURER: The lecturer is normally a full-time member of the academic staff involved in teaching and research and will have been involved in designing and monitoring the module.
• READING WEEK: This is the middle week during the autumn and spring term in which no teaching is scheduled in SSEES and most other departments in the college. Students are expected to use this week to complete assignments, review and consolidate their studies, and read around and research their current subjects in order to broaden their knowledge of the material covered in each module.
• TERM: The ÂÒÂ×Ðã academic year is divided into 3 terms: an autumn term of 12 weeks (1 week for Induction + 10 weeks of teaching + 1 Reading Week), a spring term (10 teaching weeks + 1 Reading Week) and a summer examination term (7 weeks). The equivalent terminology for these at overseas universities is ‘semester'.
• MOODLE: This is a web-based teaching resource used for most ÂÒÂ×Ðã modules. If this applies to your module, you will receive instructions from the teacher on how to access the web facility.