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Academic skills for BU pre-arrivals

This guide is uses a selection of resources from our Academic Skills Hub to help future BU students begin their transition to BU.

Introduction

Studying at university is an individual experience and there will be numerous factors that make your time unique.

Watch a BU student share the following study tips for students:

  • organising yourself
  • how to study and making your materials
  • how to use your materials

[3 minutes 38 seconds]

Academic culture

Academic culture refers to values, attitudes and behaviours shared by people who study and work at university. These may be different from what you experienced at school.

Adapting to any culture requires a period of transition. Similar to living in a foreign country, you may experience culture shock (see the four stages of culture shock in Lysgaard's (1955) U-shaped curve below). 

Lysgaard's (1955) U-shaped curve

Lysgaard's 1955 U-shaped curve (Almari 2018)

Whether joining university after school, college, a study break, or from another part of the world, the transition and change in academic culture can be challenging.

BU student vlogger Kiah explains five differences between school and university.

[2 minutes 12 seconds] 


If you a mature student returning to education, visit Mature students | Bournemouth University.

You can also find advice below from mature students at BU:

[1 minute 39 seconds]

[1 minute 24 seconds]

How we learn

Learning is the process of gaining knowledge through experience. To learn effectively, it's important to consider how you learn.

Below are some resources to help you identify the best way you learn, as an individual.

Here are some initial ideas to help you along your learning journey.

Independent learning road to success  This image shows a path made of puzzle pieces with the following associated text:  Attend lectures Check you have everything Understand how to learn Use online resources Eat well and don't skip meals Develop friendships Ask questions Read widely Be kind to yourself Plan your days Complete your work in time

(Illustration by  Bournemouth University Alumni, Diana Pelino)

Growth mindset vs. Fixed mindset

[2 minutes 20 seconds]

Learning styles

There is little as complex as the human brain and how it learns. 

While Learning styles may lack evidence, they are worth exploring to find out more about yourself and reflect on how you learn.

Below are two well-known models you may wish to explore:


Myers-Briggs Type Indicator

This free version of the MBTI test can give you a basic understanding of your personality type: 


VAK/VARK Learning Modalities