Student working on laptop under lamp

Academic skills

Making the transition to a new way of studying and writing after finishing school can be a challenge and will require new academic skills. Below are some resources and videos which will help to develop these skills, and build the confidence to tackle university assignments.

Writing skills

Planning and structuring an essay

Most subjects require some level of academic writing throughout a course. Whether students are new to essay writing or have had some practice, it's good to be aware of how university-level essays will differ from school assignments, and to begin preparing for this transition. Watch our video or read our short guide for more information.

Series of open books

Introduction to referencing

Referencing is a key part of all academic writing at university level and is often a new skill to learn. Referencing allows students to support an argument by acknowledging the sources used, which enables the reader to track down those resources. It is crucial in avoiding plagiarism, so find out more about the different styles of referencing and how to use them.

Student wearing yellow backpack looks at bookshelves in a library

Further resources to support your studies