Academic skills

Studying at university can be quite different to studying at school. Making the transition to a new way of studying and writing 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.

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.

Read our essay guide

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.

Read about referencing

How to fine-tune academic writing

Learn to structure an argument

More on writing skills

Reflective writing

Reflective writing is an increasingly important part of academic study. Reflection is the practice of analysing experiences, skills and responses in order to learn and develop from them. This is key to taking control of academic learning and practice, but will also come in handy when applying for jobs in the future as well as many other circumstances.

Plagiarism and how to avoid it

Plagiarism is the act of claiming as your own, intentionally or by omission, work which you have not done. It is a serious academic offence and can be tricky to fully understand the nuances of it. Our plagiarism guide provides a full description of what it is and provides some top tips and resources to use to avoid it.

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