Effective Learning Service | Study Here | Queen Margaret University

The Effective Learning Service (ELS) offers guidance and support to all students who wish to develop their academic writing and study skills. Our aim is to help you become as self-reliant as possible as you progress through your degree programmes here at QMU.

Online and In-Person Appointments

Both ELS and ELSinternational are now offering a mixture of online and in-person appointments. In an online appointment we will communicating guidance and advice on your assignments via e-mail. If you have any follow up questions on the advice given, then just contact us by email. If you have an appointment please try to send your work to us (along with the assignment brief if possible) at least 24 hours in advance of your appointment time. All in-person appointments will be in the ELS room (1153 in the LRC). Make an online or in-person appointment with the ELS team

Please do not send any work to us if you do not have an appointment.

Study Skills Workshops

Regular study skills workshops on a wide range of topics will be run throughout the academic year. The workshops below are small, informal, and aimed at undergraduate students, although postgraduates can join too if there is space available. This semester these workshops will be delivered online via Collaborate.

A full programme of workshops is now available to book.

Book a study skills workshop

Resit Programme

Every summer we also run a Resit Programme to help students to get through their resits successfully and to develop their academic skills and confidence for the following year. It is designed for undergraduate students, resitting modules as a second diet, but students sitting assessments as a first diet in August can also apply. This programme runs for two weeks in July.

Details and information on how to apply for the Resit Programme

Getting in Touch With Us

What happens in an appointment?

An ELS advisor will discuss any concerns you have, such as taking notes, reading effectively, planning and structuring essays or exam techniques; and then work out various strategies to help.

The ELS does not proof-read or check completed essays – the aim of the sessions is for you to build up the skills and confidence you need to tackle academic tasks successfully yourself.

Appointments will usually be held in room 1153. One session is enough in many cases, but students often have several sessions over a semester.

How to book an appointment?

The best way is to choose a day and time which suits you and book it using this link.

If you need to get in touch for any other reason then just send an email message to:

ELS@qmu.ac.uk or ELSinternational@qmu.ac.uk

Workshops and Classes

Study Skills Workshops

Do you want to find out

what ‘studying’ is all about?
tips and strategies for independent learning?
effective ways to plan, write and research?

The workshops below are small, informal, and aimed at undergraduate students.

Making the most of your studies	Friday 15th January
Reading and note-making	Tuesday 19th January
Understanding Feedback	Thursday 28th January and Friday 29th January
Essay Research and Planning	Thursday 4th February and Friday 5th February
Essay Writing and Structure	Wednesday 10th February and Thursday 11th February
Referencing	Wednesday 17th February and Thursday 18th February
Reflective Writing	Monday 22nd February
Effective Presentations	Tuesday 2nd March
Exam Revision and Techniques	Tuesday 9th March

Workshops take place via Collaborate and places can be booked on Student Central, or for further information contact els@qmu.ac.uk.

Book a place.

Guides and Resources

Guides and Resources

The LRC also has a wide range of study skills books available in individual subject areas.

Leaflets:

Quick guides:

Key study websites at QMU:

See our Library section for useful study and information skills.

Other key study websites:

Academic Phrasebank - A site containing lots of examples of academic English arranged by function.

Video Guides

These short videos present recorded advice on some of the topics covered in our workshops.

International English Language Support

Effective Learning Service for international students

The Effective Learning Service for international students at QMU is here to provide support for all students wishing to develop their English language skills.

Where are we?

We are based in room 1153 in the Learning Resource Centre – just follow the signs.

What do we offer?

Individual appointments, in-sessional Academic Writing Classes, and a Pre-sessional English Course

What happens in an individual appointment?

During an appointment the tutor will work with you to identify your specific needs and develop a plan of action. We can offer personal help with any aspect of your coursework, study skills or exam preparation. We can help you improve but we will not complete your assignment for you or proof read your work.

It would be useful if you could send us by email any writing you want us to look at in advance. If the piece of writing is over 1,500 words long please indicate clearly which portion of it you would like to be considered. We would also like you to send us the assignment title, instructions and any marking criteria that you have been given.

Book an appointment.

Pre-sessional English Course

This course is designed to prepare non-native speakers of English for university study in Britain. For more information about this course, or to book a place see Pre-sessional English Course.

How to contact us

Come along to the Effective Learning Service at the LRC and we can make an appointment at a time which suits you. Alternatively, you can make an appointment by email at the following address: ELSinternational@qmu.ac.uk