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 APPOINTMENTS
Following the recent changes regarding lectures and exams at QMU, we will attend to the majority of ELS and ELSinternational appointments by 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. If you wish to make an appointment with us, please use this link.
We will look at your work within the time slot that you booked on Student Central. Please do not send any work to us if you do not have an appointment.
A few on-campus appointments will be available. To book a one-to-one on-campus appointment, please email us.
There will be no more workshops or drop-in sessions on campus until further notice.
DROP-IN SESSIONS
There will be regular drop-in sessions made available on Collaborate. Details of these will be posted on Student Central, with a link to the session. You can come along to one of these if you have a quick question for which you don't think you need a full 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. To find out more about these and to book a place, go to Student Central
ACADEMIC WRITING SKILLS CLASSES
We will also run a course of academic writing classes for undergraduate students whose first language is not English.
These classes will cover topics such as:
- how to structure an essay
- how to write more ‘academically’ in English
- how to refer to sources
Due to COVID19 these classes will held online.
There will be one class a week for the ten weeks beginning September 21. There will be two time slots available: on Tuesday afternoons from 2.15 to 3.45, and on Friday mornings from 10.15 to 11.45. There will be time set aside after these classes for students to ask the tutor any questions they may have.
If you want to find out more details, please email: ELSinternational@qmu.ac.uk
If you wish to book a place please log on to: Student Central
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.
For more details and information on how to apply, please see here: 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:
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.
| Workshop | Date |
|---|---|
| Reading at University | Thursday 8 October, 12pm |
| Essay Research & Planning | Thursday 15 October, 12pm |
| Essay Writing & Structure | Thursday 29 October, 12pm |
| Reflective Practice | Thursday 5 November, 12pm |
| Criticality | Thursday 12 November, 12pm |
| Effective Presentations | Thursday 19 November, 12pm |
| Exam Revision & Techniques | Thursday 26 November, 12pm |
Workshops take place via Collaborate and places can be booked on Student Central, or for further information contact els@qmu.ac.uk.
Guides and Resources
Guides and Resources
The LRC also has a wide range of study skills books available in individual subject areas.
Leaflets:
- Managing and Organising your Time
- Active Reading
- Planning and Writing Essays
- Making Effective Notes
- Presentations
- Reflection
- Critical thinking
- Report writing
- Revision
- Exams
- Planning a critical review
- Writing a literature review
Quick guides:
- Keywords used in assignment titles
- Planning essays
- Writing and structuring assignments
- Reading for study
- Dealing with lectures
- Groupwork
- Coping with stress
- Memory tips
- Revision tips
- Exams tips
- Academic writing
- Editing and proofreading
- The paragraph
- The sentence
- Punctuation one
- Punctuation two
Key study websites at QMU:
See our Library section for useful study and information skills.
Write and Cite: The QM Guide to the Harvard Style of Referencing.
Other key study websites:
Academic Phrasebank - A site containing lots of examples of academic English arranged by function.
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.
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
ELS Support Enquiries
The ELS is based in room 1153 in the Library.
Opening hours:
Monday to Friday 09.00 a.m. - 16.30 p.m.
Show Contacts
Welcome to ELS Guide >
