Effective Learning Service

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 send an email to:

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

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 undergraduates, especially

Level 1 and Direct Entrant students.

The workshops take place on Tuesdays at 12.15pm – 13.15pm.

Please book ahead for these, preferably by email, or by dropping in to ELS to sign up.

Contact: ELS@qmu.ac.uk                                                   

If you are unable to come to any of these workshops, or are interested in a particular topic but can't find a workshop on it, do contact us. We can do our best to organise extra workshops for small groups at times that suit you.

We have added extra workshop sessions in weeks 5-12 to help you develoyour academic skills and prepare for your assessments.

To book a place, go to https://bookwhen.com/els.

Workshop times and rooms

Drop-in

If you are looking for some quick advice or guidance, you can drop in and see us in room 1153. There should be someone there Monday to Friday, between 9.00 and 16.30. There is a supply of study guides, and if we are free, it is possible to have a short consultation with one of us.

If you drop in to the ELS and we are not there for any reason, or a workshop is running, do email us with your query and we shall get back to you.

Guides and Resources

The leaflets and the basic one-page guides below are also available at the Effective Learning Service, room 1153, in the LRC.

The LRC 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.

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.

In-sessional Academic Skills Classes:

  Do you want to find out:

• how to structure an essay?
• how to write more ‘academically’ in English?
• how to refer to sources?

The classes are small, informal, and aimed at undergraduates whose first language is not English.

The classes take place on Tuesdays and on Wednesdays at 1.30 p.m. and last 90 minutes.

If interested, you need to plan to attend all six sessions on Tuesdays or Wednesdays.

(the topics may change depending on needs of the class)

To book, or for further details, please email elsinternational@qmu.ac.uk

Pre-sessional English Course

These courses are designed to prepare non-native speakers of English for university study in Britain. For more information about this course, or to book a place on a 12-week or a 4-week 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