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 APPOINTMENTS

Following the recent changes regarding lectures and exams at QMU, we will attend to all 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 the following link: https://studentcentral.qmu.ac.uk/s/els

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.

There will be no more workshops or drop-in sessions on campus until further notice.

RESIT PROGRAMME

We will also be running a Resit Programme to help students to get through their resits successfully and to develop their academic skills and confidence for next 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 will run for two weeks starting on Wednesday 1st July.

For more details and information on how to apply, please see here: Resit Programme

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. Depending on the circumstances, these will either be held on campus or online. You can find more details in the workshops and classes section below.

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

Again, depending on the circumstances, these will either be held on campus or online.

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 at: https://studentcentral.qmu.ac.uk/s/els

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.

To book a place, go to https://studentcentral.qmu.ac.uk/s/els

Study Skills Workshops Slide - We run a variety of workshops through Semesters 1 and 2.

Guides and Resources

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:

Quick guides:

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.

To book an appointment go to: https://studentcentral.qmu.ac.uk/s/els

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