10 things to ask yourself

  1. Ensure the right fit – your course and University are going to be with you for a while, so like any partner in life, it’s important you select a course and provider that suit your needs. Investigate how your course will be delivered, the resources and learning environment used and what type of student support the university offers before making your decision. Will you be studying part time, full time, on campus or by distance and how does this fit with your lifestyle and current work and family commitments? What do past graduates say about the course and what employment or career opportunities result in completion of the course.
  2. Time management – successful study takes time. Ensure you create a study schedule that gives a realistic picture of your commitments. Make sure you schedule time for work, family, study and some fun. Creating balance in your life is important is you’re going to stick at your studies. A little study, often is usually far more effective than trying to cram weeks of work into one sitting. And make sure you plan for the unexpected – you or your children will invariably get sick or your boss will gives you a work deadline the day before an assignment is due!
  3. Study space – it’s important to have a designated study space that is free of clutter, distractions, has good lighting and is ergonomically well set up. If you are sharing a computer, ensure your ‘virtual space’ is also organised with appropriate folders and access settings, so no one can accidentally delete your work. Remember to back up anything that you can’t afford to lose.
  4. Internet access – internet access allows you to easily access information necessary for your studies and to communicate with your teachers and colleagues. Ensure you understand the course requirements in terms of amount of time required online and the type of activities and download amounts. If you’re in a remote community where access is unreliable and you are studying by distance education, ensure you discuss this with your course coordinator beforehand to arrange alternatives where necessary.
  5. Skills and preparation – has it been a while since you last studied? Are you confident that you meet the course pre-requisites? Use the time prior to your course commencing to brush up on important skills like referencing, computer use, academic writing and course specific skills like maths and statistics. Learn to use the library database. Most universities have bridging or enabling courses so investigate your options to give yourself the best chance of success.
  6. Support – successful students rarely do it alone. Ensure your family, friends and work colleagues are aware of your course and study goals and activities and enlist their help wherever possible in whatever form helps most whether it be babysitting, carpooling, or bouncing ideas for assignments. Where possible, discuss your course with employers and the benefits of your involvement. Employers often reap the benefits of their staff’s post graduate studies so they may be prepared to support you with study leave, financial sponsorship or assisting with assessments that can be based on work practices. Most universities also offer a wide variety of student support staff and services. Find out what they are and take advantage of them.
  7. Goal setting /motivation – set yourself some study goals – both short and long term and ensure that you and your family discuss why you being successful in your course is important. Setting  goals will not only help you to remain motivated, they’ll allow you to assess how far you’ve come. Remember to reward yourself as you achieve each goal. It might be a small reward – a Tim Tam after finishing a set reading or a much larger one – a holiday at the end of the semester. Whatever works for you.
  8. Finances -  make sure you have a clear understanding of the costs associated with your studies, including courses costs, students fees, textbooks, computer equipment and traveling to and from classes or residential schools. Check whether there are any scholarships or grants that you may be eligible for. If your study if related to your job, be sure to keep all your receipts as you may be able to include these as self education expense at tax time.
  9. Keep healthy – as the saying goes – healthy mind, healthy body. Try to stay fit, eat well, get enough sleep and maintain a healthy balance while studying.  Chocolate and coffee alone tend not to be enough to keep you going in the long term.
  10. Engage –research abounds that highlights the very positive affect that your engagement with your studies and the activities around the university can have on your success as a student. What does this mean?   Participate in class discussions whether they be online or in person. Form a study group. Ask questions. Volunteer. Get involved in university activities for example, social events, clubs or as a student representative. The more you put into your study experience the more you’ll get out of it.