top of page

Academic 
Corner

Unlock your academic potential with Academic Corner!
Get access to the best sources of
FREE online resources including books, journal articles and more, saving you both TIME and MONEY.

 

Our comprehensive database benefits every member of the community – domestic and international students, undergraduate and postgraduate students, students studying for a degree online.

​​

Smart Phone

Further Guidance

To enhance the accessibility and readability of our community academic corner page, we have implemented expandable paragraphs. These allow you to conveniently access additional information while keeping the page organised and clutter-free. Simply click on the designated expand/collapse icon to reveal or hide the additional content within each paragraph. This feature enables you to quickly find specific details or dive deeper into a topic of interest without overwhelming the page with excessive text. We hope that this user-friendly approach enhances your browsing experience and makes it easier for you to find the information you need.

Student Welfare 

Ensuring student welfare is crucial in enabling students to fulfil their potential. It plays a vital role in establishing a secure and encouraging learning environment, facilitating students' academic and social growth. By providing essential resources like mental health aid, career guidance, and financial assistance, student welfare programs can ensure that every student has equal opportunities to succeed in their studies.

​

In addition, students in crisis may need immediate support and guidance on how to manage the situation, while those struggling with money may benefit from financial planning and budgeting advice. Those facing emotional problems may need resources that focus on self-care, stress reduction, and coping strategies.

 

Study Tips

The first place to start searching for journal articles and books is your university library because it is FREE, as opposed to other university libraries, to which you will not have access. From your library search, you might not come across as many books or articles in your particular niche, as you would like, while this can be disheartening, it is a quick and easy way of BRAINSTORMING because you will find numerous articles or books similar to your particular topic. As you continue with your academic literature search, note significant journal titles and where you found the article(s), these can be useful as you continue your studies. Always look at the reference list of your books, and journal articles this is where you will find other sources of information, one journal article will always lead to another, and this is where you generate your ideas. When searching for journal articles and books, students should only use reputable sources for studies and references.

Tips for Time Management

Use a planner to organise the week ahead, if you have a few spare hours this could be used to read and get ahead with your studies It is always a good idea to get in front of studies as this will ensure there is a good balance between work and home life. This will limit stress and prevent burnout

Writing Tips and Templates

Because writing an essay can be overwhelming, we have provided a few links and videos to help get you started with your essay structure.  However, all universities in England, Scotland, Ireland and Wales have thier own guidelines on essay structures. If you are in doubt, see your university student support advisor who should direct you to the essay links on the university website if you cannot find the link.

​

Please bear in mind if you are following guidance from templates on the internet the structure of your essay/assignment is university specific, you should always follow your own university guidelines FIRST and FOREMOST to avoid getting the structure incorrect.

​

All clickable links open in a new window

​

 

YOUTUBE

​

​

References

​

Collating references and reference lists for essays, and reports. literature reviews and dissertations can take a great deal of time, see the Neilstoolbox platform that can generate references for you in half the time.​

Mastering Essays

An effective approach to mastering essays is to coordinate study hours in the library or book a dedicated room through the library for students in your class. By coming together as a group, students can form friendships, establish valuable networks, exchange ideas, share tips, and support each other when facing academic challenges. Instead of waiting for the teacher to propose or organise group sessions, students can take the initiative to be self-starters and contribute to their own and their peers' development. This proactive approach not only enhances their academic skills but also fosters leadership abilities, laying a solid foundation for future management positions. By actively participating in study sessions and collaborative learning, students can leverage the collective knowledge and expertise of their peers, enhancing their understanding of essay writing and boosting their overall academic performance.

Burnout

In addition to arranging group study sessions, it is crucial to prioritize self-care and avoid burnout when tackling assignments. Taking on one assignment at a time, rather than juggling multiple projects or essays, can help prevent exhaustion and its negative impact on your studies and grades. By pacing your studies, you can maintain focus and clarity, which are vital for extended periods of learning. Recognise the signs of fatigue and know when to take breaks. Listening to your body and allowing yourself time for relaxation and rejuvenation will ultimately enhance your productivity and overall well-being. Remember that academic success is not solely determined by the number of hours spent studying, but also by the quality of your engagement and the balance you maintain. Taking strategic breaks, practicing self-care, and nurturing your mental and physical health are all integral parts of a successful academic journey.

Learner Style

Discovering your preferred learning style can greatly enhance your studying experience. Consider whether you are most alert and energised in the morning, afternoon, or evening. If you find yourself at your best during the afternoon, prioritize that time for your studies. There's little point in forcing yourself to study early in the morning if you're not a morning person. Maintaining the right mindset while studying is essential to avoid procrastination. Remember, procrastination only delays the inevitable. Once you focus and get started, you'll realise that it's not as daunting as it may seem. Understanding your personal learning preferences is crucial. Do you learn best through videos, visuals, or reading? Tailoring your study approach to what suits you best will ensure optimal learning outcomes. For example, if extensive reading feels challenging and you're more visual, explore apps that can read books and journal articles aloud. This can make it easier for you to absorb the information. Dealing with complex jargon in academic journals can be overwhelming at first. Don't worry, it's a common experience that improves with time. As you progress, you'll become more familiar with the terminology. If you're concerned about your writing style, remember that continuous reading is key. Reading extensively not only helps you understand complex words but also improves your writing style over time. Embrace it as an opportunity to grow and learn. Lastly, it's crucial to regularly save your work throughout your studies. Utilise tools like smart pens, the cloud, and platforms like Google Docs to safeguard your hard work. Losing all your progress due to a laptop crash or technical failure can be disheartening, so taking preventive measures is essential. By understanding your learning style, adopting a positive mindset, and utilising effective study strategies, you can optimise your learning experience and achieve academic success.

Technology

The use of technology can help deliver results sometimes with less effort than traditional methods of studying.  There are software apps that have voice dictation that can save a great deal of time writing up essays, projects, and dissertations, Google docs, Apple Dictation, and Windows Dictation are all good apps. Colleges and universities can be noisy and chaotic and those who prefer not to be distracted by others can use noise-cancelling headphones. ​ For those who get too distracted and forget dates and essential times, Alexa can help with reminders, study dates, and appointments and offer useful information on topics of your choice, music, alarms and controlling smart home devices.  Digital books, Google Play, and Amazon reading apps are good time savers, it is quicker to purchase books and read them instantly online, instead of waiting for postage. ​

Notes

 

All clickable links open in a new window

​

​​

Reference List Generator

​

All clickable links open in a new window

​

​​​​​​

​​25  of the best Academic Sites

​

FREE access to thousands of online journals and books

All clickable links open in a new window

​

​

15 Top Search Engines

All clickable links open in a new window

​

​

Top 10 Universitys in the UK

​

If you have not yet enrolled at a university, but are searching around for information, we have listed the top ten universities in the UK - with Oxford being the number one most influential university and having received international recognition.

​

Obtaining a degree will give students the opportunity, to learn, and gain in-depth knowledge and experience in their chosen subject. Whilst studying for a degree, students will also learn and identify problem-solving, presentation and communication skills, and work as part of a team. All of these skills are transferable and give students a good starting point toward a successful future.

​

All clickable links open in a new window

​

  1. University of Oxford  

  2. University of Cambridge 

  3. University of St Andrews 

  4. University Imperial College London 

  5. University of Durham 

  6. University of Loughborough  

  7. University of Bath 

  8. London Global University

  9. University of Warwick

  10. University of Central Lancashire

​

bottom of page