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Study skills topics

Birkbeck offers study skills workshops to equip you with the skills and support you need to progress through your course.

You will be able to sign up for these once you have completed your programme enrolment. Current students can sign up in My Birkbeck.

Learning development service

The cross-College learning development team offers live online workshops, digital resources and one-to-one appointments, all designed to help you succeed in your studies. 

Example topics from our varied list of live online workshops include:

  • Procrastination, perfectionism and prioritisation
  • Dissertation writing boot camp 
  • Essay and assignment writing  
  • How to develop your concentration and focus 
  • Zotero (reference management software) 
  • Exam revision 

Advice in your school

Our schools offer a comprehensive range of study skills workshops, digital resources, and one-to-one help. 

Faculty of Business and Law

Birkbeck Business School

  • Our wide range of study skills workshops are run at least once a term. We also run module-specific workshops to offer support with specific assignments. English language support is also available. Workshops include: 
    • managing your time 
    • reading and research skills for university 
    • essay writing 
    • referencing your work 
    • critical thinking skills 

Birkbeck Law School

  • We offer a range of study skills workshops, run throughout the year, that are tailored for students studying law, including: 
    • how to take effective notes 
    • writing essays in university
    • interpreting and planning essays
    • critical thinking skills
    • referencing using OSCOLA and Harvard
    • answering problem questions
    • preparing for exams and revision

Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences

School of Creative Arts, Culture and Communication

  • Study skills development is located within academic modules so that students obtain subject-specific advice. One-to-one appointments and specialist workshops are also available. Examples of workshops include: 
    • Academic referencing using MHRA
    • Writing a commentary 

School of Historical Studies

  • You will be able to take advantage of a full range of workshops, digital resources and one-to-one help in key areas such as critical thinking, argument construction, academic reading and writing, referencing, exam preparation and much more. 

School of Social Sciences

  • One-to-one advice and subject-specific workshops and digital resources are available. Here are some example topics: academic reading skills, critical thinking and argumentation, academic referencing, and exam revision 

BIRKBECK CENTRE FOR COUNSELLING

  • Counselling students benefit from a full array of activities and events to support the development of their academic competencies. This includes workshops, bookable one-to-ones and online resources. 

Faculty of Science

School of Computing and Mathematical Sciences

  • Workshops focussed on improving maths skills include: 
    • fractions, decimals and percentages 
    • basic algebra 
    • Solving equations

School of Natural Sciences

  • One-to-one advice is available upon request, and workshops on topics that are particularly useful for the developing scientist: 
    • organisation and time management strategies  
    • effective listening and note-taking for academic purposes
    • how to prepare, revise and stay calm in exams
    • presentation techniques

School of Psychological Sciences

  • One-to-one appointments are available upon request. We have a wide range of study skills resources available on our Moodle page. In addition, we offer several study skills workshops, many tailored to either undergraduate or postgraduate psychology students, some of which supplement specific modules (particularly research methods modules). These workshops include: 
    • Time management and planning strategies 
    • Report writing
    • Essay writing
    • Understanding your mark and feedback
    • Managing your wellbeing
    • Exam preparation and revision techniques

Study skills team

The central study skills team offers a range of online resources, a Moodle module (Birkbeck Study Skills) and workshops with a focus on academic language and writing, and technology to support effective learning. We offer around 30 different workshops, each taught multiple times, including:

  • 'Procrastination, perfectionism and prioritisation'
  • postgraduate dissertation writing
  • academic writing
  • Zotero (reference management software)
  • reading speed, stamina and comprehension 
  • help with revision.

STUDENT SKILLS, DEVELOPMENT AND TRAINING EVENTS 

Every term, we offer a range of opportunities for you to develop new skills for your studies and beyond. Whatever course you're studying, there's sure to be something for you. 

Nearly every workshop takes place in room G20 on the ground floor of the Bloomsbury campus, with other sessions taking place in Birkbeck Library and IT and teaching rooms. 

BIRKBECK GRADUATE RESEARCH SCHOOL

BIRKBECK LIBRARY

BIRKBECK STUDENTS' UNION

CAREERS SERVICE

  • Our Careers Service offers events and information services to aid your career development and improve your employability. You can book via the events calendar or via Handshake. 

COUNSELLING SERVICE

DISABILITY AND DYSLEXIA SERVICE

ENTERPRISE PATHWAYS

  • Enterprise Pathways supports budding entrepreneurs with a range of events and courses throughout the year. You can book via the events calendar or via Handshake.

STUDY SKILLS

MENTAL HEALTH ADVISORY SERVICE

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS