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10 Tips for Your Studies

Everyone talks about studying, but how exactly does it work? What do you need to keep in mind? Which skills and qualities are important? We do not want to leave you alone with these questions. Instead, we have put together 10 tips to help make studying easier for you.

Get an Overview

  • Before you really get started with your studies, you should get an overview of which modules you need to take this semester and which courses are being offered. Use the module handbook and the examination regulations that apply to your degree programme. You can find links to both on the overview pages for the degree programmes or directly on your degree programme's website. Some degree programmes also provide sample study plans and timetables. First year students can find important information about planning their studies in the introductory events offered by their degree programme and other events at the start of the studies.
  • Find out when and where your courses take place. To do so, use the planning view for your degree programme in cmlife. The first session of a lecture or course is particularly important. This is where you will receive important information about the structure of the course, possible registration requirements, examination dates and the literature you will need. You will often also receive enrolment keys for e-learning courses or passwords for lecture notes and other materials. Keep all passwords and enrolment keys clearly organised in one central place.
  • Enter your course dates in your phone's calendar, for example, or use the calendar function in cmlife or the UBT-App.
  • During the semester, you will accumulate various examination and submission deadlines. Add these to your calendar as well. Having all deadlines clearly visualised will help you keep track of important dates and plan your study time more effectively.

Establish Routines and Commitments

Your inner resistance to getting things done does not like fixed routines or commitments. But that is exactly what you should establish. Your daily working time for studying independently should therefore become a fixed part of your daily routine and gradually turn into a habit.

  • Write down all the tasks that need to be completed regularly each week. These include course dates as well as independent study tasks such as reviewing course content or completing exercise sheets.
  • A table listing your weekly tasks and the corresponding weeks can help you keep track of everything. Tick off completed tasks immediately. This way, you will not overlook anything and will always have a clear picture of your progress. So called “habit trackers” can serve as a kind of commitment to yourself. Excuses and cheating yourself are definitely no longer an option.
  • Larger or longer term projects such as preparing seminar presentations, writing term papers or preparing for examinations should also be included in your overview. Set aside a specific amount of time each week for these projects and break them down into individual steps on a separate to do list or in a study or learning plan.
  • Daily or weekly schedules can help you distribute your tasks in a structured way. It is important that your plans remain realistic and that you do not schedule every minute of your available time. Define work blocks of 45 to 90 minutes and also schedule time for breaks and hobbies. Keep in mind that plans rarely work perfectly the first time. They need to be continuously improved and adjusted. Over time, you will become better at planning. You can find a small example illustrating this concept here.
  • Keep all important deadlines in one central place, preferably in a calendar. You can also set deadlines for individual steps in your own projects. Set yourself small tasks and interim goals. This lowers the initial hurdle and makes it easier to get started on a large task.

Set Up a Study Space at Home

  • Ideally, you should have your own desk. Make sure that your surroundings are free from distractions and that the workspace is well lit. Try to keep things tidy as much as possible. There should be enough space next to your computer or laptop for pens, folders and notebooks.
  • If you do not have a permanent workspace, consider storing all your materials in a box or mobile storage unit, for example. This allows you to put everything away quickly while still having it readily available when you need it.
  • File or organise your notes immediately after each course so that you can find them again later and do not mix them up with other notes.
  • Keep your computer organised as well. Create a separate folder for each course and give your files meaningful names. Organising files by topic and date can also be helpful.
  • Browser shortcuts make it easier to access frequently used websites.
  • Check your student email account regularly or set up email forwarding. This will ensure that you do not miss any important information.

Reviewing Course Content Is the First Step Towards Exam Preparation

  • Exam preparation begins during the lecture itself. Listen actively to what the lecturer is saying. Take note of important key points as well as anything you do not understand or questions that arise. If you have lecture notes or a script, you can also highlight important passages and add notes. Given the amount of material covered, it is often difficult to remember everything several weeks later.
  • When reviewing your notes and course materials, do not simply read through them. Instead, question the content and try to understand it. Find answers to your questions and clarify anything you do not understand before the next session. Being well prepared for the next course creates small moments of success and increases your motivation.
  • Always ask yourself whether you could summarise the content of the course briefly and in your own words.
  • Learning is like building a house. You can only build it one brick at a time. If the foundation is unstable and some of the bricks are crumbling, no solid structure can be built.

Identify and Avoid Time Wasters

You planned to get lots of studying done, but at the end of the day, you have hardly achieved anything. So what happened? Chances are that those annoying time wasters were at work again. Here are three of these unpleasant companions:

  • Time waster number 1 is distraction, especially from your phone or computer. The recommendation is therefore: make yourself “unavailable” when working on tasks. Mute all notifications and prevent messages from appearing on your screen. If you find it difficult to control yourself, you can also use special apps that block your phone or certain applications for a specific period of time.
  • Time waster number 2 is a lack of priorities. Does your flat really have to be spotless before you can start studying? Or would it make more sense to use your afternoon low point for vacuuming and tidying up? Question your actions and set priorities. What will actually help you move forward, and where are you avoiding your real responsibilities? Recognising this is the first step towards improvement.
  • Time waster number 3 is chaos. If you first have to spend a lot of time searching for your study materials, your motivation to start the actual task will often have disappeared already. So prepare everything you need the evening before. That way, you can get started immediately the next day. Chaos can also exist inside your head, however. If certain thoughts or tasks keep occupying your mind, your ability to concentrate is reduced. In this case, it can help to write down these thoughts or record unfinished tasks together with all their individual steps and challenges. Talking to friends or a counselling service can also help. Having an appointment or a set time for dealing with something can create a little more “space” in your mind because you know that the issue will be addressed.

Breaks and Recovery Are Important

  • Our brains have a limited capacity for absorbing information, and nobody can concentrate on a task indefinitely. Therefore, make sure to schedule breaks and periods of recovery into your daily routine. The following intervals have proven useful:
    • Short processing break: after completing a meaningful section, to process what you have read or learned. Duration: 10 to 30 seconds
    • Topic break: before moving on to a different topic. Duration: about 5 minutes
    • Section break: after 90 minutes at the latest. Duration: about 15 to 20 minutes
    • Recovery break: after 4 hours. Duration: about 1 to 2 hours
  • During these breaks, give your brain a real opportunity to recover and relax. Physical activity, fresh air or a healthy snack are ideal.
  • The University of Bayreuth's University Health Management offers an e-learning course called UGM@Home, where you can find ideas for movement and relaxation breaks.
  • When working and studying, also pay attention to your individual energy levels throughout the day. Some people become productive again in the evening. Nevertheless, you should avoid working late into the night. If you cannot or do not want to give up an evening study session, set a timer for 60 to 90 minutes and stop working when the time is up.
  • Try to keep your studies and free time clearly separate. To avoid constantly having work in sight at home, it is a good idea to separate your workspace from the rest of your living area. If this is not possible, covering your desk can also help.
  • Learn to switch off from your studies. This creates distance and helps you relax. Small everyday rituals such as going for a walk, taking a warm shower or doing a relaxation exercise can help.
  • Make sure you get enough sleep. Your brain needs sleep to process what you have learned and store it in the long term. Six to eight hours of sleep are ideal.

Learn How to Learn

“I have a motivation problem when studying until I have a time problem.”
This sentence will probably sound familiar to many students. Admittedly, studying is demanding and time consuming, and our inner resistance knows this all too well. Nevertheless, you should definitely avoid the two biggest pitfalls: do not wait until the last minute to start studying, and avoid an unstructured approach.

  • Get an overview of the entire subject matter before you begin studying. You can create a visual overview such as a mind map or draw up a study plan. The structure of the course or the table of contents of a suitable textbook often provides useful guidance. Such an overview helps you recognise logical connections and divide the material into manageable, meaningful “learning chunks”.
  • Avoid simply memorising information by rote. Instead, process the material in a clear and meaningful way. Reworking the material helps you process it, makes it easier to understand and saves you from endless, boring repetition. Anything that appeals to your senses can be useful.
  • Use visualisation techniques such as mind maps, study posters, flow charts or pictograms you have created yourself.
  • Try explaining the learning content aloud. For example, explain to friends or family what exactly you are currently studying. If you can communicate the subject matter clearly in simple words, you have definitely understood the essential ideas.
  • If you learn well by listening, try recording the material and listening to it later. You can then listen to it while going for a walk or jogging.
  • The good old flashcard is still useful. Creating flashcards requires you to condense and organise information and identify the essentials. Use headings and write no more than three pieces of information on each card. A question and answer system is another option. For studying, a repetition box can be particularly useful. It consists of several compartments that are reviewed at different intervals. If you know the content of a card, it moves to the next compartment. If you have forgotten the content, the card goes back to the first compartment. This ensures that knowledge gaps are reviewed more frequently and gradually eliminated through repeated practice.
  • After reworking and processing the material, the next step is to reduce and “train” it. Try to condense the material further and further so that, ideally, only a single page containing the most important information and graphics remains.
  • Past examination papers are particularly useful for this kind of “training”. Many student representatives provide access to them. Here again, do not simply think through the answers in your head. Practise writing them down in full.
  • Overviews and reworked materials have another advantage. If you lose your train of thought during an examination, these aids can help you find your way back to the key points.

You Can Achieve More Together

Teamwork is part of university life, and a good study group can sometimes work wonders. However, even a study group needs organisation and rules.

  • A study group is not suitable for working through a subject area for the first time. Everyone should do this step independently.
  • Keep the group size manageable. Four or five people are more than enough.
  • If you are still looking for suitable study partners, you can search for Facebook groups for your degree programme and post there. You can also exchange ideas and connect with others on platforms such as Studydrive. Or simply use the University of Bayreuth's networking tool: UBTconnect.
  • It is best to agree on dates, session lengths and topics for each meeting at an early stage. It can sometimes also be helpful to appoint a moderator who takes care of the organisation.
  • A study group only works if everyone pulls together. This means that everyone comes prepared and participates regularly.
  • Think about how you want to work on the topics together. Do you want to discuss solutions to past examinations? Or should each group member give a short presentation on a particular topic? Quizzing each other is another option.
  • Study groups can be particularly helpful when dealing with complex and difficult subject matter. In addition to clarifying questions, you gain insights into other approaches and learning techniques. Through exchanging ideas, you receive feedback on your own level of knowledge and can assess your strengths and weaknesses more effectively. It is also nice not to be alone during challenging phases of your studies and to be able to encourage and support each other.
  • Studying should not be all work and no fun. Make sure there is also time for enjoyment and rewards. For example, you can all take a well deserved coffee break together and make plans for what you will do after the examination.

Stay Motivated and Persevere

  • Even if you love what you are doing, there may be periods when your motivation comes to a standstill or challenges seem overwhelming. Rest assured that you are not alone. Many students, including people around you, are familiar with these periods of low motivation.
  • Do not let negative feelings and thoughts overwhelm you. Instead, take a realistic look at your situation, including aspects outside your studies. What exactly has changed recently? What would be necessary to improve your situation?
  • Sometimes it helps to remind yourself why you started your degree programme in the first place. Write down these thoughts and a vision of successfully completing your studies. This can help you reconnect with your task in a positive way. An internship outside the university can also often provide new momentum and make your goal more concrete. The University of Bayreuth Career Service can provide advice and support when you are looking for potential internship providers.
  • Even when things get difficult, you need to stay in control. Keep going and plan in small stages. Focus on each task and think only about the next step. This creates a series of small successes and helps rebuild your confidence. And do not forget to reward yourself for your efforts.
  • Banish negative phrases from your thoughts. Statements such as “I am too stupid for this” or “I will never manage this” will not get you anywhere. Believe in your abilities and remind yourself of everything you have already achieved and overcome in your life. Nobody is immune to mistakes and setbacks. Try to learn from them and give yourself the chance to do better next time.

You Are Not Alone!

As already mentioned in Tip 9, your performance may fluctuate during your studies, or unexpected obstacles such as illness may suddenly make it more difficult to continue your studies as usual. Do not hesitate to make use of the wide range of support and counselling services available at the University of Bayreuth.
Sometimes simply talking to someone outside your immediate situation can help you see things from a different perspective or find new approaches to solving a problem.

There is a wide range of support available on campus. Here is just a small selection:

You can find more points of contact for almost every situation related to studying and student life at www.universum.uni-bayreuth.de


Webmaster: Katja Schnürer

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