Getting Your Head Around Uni

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Study Marking and Grading Navigating Campus

What to expect from University study

📚 Getting used to independent study

One of the biggest surprises when starting university can be how much independent study is expected. Depending on your course, you might only have a few hours of ‘contact time’ each week — the time you spend in lectures, seminars or other teaching sessions.

The rest of your academic week is yours to use for things like reading, coursework, assessments and developing your employability skills. It can take a little while to get used to having this much freedom, so it can help to block out time for specific tasks — for example, setting aside an hour to do your reading before a seminar.

📖 Getting to grips with academic reading

Academic reading is a skill, and it can take some getting used to! Rather than simply reading something and remembering what it says, you’ll often be expected to critically engage with other people’s work — understanding their argument, considering the evidence they use, and thinking about its strengths and weaknesses.

You’ll probably be doing a fair amount of academic reading, particularly for seminars, so it’s worth developing this skill early. The University’s Skills@Essex pages have resources and support to help you strengthen your academic reading skills.

SKILLS@ESSEX - ACADEMIC READING

🙋 Don’t be afraid to speak to your lecturers

Some departments and modules have large class sizes, sometimes with hundreds of students. That might sound a little intimidating, but don’t let a big lecture theatre stop you from introducing yourself to your lecturer or asking a question after class.

Your academic staff are there to support you, and they should also offer office hours where you can drop in, ask questions or get some extra support.

📅 Find a routine that works for you

There’s no single ‘right’ way to organise your university work. Find a routine that works for you and use your calendar or diary to block out time for the things you need to get done.

It can also help to keep a list of your tasks, when they need to be completed and any other commitments you have — including work, social plans and everything else life throws at you.

Just remember to be realistic! You probably can’t write a 2,000-word essay in an hour and a half before your best friend’s birthday party

Marking and grading

University marking can feel quite different from what you’re used to, so it’s worth getting familiar with the grading system early on.

For undergraduate students:

40+ = Pass
50–59 = 2.2 (Lower Second Class)
60–69 = 2.1 (Upper Second Class)
70+ = First Class

For postgraduate students:

50+ = Pass
60–69 = Merit
70+ = Distinction

👀 Don’t panic about a ‘low’ mark!

For some departments and types of assessment, particularly coursework, it’s normal for marks above 80 to be relatively uncommon. If you’re used to getting very high marks in previous education, receiving a 50 or 60 on an essay might initially feel alarming — but these are strong marks at university level and can indicate that you’re doing well.

Try not to compare your university marks directly with the grades you received at school or in previous education. The marking system is different, and it can take a little while to get used to what different grades mean.

📝 Check the marking criteria

Before you start an assessment, make sure you check the marking criteria. These explain what you’re expected to demonstrate in your work and what you need to do to meet the different grade boundaries.

Think of them as your assessment roadmap — they can help you understand what your lecturer is looking for and where to focus your efforts.

Finding sources and using the library

Not sure where to start with all those books, journal articles and other sources? The Library has lots of tools to help you find what you need.

The Library’s subject guides are a great place to start. They bring together books, journal articles, primary sources and other resources relevant to your course, organised by subject and category.

Your subject guide will also tell you who your subject librarian is. They can help you find useful resources and understand the referencing system used by your department — so don’t be afraid to ask them for help!

Library and cultural services

You can also use the Library’s advanced search tools to narrow down your results and find resources that are more relevant to your topic. If you’re not sure where to begin, the University’s skills pages have lots of useful guidance on using the Library, searching for literature and finding sources for your assignments.

SKILLS@ESSEX - LIBRARY BASICS SKILLS@ESSEX - LITERATURE SEARCH

Referencing

Referencing is an important part of university work, but it’s a skill that takes time to learn. Don’t worry if it doesn’t make perfect sense straight away — you’ll get more confident with practice!

Make sure you find out which referencing style your department uses. This should be outlined in your department handbook and is worth checking before you start an assignment.

The Library has referencing guides for all seven referencing styles used across the University, explaining what you need to include and how to format your references correctly. The University’s skills pages also have videos covering each referencing style.

And if you’re still not sure, ask for help! Your Student Advisor can support you with referencing and help you build your confidence.

Library Referencing Guide SKILLS@ESSEX - REFERENCING

Top tip: Don’t leave referencing until the last five minutes of your assignment. Future you will not thank you. 😉

Printing and copying

Need to print something for your next seminar or assignment? Here’s what you need to know:

💷 You’ll get £10 of printing credit at the beginning of each academic year.
🔄 You’ll also automatically receive a top-up at the start of each term: £2.50 for undergraduates and £7.50 for postgraduates.
🚫 You can’t add your own money to your University printing credit.
🎨 Colour printing costs more, as does printing on paper larger than A4, so keep an eye on your balance.
You can print from University PCs or use mobile printing from your own device.

CHECK YOUR PRINT BALANCE

Not sure how to print? The University has a handy printing guide to walk you through the process.

Printing Guide

If you need to print a larger volume of work, speak to your Student Advisor about what support may be available.

Students with specific learning differences (SpLDs) may also be eligible for additional printing credit. You can discuss your eligibility with the Student Wellbeing and Inclusivity Service (SWIS).

Navigating campus

Finding your way around our Colchester Campus can be a little disorienting at first — and if you get lost, don’t worry, you’re definitely not alone!

Essex Maps is a virtual campus map that can help you find your way to buildings and teaching rooms.

ESSEX MAPS

If you have a class somewhere you haven’t been before, give yourself a little extra time to get there. It’s much nicer to arrive early than to spend the first five minutes of your lecture trying to work out which corridor you’re supposed to be in!