Postgraduate study can be a challenge – just ask anyone who has completed a master’s course or a Ph.D.! That’s why it’s important to level up your study skills before the start of term; doing so will give you the best head start on your program and increase your chances of passing your degree with top marks.
The notion of ‘study skills’ can be quite vague, so to help you out, this article breaks the concept down into six key areas that you’ll want to work on before classes begin. Give these skills your best shot, and you’re sure to sail through your degree!
1. Academic Writing
Writing is one of the most important skills you will need for a postgraduate degree – and this is especially true for subjects such as English, History, and Philosophy. Still, even the more technical fields such as maths and science require you to write essays and a dissertation or thesis, which means it’s crucial to nail academic writing if you want to achieve good grades during your education. Academic writing tends to be more formal and objective than other types of writing, and of course, you’ll need to cite your sources and reference them correctly.
Generally speaking, academic writing should be clear and concise – particularly when discussing complex topics. It can also be helpful to draw up an outline before you begin writing an essay, which structures your argument in a logical manner. In order to boost your skills, you want to read as many academic papers in your field as possible. This will give you a feel for what you’re aiming at. Other than that, it comes down to this old-fashioned approach: practice, practice, practice! Remember that if your grammar and spelling are weak, you can always use a tool such as Pro Writing Aid or Grammarly when writing and proofreading your work.
2. Research
Research skills become increasingly important as you progress in your academic career, especially if you’re doing a doctoral-level course that requires you to make an original contribution to your field. It’s normally best to start with a broad overview and then delve deeper into the specifics. One top tip is to avoid confirmation bias by being open to new ideas and unexpected results – don’t simply look for data that verifies what you already think.
Another big part of conducting quality research is understanding which sources are reliable. Ask yourself whether the author is an expert in the field, if there are any conflicts of interest, and what evidence they are presenting for their claims. It’s also wise to verify the information you find by using multiple reliable sources. Be particularly careful when doing research online, too, because anyone can post anything on their own website, blog, or social media account!
3. Taking Notes
If you’re undertaking a master’s degree, you will almost certainly be attending lectures and seminars where you’ll need to take notes. It’s tempting to try and write down every word the lecturer says verbatim; however, this isn’t always the best approach. Instead, try the following tips:
- Do preparatory reading before the class to give you a grounding in the topic
- Focus on getting the key points down, plus any helpful examples
- Write by hand rather than on a computer, as some studies have suggested this can improve recall
- If you do use a laptop in lectures, turn off distracting notifications from email and social media
- Use highlighters, underlining, or similar methods to draw attention to the most important points
- Write in shorthand so you can get more information down in less time
- Ask questions if you don’t understand something
- Try to summarize points in your own words to improve your understanding
- Review your notes after the class to solidify the information in your mind
4. Organization
Organization is the name of the game when it comes to postgraduate studies. You’ll have to juggle competing deadlines of reading and writing assignments for your different modules and attend your various classes – and one of the most valuable pieces of advice regarding this is to get started on everything early. That way, you give yourself plenty of time to complete your work without the need to rush or pull a tiring all-nighter. This also improves your chances of getting good grades, as you’ll be able to edit and proofread your work thoroughly.
Being well-organized is especially important if you’re a distance learning student, as it’s often entirely up to you to take the time to go over your learning materials as well as complete your assignments. Also, the majority of popular remote learning degrees, like masters in education online programs, offer greater flexibility than traditional in-person educational routes, allowing students to work and study at the same time. However, you’ll still need to craft a study schedule that fits around your commitments; hence organization, even with a flexible, distanced study course, is crucial.
5. Studying
If your postgraduate program requires you to take exams, you’re going to need to up your study skills too. For starters, here’s the worst mistake to avoid: leaving everything until the night before and then staying up late cramming is not the answer! Instead, start early and make a study schedule that gives you enough time to go over everything well in advance.
Additionally, one of the best methods is to actively test yourself on the material, rather than simply reading over your notes and textbooks again and again. An example of this is using digital flashcards that employ a spaced repetition system to increase retention of the information they contain. Another useful tactic is to try and teach the topic to someone else, as doing so can highlight where your knowledge currently falls short and show you what you need to focus on.
6. Presentation
Lots of postgraduate degree programs involve giving presentations, whether it’s an informal five-minute talk in a seminar or your Ph.D. viva examination. As such, if you’re someone who dislikes public speaking, this is definitely a skill you should work on.
Practice is the best method for improving your presentation skills and verbal delivery of information, for instance, in front of a mirror or with a sympathetic friend. You’ll also want to work on your speech and communication, using intonation and body language so you don’t come across as nervous or monotonous. Also, try watching videos of other people giving presentations (for example, TED talks) and learn what they do well and what they lack.
Don’t be afraid to let a little of your personality shine through, but make sure that your presentation is still well-structured and formal enough for the situation. Just remember that almost everyone gets anxious before public speaking! Your audience understands that and wants you to succeed nonetheless.
