Resources to Keep You Going

	Management of Studies
	Useful hints for organising your workload

Management of Studies

University can be a bit of a balancing act. Social activities are really useful and fun, but they can also distract you from the real task of studying. Time management is an essential ingredient for success in first year. Swinburne University gives all first year students a diary which is a very important tool indeed. But a diary only works if you open it and make entries and keep track of your progress. In addition to a closed diary an open calendar that’s in regular sight is also a good reminder for when assignments are due etc. Not only should you write down when assignments are due but also when they need to be started. By doing so you can easily see when you have busy and slack times! Also this system will help you to manage assignments that are due around the same time.

Useful hints for organising your workload

Prepare an appropriate study schedule, by setting realistic achievable goals that are within your limits and try to establish a study routine that suits your lifestyle and allows you some free time. In doing so, consider deadlines and assign tasks to each study block. Make sure you address priorities, by starting with urgent matters and ending with time wasters. Break up large projects into achievable goals and work on one project at a time. Take breaks, short study periods are better than long study blocks. Try not to leave the hardest study load for last and remember that fatigue is not conducive to clear thinking!

Stay healthy to eliminate the stress you may experience in the busy times. Eat well, take lots of breaks, exercise and sleep! Be positive and don’t engage in negative thinking (e.g. I can’t do this; I’m not smart enough; it’s just too hard; no one can help etc). And most importantly, remember that perfection is a myth, so don’t fall into the trap of rewriting your assignments countless times or spending too long on a single task.

Make your place of study organised by using filing systems that work for you. Be sure to have all the study materials you need at your finger tips and make the area distraction free and highly lit. Also remember that day time study is generally better than burning the midnight oil!

Avoid procrastination, Procrastination is letting less important tasks get in the way of those of higher priority. The only way to avoid procrastination though is to recognise it! And we all have our strange ways of procrastinating (e.g. cleaning the car or house; convincing yourself you’ll do double tomorrow; chatting on the phone etc). By organising your study, recognising your limits, remaining positive and following a few simple guidelines you will hopefully be able to manage your study and a social life!

Study Support

Study Support is available to all Swinburne students free of charge. It includes support for students who want to increase their skills in:

	Essay and report writing
	Oral presentations
	Interpreting assignment questions
	Note-taking
	Referencing
	Exam preparation
	Time management
	Conversation & pronunciation
	Maths

Study support is available for individuals and small groups throughout the year. Click here for more information on Study Support.

Student Development & Counselling

The Student Development and Counselling service offers one-on-one consultations with qualified counsellors (along with the new swin-ecounselling), as well as interactive workshops, which provide support for a range of issues, from relationship problems to study techniques, stress and mental health concerns. This service is available for all currently enrolled students at no charge.

Click here for more information on Student Development & Counselling.

Tutoring

Individual tutoring is available to all students to assist in their ability to solve problems related to a particular subject and to enhance their knowledge of the subject.

Click here for more information on Tutoring.

Swinburne Student Amenities Association (SSAS)

The SSAA has been established to provide a range of services to students of Swinburne University of Technology.

SSAA is a wholly owned company of Swinburne University of Technology with student representation on its board. Its purpose is to secure the on-going provision and enhancement of quality services to students, in a transparent and cost effective way.

These services include:

	Orientation
	Student academic advice and advocacy
	Social & cultural activities
	Clubs and societies
	Student publications
	Night bus

Click here for more information on Swinburne Student Amenities Association (SSAS).

Careers and Employment

Careers and Employment offers a range of services including:

	Individual careers counselling appointments
	Resume and cover letter checks
	Interview skills and practice
	Employment preparation handouts
	Career planning and job hunting seminars
	Career information library
	SwinEmploy (online job service)

Click here for more information on Careers and Employment.