To give you the best possible start to your course, we encourage you to complete Study Smart – a free online course that we’ve created especially for all of our new undergraduate students. According to our research, students that engage with the course are more likely to pass their first year.1
Study Smart will help you prepare for study at the University of Reading, which will likely differ from your previous studies at school, college or in your home country.
With contributions from current students and academic staff from all subjects here at Reading, Study Smart will give you essential insights into what will be expected of you as a student so you can start your studies with confidence.
Study Smart focuses on three main areas of university study:
- Academic integrity
- Communicating at university
- Independent learning
The course will help you to understand how these concepts apply to you and your studies. It also contains vital information on how you’ll be studying, including advice on engaging in seminars, getting the most out of course material and using our digital tools. You'll be able to connect with other new students through the course, share thoughts about this exciting new step in your life, and get advice from current students.
We recommend you complete the course before the term begins to get the maximum benefit. It can be completed in a few short sessions and is designed so you can work through it at your own pace.
How to access Study Smart
If you are a new first year undergraduate student you will receive an email with a link to the course on the 27 August. You can also access the Study Smart course online.
If you have any queries or issues accessing Study Smart, please email: studyadvice@reading.ac.uk.
1 Wong, B. & Fletcher, L. (2024). A statistical analysis of Study Smart: Data from 2018/9 to 2022/23 University of Reading