If you're studying abroad in the UK, something you'll probably learn about before you go is how the academic culture is different here than in the US. Final grades for most modules are typically made up of 1-4 assignments each worth a large percentage of your grade. Because of this, there is a big emphasis on self-directed studying, meaning that you won't have homework assignments due each week. Instead, you'll have to make a plan for yourself, keeping track of what reading you need to be doing, reviewing what you learn, and paying attention to due dates. I know this sounds really intimidating, I was super intimidated before I got to Queen Mary, but I'm here to tell you that it's not! Here are 5 tips on how to be a successful student in the UK!
Before modules start:
1. Go through the course outline (syllabus) as soon as you have access to it. It's good to know before your courses start what will be expected of you. Figure out what the structure of your course is. Are there activities you'll need to complete prior to your lecture each week? What are the expectations for seminars (discussion sections)? Is there a reading list you'll need to keep up with? When are assignments due, and how much are they worth? Knowing these things going in will make your life so much easier!
2. Familiarize yourself with your university's online system. Chances are they don't use Blackboard, so their system might be confusing to navigate. Attend an information session or find the Help section online, and you'll want to know how to access course resources and materials, and how to submit assignments, before you actually need to.
Once modules start:
3. Let your lecturers know that you're a study abroad student. At Queen Mary, there are only certain courses open to study abroad students, so my lecturers knew to ask on the first day, but that might not always be the case. It's good to establish this with your lecturers, who know that the academic system is different in the US, so that they can help if you're having trouble adjusting to the system in the UK.
4. Develop a plan at the start of every week for what you're going to get done and when. I've started keeping a daily to-do list since being here, and it's helped immensely with adjusting to self-directed studying. This way, I know at the beginning of the week what I need/would like to have done by the end, and I know what I need to do each day to accomplish that!
5. Take advantage of having less in-class time. I can't speak for every university in the UK, but at Queen Mary, the majority of my lectures and seminars are only an hour. On a typical week, I only spend 8 hours actually in lectures and seminars, much less than I am used to at GW, and I don't have any courses on Wednesdays or Fridays. It's so important to take breaks from working, and I'm only here for the semester, so I have implemented Wednesday adventures, and every Wednesday, I go somewhere new! So far, I've done things like check out the National Portrait Gallery, see Mamma Mia! (the musical), and try a bacon, egg, and cheese from It's Bagels (BECs are very hard to find here), and more! Keeping up with my work throughout the week and not spending long hours in class everyday allows me to explore London!
Reese Holtzman
Fall 2023
GW England - Queen Mary University of London (Study Program)
Columbian College of Arts and Sciences
Psychological & Brain Studies Major