Welcome 2009 Students

Congratulations on your decision to explore your individual potential in the exciting and challenging environment of tertiary learning here at The University of New South Wales.

The main purpose of the University Orientation and Study Skills course is to add to your existing skills base a wide range of academic literacies and strategies that will assist you in becoming an effective manager of your own learning. These skills are essential for successful tertiary study and the foundation of your life long learning.

What is UOSS?

UOSS is an acronym for the University Orientation and Study Skills course. The course code is REGZ9000. It is the compulsory core course of The University Preparation Program (UPP).

The UNSW University Preparation Program (UPP) is a preparatory study program for older students who either do not possess formal qualifications or whose academic qualifications do not satisfy the minimum entry requirements for admission to university. The program has been designed to assess your academic potential and to provide a realistic environment within which you can develop the skills to manage tertiary study effectively.

The UPP comprises two courses:

1. The University Orientation and Study Skills course (offered by The Learning Centre)
2. An elective course (chosen from a specified range)

The UOSS course provides a practical engagement with the academic skills needed for success at university: for example, academic reading, critical thinking and academic writing. UOSS has a particular focus on the understanding of, and the preparation required, to produce an academic essay. The writing process involves content knowledge, research and critical reading, note making, academic writing, referencing, time management and much more.

UOSS runs over a thirteen-week semester. Two of these weeks will be a lecture format (weeks 1 and 6), one will be an exam (week 12) and the remaining will be group tutorials. Each week you are expected to engage in critical activities that will familiarise you with the structures and the processes involved in academic writing.

Further Information

For Information about the program and admission details, please contact:

• UNSW Admissions Office
  Email: ugadmis@unsw.edu.au
  Tel: +61 2 9385 3228

For more detail about the core course, University Orientation & Study Skills, please contact:

• Dr Dominic Fitzsimmons
  Dr Ian Collinson
  UOSS Course Coordinators,
  The Learning Centre
  Telephone: +61 2 9385 1500