A Beginner's Guide to University

Tips for Non-School Leavers

Explore the Uni and know how things work

The more time you spend on campus, the more you will start to feel a part of the place.

Before Classes Begin

Find your way around
Before classes begin, find out the location of your faculty office, school office and your lecture venues.

Prepare and plan for your first week

Preparing for your first weeks at uni

Familiarise yourself with the UNSW online environment
The university website is increasingly the first stop for students to find information and make enquiries. Information on aspects of uni life (from enrolment and online learning, through to course information and uni administration) are found on the web. By exploring the website, you can find out a great deal about UNSW before you start.

Explore the Library

• Join a Library tour and familiarise yourself with the library layout and procedures. Find out how to use the catalogue and how to borrow materials.
• Locate the section of the library where the most commonly used sources for your subjects are kept.
• Find out how to locate the different sources in the library. Where are the journals, reserve materials, film and audio sources etc. kept?

Library Location Maps

Make sure you attend O-week
O-week offers activities and workshops of great benefit to non school-leaver students. Faculty welcomes and lunches give you the opportunity to find out more about your course and meet fellow students. You can attend lectures on academic skills and take a campus tour to find out where things are and where your classes will be.

O-week website

The first few weeks of Semester

Attend all your lectures in the first week
Important information about course structure, organisation and assessment issues are usually distributed then. Missing early lectures is like missing the first 20 minutes of a movie: you spend the rest of the time trying to catch-up without really understanding what is going on.

Make yourself known to the academic staff in your area
If you attend classes, show some interest, contribute to tutorial discussions and do at least some of your work, then your tutor is more likely to know who you are, and recognise that you are making an effort.

Explore the facilities on campus
At uni, your education is not restricted to your course. If you're interested in learning a new leisure activity, this is a great opportunity. Check out the sports association and lifestyle centre and the student organisations. Think about what interests you, and where you can participate.

Know who to talk to about what
Try to familiarise yourself with the many Student Services offered on campus. Know where to get help or support and don't be afraid to ask. You'd be surprised how many students are unaware of the support serves that the uni offers, even in the later years of their degrees.

Finding help when you need it

MyUNSW A to Z Student Guide