Learning Culture

Studying at university is different from studying at high school in a number of ways. You have less contact time but you need more time to prepare for and follow up on your lectures and classes. You learn in a much more autonomous way, you have to organize your own revision, and you’re responsible for staying on top of things and making sure you’re prepared on exam day.

A key factor in studying at university is your attitude and motivation: why is it important to you to pass an exam? How do you want to feel? Positive emotions increase motivation and willingness to learn. The following tips can help you stay motivated and study more efficiently:

• Familiarize yourself with different learning techniques and methods (e.g. mind maps, flash cards, summaries, group work)
• Find fellow students to team up with
• Utilize and stimulate different areas of the brain when learning (read texts, make sketches, find verbal images, expand on what you’ve learned in discussions)
• Plan your revision, break the material down into chunks, and keep switching between different content blocks

Through good planning and preparation, you can use your revision time ahead of exams more efficiently. Revision timetable tips:

• Create a revision timetable up until the exams (create positive pressure)
• Plan realistically, build in buffers
• Actively schedule breaks and stick to them
• Adapt your timetable on an ongoing basis
• Plan practice papers

Focusing on the most relevant content when revising will help you cope with the volume of material more easily. Prioritizing according to learning objectives and type of assessment helps with this. It’s also a good idea to pay attention to the instructor’s priorities during the semester. Information on learning objectives and assessments can be found in the course catalogue for the relevant module.

How is studying at uni different from learning at high school? We asked three students who have successfully completed exams about their study habits. (Video in German)

If you’re struggling to learn, or you tend to procrastinate, the Student Advisory Services courses can help.
Student Advisory Services: Workshops (in German)

The events run by the University Library (UB Zürich) provide practical tips and advice, such as how to search for, use and manage information efficiently.
University Library: Courses and Events