Adapting to university study

It is a good idea when starting university to become aware of study expectations and good academic practices. At university it is important not to present the work of others as your own, either intentionally or accidentally. This is considered poor academic practice, and could lead to an investigation into your work.
How to ensure good academic practice
To understand good academic practices, it is helpful to explore the concept and values of academic integrity.
Avoiding poor academic practice
Few students deliberately set out to cheat, but sometimes bad academic practices can occur accidentally by:
- Not being realistic about the time needed to work on assignments: Rushing to meet a deadline can result in shortcuts, such as failing to check that all references are in place. This is one of the reasons for thinking carefully how you plan and organise your time (see our guide on planning and organising your time)
- Taking poor approaches to note-making: For example, forgetting to note references to sources can lead to plagiarism, so developing effective note-making strategies is critical (see our guide on active note-making strategies).
Key takeaways
Top tips
Familiarise yourself with the specific referencing expectations of your course once you start.
Seek help to develop your understanding of referencing requirements if needed.