Top Skills for Study Abroad – Lectures and Seminars

Knowing what to expect when beginning your studies abroad will help you quickly get to grips with your study. Our study abroad advice section will help you build the skills you need to get the most out of being an international student.

You will find that most of the taught elements of your course will be delivered through lectures and seminars. It is important that you know how to get the most out of both of these.

Your First Lecture

Lectures are the most common way of delivering information about a subject to a large number of students. Depending on your University and chosen study subject, you might attend lectures with several hundred students or just a handful of fellow students. Either way the most important thing is that you attend every lecture.

Lectures are where the key topics of your subjects will be introduced to you, and will give you an indication of the depth of study that is expected from you. To get the most out of lectures you must go to them willing to listen and engage. Make an effort to understand the contents of your lectures and you will find them a valuable resource for your studies.

Top tips for lectures

Take notes. You will find that some things make sense to you at the time of a lecture but you go on to forget them later. By taking notes to explain a concept or remind you of facts at the time, you will find it easier to take this knowledge on board at a later date. Whether you note take with pen and paper or on a laptop doesn’t matter, just make sure you get the information down.
Be punctual. Turn up on time for your lectures. It is considered bad manners to turn up to your lecture after it has already started and you will miss out on important information. Turn off your phone and other items that may distract you. Treat it like a job, you wouldn’t be late for a shift, so don’t be late for lectures.
Make it easy on yourself by sitting in a position where you are able to hear the lecturer and view any presentations easily. If it helps, consider recording the lecturer with a Dictaphone or other recording device. Make sure your lecturer is happy with this beforehand though.
Be sure that you understand everything. Your lecturer will advise further reading and this will help you to gain a good understanding of your subject. You will find it useful to discuss lectures with fellow students; you may find that they are also thankful for the chance to talk about the subject. Lecturers are usually receptive to questions after lectures should you have any further questions.
Make time to revise your lectures. It is easy to pack your notes away and forget it all at the end of a lecture. However, lecture materials are commonly now made available online by Universities. It pays to read through these notes and the notes you have made at the lecture to help absorb the information. Tie this in with your further reading to establish a good base of knowledge on your subject.

Seminars and tutorial sessions

Seminars and tutorial sessions usually involve smaller groups than lectures and represent your chance to discuss the topics and subjects in greater detail with your tutors and fellow students.

During the first seminars for your subjects you will usually receive an introduction to your tutor and an outline of the work that you will be doing in future seminars. This will help you to understand what it is that you will be learning throughout the duration of your classes. You are likely to be expected to prepare work for following seminars and it is important that you do any work required. Doing so will help you get the most out of these sessions.

Arriving under prepared will make it hard for you to follow the topic of discussion so always make sure to find out what work is expected of you.
You will be expected to talk to your fellow students at these sessions, which really helps to build your confidence and communication skills. This is a great opportunity to build your new language skills too. Not only that but it will help you to build an appreciation of different viewpoints that you may not have previously considered.

Seminars and tutorial sessions may count towards your grades but even if they don’t it is important that you attend all sessions. This is your education and you are paying for it, so make sure to get as much as you can from it.

Top tips for seminars and tutorials

Prepare yourself to talk. This may seem daunting but everyone is in the same boat. You are likely to be expected to introduce yourself in early sessions and join in with debates. Tutors and students will all be involved in discussions and this can be a great way to debate and learn about your subject. It’s also an opportunity to build your confidence and public speaking skills, both of which will come in handy after you graduate.
Attend all sessions. Don’t miss out on your study – there will always be useful information at these sessions whether you are feeling on top of your study or feeling like you are struggling. Preparing for every session and doing any preparatory work before hand will help you to engage in your subject.
Listen to others. Your tutor will a have great understanding of your subject and will always have useful information. Your fellow students will have views that you may or may not agree with but either way you should listen to and respect their opinions. These sessions are a great base for discussion and debate; listening is as vital to communication as talking.
If you are unsure of anything, bring it up. A seminar or tutorial is the perfect place to ask questions that arise from preparatory work, presentations or even previous lectures. The questions that you raise may also help your fellow students to understand a topic.
Enjoy giving presentations. Some courses may involve giving small presentations to your fellow students; usually a topic of your choosing within your subject. You will be given plenty of guidance about preparing for these and often speaking will help to develop your understanding of the subject.

Further studying skills

Lectures and seminars are two widely used methods of study at Universities and it is likely that you will encounter both as you embark on your studies abroad. Have you developed any skills or tips that made it easier for you in your studies? Share them with us below and ask about any topics that you would like our future study tips articles to cover.