Skip to main content
Start of main content

Student life

How to get organised for study

This article appears in: Study tips
Lady studying on a laptop

You’ve just started the new semester, textbooks in tow. It’s now time to #getorganised to prep yourself for a productive few months!

Get your study space sorted

Sweep ‘organised chaos’ under the rug. Instead, create a clean study space that will clear your mind! Less physical clutter means less mental clutter – with less distractions and more control.

Keeping your space tidy doesn’t mean it has to be boring either. You should be visually drawn to it – make  use of colours that make you feel happy and maybe even include an inspirational goal – it could be a quote or picture – anything that makes you feel motivated.

Use a filing system

Don’t let those important notes fall to the bottom of the pile, and don’t let that pile become a pile up!  Create unit-specific folders and discard of any notes that do not provide any value to you. You may wish to organise your folders alphabetically by sub-topic, or even by week.

Include a section for your assignments so you can add general notes or references you could find useful later.

Really want to get ahead? Learn how to reference correctly from the beginning. Sounds a bit boring? Trust me, it will save you hours of work. Endnote is a free bibliographic management tool  that will help you organise your sources.

Use a to-do list

Plan out what you need to do today, this week, this month and even over the next year. You might manage this digitally on a calendar or to-do list, in an organiser or on a whiteboard. This way, there are no surprises, you know what’s coming up and can feel great ticking items off the list. You may find it helpful to use a time management app.

Stick to a schedule

Don’t let study fall to the bottom of your priority to list. Set a time each day that you know you can commit to and use this time to study, start on an assignment or work on practical exercises. Just as people have different learning styles, we also work best at different times of the day. Get to know what time you’re most productive and schedule in your study time around then.

Explore 300+ courses

Certificates, diplomas and degrees

Related Articles

  • Casuarina campus by night

    Why I chose CDU for my research degree

    Charles Darwin University may be small, but we have an impressive international reputation for research. Here, some of our researchers explain what made them choose to pursue a Higher Degree by Research with CDU.

    Read more about Why I chose CDU for my research degree
  • HDR student and supervisor

    How to finish a PhD quickly

    The idea of committing a chunk of your life to research can be both exciting and daunting, but there are ways to make sure your timelines don’t blow out and your motivation doesn’t run out. CDU’s Dean of Graduate Studies, Professor Tara Brabazon, offers her top 10 tips for submitting your thesis quickly. 

    Read more about How to finish a PhD quickly
  • Student studying on laptop

    5 signs you're ready for postgraduate study

    Deciding to study a postgraduate degree can feel like a big step, but it comes with a whole heap of benefits both personally and professionally. Whether you're interested in research or just progressing at work, if you're considering any sort of postgrad experience, check out our tips to know if you're in the right frame of mind to begin. 

    Read more about 5 signs you're ready for postgraduate study
Back to top