Study skills helping you to succeed at Solent

Do you need a hand with referencing? Want some help with essay writing, or are you worried about using myPortfolio?

In addition to help from your course tutors there is a whole host of support available from across Solent to help you throughout your studies.

This page collates the study skills support available to you, from online resources that you can access at any time, support with assistive technology from the Disability Advice Team, 1:1 help from our library, to virtual workshops covering digital, learning, English language and career skills, plus wellbeing workshops and courses delivered by our Therapy and Mental Health Team.

Online resources

Succeed@solent

Found on SOL (Solent Online Learning), this module contains academic support to help you succeed in all of your assignments: https://learn.solent.ac.uk/succeed

Get Ready to Learn SOL module

The Get Ready to Learn module on SOL has a huge variety of videos and resources produced by Solent’s staff and students. Although this is initially aimed at new students, there is plenty to help all our returning students too including recorded workshops on the Study Skills tab: https://learn.solent.ac.uk/getreadytolearn

Learning technologies induction

The Essential Learning Technologies Induction is a self-guided course that will help you learn about systems and support available during your time at Solent: https://learn.solent.ac.uk/induction

Solent Online Learning (SOL) and Solent systems student help

This resource on SOL will guide you to help and support for SOL and other Solent systems. This includes submitting different types of assignment files, accessing your Solent account: https://learn.solent.ac.uk/help. If you have account issues, click the grey button 'Access as a guest'.

Maths Unplugged

Maths Unplugged is an online resource that will offer support in your maths skills and provide you with the opportunity to build your confidence in Maths. Use the dynamic online forum to ask maths-related questions and get further support right away: https://learn.solent.ac.uk/maths.

LinkedIn Learning

LinkedIn Learning provides high quality training videos covering your subject areas as well as study skills, careers, wellbeing and many more. All free for you to use on and off campus. To activate your account visit the Linkedin Learning for Students LibGuide page.

Assistive technology support from the Disability Advice Team

All Solent University computers are installed with Text Help Read & Write Gold (text-to-speech software) and Inspiration (mind mapping software). These are free to use on campus. The assistive technology centre in the library on the ground floor has PCs with assistive software, height adjustable desks, specialist screens and large key keyboards.

The Disability Advice Team is the disability and neurodiversity advice service for students.

Further information about assistive technology on campus and for use on personal devices can be found here.

Book an appointment if you have further questions about assistive technology or setting up support.

Support from the Hub

Getting Started @ Solent

Students can now book a 15-20 min session with a student adviser to go over the basics of being a successful student at Solent. We will cover areas such as online systems, attendance, academic regulations, accessing support, where to find study skills support etc.

Appointments are available Monday to Thursday from 10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm in the Student Hub, TS114.

To provide you with the best experience, we ask that you bring your laptop with you.

Book your appointment here

Support from the library

LibGuides by subject give you access to recommended resources for finding quality information for your subject area. You will also find guidance on how to research and reference your work, plus ways to access help from the friendly Library team.

In addition to this explore the referencing support and library workshops on offer:

Guided learning

Solent University runs a variety of Guided Learning workshops that are there to support your learning, these are facilitated by different teams from across the University. For more information, please take a look at https://learn.solent.ac.uk/guided-learning.

Recordings of some previous workshops can be found under the study skills tabs of the 'Get Ready to Learn module' on SOL. Please take a look at https://learn.solent.ac.uk/getreadytolearn.

Mental health and wellbeing courses and workshops

Mental Health and Wellbeing team run a range of courses and workshops. Some courses run over a number of weeks and others are single sessions.

For start dates and booking information email wellbeing@solent.ac.uk current sessions available are:

This is a closed group based on dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT). It may aid those who experience depression, anxiety, intense mood swings, suicidal thoughts, self-harm urges or harmful behaviours.

During the group you will learn how to focus your mind and attention on the current moment & accept the current situation. You will find ways to tolerate your distress and regulate your emotions.

The group will be between 6 and 8 weeks in length.

If you are interested in joining a course in the future, please contact us at: wellbeing@solent.ac.uk

The Mental Health and Wellbeing team offer standalone workshops based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT). CBT is a practical skills-based therapy that helps us to understand the relationship between the way we think, feel, and behave. CBT helps to equip you with the tools and techniques to help to break the vicious cycle you might find yourself in. It is proven to be a very effective therapy to help manage symptoms of depression, anxiety and stress. The CBT workshops are psychoeducational meaning that we will aim to provide you with a toolkit, and you can choose to implement which skills you feel will be most useful to you.

Each session is individual, meaning you can attend all the sessions or perhaps just a one-off session that may interest you. Each session will last for approximately an hour.

Social anxiety and managing university
Managing academic stress and anxiety
Managing Depression and low mood

If you are interested in attending any workshops, please email wellbeing@solent.ac.uk.

Resilience skills is a 60 minute training session, delivered on your timetable. It covers skills on how to increase your capacity to deal with the challenges of university life and includes key areas around the myths and facts about resilience, what gets in the way of being resilient and how to increase your resilience.

A workbook is also provided for this training, which also includes top tips for exams and assignments.

If you are interested, please speak with your tutor so they can book a session into your timetable or email us at wellbeing@solent.ac.uk.

Digital skills and capabilities

The Guided Learning Centre, found on floor 2 of the library, can offer help and advice with guided learning and digital skills and capabilities which include the following online courses or in-person workshops.

Using Microsoft products (Word, Powerpoint, Excel)
Digital Capabilities self-assessment
Adobe drop-in sessions
myPortfolio essentials
Quantitative Research Methods (Statistics and SPSS)

These sessions are designed to support your learning at Solent and also provide industry relevant skills for your future careers. You can see the Guided Learning Centre's schedule along with the University's wider guided learning provision at https://learn.solent.ac.uk/guided-learning. For further information about the Guided Learning Centre and the support they offer, please use the Ask for Help form. If you have account issues, click the grey button 'Access as a guest'.

English language skills workshops for those whose first language isn’t English

Here at Solent University, we offer a number of ways to support all students with the challenges of using English for Academic Purposes (EAP), especially if you are an international student. All courses are run by specialist EAP teachers, all with extensive experience in teaching English to international students around the world and in UK universities.

Programme overview

The first five weeks of the programme focus on the key skills needed in academic writing. While the primary focus will be on essays, the principles you'll learn also apply to reports and dissertations.

The aim is to equip you with a clear framework to start your writing journey, allowing you to gradually develop your own voice as a writer.

In the final two weeks, the focus shifts to spoken communication skills, especially for students looking to improve fluency, clarity, and accuracy in their speech. These sessions will offer plenty of opportunities for group discussions on a variety of topics.

Workshop schedule

The main course runs for seven weeks, with each workshop lasting two hours. You also have the option to join just the conversation skills workshop.

The first sessions start on Wednesday, 16 October 2024.

For further information, to join the sessions, or to watch the recordings of past classes, please take a look at the English Language Support module on SOL. If you have any questions relating to this please contact Matthew Brittain (matthew.brittain@solent.ac.uk) or Jacob Miles (jacob.miles@solent.ac.uk).

Employability support from Solent Careers

Solent Careers (Solent University’s careers service) offers a wide range of employability support including workshops throughout the year, a variety of careers fairs and employer events on campus and their new Solent Careers Online platform. At the world and future ready careers fair you can network with a wide range of employers who are offering opportunities including part time, placements, internships, and graduate roles. Solent Careers Online includes a job board which covers a range of local, national and international opportunities including volunteering, placements, insight days, internships and graduate roles as well as our own Campus Jobs. The platform also includes a variety of short courses on topics as diverse as career development to creating and perfecting your CV, an ability to book a variety of appointments with our employability, careers and start up advisers, ask questions and book on to our events.

Careers@Solent.ac.uk

Creative work opportunities from Solent Creatives

Solent Creatives is Solent University’s student-powered creative agency, linking businesses with the creative talent at Solent University. We draw on the talent and skills of our students to support businesses across the South with creative services. Such as videography to graphic design, photography to web design/build.

Student benefits

Get paid for your passion – gain valuable, paid, real-world experience.
Practical experience – apply classroom knowledge to real projects.
Kick-start your creative career – develop professional skills/networks.

Email us for more info: solentcreatives@solent.ac.uk

Business support from Solent Start-Ups

Our Solent Start-Ups team provide current students and recent graduates with one-to-one support, workshops, and funding* to help you launch or grow your venture. No matter what stage you're at in your thinking, whether just exploring ideas or ready to launch, we’re ready to support you. *Subject to T&Cs

Email us for more info: solentstartups@solent.ac.uk