Individual advice sessions
If you have questions about developing your study practices, the first place to look is in our Study Guides. However, if you don't find the answers you need here, or you feel the guidance would make more sense in the context of your own work, then you may find it helpful to talk to an adviser individually.
We offer academically-focused sessions with friendly professional advisers. These 30 minute sessions (longer if necessary) are 'tailor-made' to your individual needs and completely confidential.
What to expect from an individual advice session
Our individual advice sessions are quite informal and tailored to your needs. Your adviser will usually want to talk a bit about how your studies are going generally, and what you would like to discuss. As sessions are quite short, it's useful if you can be prepared by thinking about this before you arrive. It will be helpful for us if you can bring any marked work that you have, so that we can see what areas of your work markers have commented on.
We aim to help you develop your skills to study more effectively and achieve academic success. So we will not correct work for you, but will help you understand what you need to know to correct it yourself in the future. Everyone works differently, so we may make a number of suggestions - it will be up to you to try them out and see what works best for you.
If you'd like to discuss a coursework assignment which you are currently working on, it may be helpful if you can email your work to the adviser you are seeing before your meeting (contact details are here), with a note saying what you would like to discuss. As sessions are quite short, you might prefer that we spent the time discussing how you can develop your work, rather than reading it!
Please note:
- We cannot provide subject-specific advice. For this, it is best to consult your course tutor. If you would prefer to talk to someone else, try your personal tutor, or the Senior Tutor in your department. Your department or school office will be able to advise on who that is.
- We do not proof read work. See our guide to Effective proof reading to help you to develop your own proof reading practices.
- Study Advisers are not trained to teach English as a Foreign Language. For basic principles relating to common errors in academic English, please see our guides to Academic writing. If you feel you need more detailed help, there are also links on the Academic Writing pages to more comprehensive websites, including some with interactive exercises.
- If English is not your first language, the In-sessional English Support Programme (IESP) provides training courses in academic writing skills, speaking skills, and pronunciation practice. There is a small charge for students not paying full overseas fees.
Booking an advice session
Sessions may be booked in advance by calling 0118 378 4242 or emailing studyadvice@reading.ac.uk. Please include a contact phone number in any messages you leave.
During termtime we offer appointments during normal office hours. We can occasionally offer earlier or later appointments for students who are on placements (also see our email service, below).
During vacations the service remains open but the times that booked appointments can be offered may be more limited.
Students on placement or studying aboard
For students unable to come to campus because they are on placements or studying abroad, we may be able to offer Study Advice by email.
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