There seems to be an expectation that people just know what to do when they get to university—they are left to just get on with it. Some people figure out what they should do and others, perhaps, don't. Students have some pretty heavy demands placed on them, and I really want to help them understand what they are supposed to be doing. It can all be pretty overwhelming. So, here are some of the things that I think are important for students to know. First, they need to be aware that a one-size-fits-all approach to studying doesn't exist; individuals need to discover what works best for them. They need to understand their own goals and set clear targets for achieving them. That sounds really challenging, but my second point is that there are lots of tools and techniques that can make studying easier. Study skills tend to be pretty general—they can be applied to all subjects. Ah, that's not to say that students won't also need to build up some discipline-specific skills, but, overall, study skills are transferable. Let's take an example from a recent study: it was found that using 'mind maps', a way of organizing ideas on paper, is an effective way of taking lecture notes. A very strong correlation was found between using mind maps and doing well at university. This is a skill that can be used in any lecture-oriented subject or, even, as a brainstorming tool. Just like anything else, mind mapping or other techniques may seem uncomfortable at first, but, with practice they become easier to use and students begin to feel more confident.