University lectures: what to expect and how to make the most of your learning

University lectures will look different depending on where you go and what you study. The class size can vary and so can the time you'll be sitting, listening to your lecturer, as well as the amount of lectures you have each week. It's good to familiarise yourself with what to expect and what you need to make sure you don't miss any key information while in your lectures.

What is a university lecture?

By definition, a lecture is a formal presentation that gives you in-depth information on a particular topic.

A lecturer will lead the lecture - this will be a member of the faculty and their position will depend on the subject you're studying. They will likely have a doctorate themselves or be a researcher, or lecturer within the department.

During the lecture, you're expected to listen as well as take notes for your independent study. It might be that the content will be part of your exams, essays or coursework that the lecturer will set during the year.

Types of lectures

Lectures are typically done within a lecture hall or lecture theatre and are presented to a large group of students - almost like you're at the cinema. However, this might change if you're in a smaller class overall or are in select modules that aren't for the whole year group.

You may also come across the following lecture types at university:

Seminars

Seminars are similar to lectures but will be a smaller class size to allow you to more easily ask questions and have discussions with the lecturer and other students. They will focus on developing your knowledge of a particular topic.

Workshops

Workshops are similar in set up but while seminars encourage discussion on the lecture content, workshops tend to focus on developing a key skill or teaching you about a key tool or technique you'll come across in your studies.

Tutorials

Tutorials can mean different things. In some contexts, tutorials are one-on-one sessions with your academic tutor where you'll discuss your progress, they'll offer you guidance and discuss your plans after graduation.

In scientific settings, tutorials can be collaborative sessions where you will develop your understanding of a particular area and may involve a practical element.

For each type of lecture, there will likely be reading attached that you will need to do either before or after the class.

How to make the most of your lectures

Lectures are the opportunity, not only for you to learn, but to also understand the information needed for your assessments throughout the course. Here are some ways to get the most out of your lectures and help future you!

Have all you need for your lecture

While everyone will listen and learn differently, here's a list of typical equipment students will take to lectures:

• Laptop or tablet
• Pen
• Paper
• Snacks (for those longer lectures!)
• Textbook if necessary
• Waterbottle

Some students prefer to handwrite their notes, while others prefer to use their laptops. Some lecturers may give you handouts of the slides for you to make notes on while others may rely on you making your own notes. You'll start to understand more about how your lectures will run as part of Freshers' Week, or it's a great question to ask on an open day!

Check if your lectures are being recorded

These days, many lectures are known to be recorded, so you can go back and re-listen as part of your revision.

However, it isn't always the case that every lecturer will record their lectures and technology has been known to fail! So try not to rely on this and make sure you're awake and engaged in the lectures.

Organise your notes

Everyone has their own way of organising their notes, but finding a way that works for you will help you to use your lecture notes when it comes to writing essays on the topic, or revising for your exams.

Some students like to keep each module's notes in a separate notebook or folder for ease, while others like to keep all their notes in one notebook that they can organise later as part of their revision. Think about the format of your notes as well as where you'd prefer to keep them - on paper, on your laptop or both! It might be that you don't know the best way in your first year, but by the end of third year, you'll know exactly what works best for you.

Don't be afraid to raise your hand!

The more you engage in your lectures, the more you'll get out of it! Your lecturer might hold a little quiz at the end of lectures or ask questions to the class - try your best to participate as you'll likely remember the information better later.

It can feel daunting raising your hand in front of a class, especially in a lecture with the whole year group. Your lecturer won't be rushing off at the end, so if you have a question that you don't want to ask in front of everyone, you can always go and ask them after class. Besides, it'll be on a topic they know a lot about and will be happy to discuss things further with you!

How long are the lectures?

The length can vary - seminars and tutorials are known to be shorter, between half an hour to an hour of concentrated work - while lectures range from an hour or two hours. For the longer lectures, they tend to have a break in the middle too.

And if you think two hours is a long time, those taking science subjects with labs could be in their class for up to five hours!

What happens if I miss a lecture?

It happens! Whether it's missing an alarm, illness or a last-minute emergency, there may be times you miss your lecture. Procedures will be different depending on the university - some ask you to sign a register while others don't. If you're unsure, contact your department and they can let you know.

If you're worried, that you've missed out on some key content, it may be that the lecture is recorded and you can watch it another time, or another group might be having the lecture at a different time that you can join. Again, it's best to contact the lecturer or department reception to let me know the situation and they can guide you from there.