Written by Luke Gibson
For those of us who had a chance to unwind over the summer session and not dip into studying any subjects, February becomes that time when you need to start getting your head back in the game. As a part time student, there’s a kind of freedom in choosing which subject or subjects to study next.
With eight credits from a previous diploma course, at the start of last year, my first year of Uni, I only had to do 16 subjects to complete in order to get through my Bachelor of Social Science (Psychology). With three subjects completed in 2025, this left a mere 13 subjects to do.
In my third full time year equivalent I have to do five subjects; in my second full time equivalent, there’s four. Working backwards to now, that means there’s four subjects for me to choose from in this first full time equivalent year. With three core subjects and one elective to choose from, this became my starting point for the year.
I also knew that I had to streamline my learning process and learn from my study mistakes from last year. I was ill-prepared as a mature aged student while I tackled my first year of Uni in 2025. Study techniques, time management and general organisation had to be overhauled this year in order for me to give myself the best chance of success.
Here’s four tips I’m tapping into at the start of the Uni year in 2026
The subject outline is everything
You need to know your subject outline inside out. This is your one-stop shop for everything related to any particular subject you study. I’m already referencing it several times a day. This guide has been meticulously prepared so there’s no grey area, ever.
I have even resorted to taking it with me everywhere, just in case I need to read it. On the bus, at the supermarket, at work, next to the pool! As I ponder my assessments regularly, I constantly have access to this invaluable resource to know the answer to any question I need answered.
Keep an eye on the census date
Before I started Uni, the only census I knew was the one where the Australian Bureau of Statistics did every five years to gather information for a screenshot of where we are as a nation! But I’ve learned that the census we have at Uni can really shape the direction of your study.
I love that Charles Sturt Uni has a census. It’s a version of try-before-you-buy, offering you the chance to give subjects a go initially, to not only work out if they resonate with you at this time in your study journey, but also to establish if you can fit them into your life. If you plan on unenrolling from a subject it is essential to do so before the census date.
Census date for session 1 on Friday 27 March. Click here for more info on census and to make sure you have done everything required.
Topic overview and rationale
I need to know what is on the journey ahead. In printing out each of the 12 topic overviews and rationales for each subject, I have an exact version in front of me of what to look forward to each week. This provides a clear pathway forward. And I can also work out where the session break fits into this timeline!
Colour-coded folders
It seems ever so simple, but colour coding my folders just makes me feel that bit more organised and know where all my notes are within each folder at any given time. Don’t let anyone tell you colour-coded folders are overrated!
These tips are general and may not be essential to some students. But by working out a simplistic individual approach to your study, you can put yourself in the best position possible for study success.
Charlie blog is a SSAF funded initiative.
