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Teaching methods
Higher education classes are generally delivered using a mix of lectures and seminars.
Lectures
Lectures are held in big groups, usually in large classrooms or lecture theatres. In lectures it's mainly the tutor who will speak and students take notes and may ask questions.
The purpose of lectures is to introduce students to the main areas of the modules and to provide the grounding for further study.
Seminars
Seminars are held in much smaller groups than lectures - usually between six and 12 students. In seminars, students can engage in deeper discussion of the lecture topics with tutors and between themselves.
Students might be asked to prepare for a seminar by doing some research, reading a set passage of text or preparing a presentation.
Sometimes students are marked on their contributions in seminars and this will go towards their overall assessment.
Assessment methods
Students are assessed using a range of assessments - both written and practical.
Written work
Most, but not all, courses will require you to hand in some written coursework. This could be in the form of an essay or other assignment.
Written coursework is a common assessment method.
Practical work
Practical work could take the form of work experience, lab work or a series of artworks depending on your course.
Exams
Sit down exams are another common assessment method, although not all courses have exams. Exams are usually sat under timed conditions where you can't speak with other candidates.
Sometimes books or other course materials are allowed into exams. This will be made clear to you well before the exam.
Independent study
All courses will include some form of independent study, whether it's reading, researching at the library or collecting data for example. You will need to be disciplined with your time to get the most from independent study.
Group work
As well as individual assessment you will sometimes be asked to produce a piece of group work, where you work with other students. You will be assessed on the final piece as well as how well you work with others.
The division of your time between lectures, seminars and personal study will depend on the course and subject which you are studying. For some courses, for example science and medical subjects, you will have pretty much a full day at university. Others, for example history and English will require less time in lectures and seminars but more time studying alone - reading and researching at the library for example.