The University Skills Centre (USC)

The University Skills Centre (USC) provides support and training on a range of generic skills for both academic study and employment preparation.  The USC runs a Learning Resource Centre, Skills Workshops and Credit Modules for a range of skills as outlined in this section.  

Learning Resource Centre (LRC)

Contains a wide range of academic study skills resources, the LRC is an informal study area situated in room 4.204.  The Centre is equipped with reference books, current newspapers, general interest journals, skills training DVDs, study desks and computer terminals linked to the University intranet.  The LRC is open for students and staff from Monday – Friday 09:00 – 17:00.   

Study Skills Workshops

The USC provides workshops throughout the academic year.  All students are welcome and all sessions are free.  Pick up an information leaflet for the academic year 2011/12 from the Learning Resource Centre.   

One-to-One Advisors

One-to-one advisors operate from the LRC, and provide advice on a range of academic skills.  Consultations are individual and confidential.  Sessions last 30 minutes and can be booked through the LRC Librarians.  

Examples of the type of help on offer: assignment preparation (how to deal with a long reading list, how to take efficient notes, how to plan an assignment, how to prepare a seminar presentation);  referencing skills  (how to set out in-text references, quotations, bibliographies) language, style and expression ('nuts and bolts' of sentence structuring, punctuation, grammar and style); academic writing (organisation, structure and argumentation); finding self-study materials; help with drafting non-academic texts (advisors are happy to help with short texts such as important email messages, letters, study-related forms or applications).  

NB: For help in completing visa applications, please contact the main University Student Support Office.  Please note that USC advisors also cannot check or proofread an entire text.

In-Sessional English Language Support

The University Skills Centre runs a programme of free in-sessional English language support classes for international students who would like to improve their English proficiency. Classes are run as (non-credit) modules in the autumn and spring terms. Students who wish to enrol must first take the University's own, internal English language test (see below).  

Please note that families (dependants) of Essex students cannot join the In-Sessional programme, but dependants are eligible to join, free, English Classes run under the ECDIS for Dependants scheme. ECDIS classes are run by the International Academy (IA) department. More information on the ECDIS programme can be found on the IA web pages.  

University English Language diagnostic test

On arrival at the University, many international students will already have an English language certificate of proficiency such as IELTS or TOEFL. However, the University of Essex in common with most other British universities requires all newly registered students whose first language is not English to sit a short, internal English language test in order to provide the University with a single measure of English language proficiency across the whole international student body. This is not a pass/fail test, so the results of the test do not affect entry to degree study. However, only students who have taken the English language test will be eligible for free English language classes.  

There is no need to practise for the test, but any student who would like to familiarise themselves with the computer-based test format can complete an on-line practice test at any time. For more information and for times of test sittings, follow the ‘Diagnostic Tests’ link from the main USC web page http://www.essex.ac.uk/skillscentre/    

Numeracy Support

The USC provides diagnostic assessment and training in the numeracy skills required by a range of departmental undergraduate degree courses.  For more information on the on-line test and numeracy module, see http://www.essex.ac.uk/skillscentre/numeracy/ .

University Skills Centre Credit Modules

The USC runs a range of credit bearing modules which can both contribute to your degree course credits and enhance your academic skills.  The modules include options for employability enhancement and preparation for work.  All USC modules can be taken as ‘additional credits’ which can be listed on degree transcripts on requested.  For details of modules available in 2011/12 please see the USC webpages: http://www.essex.ac.uk/skillscentre/ .  

Proofreading Guidance and Protocols

In collaboration with the Learning and Development section of the University, the USC has developed a set of guidelines for students considering having their coursework proofread. For full details see http://www.essex.ac.uk/proofreading/ or pick up an information leaflet from the USC Learning Resource Centre.  Please note that University regulations expressly forbid proofreading and language checking by a third party in the case of any course work submitted for a module which includes language skills development and / or language proficiency assessment.

 

Last modified on 01 September 2011