A student gesturing with her hand whilst in conversation.

Information for
returning students

Intro

A group of students smiling and socialising in Heartspace.

We are delighted to welcome you back to the 2024/25 academic year and we are committed to helping you make the most of your study. We have put together a number of resources to help you get back into “study mode” after the summer and hit the ground running when your classes start.

Each week, you will receive an email that contains a combination of self study resources and workshops. The resources are there to help you get started but they are completely optional. You may find that you have time to complete them in one week but not at all in another week, and that is perfectly fine. Every student’s life is different, and these resources are here to allow you to start engaging in your academic skills development if you have time at the moment. All of these resources will be available to you throughout the year so you can always (re)visit them later.

Get prepared for the new semester

Student at computer

1. Complete your online enrolment

If you are a returning student to UWL you should already have a MyRegistry Account. You need to enter your UWL Student ID Number and your MyRegistry password in the login box.

If you have not used your MyRegistry account before, you will need to activate it.   

Find out more about online enrolment
A person using a phone in a cafe

2. Check you still have your UWL ID card

For all enquiries regarding your UWL ID card contact idcardservices@uwl.ac.uk  or call 020 8231 2070 .

If you need to contact us out of office hours, please call 020 8231 2070, leave a voice message and we will call you back as soon as possible. 

Email the ID card desk
A law student studies in the Paul Hamlyn Library

3. Check your timetable and term dates

Your timetable will be available two weeks prior to the start of your first module. To access your timetable, please: 

  • Log in to the Student Portal and click on the MyTimetable tab
  • Enter your regular UWL Student IT User Account (typically your eight-digit UWL student ID number)
  • Enter your usual password where you will be given access to your timetable

If you have any problems accessing the Student Portal, please contact IT Service Desk on extension:  2222 or externally on: +44 (0)300 111 4895.

Check our term dates

Returning to study workshops

Two students sat down smiling while in class.
Planning for the new semester: 

Understanding who you are as a learner: 

Organising your studies: 

Steps to developing your academic writing: 

Our resources

Three students smiling, working and discussing work with laptops open.

Using Macmillan Skills for Study, LinkedIn Learning and online workshops, you can access a range of resources to help you prepare for the new academic year, in a way that best suits you.

These online activities are optional and you can benefit from them at a time that suits you.

  • Information literacy and the Digital Library

    Activity 

    The Digital Library is accessible to you 24/7 containing lots of key information for your studies. Your librarian has put together some short exercises for you to complete taking you through some of the most relevant parts of the Digital Library for your subject areas. 

    Did you know that you can book a 1-2-1 appointment with your librarian? They can answer your questions on searching and evaluating resources for your subject and help you prepare for the year ahead. 

    In addition, you may wish to view the LinkedIn Learning video on Information Literacy which takes you through the general principles in this area.  We recommend you watch the Introduction plus Section 1 on Information Types (35 minutes).   You will need to log in with your UWL email details.

    Another good source to have a look through is your UWL Library subject guide. These guides have been put together by your librarian. You will find their contact details on the guide if you would like to get in touch with them.  

    Students going into Level 6

    Are you completing a dissertation this coming academic year? Have a browse of this short ebook which guides you through the different stages of planning for your dissertation. It is a good starting point for thinking through what is involved. If you have any questions, then do contact your supervisor or librarian.

  • Critical thinking activity

    For this activity, we are concentrating on the topic of critical thinking and how you can use this within your studies. Critical Thinking enables you to consider different points of view in your reading and writing to develop your understanding of the topic more.

    Skills for study activity

    Start the activity with the diagnostic test to access your current strengths and areas to develop. Then explore the rest of the activity concentrating on the areas you would like to learn more about. 

    • Access this activity via the Skills for Study website. You will need your normal UWL student number and password to access the link above after choosing ‘University of West London’ from the Student Login. 

  • Referencing, reading and note taking

    For this activity, we are concentrating on the topic of referencing and reading, and notetaking to get you all set for the year ahead.  

    Activity

    Regardless of the referencing style you need to use for your assignments (normally Harvard, OSCOLA or APA), the Library is here to help. 

    • Harvard – have a browse through the Cite the Right Basics section to refresh your knowledge on using citations within your work, reference lists and their top ten tips. Remember, you will need your UWL username and password to access the link.
    • OSCOLA – have a browse through our dedicated subject guide to OSCOLA. Have a look through the "basics" section and then look through the guide to find the areas you would like to.
    • APA – have a browse through the APA Style website.

    Skills for study activity on reading and note taking

    Start the activity with the diagnostic test to access your current strengths and areas to develop. Then explore the rest of the activity concentrating on the areas you would like to learn more about. 

    • Access this activity via the Skills for Study website. You will need your normal UWL student number and password to access the link above after choosing ‘University of West London’ from the Student Login.

    LinkedIn Learning activity

    We also recommend having a watch of the sections ‘Ramp up your reading’ and ‘Improve your note-taking skills’ of the learning Study Skills LinkedIn Learning video.

    You will need your normal UWL username and password to log in.

  • Writing skills

    Writing for academic work is different to general day to day writing you do within your social life and within a workplace setting. There are different types of academic writing but they have some common features including developing your reasoning and supporting this with evidence. Like all study skills, for academic writing you will be building on the skills you have developed in previous education.  

    Skills for study activity 

    Start the Writing Skills activity with the diagnostic test to access your current strengths and areas to develop. Then explore the rest of the activity concentrating on the areas you would like to learn more about. 

    • Access this activity via the Skills for Study website. You will need your UWL student number and password to access this link after choosing ‘University of West London’ from the Student Login.

  • Careers support

    As you progress through your course, it is exciting to explore all the options you have with your degree. Now is the time to start exploring and planning your future professional self. With this in mind, we have put together some content to help you develop your career management skills. The careers team are always on hand to help you talk through your options and make plans – why not check out this LinkedIn learning course to start you off?

    We offer 1-2-1 sessions for all students which can be booked through the Student Hub where you will also find all events, jobs and placement opportunities. Just sign in using your usual student number followed by your password for university systems.

    Finally, if you would like to join one of our live webinars on career planning and how to get started, you can book through the Student Hub. 

  • Peer mentoring

    Mentor training session: explore the role of a Peer Mentor

    By volunteering as a Peer Mentor, you will have an opportunity to gain transferable skills whilst being key part in helping to enhance your Mentee’s student experience. To prepare you for the role, we offer interactive training sessions which counts towards your volunteering hours.

Further information

In order to access all of the Skills for Study or LinkedIn Learning links, you will need your UWL login details. If you have any problems, the following teams are available to help you: