my Studies @ Unisa

This brochure is for Unisa students. It is your road map 

to help you navigate your way through the Unisa system. 

At the end of the year, your brochure should be well 

worn because you have used it often. 

BEFORE 

AFTER 

My Studies_AW.indd 1 25/10/2010 13:16

Introduction to my Studies @ Unisa 

Congratulations on registering to study through Unisa in 2011. We believe that you have made 

an excellent choice. In fact, we believe a whole new world awaits you... one of new experiences 

and exciting challenges. 

So why are we so excited about Unisa and why do we believe you have made the right choice 

in choosing Unisa? Well, quite simply, Unisa will offer you the opportunity to study at your own 

pace and at your own place. This is really the essence of Unisa’s open distance learning approach 

or ODL approach as it is better known. Unisa wants to open up opportunities for you to further 

your studies. We therefore aim to remove possible barriers to higher education, offer flexible 

learning and provide comprehensive student support. 

The information contained in this brochure was accurate at the time 

of publication (25 October 2010). 

For updates, please go to the Unisa website: http://www.unisa.ac.za 

my Studies @ Unisa 2011 2 


What does it mean to be an ODL student? 

Open distance learning at Unisa focuses on you, the student. You are our priority and we will do 

everything we can to make your Unisa experience as enriching as we possibly can. 

You have many choices, such as studying at home or even pursuing your career while studying. 

Through ODL, we give you the choice over what, when and where you learn, how you learn and 

at what pace you learn. You must however ask yourself a few important questions: 

Personal circumstances 

Do your family and friends know what it takes to study through Unisa? 

Do they know that you will need to study regularly? Will they motivate 

and support you? Studying through Unisa often means having to study at 

night or over weekends... times when friends and family relax, socialise 

and join in on fun activities. Will your family and friends understand that 

you won’t always be able to join them? Talk to them. Tell them how you 

intend to organise your life, and explain that you will need their support 

and encouragement. 

Work and study 

Are you working full time or even part time? Have you spoken with your 

employer about possibly needing to take leave to finish assignments 

or attend tutoring sessions? Discuss your studies with your employer; 

explain the nature of distance learning and the fact that you will have to 

combine work with studies. Once your employer understands what will 

be required of you and how important your studies are for your career 

advancement, it will be easier to negotiate special assistance or get 

access to resources at work. It is challenging to work and study, but tens 

of thousands of Unisa students are doing it and are highly successful in 

advancing their careers. 

Planning your studies 

Do you understand how much time studying at Unisa can take? You have 

many responsibilities if you want to be a successful student. Although 

the university provides a number of support services (eg academic skills 

development, counselling, student wellness), you have a responsibility to 

plan your studies and conscientiously work through your study material 

in a constructive way if you want to be a successful student. There are 

no guarantees in life, but your chances of success at Unisa are far greater 

if you plan your studies, are committed to working through your study 

material and if you interact with the university whenever you 

need support. 

3 


Where am I in the student walk? 

To simplify the concept of ODL, Unisa has developed an ODL student walk to help you 

understand the process. This walk comprises five levels. And for each level, we have compiled 

a set of products (brochure, CD/DVD, FAQs and website), which contains essential information 

about the level. 

Level 1 

In this level prospective students will learn more about Unisa and about how Unisa works. 

We will also help you to make a career decision (if you don’t already know what you want to do) 

by looking at your interests, values, skills, support, career influences and the labour market. Based 

on that information, we will help you to choose a Unisa qualification. 

Level 2 

This is the applications level. Students who have never studied through Unisa before must apply 

to register at Unisa. You may not register to study through Unisa if you have not submitted an 

application form and received confirmation from Unisa that your application was successful. The 

my Choice @ Unisa set of products will provide you with information for level 1 and 2. 

Level 3 

This is the registration level. If Unisa approved your application in level 2 you will be able to 

register for your approved qualification. The my Registration @ Unisa set of products will provide 

you with information for this level. 

Level 4 

This is the level you are in now. This level provides you with the information you need to be a 

successful Unisa student. It provides an orientation to studying through Unisa, and hands-on 

information about Unisa’s services and procedures. You have now received your study material 

and will have to plan your activities, study independently and submit assignments to demonstrate 

your competencies. At the end of the semester (or year in some cases), you will need to write 

examinations at an exam centre close to you. Much of the information about Unisa’s services and 

procedures is found in this brochure entitled my Studies @ Unisa. 

Level 5 

This is the level for Unisa alumni, that is, Unisa graduates. By this level of the ODL student walk, 

you will be a Unisa alumnus. The university would like to communicate with all alumni on a 

regular basis, so we urge you to maintain contact with us. The my Link @ Unisa set of products 

will provide you with information for this level. 



Unisa’s ODL student walk 

my Link @ Unisa 

my Studies @ Unisa 

YOU 

ARE 

HERE 

NOW 

my Registration @ Unisa 

my Choice @ Unisa 

5 




Studying distance 

education... 

where do I begin? 

11 

STEP 11: Plan and write 

examinations 

Page 27 

As an open and distance learning student, 

your ability to work independently and use 

time effectively will affect how you cope with 

the amount of work you will be required 

to do. And just as people differ in how 

they work, there are different ways to 

structure and organise your studies. Part of 

being a successful student is finding your 

own unique way of working. There are, 

however, some basic steps and processes 

that you must follow... and this brochure 

will help you with this. 

9 

10 

STEP 10: Doing assignments 

and practical work 

STEP 9: Learn effective 

study methods 

Page 26 

Page 24 

Joining Unisa is much like going on 

a journey. It is important to know 

where you are going, to pack for 

your journey and to understand that 

you will have to take breaks every 

now and again along the way to 

make it a successful journey. 

8 

STEP 8: Plan your time and studies 

(semester/week/day) 

Page 19 

7 

STEP 7: Make sure you get all the 

support you need 

Page 17 

6 

STEP 6: Get connected to Unisa 

Page 11 

5 

STEP 5: Read through all your study 

guides for all the modules for which 

you have registered 

Page 11 

4 

STEP 4: Buy the prescribed books for all the 

modules for which you have registered 

Page 10 

3 

STEP 3: Schedule all your assignments, discussion 

classes and other events in your year planner 

Page 10 

2 

STEP 2: Read through all your Tutorial Letters 101 

Page 9 

1 

STEP 1: Open your study pack and work through the 

inventory letter 

Page 8 

7 


Open your study pack and work 

through the inventory letter 

Opening your study pack can be quite overwhelming. Don’t worry! If you are reading this 

brochure, it means that you are on the right track. Remember, you can come back to this 

brochure at any time and work through the steps again. 

Now take out your inventory letter. This letter will provide you with information on the modules 

for which you have registered, what study material should have been included in your study 

pack and what material is still outstanding. Read the letter carefully and check whether you have 

received all your study material. Check that the module codes in the inventory letter match the 

items in your study pack. If you are unsure or if there is outstanding study material, contact the 

Unisa Contact Centre (Tel: 0861 670 411). 



Read through all your Tutorial Letters 101 

Now that you have everything you need to start the study process, read all your Tutorial Letters 

101 for all the modules for which you have registered. These tutorial letters will give you an idea 

of what will be expected of you in each of your modules. 

Tutorial letters are “letters” from your lecturers, which means that they contain important 

information about your studies. These letters will give you your assignment dates, examination 

dates, information on how you will be assessed, tips on how to do your assignments, how to 

contact your lecturers, dates and times of discussion classes, as well as the prescribed books or 

other study resources you must buy. So it is very important to carefully read through each Tutorial 

Letter 101 for each module for which you have registered. You may also receive other tutorial 

letters during the course of your semester or year; be sure to read them carefully. 

For more information on tutorial letters, go to page 75 in the A-Z guide. 

9 


Schedule all your assignments, discussion 

classes and other events in your year planner 

You will find a year planner at the back of this brochure. We recommend that you write your 

tutorial class and study schedules in it as soon as possible and stick to this schedule. Schedule all 

your assignment due dates, discussion class dates, examination dates and any other important 

dates into your year planner. You can keep this year planner in the brochure or tear it out and 

paste it on a wall. You can, of course, make use of an electronic calendar if you prefer. 

Managing your time effectively will help you cope with the amount of work you will be required 

to do for each of your modules. But we are all different and we all work 

differently, so you need to schedule your semester in 

a way that will help you achieve 

the best possible results. Later 

in the brochure we provide 

more detailed information 

on time management and 

planning. Start by making a study 

timetable; you will need to put 

aside about six to eight hours 

per week per semester module 

and about four to six hours a 

week for a year module. Also 

remember that some modules 

may have a lot of time-consuming 

practical work. Write down when 

you plan to study on a daily basis 

and try to use every available 

moment. Write down exactly 

when you are going to study each 

module and make sure that you 

work on all of your modules every 

week. Make time to revise every 

day. Refer to step 8 in this brochure 

for more information. 

Buy the prescribed books for all the 

modules for which you have registered 

In order to study effectively and to submit your first assignments you need to refer to your 

study guides, prescribed and recommended books. You cannot be a successful student and gain 

admission to the examination without using these. 

Your prescribed books form part of your study material and it is important that you buy your 

books immediately. You must have your prescribed books in order to study and complete your 

assignments so the quicker you get them the better. 

You can buy your prescribed books at a recognised book seller or buy them second hand (but 

check that you have the correct edition). For a list of Unisa’s official book sellers, go to the A-Z 

guide on page 38 of this brochure. 

You can also contact the Library to obtain your recommended books as soon as possible. For 

more information on the Library, go to the A-Z guide on page 52 of this brochure. 



Read through all your 

study guides for all the 

modules for which you 

have registered 

Skim read through each of your study guides 

(spend about two hours on each). This will give 

you an idea of how much work is required 

for each module and how difficult the work 

will be. Try to do this within a day or two 

of receiving your study material, as this will 

motivate you to get started. 

Get connected to Unisa 

As a distance education university, we may seem to be far away, but we are a lot closer 

than you think. 

myUnisa: your own online learning resource centre 

myUnisa is a free, online service offered to all students registered to study through Unisa. This 

website gives you direct access to important information such as the study material for the 

modules for which you have registered as well as your examination results. 

This website also allows you to update your personal details on the Unisa student system and add 

or cancel modules. You can join and study online, “chat” to your lecturers and fellow students, 

participate in online discussion forums, submit assignments, apply for Library extensions, pay your 

student account and get access to all sorts of learning resources. 

myUnisa is free for all registered Unisa students. If you do not have your own internet access, 

however, you may need to visit an internet cafe, library or learning centre in your area. These 

centres provide access to the internet for a small fee. 

For all the detail about exactly what you can do on myUnisa and how to join, 

go to page 64 of the A-Z guide. 

11 


myLife: your own e-mail account, free of charge 

The myLife free e-mail service has been created to provide Unisa students with a means to 

communicate electronically with the university. Unisa will use this e-mail address to communicate 

with you electronically. If you do not want to use this e-mail account, please make sure that you 

forward these e-mails to another account. Do this when you register on myUnisa and myLife or 

make sure that you check your myLife e-mail account regularly. Your myLife e-mail account is 

yours for life, even after you finished studying through Unisa, so use it! 

Please note that e-mail is subject to third-party disclosure through subpoena or 

other legal processes. 

For more information on myLife and how to claim your free e-mail account, 

go to page 64 of the A-Z guide. 

A Unisa Learning Centre close to you 

Contact the Unisa Learning Centre closest to you to make contact with other students and 

support staff such as counsellors, librarians and tutors. Make contact with Unisa peer helpers - 

senior students who volunteer their services - if you don’t know where to go or what to do. 

Our Learning Centres are situated all over the country. 

For more information on what services are offered at each of Unisa’s Learning Centres, go to 

page 42 of the A-Z guide. 

Limpopo 

POLOKWANE 

RUSTENBURG 

PRETORIA 

NELSPRUIT 

Mpumalanga 

North West 

Gauteng 

Free State 

BLOEMFONTEIN 

KwaZulu-Natal 

DURBAN 

Western Cape 

MTHATHA 

Eastern Cape 

PAROW 



Join tutorial classes or Peer Collaborative Learning sessions 

These non-formal classes give you the opportunity to be guided by tutors and peers. If you would 

like to take part in tutorial classes, you can do this through the Tutorial Support Programme 

which is available to all registered Unisa students. This service provides weekly face-to-face, video 

or satellite tutorials led by qualified tutors. As a registered student, you may visit a Unisa campus 

or region of your choice, complete a Tutorial Support Programme enrolment form 

and pay the enrolment fee through the Unisa cashier or any Absa bank. 

You can’t enrol for tutorials for more than three modules 

and tutorials only start once 15 students have 

registered for that particular module. 

Once you have registered and paid for 

the programme, you will receive 15 

one-hour tutorial classes for each module 

for which you have registered. 

For more information on how to join the 

Tutorial Support Programme, the cost of 

the tutorial classes and where the classes 

take place, go to page 91 of the A-Z guide. 

The Peer Collaborative Learning programe 

aims to help students form small groups 

to discuss subject content, and prepare 

for examinations and assignments through 

group interaction. Senior students manage 

and run these interactive and collaborative 

groups. For more information about this 

programme or if you are interested in 

applying to be trained as a PCL facilitator, 

please contact your closest regional office. 

Join or form a study group 

Sharing ideas makes studying more fun 

and meaningful, so we recommend that 

you join or form a study group. You can 

get the names of other students in your 

area registered for the same modules by 

contacting the Department of Student 

Admission and Registration. Alternatively, 

ask your fellow students to join your 

group via the myUnisa discussion forum 

for your module. We suggest that 

you read the article in the publication 

Effective study (contact Unisa Press, see 

page 94) for hints on participating in 

a study group. You may also use the 

electronic media such as myUnisa, 

e-mail, telephone or even Facebook to 

feel closer to other students. 

13 


Students with disabilities 

Unisa celebrates diversity and aims to provide access to quality education to people from 

all walks of life, including students with disabilities. The Advocacy & Resource Centre for 

Students with Disabilities (ARCSWiD) works to provide a range of services, including help 

with registration, transcribed assignments and exams, sign language interpretation and study 

material in alternative formats such as audio or Braille. 

By offering these services, Unisa aims to give our students with disabilities the best possible 

chance to achieve results they want. For more information about the Advocacy & Resource 

Centre for Students with Disabilities, the services they provide and how to get hold of them, 

go to page 32 in the A-Z guide. 

Explore the financial aid possibilities 

Become familiar with the different sources of financial aid and the different organisations’ 

requirements. The Student Funding Directorate administers donor funds in the form of study 

loans and bursaries according to donors’ criteria. There are three types of financial assistance: 

NSFAS Loans, the Department of Labour (DoL) Bursary and the Funza Lushaka Bursary 

Programme. For more information about the Student Funding Directorate and the different 

types of financial assistance, go to page 74 of the A-Z guide. 

Make contact with your lecturer/s 

Tutorial Letter 101 will give you the contact details of your lecturer(s). You are very welcome 

to contact your lecturers via e-mail or myUnisa if you do not understand your study material 

or have difficulty understanding your assignments. You may also make an appointment to 

meet with your lecturer if you really need assistance. As a rule, contact your lecturers too 

early rather than too late. 



Use the services of the Directorate for Counselling, Career and 

Academic Development (DCCAD) 

The DCCAD has counsellors who can assist you with personal, postal, telephonic and internet 

counselling. They can help when you are uncertain about your career choice, have personal 

problems which may affect your studies, and need assistance with study 

and/or academic skills development. There are also peer 

helpers who are senior students and who can 

help with problems that affect your academic 

performance. They are trained to support you; 

if they cannot help you, they will refer you to 

other sources of help. 

We suggest that you purchase a copy of the 

Effective study publication, which contains 

specific information to help you cope with your 

studies. Contact Unisa Press to get your copy. 

The publication provides guidance on time 

management and planning, forming a study 

group, dealing with multiple-choice and essaytype 

questions, study methods, memory strategies 

and examination preparation. 

Expand your network 

It’s a good idea to meet people who are also studying. We suggest you join a student association, 

attend workshops, join a discussion group on myUnisa or link up with fellow students via 

Facebook. Don’t be shy, meeting fellow students can be great in helping you cope. 

15 


Meet your Student Representative Council (SRC) 

The SRC aims to represent you as part of the Unisa student body and facilitate SRC participation 

in the governance of Unisa by facilitating dialogue between students, Unisa management 

and academic departments. Consult them if there are issues you need to resolve. For more 

information about the Dean of Student’s office and the SRC, go to page 74 of the A-Z guide 

Volunteer work opportunities 

If you are not working, watch out for volunteer opportunities. The aim of volunteer programmes 

is to help people but also to give you an opportunity to gain valuable work experience. When you 

see a posting of such an opportunity, act fast; these opportunities are often in high demand, as 

they help you to gain work experience and improve your workplace skills. 

Become familiar with the Library 

Unisa has various libraries throughout the country to assist you and provide you with resources 

for your studies. Visit the Library as soon as possible to find out about how the Library works. 

Unisa’s libraries offer the following: 

n Prescribed and recommended materials 

n Additional reading material 

n General/research collection 

n Reference books 

n Journal collection 

n Audiovisual collection 

n Archives and special collections 

n Browsing services 

n Reference services 

n General information desk service 

n Personal librarian services 

n Alerting service 

Students generally use the Library to borrow books. All registered Unisa students may borrow 

books and make use of the Library’s services. Please note, though, that the borrowing of Library 

material is subject to the Library’s lending regulations. 

For more information about the Library, the Library’s procedures and policies, go to page 52 of 

the A-Z guide. 



Make sure you get all the support you need 

Partners, family and friends 

You need between four and eight hours of study time per week for each module for which 

you have registered. Studying needs to be done regularly to be effective. If sufficient time is not 

available, you might find that you waste money because you cannot cope with the demands of the 

module. You may also fail or become so discouraged that you drop out. It is therefore important 

to ask for the help of your partners, family and friends in understanding the additional demands 

that you need to manage now that you are a Unisa student. 

Set up a meeting to explain these demands and discuss how you will need their support. The 

discussion can start off as follows: 

n Start off by explaining how important your relationships are with your partner, family and 

friends, and that you rely on their support to help you achieve your goals. 

n Explain that you have been fulfilling a number of life roles to date such as son/daughter, 

friend and grandchild and that you now have added an additional life role to your life, namely 

that of an open and distance learner. Continue to explain that these different life roles all 

compete with each other for your time. Mention that you will have to make adjustments to 

your schedule. 

n Explain what studying at Unisa means: achieving a qualification at Unisa is going to take 

some time; you will be expected to learn how to think and be critical; you will need to 

read a great deal; and that studying must happen on a regular basis – not just before 

the examinations! 

n Discuss the different tasks and responsibilities around your home and negotiate how you are 

all going to help each other with what needs to be achieved. Also negotiate, not only what 

you will do, but also by when. 

n The best time for a student to study is often the time when the rest of the household is 

relaxing. This also needs to be discussed. Explain that a noisy environment makes it difficult 

to concentrate. Music or a TV playing loudly is very distracting. Ask your family and friends to 

help you find a quiet place where you can focus on studying and achieve the best results 

possible. Discuss other ways of managing the noise such as buying a pair of ear plugs to help 

reduce the noise around you. 

n Discuss the issue of study fees and the sources of funding available to study. 

Remember that you will need to repay your student loans even if you do not pass! 

n Discuss the cost of prescribed textbooks. 

Have you budgeted for this? Remember 

prescribed books need to be purchased as 

soon as possible. Discuss how and when 

you will buy these. 

n Explain that you will have to study 

regularly. The book Effective study 

provides hints on how to manage 

your studies. Buy your copy from 

Unisa Press. 

n Explain that it is compulsory to 

submit assignments on time to get 

entry to the examinations. 

n Discuss the cost of attending 

tutorials, group discussions or other 

activities. Explain the benefit of 

these services or print information 

from the internet. 

17 


Your employer and colleagues 

Your employer and colleagues are another support system that full-time and part-time students 

can utilise. By studying further you are showing your employer that you are interested in 

furthering your skills and expertise – something they can benefit from. Further study also indicates 

maturity, self-management and time management skills, focus, perseverance and commitment – 

qualities that can be used effectively in management and supervisory positions in a company. 

The benefits of working and studying will only come your way if you maintain the quality of 

your work and maintain productivity levels. Underperforming may seriously hamper your career 

prospects. Let us look at some strategies to ensure that you maintain your performance, keep 

your employer happy and increase the possibility of study leave being granted: 

n 

n 

n 

n 

n 

n 

n 

n 

n 

n 

n 

Develop a personal relationship with your employer. Positive relationships are based on trust, 

so keep time line commitments, keep the communication channels open about what is 

happening in your life and admit when you have made a mistake and take responsibility for 

the mistake. 

Maintain professional conduct at work: arrive on time, use sick leave sparingly and only when 

you are really sick (not for study pressures), do not take lengthy tea and lunch breaks, and be 

friendly to your colleagues. 

Focus on work and be aware of time wasters; discuss problems when they arise and make 

suggestions on how to improve the situation. 

Develop an understanding of your employer’s goals, needs and concerns, and link your work 

objectives to the larger company objectives. 

Use your employer as a coach or a mentor; ask for feedback on what you have accomplished. 

Make sure that you are totally familiar with the full scale of your workload before taking on 

any extra study responsibilities. 

Think differently about how you manage your time. Use smaller sections of time to focus on 

your studies, such as during lunch times. 

Stay organised and stick to your schedules. Use a daily planner or online calendar to manage 

your tasks. 

Separate work from studies. Learn to compartmentalise - keep your work and study 

time separate. 

Schedule time for relaxation; make time to meet with colleagues once a week for a cup of 

coffee or lunch. 

Set limits at work by learning to say 

“no” respectfully. 

Remember you are not alone. It is within your power to do something about feelings of isolation. 

Share them and ask for help. 

Find a mentor 

If you are a first-time ODL student, especially if you are the first 

person in your family to study at a tertiary level, then we suggest 

that you find someone in your community who has a higher 

education qualification, preferably someone who has studied 

through Unisa. 

Ask this person to be your mentor. A mentor is someone 

who can guide and support you, and give you advice and 

encouragement when you need it. This person should be 

passionate about life and about the opportunities that tertiary 

education can bring. A mentor should also be able to offer 

practical advice on aspects such as time management, effective 

study skills and coping with work-life-study responsibilities. 



Plan your time and studies 

(semester/week/day) 

Time management and planning include long-term, weekly and daily planning. 

Let us look at this in detail: 

Long-term planning for a semester 

Use the year planner at the back of this brochure. Tear it out or keep it in the brochure – decide 

which suits you best, but keep it somewhere where you will see it often. Mark the following on 

your year planner: assignment due dates (use different colour pens to colour code each module), 

examination dates and revision times, tutorial and compulsory discussion classes, study group 

meetings (if applicable), all permanent or part-time work commitments, and personal dates and 

commitments such as birthdays, public holidays, payment due dates, and so on. 

For each activity the total time should be divided into the following chunks which you should 

indicate on your year planner 

n 

n 

n 

60% of your time should be spent on general preparation of an academic task such 

submitting assignments, and making summaries and mind maps 

30% of your time should be spent on intensive studying and memorising 

10% of your time should be spent on testing yourself, answering old examination papers, 

and discussions with your lecturers and fellow students 

The benefits of long-term planning are that, at a glance, you 

n will see that you have made provision for each day of your academic schedule 

n will know what type of activity and what subject you will be spending time on each day 

n can regularly check your progress – this should really motivate you 

n will know that you are keeping track of personal dates which are important to you 

By planning your time carefully, you won’t have to worry about not meeting all your 

commitments. Having greater peace of mind will help keep you motivated. 

Planning your week 

Short-term planning will help you to choose what to work on; it will give you an overview of all 

your non-negotiable weekly commitments, be it personal, family or job-related commitments. 

Short-term planning will also 

n leave the time available for study clearly visible 

n allow you to calculate the number of hours available for study 

n allow you to reflect on the number of modules for which you have registered 

n allow you to make adjustments to your study load should this be necessary 

19 


To do your short-term planning, you should work out how much study time you have available. 

You will need to draft a master schedule which you can use as a basis for weekly and daily planning. 

Example of a master scheme for students who are working 

Note: mark available study time with an X 

Daily planning 

Once you have worked out your duties for the week, continue to work out daily study plans. You should now 

decide on how you are going to use your time. The aim of daily planning is to 

n help you to keep to a study schedule every day 

n help you to study with firm goals in mind 

n help you to complete assignments while still maintaining your study time 

n give you assurance that you will not fall behind if you keep to your daily plans 

It is also important to plan your daily study schedule in more detail. This will take only a few minutes before you 

start with your work. The benefit of planning your daily study schedule is that you have some definite objectives 

to pursue. Let’s look at an example of a daily schedule: 

An example of a daily schedule – let us assume that you have set aside 120 minutes to study. This time should be 

divided into chunks of 60%, 30% and 10% as indicated earlier with adequate breaks in between. 

The publication Effective study has an article which focuses specifically on time management and planning. Have 

you purchased your copy? If not, we suggest you do so as soon as possible and use this resource, specifically 

designed with Unisa students in mind, to help you do your long-term, weekly and daily planning. 

Make a study timetable; you will feel in charge of your life and you will enjoy your studies far more. Calculate 

how many hours you need per week per module. (A semester module needs about six to eight hours per week, 

while a year module requires about four to six hours per week.) Remember that some modules may have a lot of 

time-consuming practical work. 



Motivation and goals 

Write down when you plan to study on a daily basis. Now write down exactly when you are 

going to study each module (at least twice a week). Do all of your modules every week and revise 

every day. 

Find it difficult to sit down and start studying. 

How can I overcome this? 

Getting started is sometimes the most difficult part of studying. Don’t allow yourself to become 

distracted by the mountain of tutorial letters and study guides you might have received. Take it 

one step at a time. The following suggestions might be helpful: 

n 

n 

n 

n 

n 

n 

n 

n 

n 

Having a fixed study place which you can claim as your own space will help you to get 

in the study mood sooner. It need not be fancy but it should be a place that you associate 

with studying. 

Make sure that you have a study plan for the session to know exactly what it is that you 

have to do. 

Make a list of your long-term goal (eg I want to be a Chartered Accountant) and your 

medium-term goals (eg I want to get my BCom and BCom Honours degrees in Accounting). 

Put your list up where you can see it on a daily basis, as this should motivate you! 

Determine whether you study more effectively in the morning or at night and schedule your 

intensive study periods during your “peak” times. 

Study smaller sections of work and reward yourself as you complete each section. 

Set realistic targets and be sensible about the number of courses for which you register. If you 

feel that you are overloaded and cannot cope, make an appointment to discuss the matter 

with a counsellor. 

Make use of the resources in your environment. Ask your family and friends to support you in 

managing your time and sticking to your schedule. Discuss your targets and the problems you 

are experiencing with them. Get their support. 

Make use of a punishment and reward system to help you stick to your schedule. 

Learn to say “no” to friends and family when their demands interfere with your planning. 

See Effective study for more detailed discussions on these items. 

21 


Managing your study session 

Self-organisation and self-management are very important in achieving success. How you set up a 

study session will determine how much you will benefit from the time spent on your books. The 

suggested steps will help you to 

n 

n 

n 

n 

become more actively involved in meaningful learning 

become more interested in the material you are studying 

experience less frustration and concentrate better 

have a better chance of achieving your goals 

These steps are guidelines; as you become more skilled, adapt your strategies to suit your own 

learning style. 

Check that there is nothing to interrupt your thinking 

Often we get distracted from our studies by personal or work-related problems. It is important 

that you get these out of the way so that you can focus on your studies. 

n Deal with worries. Write down what is worrying you as this will remind you what to attend to 

later. Think about possible solutions. 

n Deal with distractions. Ask yourself the question: What is stopping me from 

focusing or concentrating? 

n Have a positive attitude. Take responsibility for yourself and your own learning, and remind 

yourself of your previous successes. 

Determine the length of your study sessions 

The ideal length of a study session is 20 to 40 minutes. You should then take a 5 to 10 minute 

break during which you drink water or exercise or do something that relaxes you. Then go back 

and study again. At the end of each session, revise what you did before (spend about 5-10 

minutes on this). 

Decide on your goals for each session 

Before you start, decide what it is that you want to achieve with the session. How much time do 

you want to spend doing it? Make sure that you have a mechanism to determine whether you 

know your work. Test yourself in different ways. 

When you set goals, be sure to be realistic. Make them challenging but reachable. 

Make sure the goals are measurable. This means that you set specific goals so that you will know 

when you have achieved it (eg one chapter in an hour). 

Warm up 

Start by getting yourself into it. Read headings and ask yourself questions. Explore what you 

know already and link new information to other things that you know. 

Ask questions such as: Who? What? When? Why? Where? How? 

Reflect on your studies. What have you learnt before? What does it mean to you? 

Skim read whole passages 

Get an overview very fast of the work you are dealing with. Use your index finger to guide your 

eyes and write down what you remember. 

Practise remembering under pressure. Use an idea map for this. 



Read through your study material 

Read through your work properly and use your index finger to guide your eyes. Read the first 

sentence of each paragraph and then reread the whole passage for comprehension. 

Make notes 

Making notes is an important part of remembering. Keep it interesting for yourself by using 

colour, pictures and idea maps, and put in page references to help you remember. 

Keep your notes short without leaving out anything important. Write down keywords of 

important ideas. 

Keep it personal so use examples and references which are relevant to you. Ask yourself whether 

you understand your notes and whether you can use them again when you do exam revision. 

For more information on notemaking see page 68 of the A-Z Guide. 

Check your notes 

It’s important to check your notes; read them aloud to spot missing information. Correct wrong 

or missing information immediately. 

Solve problems and do exercises 

Always learn in the way you are going to be tested. This means that you must do exercises that 

you can either come up with yourself or find in your study guides or tutorial letters. 

Revision 

The only way to really remember something is to do it over and over again. Revise within 24 

hours of studying the material, then again at the end of the week. 

23 


Learn effective study methods 

What is meant by a study method? 

A method is a way of doing something. A study method will have specific steps that you should 

follow. This will make the whole process of studying more manageable and effective. 

What can a study method do for me? 

All study methods share the same characteristics of which the most important are: planning; 

deepened understanding and repetition. It will help you to save time and cut out unnecessary 

time-consuming activities. It will help you to study with understanding, improve your memory and 

force you to concentrate. 

Which study method should I use? 

Although there are many different study methods (any good bookstore or the internet will bear 

this out), the publication Effective study introduces students to the EFT study method which is 

based on three steps that are repeated in all study tasks. The first step is called “exploration”. You 

familiarise yourself with the learning material and content. The second step is called “fixation”. 

You study the learning content systematically by “fixing” it in your memory. The third step is 

“testing”. You test yourself and do revision. 

This systematic method is not new. You follow this method daily, without even knowing it. When 

you plan your activities, you first explore your situation and all that you have to do. Then you plan 

your day and complete all your activities (fixation). After that you look back over the day to see 

whether you have done everything that you planned to do (testing). 

This is also the basic method you are going to use when doing assignments. For example, the 

first thing you are going to do is to explore. This you will do by asking questions and making sure 

that you understand the topic of the assignment. Then you will read about it. After that you will 

summarise all your information and write your assignment (fixation). Finally, you will finish the 

assignment and evaluate (test) its quality. 

You can find more information on various study methods in the following 

suggested books and websites: 

Books 

Eric Jensen. 1998. Super teaching. San Diego: The Brain Store. 

Carolyn Hopper. 2003. Practising college learning strategies. Houghton: Mifflin. 

Tony Buzan. 2006. The Buzan study skills handbook: the shortcut to success in your studies with 

mind mapping, speed reading and winning memory techniques. BBC Active. 

Colin Rose & Malcolm Nicholl. Accelerated learning for the 21st century. 

Websites 

http://www.unisa.ac.za/default.asp?Cmd=ViewContent&ContentID=15974 

http://www.acceleratedlearning.com/ 

http://frank.mtsu.edu/~studskl/index.html 



EFT study method 

The exploration phase comprises roughly 60% of the time spent on the task. For long-term 

planning it happens at the beginning of the year/semester. 

Your main objective is to gain as much background knowledge as possible about the subjects 

before beginning to study intensively (fixation). 

During this phase you should 

n scan your curriculum 

n complete your assignments 

n do additional reading 

n discuss the field of study with lecturers 

n contact fellow students to discuss the learning material 

n make schematic summaries or a mindmap for intensive study later on 

n use your study guide to identify possible questions 

n identify and clarify difficult concepts 

Important: Draw up a long-term timetable for the whole year/semester and a short-term weekly 

schedule. Divide your subjects and the number of chapters into chunks and plan when you are 

going to do what. 

The fixation phase comprises 30% of the time. 

By the time you get to this phase you should be fairly familiar with the content of the course and 

you start to fix the content in your memory by bringing together all your background knowledge. 

This is the phase in which you study your summaries your additional notes and the study guide 

intensively. Here you follow these systematic steps: 

n Start by getting an overview of the study material again. 

n Page through the chapter again, read the subheadings and add them to the mindmap. 

You could even go further and again look at the beginning and the end of paragraphs 

because that is where authors often introduce or summarise the main ideas. You could 

also read the key words in bold letters. You now have a fresh idea what the chapter is all 

about. Ask yourself: “What is this chapter all about?” See if you can answer this question. 

n Next you start going over the the content by checking your summaries Ask yourself 

simple questions beginning with “how”, “where”, “when”, “who” and “which”. Ask yourself 

what the main idea is of what you have read, and make sure that you understand all the 

words and concepts. Note the relationship between main ideas and subheadings and also 

the logical connection between headings and subheadings. Studying like this will deepen 

your insight into the study material, and insight is what is required at university level. 

n After you have read the learning content with understanding, you can refine your 

summaries into core summaries which contain only the most important key words. 

This will give you a schematic summary and a core summary for each chapter. While 

you are making your summaries, you should use the different memory techniques, for 

example acronyms, classification and visualisation to fix the content in your memory. 

After studying each unit of work, you should test yourself to ensure that you know it. Close your 

book and answer all the possible questions you have formulated as you worked through the material. 

Revise your work within 24 hours of studying it. You will have forgotten up to 25% of the facts, 

and this is normal. At the beginning of each study period it is important that you evise your 

previous material to see how the old and the new link with each other. Important: Revision is one 

of the most powerful memory techniques you can use. 

For more on notemaking and mindmapping see page 68 in the A-Z guide 

Memory exercises: see page 63 in the A-Z guide 

25 


Doing assignments and practical work 

Assignments are a way of helping you to prepare for your exams by making sure you turn in 

work regularly so that lecturers can see if you understand the module. There are many students 

at Unisa so there are specific rules for how the assignments must be written or typed, how 

to hand them in and how to complete the cover sheets. Tutorial Letter 101 will have all the 

information you need for completing these assignments. 

Unisa provides you with writing pads to do your assignments on or you can type them. When 

you type your assignments you must leave enough space on the margin to allow your tutor or 

lecturer to write comments. 

Each assignment must be submitted with a cover page which is part of your study material and 

Unisa provides you with envelopes to mail it back to us. 

A few simple tips to complete your assignments successfully are: 

n 

n 

n 

n 

n 

Understand the assignment: take your time to read the task and make sure that you 

understand what is being asked. 

Start to collect the facts and information to complete the response. Study your study guide, 

prescribed books and other readers to help you organise and compile your response. 

Now you must organise all this information. Arrange and group these facts to allow you to 

form a structured and coherent response. 

Use headings and subheadings to help you with the structure. Start with an introduction, 

then the main section with all the subheadings and end with a summary of the key facts. 

The summary should be a review of the main facts and arguments in your answer. Also offer 

your own opinion and show how you have understood the work in relation to your own 

work and personal environment. 

You can hand it in at one of our assignment boxes, mail it or hand it in via myUnisa. This is very 

convenient because you get confirmation that Unisa has received your assignment. 

You can expect feedback in a number of ways. After the final submission date of your assignment 

you will receive another tutorial letter which contains the correct response to the questions posed 

in the assignment. This tutorial letter will give you guidelines and explanations that will be a 

valuable resource in preparing for your examination. 

For more information on how to complete and submit your assignment go to page 32 

of the A-Z Guide. 



Plan and write examinations 

Examinations are one of the more stressful times you will face as an ODL student, but there are 

ways of making it easier. If you have planned well you will have enough time to study and prepare 

for each examination. Also take care of yourself, eat well, sleep enough and exercise. This will 

help you to deal with the stress. 

Know how to get to your exam centre before the time so that you can be seated 15 minutes 

before the start of the exam. If you are late, you will not be allowed in. Also make sure that you 

know what stationery you need, such as a calculator pens, pencils and whether it is an open book 

exam. Take note of the examination rules and regulations which appear on the reverse side of 

your final timetable. 

Keep your purpose in mind and have a clear goal. Here are a few tips: 

Before the examination 

n Take care of yourself physically to cope with the mental challenges ahead 

n Get six to eight hours sleep per night 

n Exercise 

n Eat healthily (eg fresh fruit and vegetables) 

n Drink plenty of water 

Keep study sessions short and focused; 

don’t sit for hours without a break 

n Set a goal for each session (40-45min) 

n Take a five to ten minute break 

n Energise, do exercise 

n Do five minute of revision 

n Check your timetable now 

Distractions 

n Write down what is worrying you 

n Create a possible plan 

n Switch off the TV/cellphone 

n Explain to others that you are preparing for your future 

n Prepare well in advance; budget your time by calculating how much time is 

needed for each course 

n Spread your time properly; don’t overspend on one course 

Revise/revise/revise 

n Test yourself – develop your own exams and complete them 

n Set actual time limits 

n Practise in the way you are going to be tested 

The day before 

n Study regularly up to the day before the exam 

n Then get a good night’s sleep (even if you haven’t finished your work!) 

n Last minute cramming doesn’t work – you will just be too tired to think in the exam 

27 


The day of the examination 

n Double check your timetable 

n Take your ID and student card with you, as well as an HB pencil, pen, 

eraser and calculator if needed 

n Be early for the examination 

n 

Have time to get settled and prepared mentally 

n Keep to yourself before and after the examination; discussions may confuse or upset you 

During the examination 

n Ask the invigilator if you aren’t sure; ask for help right away 

n Read over the entire examination paper before you begin – 

this allows your mind to explore all options while you are doing other questions 

n Make sure you know the mark value of each question – divide your time appropriately; 

don’t spend more time on a problem than it’s worth 

n Write down memory aids in the margins or on a blank page – these may include formulae, 

facts, key phrases or dates (mind maps are very useful) 



Motivation and goals 

What to do first 

n Go for the multiple-choice, fill-in-the-blank and true/false questions first 

n Do the easy ones first – mark the tricky ones; look for clues, but move on if you are struggling 

with a question 

n Come back to the difficult questions later 

n Be clear and be brief 

n Do the short answer and essay questions last 

n Make a quick outline, such as a mindmap; then start writing according to the outline 

n Attempt to do every question 

n Check your answers 

When you leave the examination room, the examination is over! Worrying about 

it will not help you get better marks. But focusing on the next exam will. 

For more information about stress management, go to page 71 in the A-Z guide. 

For more information on examination centres and administrative issues around your exams, go to 

page 48 of the A-Z Guide. 

Stay focused on your future 

The journey you have started with your Unisa studies is a long one – one which will probably take 

years – perhaps even longer than you had hoped for. There will also probably be days when you 

feel discouraged and that the changes that you have to make in your life are not worth it. So, how 

do you keep going? A few suggestions follow: 

Start each day with a positive thought about how you are moving closer to your goal. Sometimes 

the changes are not noticeable externally – as you develop new skills your brain becomes more 

highly developed. Stop, and enjoy the changes happening to you as a person – you will feel a 

sense of excitement as you start to enjoy the experience of learning. Focus on what you have 

learnt already – not what still has to be done. 

Journeys can only be completed if you keep moving. So when other demands seem 

overwhelming, just make sure that you do a little of your Unisa work on a daily basis. You are 

making progress towards your goal! 

Get connected to the community of Unisa – phone calls, learning centres, tutorial classes, 

myunisa, e-mail letters are all ways to network to share information, to get guidance or just to 

unstress. Surround yourself with positive energy. This connectedness is especially important when 

life is tough! 

Finally, keep your vision and purpose in mind – the small steps you take every day will 

get you there. 

29

my Studies @ Unisa

Create successful ePaper yourself

Delete template?

Save as template?