Academic Skills Mentors and Study Skills

How to book an appointment with an Academic Skills Mentor

You can book a face-to-face or online video call appointment, or you can receive feedback via email. To book an appointment, please complete the booking form below.

For more information email studyskills@hope.ac.uk.

What are Academic Skills?

Academic skills are the abilities you use throughout your time in higher education to research, develop, write, and communicate ideas and arguments effectively. These skills are essential for academic success and will continue to benefit you throughout your career and beyond.

What are Academic Skills Services?

Our Academic Skills team provides a wide range of support for all Hope and Creative Campus students, from foundation to postgraduate level. 

Whether you want to improve your academic performance, prepare for a first or a resubmission, develop your study skills, or stay on track with your studies, our experienced Academic Skills Mentors are here to help. You can book a one-to-one appointment to receive tailored advice, practical guidance, and personalised support to help you achieve your academic goals.

What support we offer:

• Developing your confidence as a writer and enhancing your academic study skills
• Essay planning and structure, including reflective and critical writing, literature reviews, and dissertations
• Critical reading and note-taking skills
• Referencing, proofreading techniques, and avoiding plagiarism
• Organisation, time management, and study strategies
• Revision and exam preparation techniques
• Understanding and responding to tutor feedback
• Ensuring you are on the right track with your studies
• Developing digital skills, including navigating Hope’s IT systems
• Preparing for presentations and support with group work
• Using AI in academic work (enhancing AI literacy, understanding benefits and limitations, and maintaining academic integrity)
• And much more

What support we don’t offer: 

• A proofreading service for work prior to submission
• Advice on subject-specific content
• Correction or teaching of grammar
• Marking or formal evaluation of work
• Repeated review of the same piece of work 

How can I use the Study Skills Service?

You can access support in the following ways:

• Book a one-to-one appointment 

You can book a 45-minute one-to-one session with an Academic Study Skills Mentor, either face-to-face (in the library) or online (via video call). These sessions provide tailored support to help you develop your academic skills or focus in detail on your assignment. 

How can I prepare for my one-to-one appointment? 

Before your appointment, it’s helpful to think about what you’d like to discuss and what you hope to gain from the session. You can bring your assignment with you or send it in advance so your mentor can review it. 

It’s best to focus on a specific section, as there may not be time to cover the entire assignment in detail. If you’re unsure where to start, don’t worry; your mentor will help you identify key areas and can arrange a follow-up session if needed. 

What will happen after I book an appointment? 

You will receive an email confirmation with all the details you need to attend your session. If you have booked an online appointment, please check your calendar invitation for the link to join the session. 

Book an appointment now! 

• Email feedback - send your work in and receive detailed written guidance 

If you would like feedback on a written assignment or have a specific question, especially if you don’t have time to attend an appointment, you can use our email feedback service. One of our mentors will provide detailed written guidance within two working days. 

• Study Skills Workshops 

We offer Academic Study Skills workshops and webinars throughout the year. These sessions provide a deeper focus on key skills to support your academic journey, including critical reading and writing, dissertations, literature reviews and time management. Workshops are delivered in a supportive, informal group setting where you can learn alongside other students. 

Workshops are advertised via Moodle, where you can register and secure your place. If you and your peers would benefit from a specific workshop (e.g. starting your dissertation), you can speak to your tutor, and we may be able to arrange a tailored in-class session. 

If you miss a workshop, you may find recorded sessions on the Study Skills Moodle page. 

What if I need help when the service is not available? 

You can access additional online materials on the Academic Skills Moodle page (at the top of Moodle, select 'My Courses' and then select the 'Study Skills' tile, or get Instant, Ethical Writing Support with Studiosity. 

Opening Hours

Monday - Friday 9am – 8pm (during term time).

Contact Details

studyskills@hope.ac.uk

Meet The Team

This hub brings together essential resources, tips, and tools to help you transition smoothly and confidently into university life. Whether you're joining from college, sixth form, or returning to education after a break, these materials are here to support you every step of the way.

Transitioning to university

Get started with key insights into university-style learning:

• Top tips for leaping into academia – Practical advice for adjusting to academic life
• Seminars vs. Lectures – Understand how these sessions differ and what’s expected
• What is independent learning? – Learn how to manage your own learning effectively
• Tips for studying off campus by Lancaster University – Stay organised and motivated when learning remotely
• Prepare for success – Interactive site for adapting to UK studying

Academic reading and note-taking

Develop your core academic skills, from reading strategies to essay writing:

• Navigating the Page by University of Southampton - A guide to effective reading covering scanning, skimming, SQ3R technique and critical reading
• Taking Notes by Loughborough University Library Support – Practical note-taking advice for lectures and reading
• Cornell Note-Taking by Cornell University - A structured, effective method for capturing and reviewing information
• Highlighting and Annotating by The Open University– Techniques to make your notes more useful and engaging
• Mind mapping guide at University by The University of Adelaide - For planning essays and organising ideas

Writing and Structuring Essays

• A helpful guide to essay writing by Anglia Ruskin University - Learn about structure, argument, and academic tone
• Essay terms explained by the University of Leicester – Understand what essay questions are really asking
• What is academic style of writing by University of Portsmouth – Explore five key qualities of academic writing

Critical Reading and Writing

• Critical Analysis: What is critical thinking? by University of Reading-Introduces the concept of critical thinking and explains how to apply it to reading, analysis, and academic writing. 
• Thinking, reading and writing critically by Manchester University - Explores how to develop critical skills, with practical strategies for applying critical analysis in academic reading and writing. 
• Descriptive and Critical Writing by the University of Sheffield Hallam -Explains the difference between descriptive and critical writing and how to move from description to analysis in academic work. 
• A tutorial video from Grad Coach on Descriptive Writing vs Critical Analytical Writing In Research with Examples 

Top Tips for Study Success

• How to get the most out of recorded lectures
• Tips for online presentations and group work
• 8 tips for studying effectively

Trusted Tools and Resources to Support Your Academic Success

• The Online Writing Lab (OWL) – Expert writing help and grammar tips
• The Study Skills Handbook by Stella Cottrell – A comprehensive guide to academic skills
• Grammarly and WordBank app – Improve grammar and vocabulary
• OneNote, EverNote, Notion – Note-taking and organisation made easy
• Manchester Phrasebank – Useful academic phrasing and definitions
• Punctuation & Grammar Factsheets – Clear, quick-reference grammar guides.

What’s next?

Once you’ve explored these resources and reviewed your notes, you’re ready to start writing. You can access a wide range of step-by-step guides, examples, and practical support on the Study Skills Moodle pages to support you at each stage of the writing process.

Integrity Matters: Your Guide to Academic Integrity

Integrity Matters is a short, interactive 1.5-hour e-learning module on Moodle, created specifically for Liverpool Hope University students. It’s designed to help you build a strong foundation in academic integrity — a vital part of your success at university and beyond.

What is it about?

Through realistic and relatable student-life scenarios, the module helps you explore what academic integrity means in practice. Whether it’s coursework, assessments, or study challenges, you’ll learn how to make the right academic choices with confidence.

You’ll engage with interactive examples that show how to:

• Avoid plagiarism
• Paraphrase effectively
• Reference correctly
• Manage your time wisely

Why it matters

Integrity Matters goes beyond definitions — it helps you understand why academic honesty is important and how it supports your personal growth. You'll explore:

• The causes of academic misconduct
• Strategies to avoid cheating
• Ethical principles for your academic journey

By completing the module, you'll strengthen your academic skills, build confidence, and develop habits that support long-term success.

What you’ll learn

Once you’ve logged into the module via Moodle, you’ll enter the Student Village, which includes four key sections:

• Avoiding Plagiarism
• Paraphrasing
• Referencing
• Time Management

After completing these sections, you can take a short quiz to test your understanding.

Flexible and easy to use

You don’t have to finish the module in one sitting. If you need to take a break, your progress will be saved automatically. You can also revisit the module at any time throughout your course as a refresher.

How to access

Log in to Moodle and look for the Integrity Matters module. It's free, easy to use, and a great way to boost your academic confidence.

Get Instant, Ethical Writing Support with Studiosity +

Liverpool Hope University has teamed up with Studiosity+ to give Hope and Creative Campus students free access to smart AI-powered writing support.

Whether you're working on an essay, report, or your CV, Studiosity offers immediate, constructive feedback to help you develop your writing, not just correct it. You'll get ethical, academically sound guidance within minutes, helping you improve your:

• Critical thinking
• Use of sources
• Structure and clarity
• Overall academic writing skills

You can also use Connect Live to chat with a subject specialist in real time if you have any questions about your feedback. Plus, the new Study Assist tool lets you ask questions about assignment research, study skills, academic writing principles, and referencing support.

Used by over 200 institutions and more than 2 million students worldwide, Studiosity is here to help you become a confident, independent learner and a future-ready graduate.

For more information about these services and how to register, please log in to access the Studiosity Moodle.

Understanding AI in Academia

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is becoming an important part of higher education and can support your study skills when used appropriately. Understanding what AI is, along with its benefits and limitations, including the impact of using these tools, can help you develop your academic skills while maintaining academic and ethical integrity. 

To learn more about AI and how it is used at the university, please visit the dedicated AI guidance page.