Lectures
A realistic Guide to life at UCLan - written by students!
By Sophie Denyer, 3rd year, BA (Hons) Public Relations
From sixth form to uni...
Nothing can prepare you for the difference between sixth form and university. The transition is really exciting, but daunting all the same. One of the hardest things to get used to is the change from lessons to lectures. Through our school lives we have been used to a full timetabled week of compulsory lessons back-to-back. Well, that all changes when you reach university. Some timetables can be crammed with lectures and seminars, whilst others focus more on independent learning.
The lectures themselves are an hour long and aren’t always held in gigantic lecture halls like the films would have you believe. Don’t be disappointed if you’re on a smaller course that doesn’t have this luxury.
You’ve chosen your subject, but that doesn’t mean you are going to be enthralled by every lecture. Just like at school, you enjoy some classes more than others. For example, a 9am lecture on Thursday morning won’t be your favourite after a night out with your mates. We’ve all spent lectures with our head in our hands regretting the 3 shots of sambuca we had the night before! On the other hand, there will be lectures that you really enjoy and lecturers who really breathe life into the topics they teach.
Lectures are normally taught using PowerPoint presentations, but be prepared for taking notes. Just remember that lecturers teach you everything that needs to go into the assignments they will be marking, so while it is your decision whether or not to attend classes, you might find yourself struggling if you miss too many. Lectures are a necessary part of uni life, but they are also an opportunity to get to know your class mates and a handy way to fill time between visits to the pub!