Study methods: organising yourself and tackling exams
There is no single way to study: different strategies can be useful depending on the subjects, your commitments and the stage of life you’re at. You can always rely on practical tools to organise your time, work through the material and tackle your exams.
Do you find yourself in any of these situations?
- You get distracted often and, every time you take a break, you struggle to refocus.
- You study for hours, but struggle to remember or explain what you’ve read.
- You start with a study plan, then lose your rhythm and find yourself cramming everything in the final few weeks.
- Between lectures, work and other commitments, you struggle to find time to study.
- The exam is approaching and your anxiety makes you want to put it off.
It’s not unusual to find yourself in these situations, even after exams have gone well. Subjects, commitments and moods change: even the way you study may need a few tweaks. Discovering and trying out strategies different from the ones you already use can help you understand what works for you.
Start with something you want to change
You can organise your time better, experiment with ways of learning and approach Exams differently. There’s no need to wait until you face a problem: you can improve a habit or try a different approach and see how it goes.
In the laboratories, you’ll do exercises, try out strategies and discuss things with others. You’ll put what you learn into practice, so you can take away tools to use when you need them.
In one-to-one sessions, you’ll explore your situation in more depth with a service professional. You can choose laboratories, one-to-one sessions or both.
You might be interested in some laboratories
Whichever laboratory you choose, you’ll take home practical techniques, strategies and tools to apply straight away.
Organising your study around lectures and other commitments
This is for those times when you struggle to get started or stick to the schedule you’d planned. You’ll work on tools to plan your study, taking into account the time you have available and your other commitments.
See the dates and how to take part
Organisation and management of your study time
15 October 2026, 2:30 pm – 5:00 pm, Aula Magna Fisiologia, Piazza Porta San Donato, 2, Bologna.
How do I study? Strategies to try out
You study a lot, but you’re not sure if your study/learning method works. By taking part in the Laboratory, you’ll examine your study habits and try out learning strategies to use in your daily studies.
See the dates and how to take part
Learning strategies
22 October 2026, 3:00 pm – 5:30 pm, Pascoli Lecture room, Via Zamboni 32, Bologna.
Effective studying from A to I: smart strategies for better learning
4 November 2026, 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm, Lecture room 4, Via Del Guasto, 3, Bologna
As the exam approaches: coping with stress and the fear of failing
There are times when you’re not sure how to go about preparing or how to cope when the exam actually comes around. In this laboratory, you’ll work on useful strategies for the different stages, from revision to the exam itself.
See the dates and how to take part
Exam management
29 October 2026, 1:30 pm – 4:00 pm, Lecture room 4, Via del Guasto, 3, Bologna.
When anxiety takes over: three strategies to try
Your thoughts are racing, you’re feeling the pressure and you’re struggling to concentrate or cope with your university commitments. This can happen, and you can learn to manage these moments. Through exercises and group discussion, you’ll try out three practical strategies for recognising and dealing with anxiety.
See the dates and how to take part
Anxiety: 3 practical strategies for managing it at university
10 November 2026, 2:00 pm – 4:30 pm, Lecture room A, Via Irnerio 49, Bologna.
Would you prefer to discuss this one-to-one?
Perhaps you feel more comfortable talking without a group, want to explore a personal situation in more depth, or don’t know where to start. You can choose a one-to-one session, either in person or online, even if you haven’t taken part in a Laboratory.
An expert will work with you, starting from your current situation, to help you explore your options and identify your next step. Request a consultation
Or do you have doubts about the degree programme you’re on or what to do after graduation? Find out about the activities available to help you navigate your university choices.
"I came to the laboratory with zero expectations, expecting a lecture on the usual topics, but I was pleasantly surprised to find it was so dynamic"
Those who have taken part speak of the value of exchanging views with other students and discovering tools and strategies to put into practice in their daily studies.
Do you feel as though you’re unable to continue your continuing studies as you’d like?
Sometimes exams get postponed, you attend fewer and fewer lectures, and it even becomes difficult to socialise with the other students on your degree programme. You’d like to move forward, but you don’t know where to start again, and the thought of university weighs more and more heavily on you. It can happen.
We can start by talking about it, even if you’re not quite sure what to say. Send us an email to nientepanico@unibo.it and together we’ll try to work out what kind of help would be most useful to you.