If you prefer to take your notes digitally, there are plenty of tools dedicated to notetaking. Microsoft OneNote provides lots of visual options for taking notes, and can even transform your handwritten notes into text. Notion and RemNote are also useful for taking and adapting your notes, or Google Keep allows you to take more short form, textual notes. If you have a smartphone, you can use your notes app to take notes more easily on the go.  

Practice testing helps you remember information long-term which can be great when preparing for your exams. Tools like Quizlet, RemNote and GoConqr allow you to create content that helps you test your own knowledge, from digital flashcards to quizzes.

Microsoft Word is the world’s most popular word processor, and is the app lots of students use to write their assignments. You can use Microsoft Word via Microsoft 365 in your browser to create and edit live documents on the go as long as you have an internet connection.

Google Docs is a similar word processing tool that also works in your browser. You can download a Google document onto your device as a Word document or PDF. Both Microsoft Word and Google Docs have lots of premade templates for basic documents like reports, checklists and CVs.

If you’re working through ideas or brainstorming with a group, whiteboard tools can be a useful way to get your ideas down. You have access to Microsoft Whiteboard via your University Microsoft account, or there are alternatives like Padlet and Miro that allow you to create visual brainstorms, mind maps, mood boards and more.

Microsoft Word has built-in proofreading support to help you identify spelling and grammar mistakes. In a Word document, you can access this by clicking the Editor icon (which looks like a blue pen). Google Docs has a similar tool. Go to the Tools tab to find Spelling and Grammar.

There are also third-party tools like Grammarly you can use as an add-on to check for typos and grammatical errors. If you use tools like this that feature AI, make sure to do so responsibly and ethically and you are confident that the work you submit for assessment is your own words and ideas.

Text-to-speech software like ClaroRead Plus, NaturalReader and Microsoft’s Read Aloud can read your work out loud for you. ClaroRead Plus is available to all students on networked computers. Microsoft Word's Read Aloud feature can be found in the Review tab at the top of a Word document. Click Read Aloud, and use the toolbar to play, pause and adjust the reading speed to suit your needs. This can be useful for spotting grammar and spelling mistakes in your work.

For information about accessing assistive technologies on your personal computer, visit Newcastle University’s IT service.

There are lots of different online tools that can help with creating references, like ZoteroBib and  Cite This For Me. You fill in the details about the source and choose the output style, and they generate a reference for you to use. You can access examples of different referencing styles on Cite Them Right. You can use this to make sure your references are accurate. It is important that you understand your referencing style, as references generated by any form of automated process are likely to be imperfect and it is your responsibility to correct them in your work. However, these tools can be a great starting point to build on.

There are also reference management tools like EndNote, Mendeley and Zotero. These are tools that can help you store and manage your references.

There are tools that can translate single words and short phrases into different languages. The most well-known translation tool is Google Translate. AI tools like ChatGPT can also help you with short translations.

Whenever you’re using a translation tool, it’s important not to input too many words or the translation is less likely to be accurate. A helpful way to test this is to translate your results back into English. If you use AI in your work, make sure to do so responsibly and ethically and you are confident that the work you submit for assessment is your own words and ideas.

If you’re working with a group, you can collaborate in live documents, slides or spreadsheets through Microsoft 365 using your University account (as long as you have an internet connection). You can set your preferred access level for different users, and change this at a later date.

Google Drive offers the same potential, but you’d need to make sure everyone you’d like to collaborate with also has a Google account.

You might be asked to create a presentation as part of one of your modules, either individually or as part of a group. Microsoft PowerPoint is the most well-known presentation app, and is used by lots of staff and students for making presentations. You have access to PowerPoint via your University Microsoft account. Google Slides is a similar presentation tool that can be accessed via your browser if you have a Gmail account.

If you’re looking to get more creative, Canva is a free-to-use graphic design tool, where you can create presentations then download them into PowerPoint if you prefer. If you’re unsure where to start when creating a presentation, most slideshow tools have premade templates and design tips.

At University, you might be asked to virtually meet with other students or staff via Zoom or Microsoft Teams, or you may be invited to join a large virtual event, like a workshop or conference. You might also want to setup your own virtual meetings if you’re working on a group assignment.

You have access to Microsoft Teams through your University Microsoft account, where you can voice or video call even with those who don’t have a Microsoft account. To access all of its features, download the app. You can use Teams in your browser, but it may look a little different.

You can also create a free Zoom account where any meetings you schedule will have a 40-minute time limit. Make sure you know how to join ahead of any meetings, and are aware of how to mute yourself and switch your camera on or off.

Your University email account is the best way for you to contact members of University staff, whether it’s your school office, a seminar leader or your personal tutor. You can usually find staff’s email addresses on your school’s webpage, or by searching their name in the search bar at the top of the Outlook app.

Make sure to check your email regularly for any important communications about your course or from other departments like the Library or Student Wellbeing. We recommend using a separate email address for personal matters as your University email address is only temporarily available while you’re studying with us.

If you’re working on a group assignment or are part of a study group, instant messaging can be a useful way to stay in touch. You have access to Microsoft Teams through your University Microsoft account, where you can chat, share files and more.

Google Chat provides similar functions if you have a Gmail account. Alternatively, Slack is a chat app that is commonly used in the workplace.

If you prefer to manage your to-do lists digitally, there are plenty of tools that can help you organise your workload and prioritise tasks. You have access to several Microsoft apps through your University Microsoft account, like Planner and Lists, or there are alternatives like Trello and Teamwork that allow you to create kanban boards, Gantt charts and lists.

It’s important to organise your files in a way that will be useful for you to come back to. You have access to Microsoft OneDrive via your University Microsoft account. OneDrive is cloud-based storage that you can access via the OneDrive app or your browser. You can easily access your files on different devices by logging in and you can share your files with others, which can be useful if you’re collaborating on a piece of group work. It backs up all of your files even if your device breaks. You can customise the order of your folders and change their colour too.

Google Drive provides similar cloud-based storage available to those who have a Gmail account, but unlike your University OneDrive this is limited to 15GB.

If you want to better manage your time, there are lots of timer tools that can help you study in intervals using the pomodoro technique. There’s the Marinara Timer website, and YouTube videos that you can study along to. If you have a smartphone you could also have a look at the Appstore or Google Play for other apps that are available.

If you struggle with procrastination, there are productivity apps like Flora that can help keep you focused while you’re studying.

Calendars and schedules are a great way to keep yourself on track during your degree.

You have an Outlook calendar attached to your University email address, and Gmail accounts come with an attached Google calendar. You can use your calendar to mark any deadlines or exams, schedule when you’ll study and plan your visits to one of our libraries. You can also download your University timetable onto your device to keep everything in one place. 

If you need to access straightforward facts, like the date of a historical event, the name of an influential figure, or the location of a landmark, you can type your question into generative AI tools like ChatGPT. Remember, AI is only able to generate responses based on the information it is trained on and the available dataset. It’s really important to double check and verify any facts you pull from Generative AI and look out for hallucinations. If you use AI in your work, make sure to do so responsibly and ethically.

While you’re studying, you’ll be required to do independent research for your assessments. LibrarySearch is our Library catalogue, a powerful search engine that holds records for all the physical and electronic items that you have access to here at Newcastle University. For advice on how to make the most of Library Search, visit the Academic Skills Kit.

If you’re studying for a STEM subject, you’ll probably be expected to interpret or create a spreadsheet during your degree. You have access to Microsoft Excel through your University Microsoft account. Excel is the most well-known spreadsheet app, and Google Sheets is very similar. 

There are lots of different ways you can use a spreadsheet, from simply organising information to analysing data and creating graphs and tables. If you’re not sure where to start, Microsoft provide a tour of Excel on their training page and Google has a guide to creating, editing and formatting spreadsheets on their help page.

If your degree requires you to work with data in depth, there are specialist tools available to you via the University, such as R, Minitab, SPSS and Stata. These tools can help you analyse, manipulate and visualise data. For more information on these tools, you’ll find Maths Aid’s guide to statistical software on the Academic Skills Kit.

If you’d like to design something that’s visually appealing, there are tools that provide lots of support and templates. If you only need something basic, Microsoft Publisher is a straightforward tool for creating simple layouts and posters.

If you want to get more creative, tools like Microsoft Designer and Canva provide a range of templates, assets and features for creating anything from posters and flyers to videos and gifs. Adobe Firefly is another visual tool that uses generative AI to create and edit images, audio and video. If you use AI in your work, make sure to do so responsibly and ethically.