Self-enrol Courses
Resources to help you develop your information and digital literacy skills independently.
To help support your independent learning at university, the Library has developed a range of free, self-enrol courses on the Canvas VLE. Enrolling on these courses offers you the opportunity to build your study skills at a time and pace that suits you. Each of these courses is self-contained and you can either work your way from the start to finish, or you can pick-and-mix which sections you wish to focus on.
HaSS dissertations, theses and research
The courses below are aimed at students undertaking dissertation or thesis work, including postgraduate taught and postgraduate research students. While open to all, they were designed with Arts and Humanities subjects in mind, meaning some examples may not be as relevant to those studying SAgE or FMS subjects.
Postgraduate researchers can also explore workshops available via the Faculty Research Development Programmes.
Reflect on your skills
If you're not sure where to start when it comes to building your information skills, or you want to keep track of your progress, our skills audit quizzes can help. The audit presents reflective questions that help you identify areas for development. They then point you to key sources of help so you can work on improving your skills and understanding.
Further resources and support
Related topics in Library Help
- Where can I get help with developing my Academic Skills?
Our Academic Skills Kit (ASK) is your one stop shop on how to develop your skills at Newcastle University. Topics include the following:
- How to learn effectively online.
- Academic integrity and referencing.
- Assignments and academic writing.
- Dissertations, theses and research projects.
- Exams and revision.
- Numeracy, maths and statistics.
- Managing your time effectively.
- Searching, reading and notetaking.
- Transition to University.
- Where to go for help.
- What can the Library Liaison Team help me with?
Your Liaison Librarian can help you with questions relating to the information you need for your work, such as where to find information sources and different types of information, how to reference information in your School style, how to manage the information you gather and read, and how to improve your literature searches, including for Systematic Reviews.
We offer one-to-one appointments, which you can book online, and can provide written feedback on search plans for dissertations and projects.
If you have any further questions about the support we offer, email us directly or send a message via Library Help.
- Where can I go for support with academic and study skills?
There are two teams within the Library who can help you develop the skills you need for your studies and research. The Academic Skills Team and Library Liaison Team have slightly different remits and areas of expertise but work together to ensure you have the individual support you need.
To find out how each team can help and to book an appointment, visit the Book an Appointment page on the Library website.
For queries relating to EndNote, please complete our EndNote enquiry form.
Beyond the Library, there are many teams and services that can support your academic studies at Newcastle University:
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For questions about job applications (e.g., writing CVs and cover letters; preparing for interviews), contact Newcastle University Careers Service
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For technical support (e.g., questions about formatting your written work), contact Newcastle University IT Service
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For questions about advanced stages of postgraduate research degrees (e.g., writing for publication; addressing academic conferences), please consult your supervisor.
You can learn more about the services and support available on the 'where to go for support' page of the Academic Skills Kit (link below).
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- Where can I get support for my studies as an INTO student?
To access subject support for your studies, your Liaison Librarians have put together specialist subject guides which direct you to the best resources to use within your subject area. These guides will not only highlight to you the key books, eBooks, eJournals and databases collections in your subject, but also specialist resources which may be of interest to you.
Your subject guides also link off to our resource guides which advise on how to find a wide range of different types of information ranging from company and market information to statistics and newspapers. In addition, your subject guide links off to further academic skills guides, including guides on how to find, evaluate and reference information.
For additional academic skills advice and signposting, the Academic Skills Kit (ASK) is your one stop shop on how to develop your skills at Newcastle University. Topics range from how to learn effectively online, to maths and writing support.
For support with mathematics for students who are not studying a math based course - please consult the Maths-Aid page.
For more information on INTO consult the main INTO Newcastle website.
- Where can I find information on referencing?
Our Referencing Guide offers a comprehensive introduction to academic referencing and links to further material on referencing styles, using reference management software (including Endnote) and avoiding plagiarism.
The Referencing Guide also links to Cite them Right, which provides guidance on referencing a wide range of sources in a variety of styles.