University is all about getting specific, and learning in depth about a subject you love – but whatever you're studying, you'll need some basic knowledge and skills.
You'll develop some of these skills, like academic writing and reading, as you progress through your qualification. Others, like maths, you'll need to have before you start.
Academic writing, reading and note-taking
Academic writing
In some of your course assignments at Massey, you'll be tested on your ability to write in an academic style. Academic writing is usually formal, and follows particular rules about structure, style and referencing.
See the academic writing section the Online Writing and Learning Link (OWLL)
OWLL also contains sample assignments, so you can see what’s expected of you.
Read sample assignments in OWLL
Reading
Good reading skills will be essential to succeed in any degree at Massey. You need to be able to read and understand your course material, textbooks and academic research in your subject area.
If you’ve never studied at university level before, you might find your course material strange or hard to read at first. This is normal – it takes most people a bit of time to get comfortable with academic language, but it gets easier with practice.
When you’re planning your first assignments, it’s a good idea to give yourself extra time to read and absorb everything you need to.
Find useful advice about managing your reading on OWLL
You can start getting used to academic language before you start your qualification, by reading some academic articles in the subject you'll be studying.
Search for articles in your subject area
Listening and taking notes
You'll need to know how to listen and take notes in lectures, tutorials and classes. This will mean you don't miss any important information, and you can use your notes to get ready for assignments and exams.
Find useful information about listening and note-taking on OWLL
UniReady literacy skills short courses
These free, 10-15 hour courses will help develop your reading, writing and critical thinking skills for undergraduate study.
UniReady Literacy short courses
Maths skills
Maths is a core part of many university courses. Before you enrol in a qualification or course, find out how much maths it involves, or if there is an expected NCEA level (or equivalent) to take the course.
You need strong maths skills to study subjects like economics, accounting or statistics, and advanced skills for qualifications in the sciences or mathematics.
Be realistic about what you can manage, and start working on anything you need to improve. That way, when your classes start, you can focus on understanding the content.
Assess your maths skills
When you’re deciding which courses to choose, it’s important to be realistic about your skills. You can use our online quizzes to test your knowledge in the core maths subjects, and find out if there are any areas you need to improve.
Our maths readiness quizzes are anonymous – we won’t see or store your results.
If you’re not sure whether your maths skills are strong enough for the qualification or course you want to study, you can discuss your results with an Academic Adviser.
UniReady maths skills short course
This free, 10-15 hour course will help prepare you develop an understanding of numeracy concepts and skills in preparation for undergraduate study.
Numeracy for University Study short course
Science skills
You’ll need a basic knowledge of each of the core science subjects to study for a qualification in science. Each of our science qualifications and courses has specific requirements you need to meet to enrol.
If you haven’t studied science for a while, you can refresh your knowledge by taking an introductory course. These are designed for students without much background knowledge, and are available in most science subjects. Look for courses with names like "Foundation Physics", "Introductory Biology" or "Introduction to Psychological Research".
Find a course or qualification
Assess your science skills
When you’re deciding which courses to choose, it’s important to be realistic about your skills. You can use our online quizzes to test your knowledge in the core science subjects, and find out if there are any areas you need to improve.
Our science readiness quizzes are anonymous – we won’t see or store your results.
If you're not sure whether your science knowledge is strong enough to take a particular course, you can talk through your options with an Academic Adviser.
Computer and internet skills
It's likely that some of your courses at Massey will include online learning, and that you'll need to use a computer and the internet to work on your assignments.
You'll need some basic computer skills to succeed. Make sure you're able to:
- use and search the internet
- send and receive emails and attachments
- download and open PDF documents
- use a word processor like Word or Google Docs to write assignments.