Apprenticeships: How to be an independent learner

The following guide has been created for you by the Skills for Academic Success Team. For more detailed guidance and to speak to one of our advisers, please book an appointment or join one of our workshops. Alternatively, have a look at our SkillBuilder skills videos.   

University graduates are expected to be independent learners – to demonstrate initiative and the ability to manage themselves and their work. They should not require continuous instruction during their studies, or expect all knowledge to be given to them, or need their work to be constantly monitored. Independent learning – which is also known as ‘self-directed learning’ or ‘autonomous learning’ - is key to employability, postgraduate study and life-long learning.   

A university education is not necessarily about receiving and memorising ‘facts’ in order to provide ‘correct’ answers in assignments. Instead, a university education is more about developing an understanding of your subject, and recognising the complexity of ideas and range of conflicting opinions that exist within it. To achieve this, students need to explore new ideas and approaches on their own.

As only about 20% of course study is ‘contact time’ spent in classes, seminars or tutorials, you should use the remaining 80% to develop your studies independently through reading, class preparation, organising notes, writing assignments and following up on tuition. Good time management and planning are, therefore, key to being an independent learner. As a student, this means learning how to: 

• set your own goals
• identify your own resources
• take responsibility for attending all aspects of your studies and catching-up
• monitor and manage your time and progress honestly and effectively
• produce assignments that meet the assessment criteria on time

Key skills

These skills will help you become an independent learner:

• organisational skills including prioritisation and time management
• efficient and effective reading and note-taking
• reflection and personal development planning 

Exploring ideas and making decisions alone can feel a little uncomfortable at first. Reasons for this include:

1. worrying about ‘getting things wrong’ e.g. misunderstanding instructions.
2. anxiety about missing something important in the background reading.
3. difficulty understanding or navigating lots of information.
4. feeling overwhelmed by new information and practices.

However, it is important to persevere, and exercise initiative:

1. ask specific questions to clarify instructions or assessment criteria.
2. allow plenty of time for reading, looking up key terms and digesting information and ideas.
3. develop a system for organising information.
4. develop a time management system for managing work e.g. dividing assignments into small tasks and setting daily targets to complete them.
5. self-monitor e.g. listen to feedback, learn from mistakes and adjust your approaches so that they are not repeated.
6. develop your study skills by reading guides such as this, or booking workshops or tuition with the Skills for Academic Success team (S.A.S.).

No one is expected to become an ‘autonomous learner’ overnight, so most programmes allow students to develop the learning skills they need gradually. However, to do so successfully you will need to engage fully in the process and seek guidance as necessary from your tutor, departmental Student Support Officer, or the Skills for Academic Success Team.