There's a lot to take in when it comes to getting the most out of your learning at UWA, and we want to make sure you know how to access exactly what you need to achieve with your studies!
Whether it's online resources, using the Library services to their full capacity or getting a little extra help through Study Smarter, here's the essentials for keeping that GPA looking healthy throughout your degree:
LMS
Let’s start from the beginning: UWA’s Learning Management System (LMS) has all the content for your units and online learning activities, and is where you can submit assessments, get updates for your units and collaborate and communicate with other students. Everything you need for both on and off-campus learning is in here!
Textbooks & unit readers
The Guild Bookshop is your first stop for pre-loved textbooks that won't break the bank, but there's also heaps of online options to get your hands on required texts (both physical and digital).
What books do I need?
If you’re not sure what books you need for your units, check your unit outline. Your Unit Coordinators may list “essential” and “recommended” texts or refer to different textbooks across the semester.
Our advice: wait a couple of weeks before purchasing your books. This gives you a chance to see whether you want to continue the unit, and how frequently the Unit Coordinator refers to the text before dropping lots of cash on a book.
Guild Bookshop
You can buy pre-loved textbooks and brand new Unit Readers at the Bookshop in Guild Village. You'll also find UWA x Champion merchandise, gifts, second-hand lab coats, Transperth Smartriders, stationery and pre-loved fiction.
Best of all - once you’re finished with your textbooks (or any fiction you have lying around), you can hand them in to the Bookshop and they'll sell them for you!
You keep 75% of the profits with 0% of the effort – how good.
Online options
There are lots of different places you can get your books from online, both digitally and as actual real-life books. Here’s some of our recommendations:
Perlego: the 'Spotify of textbooks'. This online textbook subscription service allows you to access over 300 000 textbooks starting from just $12/month. You can annotate, highlight and bookmark; pay monthly or annually; cancel anytime; and your access to their library is unlimited!
Online booksellers: For those of us who prefer a physical textbook, there's plenty of suppliers to turn to! Online booksellers have great selections of textbooks, and you can pick them up heavily discounted if you know where to look. Booktopia, ZooCal, Jekkle and Book Depository are great places to start.
The UWA Library often has textbooks available in digital format, so if you’re not keen to spend $$ you can check if the book is online there instead.
Online unit readings
Unit Readings are accessible online through LMS. Your Unit Coordinator can manage readings lists in the Library Unit Readings platform.
UWA Libraries
Library hours & services
UWA has 5 Libraries, with various opening hours that may extend during exam times. Check the Libraries website for the most up to date opening hours!
- Reid Library (Crawley campus)
- Barry J Marshall Library (Crawley campus)
- Beasley Law Library (Law School, Crawley campus)
- J. Robin Warren Library (UWA Health campus)
- Education, Fine Arts & Architecture (EDFAA) Library (Nedlands campus)
You can head to the Libraries for a huge range of academic services and resources:
- Book a study space: The University offers a range of group study and online collaboration spaces in each library for group learning and online collaborative learning, available to book in LibCal. Choose from a range of room sizes and facilities for up to 10 students.
- Find a PC: You can check availability of PCs on campus using the Find a PC application online.
- Printing & IT support: including everything from connecting your personal devices to more complex IT issues, plus print, scan and copy services.
- Referencing: a full guide to referencing styles and requirements at UWA
- Library Survival Guides: Can’t find what you’re looking for? Check the Guides provided by the Library for finding, using and referencing information for you academic work.
There’s also information about the compulsory online Academic Conduct Essentials and Communication and Research Skills (CARS) units, and how to complete them via LMS.
Study Smarter
Study Smarter provides free academic skills development programs and workshops to help with study technique, time management, research skills, and writing, English and maths skills.
Book a one-on-one online consultation with academic skills advisers, register for academic skills workshops or get on-the-spot advice during drop-in periods all semester:
· Writing & referencing drop-ins (Monday-Friday 10am-12pm)
· Maths & stats drop-ins (Tuesdays & Thursdays 10am-12pm)
You can even access study help after-hours through Studiosity; online live support from external tutors, and assignment feedback within 24 hours. You can find Studiosity in LMS!
