Getting appointment ready: Your step-by-step guide

Our 1:1 appointments are designed to help you develop your skills and build effective study habits.

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What to expect

  • Tailored 1:1 Support: Interactive, individual appointments with specialist tutors designed to help you build confidence, improve study strategies, and solve specific issues.
  • Non-Judgemental Environment: Tutors provide constructive guidance and practical advice; they do not grade your work.
  • Collaborative Focus: The sessions are designed to empower you as an independent learner—tutors will work with you to develop strategies rather than doing the work for you.

Content covered

  • Study Skills Appointments:
    • Academic writing, structuring essays, and critical thinking.
    • Time management, revision, exam techniques, and note-taking.
    • Approaching assignment prompts, dissertations, and project planning.
    • Understanding personal learning strategies.
  • MASH (Maths & Statistics) Appointments:
    • Clarifying specific mathematical or statistical concepts from your course.
    • Working through examples or understanding step-by-step calculations.
    • Choosing, running, and interpreting statistical tests or software output (e.g., SPSS, R, Excel).
    • Consolidating numerical skills for non-maths modules.
  • What is NOT covered:
    • Proofreading, spell-checking, or line-by-line editing.
    • Referencing
    • Doing assignment questions for you or estimating your grades.
    • Subject-specific content 

Before your 1:1 appointment

  • Identify your goal: Think about the specific question, topic, or area you want to focus on during the session.
  • Prepare your materials: Have relevant documents ready, such as assignment prompts, module handbooks, drafts, lecture notes, feedback received, or specific dataset/maths problems.
  • Review online resources: Check the online StudySkills@Sheffield or MASH resources beforehand, as quick answers or templates may already be available.
  • Note your questions: Write down 2–3 key questions or areas you want to prioritise to make the most of your appointment time.

How to book a 1:1 appointment

  1. Book online: Log in to the study skills booking system using your MUSE login details.
  2. Select the Service: Use the filter 1:1 meetings drop down to choose Study Skills 1:1 or MASH (Maths & Statistics) 1:1 appointment depending on your need.
  3. Choose Format & Time: Select an available time slot and choose your preferred delivery format (Online via Google Meet or In-Person).
  4. Provide Discussion Points: Enter brief details about what you would like to cover and your course/module so the tutor can prepare. A separate box is also available for any accessibility requirements or reasonable adjustments you wish to share.
  5. Confirmation: You will receive a confirmation email containing booking details and the location/ link. If you need to cancel your appointment, click the link in your confirmation email. 

Appointment details

  • Location & Delivery:
    • In-Person: Held at the Education Development Centre (301 Glossop Road).
    • Online: Conducted virtually via Google Meet.
  • Duration: Typically 30 minutes per session. Please arrive five minutes before the start of your appointment and report to reception.
  • Frequency / Booking Limits:
    • Appointments are subject to fair-use booking limits (you can only book one appointment at a time).
  • Cancellations & late arrival for appointments:
    • If you can no longer attend, you must cancel in advance via the study skills booking system so the slot can be released to another student.
    • Arriving late will reduce your overall appointment time, and will be cancelled after 10 minutes of lateness.

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Next steps

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Workshops and 1:1 appointments

Explore a range of workshops and appointments to develop the essential study skills, research, maths and statistics skills that will underpin your learning at university.