Our experienced Academic Skills Advisors can help you develop your academic skills and strategies throughout your time at University. One-to-one support is available on a wide range of topics including academic reading, writing and referencing, finding information, and preparing your assignment for submission.
You can view and book all UniSkills appointments, for both academic writing and referencing and information skills (finding and navigating your online resources), in one handy location via the student portal.
How to book a UniSkills one-to-one appointment
To view and book an academic writing or information skills appointment on the student portal be sure to expand the UniSkills option by clicking on the (+) symbol.
You can then select the appointment service you need and choose the day/time to suit you.
You can self-book one appointment every 30 days. This limit allows us to distribute the support we offer fairly across the student population.
If you experience any problems accessing the system, or cannot find a suitable date / time, then please get in touch.
How to get the most out of your UniSkills one-to-one appointment
To really get the most out of attending your UniSkills appointment, preparation is key.
View our video for useful information ahead of your appointment.
Virtual UniSkills one-to-one appointments
All our virtual one-to-one appointments are delivered via Blackboard Collaborate. Blackboard Collaborate is a real-time virtual classroom tool that lets you meet with your Academic Skills Advisor online in a secure location on a one-to-one basis.
In Blackboard Collaborate conversation can take place through the chat box, or in person with audio and/or video enabled – it’s up to you. There are also features that allow you to add files, share applications, and even use a virtual whiteboard to interact with your Academic Skills Advisor.
Our virtual appointments allow you to meet with an Academic Skills Advisor wherever you are, be that on or off campus. If you are planning to attend your virtual appointment from within Catalyst please note you will need a set of headphones (so you can hear us) and preferably a microphone (if you wish to speak to us, verbally). If you only have headphones, or do not wish to use your microphone, you can use the chat feature to communicate with your Academic Skills Advisor.
Important information
If you have booked a face-to-face appointment and become unwell, present with any COVID-19 symptoms, or test positive for COVID-19, you will need to cancel or rearrange your appointment. You can do this via the student portal or email us directly.
Face coverings are recommended in enclosed spaces, and during busy periods. Where possible please keep a safe distance.
When you book an appointment with UniSkills, you will be invited to complete a booking form. Here we ask you for some details about what support you are looking to receive, such as help with your assignment structure, referencing support or guidance searching your online resources. It is helpful to include as much detail as possible at this stage.
On the booking form you can also upload up to two additional documents, for example your current assignment, a reference list, your learning outcomes, or a search strategy. These uploads are optional. You can also email your work across to us once you are booked – details of how to do this are included in your booking reminder email.
Although we provide space for you to share your work with us in advance of your appointment, it is important to note we cannot read entire assignments / dissertations and often pre-reading is limited to around 1000 words per appointment. Depending on when you book and / or submit your work in advance, we may also not have opportunity to complete any pre-reading before we meet. However, we are always happy to discuss any specific documents / pieces of work during your appointment.
It may be helpful to share one or more of the following documents with us:
an example of some work you have been set
an outline of your assessment criteria
a timetable of your submission dates
any work you have already written
feedback you have received from your tutor
We can:
provide advice and guidance in relation to planning, finding academic sources, writing and referencing at University
signpost you to online guides and further resources to support you after the appointment
signpost you to other support services across the University
We can not:
advise you on the content of your work as we are not subject specialists
provide support with any work which forms part of an exam or Time Limited Assessment (TLA) submission
offer a proofreading service, re-write parts of your assignment for you, or offer a quick fix for an imminent deadline
Peer-to-peer support
Our award winning team of Student Advisors provide help, support, and guidance to other students on a peer-to-peer basis. The team are all current students and between them bring a great variety of subject knowledge from their individual disciplines, together with a wealth of experience from studying at Edge Hill.
They can help you get the most out of the University Library, help you to develop a range of introductory academic skills, and can support you:
Using Discover More to find books and eBooks, online journal articles and other online resources.
Navigating Learning Edge/Blackboard and your subject specific resources.
Harvard referencing.
Accessing UniSkills academic support material.
Peer-to-peer appointments
The Student Advisors can meet with you virtually for a peer-to-peer appointment if you need support with any of the topics listed above and more. Contact us to find out more and to book your appointment.
Student Advisor webinars
You will likely meet your Student Advisors at one of our UniSkills webinars as they join the Academic Skills Advisors to support the session and answer any questions as the chat buddy. However, throughout the academic year the Student Advisors also co-create and co-deliver a range of webinars to help you settle in, find your feet and get going with UniSkills support.
Student Advisor blogs
Our team of Student Advisors write and contribute regularly to our Library and Learning Services blog sharing their own tips and experiences. You can browse through all our blogs at blogs.edgehill.ac.uk/departments/support/ls/ or we have selected some useful ones below to get you started.
To view and book an academic writing or information skills appointment on the student portal be sure to expand the UniSkills option by clicking on the (+) symbol. You can then select the appointment type you need and choose the day/time to suit you! If you can’t find a suitable appointment date/time then please get in touch.
You can self-book one appointment every 30 days. This limit allows us to distribute the support we offer fairly across the student population.
If you experience any problems accessing the system, or cannot find a suitable date / time, then please get in touch.
Useful information to know before your appointment
When you book an appointment with UniSkills you will be invited to complete a booking form. On here we ask you for some details about what support you are looking to receive e.g. help with your assignment structure, referencing support or guidance searching your online resources. It is helpful to include as much detail as possible at this stage.
On the booking form you can also upload up to two additional documents e.g. your current assignment, a reference list, your learning outcomes or a search strategy. These uploads are optional. You can also email your work across to us once you are booked – details of how to do this are included in your booking reminder email.
Although we provide space for you to share your work with us in advance of your appointment it is important to note we cannot read entire assignments / dissertations and often pre-reading is limited to around 1000 words per appointment. Depending on when you book and / or submit your work in advance we may also not have opportunity to complete any pre-reading before we meet. However, we are always happy to discuss any specific documents / pieces of work during your appointment.
It may be helpful to share one or more of the following documents with us:
an example of some work you have been set
an outline of your assessment criteria
a timetable of your submission dates
any work you have already written
feedback you have received from your tutor
We can:
provide advice and guidance in relation to planning, finding academic sources, writing and referencing at University
signpost you to online guides and further resources to support you after the appointment
signpost you to other support services across the University
We can not:
advise you on the content of your work as we are not subject specialists
provide support with any work which forms part of an exam or Time Limited Assessment (TLA) submission
offer a proofreading service, re-write parts of your assignment for you, or offer a quick fix for an imminent deadline
Important information
If you have booked a face to face appointment and become unwell, present with any COVID-19 symptoms, or test positive for COVID-19 you will need to cancel or rearrange your appointment. You can do this via the student portal or email us direct.
Face coverings are recommended in enclosed spaces, and during busy periods. Where possible please keep a safe distance.