Navigating online and on campus study

Hello, new UQ cohort, welcome to the HASS family. I am Cheryl Annisa Paramesti, an Indonesian student studying Bachelor of Communication majoring in Digital Media and I am Yun Wang from China studying a Masters of Educational Studies majoring in Guidance, Counselling and Care & Behaviour Support. We spent our first academic year online and transitioned to internal study during our second year. From time zone differences to cultural and communications barriers, we understand the ups and downs of studying online. But no need to worry, because once you get the hang of it, you will be able to enjoy the journey. So, we would love to share some helpful tips and tricks, useful resources, and experiences for your overseas studies to ensure it will be a smooth sailing experience.

You’ve probably already received emails from HASS Student Futures and UQ Life with information about Orientation. Just in case if you haven’t, we highly recommend you check your student email via my.UQ Portal or sign in on Outlook. In Australia, email is used to achieve two-way communication between students and their university, faculty and lecturer or tutor. Your Electronic Course Profile (ECP) will be your go-to information center for every course. It provides details on your course coordinators and tutors email, learning resources connected with the library, learning activities, and schedules. To find your course ECP, type in your course code on Google or access it from Blackboard.

As you may have already experienced, important information will be delivered via email, such as course schedule updates, explanations of assessment, and coursework documents on Blackboard. Most importantly, you will also receive information about events with deadlines, such as the completion of your Academic Integrity Modules (AIM). A lot of students miss this bit of information, but you actually need to complete your AIM before you submit your first assignment. So, please remember to check your email at all times! You can download the Outlook app on your mobile phone to receive notifications of new emails at any time. We do understand that due to cultural differences, you may not be familiar with using email, but don’t worry! UQ provides instructions for how to communicate online effectively including guidance for writing academic or professional emails.

Most UQ Staff, Lecturers and Tutors are open for drop-in consultations. Whether you are in need of assignment support, or wanting to discuss your course performance, feel free to email your course coordinator or tutor to arrange an online discussion. Make sure you join your Program Information Session during O-Week to receive further information and to ask questions about what to expect in your course.

One thing that all UQ students should not miss is to make use of the various software and resources provided by the UQ, such as VPN(virtual private network), Microsoft software, Adobe software and EndNote referencing software. They are all FREE! For more free software, you can search on the UQ software catalogue for free student software for personal use. However, the most powerful resource offered by UQ is definitely the UQ Library. For the sake of your assignments, make sure you are familiar with how to use the UQ library to search for the literature you need. The Library is bound to be the most frequently used literature search platform during your studies at UQ. To help you learn how to use the library search function quickly, make sure to attend the 'How to HASS Week sessions the week before O-Week. These sessions are run by the HASS faculty in collaboration with the library and will provide detailed information and guidance. 'How to HASS Week' also provides information on the use of Blackboard,  as well as IT essentials such as connecting to the internet and accessing printers. It is highly recommended to participate in these online sessions as they will be very helpful for your future studies.

One of the most exciting university experiences is being able to connect with people from various backgrounds. Being restricted by studying online can sometimes hinder this process. Luckily for us, UQ has got our back! There are at least two ways to make friends online. The first is through UQ platforms. Virtual Village is a place where you can virtually meet UQ students from all over the world and it even allows you to choose your community depending on faculty, year level and interest group. Study Bubbles is a place where you are able to join a study group near your current location, so even if you are studying overseas, this platform will try to find someone nearby that you can study with! These two platforms are run by UQ so it is safe and suitable for those who are looking for the broader university level social connection. Secondly, if you are looking for something more informal, there are tons of different student-led social media groups on Facebook, WeChat, Instagram, and Whatsapp. Some even specific to your course, major, and minor. Since these options are not UQ official, our tip is to ask your alumni, agency, classmates, or simply type related keywords or course codes on each social media channel. We highly recommend connecting with country specific communities to join cultural events, share information, and find study buddies. These groups are most likely to be one of your first go-to groups for information, especially during your first semester, or once you decide to move to Brisbane. Just type in your country, community, or interest group keyword at the UQU Website and you will be able to find them. 

Becoming a university student is a big milestone and doing it online has an added challenge. You might feel overwhelmed because everything is happening at the same time, but it is ok. We felt the same too! That is why we recommend you to join in on orientation, it’s an all-in-one run down of everything you need to know! You will have the chance to get to know key staff members, discuss your program, and even hear about co-curricular opportunities that will help you in advancing your career. One other session that is held in ‘How to HASS Week’ (mentioned before), is a session called ‘How to Win at Uni’. This event discussed how to be a ‘successful’ HASS student and is also run in collaboration with Student Services where different support services such as counseling, disability etc.  are made known to commencing students. This session will talk about support sources available in HASS such as Faculty Student Admin, Student Representatives, and HASS Helps. Check out our HASS Building Tour to see a glimpse of our beautiful campus where most HASS related courses are held.