I'm enrolled, now what? 8 things you need to do before class starts
Congratulations on taking the leap into study—you're officially a student! Now that you’ve ticked enrolling off your to-do list, here’s everything you need to do before your course kicks off.
Enrolling through us is the first step on your study journey, but there are a few things you can do between now and your start date to set yourself up for success.
1. Firstly, hit social media to find your people
Your future classmates are out there, and you don't need to wait til class starts to connect with them! Join the OUA Students Facebook group and do a call out to see who's studying your course. You can also join Facebook groups that are run by your university to widen your net even further (we've got a handy list in this blog about making friends as an online student).
Whether you're looking for a study buddy or just want to get excited with others who understand, these communities are a great place to start.
2. Sort out your timetable
The beauty of studying online is that you can complete your course at times when it suits you. This, however, relies on time management. Chat with a student advisor about what subjects to take first, and what study load would make sense for you—the average subject requires 10 hours of studying each week. Then write out your own study schedule that works for your lifestyle and commitments.
3. Set up your study space
If you can, claim a corner of the house that’s just for you and your books. You’re going to need to make sure you have a dedicated space where you can focus.
Think about what you’ll need. A comfy chair perhaps? A laptop stand, keyboard, mouse and headphones are also useful. You want your space to be ergonomic, uncluttered, and have good lighting that won’t cause strain on your eyes.
4. Access your LMS
Think of your learning management system (LMS) like the virtual study space where you’ll access everything to do with your course, including lectures, class activities, readings, discussion boards and assessments.
Your university will email you with login details for your LMS a week or two before your start date (they’ll send it to the email address you used when you enrolled). Keep an eye on your spam folder so you don’t miss these messages.
Once you have access, have a click around and get to know your LMS—you’ll be using it every day as a student! The Open Universities Australia Student Hub is there when you need to handle anything enrolment related, including adding future subjects.
5. Get prepared for your study material
Check your LMS during week 1 of your course. This is when your university will provide details on any study materials you’ll need, including textbooks and software. Make sure you have money set aside to purchase these items. More information on this can be found on our textbooks and study materials page.
6. Allow for the unexpected
Your university may require you to complete some extra tasks during your first weeks of study, like an academic integrity module or an orientation session. Set aside a few extra hours of time for this early on.
7. Familiarise yourself with key dates
Know your start date, and keep an eye on your LMS for important dates like exam periods (if your course has exams).
Census date is another important date to know, as this is the last date you can withdraw from a subject, withdraw from a course, or apply for a leave of absence without remaining liable to pay the study fees.
8. Figure out what academic policies you need to learn
Your university’s academic integrity policy outlines what you can and can’t do when writing assessments, so make sure you review it carefully (it will be on your university’s website). It’s also important to understand your university’s attitude towards artificial intelligence tools like ChatGPT—and whether you can use them to support your studies.
Follow our blog to stay up to date on study hacks, assessment tips, career advice and more. Or contact a student advisor at any time if you have questions about your enrolment.
