With thanks to undergraduates:
Cheryl (Music)
Sean (Computer Science)
Anna (Human, Social, and Political Sciences)
Somewhere to work
Some Cambridge students will have to work independently more than others, but everyone will be expected to make time to read, write, or complete problem sheets at some point.
Finding a productive working environment is important for your success at university but we all work in different ways.
- Some people prefer absolute silence in a space that they can make their own.
- Others are happy to work in a busy atmosphere.
- Some prefer to move between work spaces to have a change of scene.
- You may only need access to a book and notepad, or you may require specific resources that are only available in one location.
There is a suitable place to work for everyone in Cambridge, whether in the University or part of the wider city. It is a good idea to think now about the type of workspace which suits you, so that you know where to head to once you arrive in Cambridge.
You have so many options across the University and city. Spacefinder enables you to input your preferences for a place to study and then it will highlight some spaces in Cambridge that meet your requirements.
Look at the section on Where will I learn at Cambridge? for more information about where your learning will take place, including libraries.
Find your perfect desk
Go to Spacefinder and use the limiting options to find somewhere that you might enjoy working.
Look at the location and use the map of the university to see how you would get there from college or your department.
If you haven't already looked at the section Where will I learn?, now might be a good time to find out more about the different library spaces available to you.
Note that these links open in this tab and you'll need to click the back button on your browser to return to this section.
Motivation
Working independently is a great opportunity to follow your interests and balance your work and extra-curricular activities. It can, however, be a challenge if you are used to being given lots of guidance and tasks by teachers at school or college.
The amount you are given at university will vary depending on your course. You may be given a list of core texts to read or have the opportunity to decide what to read and when. Even if you have a heavy timetable, there will be times that you carry out work on your own.
Our Time Management page in the Skills section will give you ideas about how to balance contact hours, independent study and social time.
Image credits
Garden - CC0 by Erda Estremera via Unsplash, Cafe - CC0 by Reinhart Julian via Unsplash, Desk - CC0 by Jesus Hilario H. via Unsplash, Library - Wolfson College. All Rights Reserved.
Film credits
We asked our students ...© Cambridge University Libraries. All rights reserved.