Introduction: Effective Reading at University

1. Reading at University

The reading demands of university study are not easy. Unfortunately, however, it is all too common for students to pay little attention to their own approaches to reading—that is, how they read and how they can improve the effectiveness and speed of their reading.

This section on reading strategies provides advice on how to read for particular purposes. But before you proceed, you may find it worth reflecting on the nature of the reading that you conduct at university. This is discussed below. 

(This section on reading strategies is adapted from the Reading Skills Helpsheet materials produced by the Teaching and Learning Unit, University of Melbourne.)