Studying at Herts

By joining Herts you’ll be in charge of your own learning journey.

University is more than lectures, workshops or practicals. It’s about making the most of your time here, by learning in your taught sessions, through directed and self-guided activities and taking advantage of opportunities to develop yourself to reach your goals. You’ll be encouraged to ask questions and we’ll support your curiosity to learn more by welcoming you into our learning community.

Your timetable is just the starting point for your learning and development at Herts.

Setting up

When you arrive on campus, one of the first things you’ll want to do is connect to our free Wi-Fi on campus. We recommend eduroam as this will connect you automatically each time you visit campus.

You can also download Herts Mobile which is a free app created for Herts students, staff and visitors which will help you stay connected to the University. Through the app, you can access local bus times, campus maps, find available computers, teaching rooms and much more! If you need help getting set up, don’t worry, there will be Wi-Fi warriors in the LRCs to give you support and answer any questions.

Developing your digital skills

At Herts, you’ll be able to develop your learning and digital skills, taking advantage of Canvas, our state-of-the-art virtual learning environment. You’ll learn how to best use the technology, software and resources available to you. You can also track and monitor your own performance using My Learning Dashboard.

You’ll use a mix of technologies and platforms such as Canvas and StudyNet that will support your learning. These types of software may be new to you, but don’t worry, as you’ll receive information and instructions on how to use the systems needed for your programme throughout your studies. You’ll also have access to these and plenty of other guides to help you throughout your time at Herts by using our University search engine, Ask Herts.

Our Library and Computing Services Team and Student Technology Mentors are also on hand to provide any additional support you need. Our friendly teams will help you with all your set-up related queries, from how to reset your password to connecting to the internet and how to print.

Finding the perfect study spot on campus

There will be days where you have a break in your timetable and can use your time to prepare for classes, review recordings or work on your assignments. Getting ahead with your studies and using your independent study time is crucial to staying on top of your programme and meeting deadlines.

If you have a bit of spare time, why not make use of our two Learning Resources Centres which are open 24/7 and offer a range of study spaces, support and resources. You can also pop over to the Atrium on de Havilland, or The Oval, Hutton Hub and Chapman Lounge on College Lane, where you'll find plenty of seating, power sockets, Wi-Fi and cafes nearby, so you can grab a table and spend time working in a more relaxed atmosphere.

Don't forget your ID card

Be sure to remember your ID card when coming onto campus, as you’ll need this to access these spaces and others at uni.

Learning Resources Centres (LRCs)
Based on each campus and open 24/7, the LRCs are home to thousands of books and journals, a wide selection of study spaces (including quiet study zones, bookable study rooms and group study booths), PCs and Macs, laptop loans, a wide range of software, hi-spec computing rooms and printing facilities.
Café spaces
At Herts, we have a variety of cafés including Café Ambition, Café Rore, the Art and Design Gallery Café, and Café in the College Lane LRC and Hertfordshire Sports Village. You can grab a bite to eat or a coffee and work from any of these locations. There’s also the bar and kitchen, EleHouse too!
Lounge areas
Pop over to the Atrium on de Havilland, or The Oval, Hutton Hub and Chapman Lounge on College Lane, we have plenty of seating so you can grab a table and spend time working. Both are very light and bright spaces and conveniently close to our food outlets!
Studios and labs
As part of your programme, you may need to use our studios or labs to complete your assignments. Make sure you check in with your programme leader about the best places for you to work.

Navigating studying at uni

To help you with your studies, you’ll also receive, and have access to, support from across the University.

Your personal tutor helps you get the most out of your programme by supporting and guiding you. You’ll be assigned a personal tutor when your programme starts and it’s important to make time to meet with your tutor regularly to get the most out of your time at Herts.
Study Success Hubs are located on the ground floor of the LRCs at both campuses. The Study Success Hubs provide academic English and Maths support (available in College Lane LRC only), one-to-one advice on finding the best resources, guidance on how to make the most of the online library and support to develop your digital skills.
Herts SU can support you with learning techniques to help you organise your workload in a way that suits you. You can book a one-to-one SU Study Smart session with an academic and welfare adviser.
Your School will also offer subject specific support, so make sure to check your Canvas programme site and talk to your School team.

We are here to support you in your learning every step of the way. Check out the getting ready to study at Herts online course that has been specially created to provide you with the information and tools you need before you start your studies, including helping to familiarise you with Canvas which you will use throughout your programme. The module will take around one to two hours to complete and you can always go back to it at any point over the academic year.