One massive part of being a student is the responsibility to keep on top of your studies, making study tips that help with concentration, productivity, and all of those important things, so highly sought after by university-goers. Studying in the UK means you can expect a meaty workload and plenty of independent learning, and if your go-to study techniques need updating or you’re searching for revolutionary new study techniques different to the ones you learnt in earlier education, this blog is perfect for you.
At Shoemakers, we’ve had the pleasure of being a home away from home for countless students in Norwich. Over the years, we’ve seen first-hand what helps students thrive academically and what typically doesn’t. For this blog, we’re staying away from obvious study tips and techniques to offer a helpful, insightful, and fresh perspective.
As students studying in the digital age, we’ve come up with six study tips for you – some incorporating the latest tech, and some age-old methods that you may not have considered before, allowing you to discover study methods that aren’t always reliant on technology, getting you out of your comfort zone and into a state of ultra focus and productivity. Feel free to take what you learn here away with you to start introducing some effective study techniques into your student life experience.
Study Tip #1: Create a ‘Second Brain’ with Digital Tools
Managing your academic workload can be overwhelming – there is so much to remember and lots of planning involved. Creating a ‘second brain’ will help you stay organised, keeping you in control of your workload and studies. Plus, the implementation of a ‘second brain’ allows you to retain information more effectively, arming you with the knowledge to tackle your exams.
How do you do it? Using tools like Notion, Obsidian and Microsoft OneNote, you can create a customised digital space that stores and displays your studying activity. With this, you can map out your learning journey, syncing revision notes, informative resources, helpful reminders, and ideas into one single database, one interconnected system. You can then consider this your second brain.

Study Tip #2: Study Café Challenge for Tricky Topics and Tasks
Don’t worry, this second study tip isn’t just that you should study at a café – that’s obvious. Instead, we want to tell you about the study technique known as the study café challenge.
Sometimes a change of scenery can do wonders for your focus, which is why cafés all over Norwich are often visited by students – it’s a great opportunity to escape the lecture hall or your student accommodation room and work on your studies with a lovely hot drink. With this study tip, you can make your café trips go further, maximising them by turning them into a focused productivity boost.
How it works is that when you visit a café for a session of studying, you dedicate each visit to tackling one specific task. This could be tackling a question you’ve been stuck on for some time, drafting an essay section, or finally getting to that big section of a particular project that you’ve been putting off for a while. When you do this, you enter into a new space with one goal in mind. By assigning a specific café visit to an individual task, you’re more likely to get it done and make the most out of your trip for coffee.
Norwich has plenty of student-friendly cafés and spots where you can try out this study tip for yourself, such as:
- Strangers Coffee
- The Bicycle Shop Café
- Alchemista Coffee Co
- Yard Coffee
- Two Magpies Bakery
Study Tip #3: Set Up Accountability Buddies in Your Classes or Via Group Chats
A lot of people find that it is better for them to study solo – it makes focusing easier and you can create your own study routine that works for you. While we’re not saying you should stop doing this, there are benefits to tackling your studies as a group, with the main advantage being accountability.
Studying on your own is great for productivity and efficiency, but are you holding yourself accountable? It’s difficult to do and often goes unnoticed. It’s very easy to put off studying or having too many “breaks” when you’re the only one affected, for instance. By setting up a study buddy – either with someone from your class or a housemate in your apartment – you can continue to work solo but also be held accountable.

Study Tip #4: Invest in a Smart Notebook
For students who love taking handwritten notes during their studies and find it the best study method for them, this is an ideal solution. Using handwritten notes for your revision and studying is one of the top study tips out there – it’s great for taking in (and remembering) information and helps to understand complex topics by writing notes in your own words naturally with pen and paper.
While it’s a solid study method, it can be messy, unorganised and cluttered. As a university student, it’s easy to fill hundreds of pages and go through multiple notebooks during your years of study. This can make it difficult to find important notes and can sometimes have the alternate effect of your notes becoming jumbled.
Smart note-taking brands like Rocketbook, reMarkable, and Moleskin let you write, scan, and upload your written notes to the cloud for easy organisation. This means that you receive all of the tactile benefits of traditional note-taking with the ability to store that information digitally, being able to easily access it via your devices.
Here are some products you can try out:
- Moleskin Smart Writing Set
- Rocketbook Reusable Digital notebook
- reMarkable Paper Tablet
Study Tip #5: Micro-Retreats in Norwich for a Change of Scene
When the monotony of your usual study spot sets in, it’s time for a micro-retreat. For students in Norwich, it’s easy to find a spot to spend a whole day studying. Choosing a less conventional location breaks up the norm of your study routine, allowing for a fresh perspective and outlook on the topics you’re studying. We find that outdoor spaces are best if you care to try this study tip out for yourself.
Eaton Park, and Chapelfield Gardens, for example, are wonderful choices. The fresh air and beautiful scenery make for the perfect study micro-retreat. As mentioned above, we recommend spending a whole day or a few hours on your micro-retreat – pack a bag to take with you and bring a lunch, or there may be an on-site café you can eat and study in.
Nature-filled environments can reduce stress and boost creativity, making complex subjects feel less daunting. This is especially helpful for that one topic you’re stuck on or tackling those set of questions you’ve been putting off. Pack your study materials, a blanket, and lunch or snacks for a productive outdoor session that doubles as self-care.

Study Tip #6: Test Yourself with AI
AI is an incredible tool for lots of different things, even studying. If you haven’t given it a go yet, we highly recommend you try it out. AI tools like ChatGPT and Google Gemini can help you study in a range of different ways, such as simulating quizzes and creating flash cards. This can help you prepare for exams with engaging learning that is made easier with the help of AI.
Try these AI prompts for studying to get you started:
Create Flashcards for Revision
“Generate a set of flashcards with key terms and definitions for [subject/topic]. Include both questions on one side and concise answers on the other.”
Simulate a Quiz
“Create a 10-question multiple-choice quiz on [topic]. Include four answer options for each question and provide explanations for the correct answers.”
Explain Complex Concepts
“Explain [concept] as if you’re teaching it to a beginner. Use clear examples and break it down into simple steps.”
Essay Practice
“Suggest three essay questions on [subject]. Then, create a detailed outline for one of the essays, including main points and evidence.”
Study Planning
“Help me create a two-week study plan to prepare for my [exam/course]. Include daily tasks, review sessions, and recommended study techniques.”
REMEMBER: AI can make mistakes, so be sure to cross-check responses with individual research and never use AI to produce exam essays or answers for you.
Make These Student Study Tips Work for You
We hope this blog has given you some useful information to help you in your studies. Keep in mind that university life is all about finding what works for you, and that includes identifying study tips, methods and techniques that are beneficial to you.
If you’re soon to be studying in Norfolk and looking for high-quality, off-campus and convenient student accommodation, visit the Shoemakers website to book a viewing. With dedicated workstations in all of our rooms and fast WiFi, our spaces are designed to help you succeed with your studies.
Happy studying!