FAQs

The Learning Development Service (LDS) is located within the Student Guidance Centre at Queen’s.  LDS tutors work with staff and students to enhance learning and help students through one-to-one appointments, workshops within the various Schools in the University, and online resources relating to academic and study skills.

LDS provides academic support to undergraduate students via three platforms: one-to-one appointments, online resources, and workshops. One-to-one appointments focus on enhancing a student’s academic skills and will be directed according to the student’s requirements. For generic enquiries we have a large library of online resources for essay planning, time management, referencing and plagiarism, critical reading and writing, and exam preparation among many other topics. You can view these resources here.

No. All of our services are free of charge.

Office hours are from 9am to 5am, Monday to Friday throughout the year, excluding public or bank holidays. These hours are the same during term time and university holidays.

LDS does not provide support that is specific to any EFL or ESL programme. However, students can book a appointment to improve general academic skills, such as critical writing.  Click here to access our interactive tutorials on the English language.

One-to-one appointments are available for all undergraduate students at Queen’s. Postgraduate support is provided by the Graduate School.

We only provide one-to-one appointments for undergraduate students, although our online resources are freely available to both undergraduate and postgraduate students. If you are a postgraduate student, the Graduate School has a wealth of resources and workshops available. For postgraduate queries, please contact pg.skills@qub.ac.uk

Appointments become available up to fourteen days in advance. Please book at your earliest convenience to secure your preferred time slot. As our appointment provision is subject to availability, allow for more time at busy periods throughout the semester. If your appointment concerns an upcoming assignment, we recommend that you do not schedule an appointment very close to your deadline as there might not be enough time for you to incorporate feedback and finalise your work.

All one-to-one appointments must be booked in advance. You can do this by email, telephone, or online via MyFuture:

1. To book via email, please contact us using your QUB email address at lds@qub.ac.uk.
2. You can book via telephone on 02890973618. Please have your student number ready when calling.
3. To book online, please log on to MyFuture using your QUB email address and QOL password. See the "How do I book an appointment online?" question for more details.

Once your appointment is booked, you will receive an automated confirmation message to your QUB email address.

To book online, please log on to MyFuture using your QUB email address and QOL password. The following link will take you directly to the "Book an Appointment" page: go.qub.ac.uk/bookLDS

When you are on the Book an Appointment page:

1. Select "Learning Development Appointment" from the "APPOINTMENT TYPE" dropdown
2. Click "Check Availability"
3. Choose an appointment time that suits you by clicking on the red "LDS - Tutor Name" text
4. Click the "Add" button under "Appointment Reason"
5. Click "Learning Development Service *LDS*" so that a green tick appears to the left of the text
6. Click "Done" in the top right corner of the "Choose" popup
7. Type in any additional information that may be of use to the LDS tutor
8. Scroll down and click "Submit Request"
9. Appointment Booked! An automated email will now be sent to your QUB email address that confirms your booking details

All appointments are advertised for a maximum of one hour, but they may be shorter depending on your needs.

It is not always necessary to prepare in advance, but For example, if you wish to focus on referencing skills for an upcoming assignment, it may be useful to bring a printed copy of the assignment to the appointment. Your assignment does not need to be completed ahead of the appointment. A draft, a plan, or brainstormed ideas can help your LDS tutor advise you.

It may also be useful to bring feedback from previous assessments, but this is not necessary. You might also wish to think in advance about general or specific questions to ask the tutor.

Remember, each appointment lasts up to an hour, so it is important that you have a clear and realistic target for what can be covered in this time period.

Appointments are held on the First Floor of the Student Guidance Centre. On the day of the appointment, come up the stairs and go through the double swing doors to the reception desk. Please let the reception staff know that you have arrived for your LDS appointment. Your tutor will then come and meet you.

Students are allotted five appointments per academic year. If you require additional appointments, please let LDS know so that we can consider this based on your learning needs.

If a specific time or date no longer suits you, please log in to MyFuture and cancel or reschedule. You can also do this via email or by telephone. Early cancellation ensures that the appointment is available for booking by another student.

Whilst we always endeavour to help you, our service is subject to availability. It is best to check regularly online or phone us to enquire if an appointment has become available.

No - feedback can only be provided during a one-to-one appointment. Each student can book up to five appointments per academic year.

A one-to-one appointment is designed to facilitate your academic development. It is focused on your needs as a student and on what you would like to gain from the meeting. Our appointments are intended to be flexible and best suit your requirements.

Have a look at this recent blog post of one student’s experience of our one-to-one service.

Appointments are most effective on a one-to-one basis. However, if your friend is on the same course and has similar queries, it may be possible to accommodate another student. We can also offer group appointments. For example, if you are involved in a group project, you can come along as a group and bring the document that you have been working on together. To avail of this option, please contact LDS in advance by telephone or email.

No. LDS assists all undergraduate students at Queen’s regardless of degree program. As we do not provide subject-specific guidance, we are able to see a wide range of students. If there is a particular question we cannot help you with, we will signpost you to here.

Will LDS proofread, correct, or edit my writing?

LDS does not offer a proof-reading or editing service. When we review essays, we look for clarity of argument, structure, and appropriate referencing. You will find resources on proofreading strategies here

Yes, we are happy to provide feedback on work in progress. Whilst it isn’t compulsory to bring a draft of your assignment, we recommend that you bring along any work that you have completed, such as mind maps or essay plans, tohelp you to make the most of your appointment. You can also bring copies of previous assignments and any feedback you have received on these, to discuss with the tutor.

We are happy to listen to presentations and give feedback. If you have a PowerPoint to accompany your presentation, please contact us by phone or by email prior to the appointment so that we can book a room with a projector.

We welcome student feedback. At the end of your appointment, you will be sent a brief follow-up email containing a link to our survey where you can provide your feedback anonymously.

Careers, Employability and Skills provide various services for students including help with writing CVs, making applications, interview preparation, as well as information regarding careers options and guidance with career planning.

Disability Services provide prospective and current students and staff of the University with appropriate information relating to disability issues, and makes individual support recommendations for students based on assessed need and the resources at the University’s disposal.   

The Graduate School supports Postgraduate students and offers relevant training and learning workshops.

International Student Support provides international students and their dependants with advice and support on issues such as immigration or Visas.

Subject Librarians help you identify relevant resources and inform you on how to use the library, the various online and referencing resources and the Special Collections available at QUB.