Psychology Study Tips for Uni! | HOW TO GET A FIRST CLASS in Psychology! 🧠

THIS is the ULTIMATE list of study tips for psychology students at uni! If you're finding it difficult to study effectively I share EVERY tip that I used in my psychology degree from note-taking to exam preparation and organisation tips. I also share how I balance work and study to graduate with First Class Honours and a High Distinction WAM. All the best! 🎓
⏱️ TIMESTAMPS
00:00 Intro
01:43 Note-Taking in LECTURES
06:20 Studying for Your EXAM
09:12 EXAM DAY Routine
13:11 ORGANISATION Tips
17:14 MAKING the MOST of Uni!
21:16 HABIT Change + Outro
⌛ Pomodoro Timer
pomofocus.io/
📝 How-To Bullet Journal:
bulletjournal.com/pages/learn
📧 Organising your Gmail inbox:
www.hellotech.com/blog/how-to...
🌞 About Me: Hi! My name’s Ro and I’m a psychologist (and clinical psychology registrar) from Australia!
💖 Subscribe to join me for videos on all things psychological science, mental health and my journey to become a clinical psychologist
✏️ Comment down below, I’d love to hear your thoughts or questions :)
👍 Like to let me know you enjoyed todays video (it really helps me out!)!

[@alerodriguez8094]

Pursuing a doctorate in Psychology, this is my first year of my long journey. Thanks for the help!

[@thepsychdiaries]

woot woot! Best of luck :))

[@roxanniemiller8973]

same

[@keshneealixe]

How is it now for you ?

[@DanHammonds]

I'm starting a masters in Psychology after 15 years away from academia. It's very daunting, but your videos are offering valuable insights and really helping me to prepare. Thank you!

[@senli_popiwall7236]

Same here.. The struggle is real! All the best!

[@hande_burak21]

how is that possible???

[@felixq1212]

Learnt so much! thank you :)

[@lexeighflowers7315]

Thanks a lot for this video!

[@Prinzyxox]

Love this so much. Thank you

[@jada4952]

Loved this vid! Very bright and cheerful :)

[@edwardyun8413]

BIG help! my course starts in 2022 at Macquarie uni. As an international student, this video is a treasure! Thanks for the wonderful content!

[@justbreanna1]

This was so useful Ro! I'm in my first year of Bpsych and have always struggled with taking concise notes. Thanks for making this video! :))

[@akankshasingh7396]

Thank you for this video ❤

[@remahedditch8436]

Ro! I just found your videos and I love your energy and delivery of all your videos. I am considering studying psychology and so grateful to hear your real experience and as being in Australia as well. Thank you so much for breaking everything down into really easy to understand steps and language. Keep it up 🙏❤

[@tobiramatime]

I'm on the second semester and feel like didn't do enough note-taking. This is really helpful, I'll be using Pomodoro timer as well from now on. Thanks!

[@GMEspeleta]

Will be starting masters in Psych soon and it's been a couple of years since I've done formal studies. Thanks as always for the helpful content. Always a fan ✨

[@catdoesstuff8745]

ahhh this has actually helped me so much! I'm about to start my first year in psychology after a 5 year break after highschool. It's made me feel so much more confident and calm

[@shardemichelcollins8071]

The key point method you showed is kind-blowing. Yes I’ve heard someone say to do so before but your actual example was key for me!

[@Elizabethperez___]

Thanks for all the helpful information. ❤

[@30sumfin]

Im just finishing up my first year of my bPsych. Thank you so much!! Your channel is such an amazing resource

[@theoplays8242]

This is a lovely video. I'm an undergrad in psych and this helped me understand how to study effectively. Thank you.

[@sophierusden312]

I am going into my first year of Psych and Crim. This was very helpful, thank you!!

[@sambarta9865]

Thanks for making this 😊

[@TheEagledove]

Awesome video, lotsa good tips. Reminds me of my uni days years ago. Thanks. =)

[@jiakaler6187]

Is it possible that you can make a video about things you did in high school to be accepted into a psychology program in university? For example, extracurricular activities, classes you took, etc.This video was super helpful! Thank you!

[@MKSsaraiva]

I am in my first year in psychology, and I am scared as I am not doing good. I found hard the amount of the questions that we got on the exams. I am happy to found your channels.

[@michealynnben4366]

one more semester to obtain my bachelors in psychology. Thanks for the helpful tips !❤

[@MLStreb]

Thanks heaps, on the home stretch in my honours year now 😊

[@ukipb2222]

So attractive personality . I get many good points from this video.I will share it to my son who would like to study in this field.

[@belladecruz2722]

Thnx alot it's a kind of motivation 😊now I'm feeling better

[@Jennaii639]

This was so well structured and informative Ro! Thank you! Will you do a video on essay writing?? This is an area i struggle in and would love to learn your process!

[@thepsychdiaries]

Aw shucks, thanks gal! Ooh yes I will keep that in mind as a future vid! X

[@witchy01]

I just finished my high school final about a month ago, waiting for result. I wanna do bachelor in psychology. This vdo is really helpful for me. Thank you mam. Have a great day💗

[@cairosilver2932]

The free memorisation program Anki is really useful

[@nikkihuang7635]

Thanks for another great video Ro! Will definitely try to make my notes more concise in the coming term and remember to maintain more balance. Love the mention of the racecourse but I'm now half way through my degree and we still haven't had a single in-person exam yet thanks to CoVid 😄 let's see whether I get to experience the famous Randwick racecourse exams before I graduate!

[@thepsychdiaries]

Oh no! A total rite of passage hahaha

[@telemachusarris]

This video is too good to be on youtube for free - PERIOD!. It might be one of the most valuable things I've watched last year.

[@thepsychdiaries]

Ah I'm so glad you found it helpful! 😊😊

[@yessica5231]

I'm a bio student but am minoring in psychology. Lemme tell you it's quite challenging and frustrating that almost all psychology majors seem to be slacking off during lecture hall while I'm going crazy trying to write down everything the prof says lol! This is so helpful, thanks!😁

[@Will_wegetthere]

Well done, love all these tips 92 WAM is fantastic 👏🏽. Thank you for acknowledging the privilege, I have 5 children, husband and volunteering, doing all the extras afforded to uni is difficult. Your channel is great keep it up

[@thepsychdiaries]

Thank you so much for your support! (Also my gosh absolute respect for studying with 5 kids!!) 🥳🥳

[@mafizization]

I do really like the part that you said on the day before the exam start don't look at any note because when you see the paragraph that's will stick on our mind and that's what make us forget the rest. I've this kind of issue. I'm going to take my second BSc in Psychology at IUMW/UWTSD for dual award degree in KL Malaysia and I'll spend some semesters in the UK.

[@camilar.369]

I wish I had followed all this advice during these 2 years of online school but instead I did all the things you didn’t recommend lol, it was very hard having no one to study and connect with and I feel like I hardly learned anything and I was so burnt out by last year. Hopefully this year going back to offline classes things will get better, and I’ll definitely will be changing my studying habits to these. Thank you for making this video!

[@thepsychdiaries]

Oh gosh COVID would have thrown such a spanner in the works, I can't imagine doing uni under those conditions. You've got this!

[@gurleen_the_leo]

great video :)

[@vaishnavi5282]

Hi, Going to start uni in Monash Melbourne in feb, am really nervous but this really helped :)

[@Natalie-hp9xs]

Hi Ro! I love your videos, they’ve been so informative especially since I’d love to pursue a career as a clinical psychologist :) I’m also hoping to study my bachelor’s degree of psych at UNSW too! If you don’t mind sharing, how did you perform in the HSC? Could you do a video on how you studied in high school ie. study methods, organisation, etc. That would be amazing!

[@thepsychdiaries]

Heya! I got just under the 98 ATAR cut off for psych and ended up using a Duke of Edinburgh bonus mark so I got it- ooh gosh it was so long ago I'll have to have a think about what I even did (I do think most of the study tips for uni are quite similar)- but highly recommend using the school diary they give!

[@roxanniemiller8973]

Im on my first year of Psychology . Pray for me yall

[@Tsuresu]

Thanks for another great video Ro. I’m going to check out the bullet journaling thing. One thing I’m struggling with quite a bit is structuring arguments in my psych assignments. I’d love to hear some tips for that if you get a chance 😊

[@thepsychdiaries]

Oh gosh it's a definite skill- I'd actually recommend asking your professor if they recommend any writing courses (or how to structure scientific papers), it's something I'm still developing!

[@Tsuresu]

@@thepsychdiaries Thanks for the reply! I might look for some books on it like you suggested. I was a bit worried about my last assignment due to that, but I managed to get an HD so I might not be as bad at it as I thought 🤔

[@bestcreations1716]

I got an offer in University for bachelor of psychology but it’s online studies though can you please help me by answering my concerns as I have 3 kids is it okay if I go for online studies the bachelor degree in psychology I far away from studies so long as I mentioned already due to having kids couldn’t continue my higher education hope to hear something from you thank you 🙏

[@sarahsaragih9893]

Pursuing my Master's degree in child psychology from Indonesia! Really love your video as it gives me more perspective how it's like in Australia. Would love to connect with you!

[@crystallouise2057]

Hey love! Thanks for videos, they are very insightful. How much work do you think is do-able for a full time psych student? Studying a bachelor? 🥰

[@peaches8864]

Hmm, writing notes like you did in the start is good at the time, but i find it completely disengaging when coming back to study for exams. I personally remember things through how the sentence I wrote was structured, where I placed it on a page, what colour I filed them under etc. I've been in exams and had an answer on the 'tip of my tongue' , knowing where I wrote the info on my study pages, and was eventually able to remember the answer in this way- so interesting how everyone learns differently.

[@thepsychdiaries]

Totally! Everyone has their own style and it seems you really connect with colours (so cool!)

[@awetume]

thanks for this c:

[@haydencantthink]

3:49 My left ear really enjoyed this

[@karlmichael9512]

Thank you very much

[@paleflowers]

Thank you so much for this video ! Do you have any recommendations for psychology related work experience? I'm currently in my 2nd year looking at UWA ☺

[@anngigimon]

Hi I'm currently in year 12 in victoria and have always wanted to be a psychologist. I am absolutely loving your videos and was just wondering if you would be able to make a few videos on how the 2 years after becoming a general psychologist looks like, maybe explain the process of registering for clinical psychology? I was just a bit confused on that aspect. Additionally, if you could also make a video on careers or jobs that we could work in after simply the 4 years in a bachelor of psychology that would be great. Thank you so much!

[@thepsychdiaries]

Yes! It's fairly straightforward- as long as you've done the masters of clinical psychology you're eligible to apply to be a clinic psychology registrar. There's a form you send to AHPRA and you have to find a supervisor :)

[@xxx-xy6ei]

Can you please make a video for assignments and thesis, some tips from your own personal experience.

[@peaches8864]

I've just started honours so I neeeeeeeeeeed this lol

[@itcanbedonedollars3693]

Are there any tips about specific psychology topics that you have study tips around? Methods or approaches etc?

[@muskaan3420]

Hi Roanna, would you have any recommendations on good double majors/ minors or particular skills to learn that would make a ba in psychology undergrad degree more employable? Love from India x

[@imawesome2756]

This video was so helpful! I’m starting psychology next year and I’m trying to get as prepared as possible and this channel is like - 🤩 I wanted to ask (because it’s possible you will respond) do you have any advice on preparing for psychology? Books I should read? Should I be revising my essay writing or did you find you learnt more when you were at uni by the feedback from ur teachers? Thanks for the amazing video!

[@thepsychdiaries]

Amazing! Love the enthusiasm but tbh I'd say no need for prep, feel free to read for pleasure but otherwise enjoy your break and start uni refreshed! Can't really think of anything I wish I did before uni started :)

[@NischalNeupane-e7u]

Psychology is Best ❤

[@magizhthangamani]

Thank you, when I decided to take psychology in High school i thought it will be easy.... But it is hard to understand and did not do well in tests even every person in class say that it will s hard

[@lyndalhill]

Thanks Ro, i would love information on pathway advice. Im nearly finished 3rd year and deciding on applications for honours or combined 5th and 5th year. Plus trying to understand what happens after 6th year if I go that way. Do I need high grades from honours to masters? That type of info.

[@thepsychdiaries]

I have a pathways video too! (also a video on how to get into masters with all the relevant info!) All the best :)

[@jonathanmullins6181]

Love your voice

[@mikisinfield4347]

Can you do a video on honours tips?

[@MBridge4]

Thank you for your vids and this one. I am planning to enroll in a grad dip of psych after Exercise and Sport Science. I am concerned about the psych writing style. Apart from your tip about getting other students to help, is there a place/org I can go to that can proof read my assignments and give me tips to improve them? I'm not really certain what I should be doing in my assignments for HD's. In the past, with my degree, my lecturers showed students examples of a pass, credit, distinction and high distinction level assignments and this helped greatly but I am not confident with writing APA style for psych.

[@thepsychdiaries]

Hey mel! Hmm I've never actually heard of a service that proof reads unfortuatenly. Showing examples of different grade essays would have been very much appreciated in my undergrad!

[@shannonpopp7438]

I'm taking a dual- credit college class in high school on psychology , but since i have to do it online and there are no recorded lectures. Do you have any advice for studying for an exam just by reading the text book?

[@nehabiswas7511]

One nighter is the worst… I once was underprepared and I was nervous so did one all nighter and felt so tired and worn out even though I was nervous

[@diamondmax5141]

I’m a freshman, but this summer I’m taking a college leveled psychology course in the span of 4 weeks. I’m nervous and I desperately require any learning tips n tricks.

[@elf10]

Wow this is amazing! Super helpful. I wish that I had seen this during my earlier uni days. I’ve been extremely inefficient with my study methods - that’s something that I’m now trying to correct. My study style was ad hoc, scattered and completely lacking in strategy. But better late than never to improve haha.

[@thepsychdiaries]

Yes! It's so strange how rarely we get taught how to study but you're totally right, better late than never!!

[@elf10]

@@thepsychdiaries I agree and actually think many of us don’t know how to study. For example, I realised that I didn’t know how to study when I noticed how top students always seemed to have study strategies. While their preferred study methods varied from flashcards to succinct notes to mind maps to whatever, the common theme was they all had strategies that suited a combination of their learning style plus course content/demands.

[@mahjabeen-jo5nk]

Now i give matric exams a i have alot intrest in psychology

[@krystalannawilliams2653]

Okay

[@diamond-zb6rl]

Do you recommend making handwritinen notes or on laptop

[@onlyshorts3600]

❤️❤️❤️

[@morganite_1483]

Hello! How much is the bs psychology tuition fee in Australia?

[@TheGaranceable]

Any tips when it comes to taking notes from textbook chapters? Especially if they're very content heavy and very long. Thanks!

[@thepsychdiaries]

I would probably recommend the same thing as what to do during lectures- really try and absorb the meaning and say out loud in one or two sentences how would you explain the core meaning to a friend. Speaking it out loud really helps! Good luck :)

[@shirshir516]

What kind of sturture you use for psychology a level

[@zubdahbareen605]

Hey, thanks for doing this video. Can you please tell me the any platform, from which i can test what i have learned. İ m also doing bachelor's in psych.

[@thepsychdiaries]

Ooh hmm I'm actually not sure- in uni we made tests for ourselves! Maybe get a friend to do it with :)

[@BB23573]

I’m going towards the career of a child life specialist. Will this degree help me?

[@TheClassicMusicCover]

Hello, I am Ashish from India. I completed my master of arts in psychology. can you please suggest me any good psychology course in uk also for good career.

[@lcy8746]

Hello Ro! I am from Hong Kong. I have finished my bachelor's degree. Right now, I am taking a conversion course in psychology in Hong Kong. A master's degree in clinical psychology in Australia is my ultimate goal. May I have any tips on the data of international student's intake in the clinical psychology master program in Aus.? Are there any helpful resources I can reach? (really look forward to your reply) It is my first time leaving comments. I have subscribed for quite a while and I always gain energy from watching your videos. Thanks for the sharing!

[@thepsychdiaries]

Heya (gosh I miss HK!), that's so exciting. Hmm unfortunately I don't know if its a set number, I do know 5 out of my cohort of 20 in USYD were international students :) I would recommend reaching out to the clinic/ masters course you were interested in, each uni has an admin team who can help with personal questions in terms of applications etc. All the best!

[@lcy8746]

Many thanks! I will check it out. @@thepsychdiaries

[@hajiramunir2829]

I will start my uni soon....im so scared bc idk whats coming for me now that i have choosen psycology😭i hope i do well

[@grassyknees]

Hello! I am currently a highschool studet interested in studying psych in uni. A lot of the universities i am looking at have a BA in psychology and a BS option which one should i choose to be a clinical psychologist?does it matter? Thank you!!

[@tvshowsforlife564]

Bs - I currently finished my first year of psychology (I just came across this video) - If your in England, make sure your degree is BPS accredited because without it your degree is pretty much useless (my teacher said that)

[@jason2b29]

How did you remember the study in psychology e.g the study from the Asch Conformity Experiment? Did you use active recall?

[@thepsychdiaries]

That's a particularly memorable one... I guess it just stuck? :)

[@jason2b29]

@@thepsychdiaries haha , maybe. So did you rote memorise the study and experiment?🤔🤔 any ways to more easily remember the study

[@ckive0454]

I’m going into my undergrad years for psychology and I’m so scared that I won’t be able to do well and get a job

[@NishatArtAcademy]

I am studying BBS but this is not my dream subject.I have interest about phycology.But my mother wanted to take me LLB degree.What should I do now...can you tell me?I

[@marselinagarcia2374]

It is very hard for me to find time.. my day starts at 7am and i get my babies ready, one goes to school from 8am to 2pm, and my other is attached to me at the hip and hes 1 years old.. my fiance is gone from 7:30am to 4/4:30pm and then does side work to make ends meet... only free time i have is after 9/10pm and i just started psychology class and failed my first quiz. its online 100 percent and got 25/50 on the qiz. doing the homework is easy but the qiz is hard because i dont have the time to study and when i take the test im rushing and nervous..

[@javeriaafridi6172]

Can you share you mr notes please? 😊

[@derpyKAT229]

here

[@user-db2ts9jb3r]

australians use the same university grading system as the UK? i didnt even know that

[@thepsychdiaries]

Hmm I'm not sure it does.. the first class applies to our honours mark :) (in undergrad we have a "WAM")

[@keitekapua7002]

Also what version of One Note do you have?

[@thepsychdiaries]

Hmm I just have it as part of my microsoft office- just like word or excel.. (I'm not sure which version tbh!)

[@MohamdRagabAmmar]

Can you please tell me a name of a psychology textbook that cover most of the content that i will study during my degree of psychology?

[@thepsychdiaries]

I just looked at my undergrad psychology outline. The first textbook (Bernstein et al. (2020). Psychology: Australia and New Zealand (3rd ed.) Cengage Australia: Melbourne, VIC.) I would recommend check out course outlines for each course here and they list the recommended textbook: www.unsw.edu.au/science/our-schools/psychology/student-life-resources/undergraduate/course-outlines

[@MohamdRagabAmmar]

that is a good one i have a general idea of what i'm looking for and this textbook covers all the topics thank you much .....@@thepsychdiaries

[@kookiemrie]

Watching this as a MT student😂

[@keitekapua7002]

What are your thoughts on written notes rather than using One Note?

[@thepsychdiaries]

I love them! (I just write slower than typing and they're harder to rearrange) but if you prefer written and can keep up with the lecturer than go for it!

[@kanikabulanichannel]

Hello

[@ablingchristineg.1154]

Miss Ro did you take Bachelor of Science in Psychology or Bachelor of Arts in psychology?? I hope you notice my question. Sending hugs from Philippines❤️

[@thepsychdiaries]

I did a Bachelor of Psychology! :) (so not arts or science) HUGS!

[@aya-jm2xs]

Hey! I am quite young and not in uni yet so my question is that how should I start learning psychology?

[@keitekapua7002]

There are plenty of books and psychology KZbin videos you can watch! You can also talk to your career advisor and ask what subjects you need to do to pursue psychology at university! Hope that helps to get you started!

[@aya-jm2xs]

@@keitekapua7002 Tysm!

[@kate-wg9hd]

I’m not in uni I’m not in any of that I’m very young but I’m gonna study anyways cause I have nothing better to do with my life :,)

[@toxic.rizzler]

how years old are you

[@haleyanderson2258]

how do you make friends in a lecture at college? It seems impossible because nobody really talks to each other because it's just a bunch of random people in a lecture.

[@thepsychdiaries]

Ooh yea it's pretty daunting! But if you see a friendly face just turn around and ask a question- chances are most people would really appreciate you making the first move and everyone's probably a lil nervous! Good luck 🤞

[@avavb3]

It’s so dumb but I’m only 13 and I already want to learn about psychology I don’t wanna wait so I’m trying to find basic classes wish me luck y’all 😅

[@ThisChannelViolatedGuidelines]

Crash-course has a pretty good series on psychology

[@amandahilleary2581]

The study notes just made me more confused.

[@sarahdavis9561]

I HATE psychology :( like i get the concepts but there are so many and they all blurr together in my mind

[@ItsDania2023]

Why study psychology, which is a study of another human. Why not study the creator, who created humanity? that’s much more interesting.

[@cardiffcityfcmorgan]

Jamworks is an excellent tool for note taking, definitely worth trying it out and can improve anyones grades