New Student Guide

For students commencing study at ACPE, the following information is for you. If you require any assistance prior to starting your course, please call us on 1300 302 867 or email newstudents@acpe.edu.au.

Text Books

Textbooks are available for purchase from the Co-op https://www.coop.com.au/textbook/search/

Student Cards

Your student ID card is used for borrowing items from the Library and acts as your identification during examination periods. It can also be used as a concession card for full time students.

  • For on campus students, ID cards are arranged during O Week.
  • For online students, ID cards will be mailed out once ACPE has received your enrolment information along with your passport photo.
  • Please aim to get your student ID card as soon as possible as you cannot sit any examinations without it.

For questions about ID cards please see the student administration officer located on the ground floor on campus or email acpeses@acpe.edu.au.

Student Support

In addition to the academic staff, ACPE has a range of services to assist you with your studies and with making the most of College life. If you are studying on campus you will get to meet:

  •  Student Learning Services: offering assistance to students in the areas of study skills, exam preparation, essay writing, critical thinking, reading skills, numeracy and time management
  •  Career Development Services: supporting students to maximise their career opportunities
  •  Student Services: arranges a huge range of extracurricular opportunities and social activities
  •  Counsellor: supporting and promoting the on-going health and wellbeing of our students.  This is a free and confidential service provided by AccessEAP. Call 1800 336 207
  •  1800RESPECT: 1800RESPECT is funded by the Australian Government’s Department of Social Services to provide support for: People experiencing, or at risk of experiencing, sexual assault, domestic or family violence; Their friends and family; Workers and professionals supporting someone experiencing, or at risk of experiencing sexual assault, domestic or family violence. They are a confidential service available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. For more information, please visit https://www.1800respect.org.au/services/.

All these services are also available to students studying online. Please access the orientation videos available on learn.acpe.edu.au.

Accessing subject materials

Lecture notes, tutorial activities and subject resources are located on ACPE’s Learning Management System (LMS) located at https://acpe.instructure.com/login/saml/108. You will receive your log in details prior to the start of semester.

Library Services

The library is full of useful resources and friendly staff to assist you in finding what you’re looking for.

If you’re not located near the campus library or prefer to find the information you need online, you can access this via the Library website. This site boasts a plethora of resources and databases that are added and updated on a regular basis.

The Ask-a-Librarian service operates during library opening hours and provides assistance with queries related to all library services and resources.

Check out the library website regularly for exciting resources.

Tips for success

Tools of the trade

Every university student requires a home environment that is conducive to study.  A study area that is comfortable, well-lit, well-ventilated, free of clutter, and without the distractions of television and telephones is essential – as is the capacity to study in 1-2 hour blocks. It is best to have access to a computer and the internet.  It is important to reserve this space solely for study.

Organise a folder for every subject you undertake, as well as a year planner that allows you to set out assessment tasks across the semester.  Make sure you have a suitable diary in which you can compile To Do lists and keep track of Important Dates.

You will also need a range of stationery and other tools such as a dictionary and a thesaurus.

A word about time management

University is a relatively unstructured learning environment. Classes are only scheduled for part of your day; the rest of the time is yours to manage. You should expect to study for approximately 40 hours per week for a full-time course. Self-direction is vital.

Homework requirements shift. At school we may have done approximately 1 hour of homework for every 2 hours of school; at university, you can expect 2 hours of required study for every one hour of lecture or tutorial.

Assessment can be different

Many students find that assignments are longer and more involved than at school, where pupils generally have many small assignments and receive feedback on an almost daily basis. It is not unusual for university students to be overwhelmed by the sheer volume of required work, especially during peak assessment periods. Planning and organisation is essential.

Self-responsibility and self-management is required

University students are generally required to take greater responsibility for their own learning. Below are some examples:

  • Lecture groups can be large and students need to initiate contact with the lecturer
  • Students are given a reading list and expected to independently source and read the articles on it
  • Note-taking in class is essential. Class notes are not always given out

Know your priorities and work out what you want to achieve

Some people experience the comparative freedom of university and take too many extra commitments and responsibilities. Socialising is often high on the agenda, but needs to be balanced with requirements for study. The capacity to prioritise is indispensable. You will need to make intelligent, thoughtful, informed decisions about what tasks to do and when it is most productive to do them.

Have self-development goals

Be prepared to accept feedback and constructive criticism, and work to accelerate your own development in your chosen field. Flexibility and a positive attitude can help you maximise your learning experience.