About to start your journey at Cranfield? We’re here to help!

Congratulations on accepting your offer to study at Cranfield! If you’re keen to get a head start before your course begins, our Library Services team is here to support you every step of the way.

A great place to begin is our Welcome to new students page. Here, you’ll find everything you need to know about our library sites – including where they are, when they’re open, and how to make the most of them. You’ll also discover handy services like interlibrary loans and borrowing books by post. And if you prefer a quick overview, check out our short video introduction to Cranfield Library Services – it’s a great way to get to know what to expect from our friendly, helpful team!

We also recommend visiting our Preparing to study at Cranfield pages. They’re packed with tips and insights that other students have found helpful before starting their studies. We understand there’s a lot to take in, and we hope they make things feel a little more manageable.

• Effective note-taking: Learn how to take notes during lectures or while reading, explore mind-mapping and annotation techniques, plus digital note-taking and advice on what to do with your notes once you’ve made them.
• Preparing for assessment: Get practical advice on tackling written assignments and delivering Presentations with confidence. While assessments vary across courses, these pages give you a solid foundation.
• Time management: If you ever feel like there aren’t enough hours in the day, this page is for you. Find out how to categorise and prioritise tasks to stay on track. There’s also a link to advice tailored for neurodiverse students.
• Stress management: Starting a new chapter can be exciting – but also a bit stressful. If things ever feel overwhelming, we’ve got tips and support to help you cope.
• If you’re eager to dive into some reading, head over to our reading list software. Just enter your course or module name to see what’s recommended.

We hope you find these resources helpful as you prepare for your studies. Whether you’re joining us at Cranfield or Shrivenham, and whatever course you’re taking, we’re really looking forward to welcoming you to the library!

Photo by Lewis Keegan on Unsplash