Improve your academic writing this year with RLF Fellow Samantha Wynne-Rhydderch. To make an appointment please email for a booking link: samantha.wynne-rhydderch@rlfeducation.org.uk
Students at Aberystwyth University at any level of study (from 1st year to postgraduate) – and staff – are welcome to book a session.
The Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellows are professional, published authors whose role is to help you strengthen your writing. In one-to-one sessions, Samantha can help you with:
Structuring your argument
Writing clearer and more compelling prose
Rewriting and editing
Planning and time management
Tackling the word count
Critical thinking
Paraphrasing
Samantha works Wednesdays and Thursdays during term time. Sessions last 50 minutes and take place in the Hugh Owen Library on Wednesdays and the Llandinam Building on Thursdays.
Please note that RLF Writing Fellows do not undertake proofreading, or EAP or TEFL tuition.
Note: Samantha’s sessions are in English. To speak with a Welsh medium academic writing skills tutor who offers 1:1 academic support to students, please contact Dr Tamsin Davies, ted@aber.ac.uk
It’s that time again. You know the one. The countdown is on, the library is filling up, and suddenly everyone’s talking about revision and exams. We’ve all been there, and while exams aren’t exactly anyone’s favourite, they’re also your chance to show off everything you’ve learned this year.
Take a breath. You’ve got this — and support is available right here in the library.
Revision, but make it work for you
There’s no “one-size-fits-all” when it comes to revising. Some people swear by colour-coded notes and flash cards, others need background music, and some just want total silence and a strong coffee. The good news? There’s loads of support in the library to help you figure out what works best for you.
Practical guidance on how to revise effectively including where to find past papers
Different revision methods to try (beyond just re-reading notes)
Top tips and advice from your peers who’ve been through it already
Whether you’re cramming, planning weeks ahead, or somewhere in between, it’s a solid place to start.
Back to the reading list
Now’s a good time to re‑acquaint yourself with your module reading list. You don’t need to read everything cover to cover — think of it as a refresh rather than a restart.
Revisiting key texts can help you:
Fill in gaps in your understanding
Reconnect lecture topics with core readings
Strengthen your confidence when revising tricky areas
Use your reading list to focus on essential chapters or sections linked to exam topics, and dip back into recommended texts for clarification or examples. The library has copies available so you can revisit the material whenever it suits your revision routine. You can find everything easily through the Aspire reading lists and Primo, the library catalogue, to check availability, access online texts, your borrowing history, or locate items on the shelves.
Effective Study Collection
Not sure how to revise, not just what to revise? The Library’s Effective Study Collection has your back.
This print and online collection is packed with revision and study skills books designed to help you study smarter. Whether you’re looking for quick tips or a full revision strategy overhaul, these books are perfect for dipping into when you need extra guidance. Ideal for brushing up on skills, boosting confidence, or trying a new approach to studying. Have a browse next time you’re in – you’ll find the collection on Level F, opposite the lift in the Hugh Owen Library, and opposite the Enquiry Desk in the Physical Sciences Library.
Find Your Perfect Study Spot
It’s all about location, location, location! If you need quiet focus time, the Hugh Owen Library,and the Physical Sciences Library on campus, as well as The Workstation in town have plenty of quiet study spaces designed for revision.
Prefer to revise on your own? The Library’s individual study carrels are a great choice. Designed for focused, independent study, they give you the space to concentrate, work through your notes, and tackle revision at your own pace. When you want fewer distractions and maximum focus, these are the perfect setup.
Prefer revising with friends? Group study rooms are also available – perfect for talking things through, testing each other, or just feeling a bit less alone during long revision days.
Night owl? Early‑morning crammer? Somewhere in between? Revision doesn’t keep office hours — and neither does the library. During the exam and revision period, all floors of the Hugh Owen Library are open 24/7 so you can dip into a book, double‑check a reference, or squeeze in some last‑minute revision whenever motivation strikes. And if you’re studying after core hours and fancy revising at 2am, just make sure you’ve got your Aber Card to get in and out of the Hugh Owen Library.
Exams are challenging – there’s no denying it – but when you step back, just remember that they are just one part of your university journey. Be kind to yourself, take breaks, eat actual meals (not just snacks), and get some sleep. Making the most of the revision support and study spaces available in the library can really help you stay on track.
You’ve learned a lot — now’s the time to bring it all together.
Having fun while speaking Welsh is the theme of this year’s Shwmae Su’mae campaign led by Mentrau Iaith Cymru. The event, which takes place annually on 15 October, is a national celebration of the Welsh language, wherever you live and whatever your level.
Whilst you’re here at Aberystwyth University, why not take advantage of some of the many special opportunities and resources available for learning Welsh?
Welsh courses delivered by Learn Welsh are free for Aberystwyth University students and staff. Find more information here: https://www.aber.ac.uk/en/learn-welsh/
To support your learning, the library has many thousands of Welsh-language resources for Welsh learners and speakers in our Celtic Collection. Here’s just a selection of what’s available on the library shelves.
We also have many Welsh-speaking or learning members of staff who can be identified by their orange lanyards. Felly rhowch gynnig ar siarad Cymraeg heddiw!
The first Shwmae Su’mae Day was held on 15 October, 2013 to promote the idea of starting every conversation in Welsh. The aim of the day is to show that Welsh belongs to everyone – fluent speakers, learners and those who feel their linguistic skills are a little rusty.
Do you remember that night-vision camera footage that was making the rounds on social media recently, the one showing a gang of bunnies bouncing around on a trampoline? It was brilliant, wasn’t it?
The only problem? It was fake (as is this picture!)
Whilst the bunny bouncing footage was just a bit of fun and was (to quote the late, great Douglas Adams) mostly harmless, it does highlight how convincing AI-generated videos can be, and how quickly they can spread across the world. Remember, while Mark Twain almost certainly didn’t say, “A lie can travel around the world before the truth has got its boots on,” it’s still a great quote (and yes, there’s a certain irony in using a misattributed line in a blog about misinformation, but that just goes to show how careful we all need to be with what we read online). The sentiment still hits home, especially in an age where AI-generated content can spread faster than ever and look alarmingly real.
The bunny footage is a fun example, but it raises a serious point: in a world where anyone can create realistic-looking content with a few clicks, how do you know what’s real and what’s not? And what does this mean for you as a student, especially when you’re researching, writing assignments, or just scrolling through your feed?
Here’s where your library can really make a difference.
Navigating the world of AI-generated content and misinformation can feel like an almost impossible task, but you don’t have to do it alone. The library is here to offer support. Whether you’re working on an assignment, preparing a presentation, or just trying to make sense of what’s real and what’s not online, library staff can help you develop the critical skills needed to evaluate information effectively.
To help you navigate all this, we’ve put together a dedicated AI Literacy Course, which you’ll find in your Organisations section on Blackboard. We’ve also created a handy guide on spotting fake news and misinformation. Another guide explains how AI tools work and how to evaluate information using the brilliantly named CRAAP test, useful whether you’re using books, search engines, or AI tools.
All these online resources are designed to help you become a more confident and discerning researcher. And remember, if you’re ever unsure about how reliable something is, or just want a second opinion, you can always ask us for advice. We’re here to help.
