Effective Note Taking For Academic Purposes
Date:
2 June 2026
Time:
2:00PM
Location:
Rewley House, Oxford, or Online
Event status:
Closed to registrations
Location:
Rewley House, Oxford, or Online
Dates:
2 June 2026
Format:
Hybrid (in person or online)
Level:
Postgraduate
Fees:
FREE
About the session
Why and how should notes be taken for students undertaking postgraduate study? In the first part of this interactive workshop, students will share their prior experiences of taking notes for academic purposes and collaboratively build on one another’s ideas. Together, the group will develop a shared understanding of why effective note‑taking is an essential academic skill. In the second part of this session, Anna Gleiden will exemplify how she takes notes visually and will invite you to try this method too. Both Sarah and Anna will also invite a collaborative reciprocal discussion about what works for you and why.
Key learning outcomes
- A clear understanding of the purpose of note taking for research purposes.
- An awareness of a range of note taking techniques, applicable to individual learning styles.
- Enhanced confidence in the ability to make efficient, retrievable and usable notes.
Dr Sarah Frodsham is a Co-Director of the Graduate School and the Chair of Ethics at Oxford Lifelong Learning, University of Oxford.
Anna Glieden is a DPhil student in French literature at Oxford, focusing on eighteenth-century writings on sculpture. Interested in visual note-taking, she also works on making complex concepts more understandable and engaging.
Essential readings
- Cottrell, S., The Study skills Handbook, 5th Edition (Red Globe Press, 2019)
- McPherson, F., Effective Notetaking: Strategies to Help You Study Effectively (Wayz Press, 2012)
Further readings
- Ahrens, S., How to Take Smart Notes: One Simple Technique to Boost, Writing, Learning and Thinking – for Students, Academics and Nonfiction Book Writers (Create Space Independent Publishing Platform, 2017)
- Godfrey, J., Reading and Making Notes, 3rd Edition (London: Bloomsbury Publishing, 2023)
- Burns, T., & Sinfield, Essential Study Skills: The Complete Guide To Success at University. 3rd Edition (London: Sage, 2012)
- Becker, L., How To Manage Your Postgraduate Course (New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2004)
Who can register for this event?
Oxford University postgraduate students only.
When and where
Tuesday 02 June 2026, 2-4pm UK time (14:00 – 16:00 BST).
This event can be attended in person or online.
If attending online, we recommend joining 5-10 minutes before the session starts. Joining instructions will be sent out in advance of the event via email.
If joining us in person at Rewley House:
Graduate School Room
Rewley House
1 Wellington Square
Oxford
OX1 2JA
For details of parking and accessibility, please see the University’s access guide.
To book your place, please select the green ‘book now’ button.
You must register using your Oxford University email address.
As a graduate student at the University of Oxford you become a member of one of the most highly regarded educational and research institutions in the world. The Graduate School will help you make the most of the wealth of resources and opportunities available, drawing on our extensive experience in supporting graduate study. While aimed mainly at research students, many sessions are also open to taught postgraduate students. As well as training session sessions and events we also offer accredited short courses.
To find out more about the Graduate School, and the training available to Oxford University students, please see Graduate School training for Oxford University students.
Register your place
Please register using your Oxford University email address.
