Academic Skills for UK University
A step-by-step workbook for international students starting a UK degree — how to choose the right course, read and write at degree level, reference correctly, think critically, and manage the pressure of academic life.
Agnieszka WargośUniversity lecturer, 20+ years teaching international students. Author of 37+ language coursebooks.
Who this book is for
If any of this sounds familiar, this workbook was written for you.
You’re starting (or about to start) a UK degree as an international student and nobody has explained how UK universities actually want you to work.
You’re on a pre-sessional or foundation course and need a practical bridge between English proficiency and real academic work.
You’ve lost marks for things nobody warned you about — paraphrasing too closely, weak referencing, or a critical-thinking gap in your essays.
You want a plan, not a pep talk — a worked example and a quiz in every chapter, not vague motivational advice.
What trips international students up
Four problems this workbook deals with directly — not in theory, with worked practice.
„I didn’t know that counted as plagiarism”
Changing a few words isn’t paraphrasing if the sentence structure matches the original. Chapter 7 shows exactly where the line is, with practice exercises.
Essays that read like spoken English
Paragraph architecture, academic tone, and the structure UK markers actually expect — taught through worked examples, not rules to memorise.
„Just describe it” isn’t enough at degree level
How to evaluate sources, build an argument, and use AI tools ethically and effectively — without getting flagged for misuse.
Assessment briefs, deadlines, group work
Reading an assessment brief correctly, managing time under pressure, and handling group work and presentations without last-minute panic.
Inside the workbook
Twelve chapters, same proven structure every time: a worked example, guided practice, and a quiz with an explained answer key.
1. Demystifying UK Higher Education
How the system actually works
2. Course Research & Application Planning
Choosing the right course with confidence
3. Academic Readiness
What „ready” really means
4. Your First Term
Assessment briefs, support, time management
5. Strategic Reading & Note-Taking
Reading at degree-level speed
6. Academic Writing
Paragraph architecture that works
7. Referencing
Avoiding plagiarism, properly
8. Digital Research
Evaluating sources critically
9. Critical Thinking & Argumentation
Building an argument that holds up
10. AI in Academic Study
Ethical, effective, not flagged
11. Assessment Prep & Wellbeing
Managing pressure without burning out
12. Group Work & Presentations
Plus a full Capstone project
A practical, classroom-tested skills guide for any subject — not a general motivational book, but a workbook you actually use. Print book — no audio or video recordings.
Get your copy
Academic Skills for UK University
Kindle £9.83 · Paperback £17.40 · Free sample chapter available on request
About the author
Agnieszka Wargoś is a British-Polish author and university lecturer with over 20 years of language-teaching and English for Academic Purposes (EAP) experience in the United Kingdom. Her catalogue runs to 37+ titles, each written to the same rigorous, classroom-tested standard as her CEFR-aligned language courses — worked example, guided practice, and an explained answer key, every time.
She teaches academic skills and EAP at university level, and this workbook is built from what she actually sees international students struggle with in their first year — not from a generic study-skills template.
Questions
Is this book just for UK universities, or does it work anywhere?
Does it include audio or video?
Do I need a teacher to use it?
Is this suitable for any subject?
Start your UK degree prepared, not surprised.
One workbook, twelve chapters, everything international students are rarely told before day one.