Starting university often means getting used to new systems, new ways of learning and a lot more independent study. Whether you are coming straight from school or college, returning to education after some time away, or already have experience of studying, you may find that the way you use technology at university might be different from what you have done before.
At university, you will need to work across several platforms, manage your own files, submit assignments online, find and save information, attend online sessions, or use digital tools you have not encountered before.
You don't need to know everything from the start. Developing your digital skills is part of getting settled into university and becoming more confident in managing your studies.
Digital skills are part of your university experience
Technology is now closely connected to how students learn. A 2025 survey from Jisc found that 84% of UK higher education students surveyed in 2024-25 rated the quality of their digital learning experience positively. However, the same research found that support for developing digital skills is uneven, with only 37% of students reporting opportunities to develop these skills for employment.
This highlights an important point: being able to access technology is not the same as being confident in using it effectively.
Digital skills can include knowing how to use particular software or platforms, but they can also be much more everyday than that. Knowing how to organise your files, adjust your device settings, capture useful information, or use keyboard shortcuts can make everyday study tasks easier. These small skills can add up.
So, we've created a short guide to help you explore six digital skills that you can start using that might make your studying easier. This is what we cover:
1. Working on desktop devices
A study found that online information-seeking tasks required a higher cognitive load when completed on a mobile phone than on a desktop computer (Caldiroli et al., 2023). For tasks such as reading, researching, and finding information online, a larger screen may therefore make it easier to focus on the task and navigate information.
A laptop or desktop computer can make activities such as writing assignments, working with multiple documents, and managing references easier.
You may find it useful to make the most of a larger screen by working with several windows or documents at the same time.
2. Adjusting your device settings
Your computer does not have to work in the same way as someone else's.
You can adjust settings such as text size, brightness, display options, notifications, keyboard and mouse controls, and accessibility features. Making these changes can help you create a study environment that works better for you.
This is particularly useful when you are spending long periods reading, writing, or working on screen.
3. Capturing key information with screenshots
Screenshots can be a quick way to capture information that you want to refer to later.
For example, you might capture instructions from a webpage, an important part of an online resource or something you want to discuss with someone. Learning how to take, save, and manage screenshots can help you work more efficiently.
4. Saving time with keyboard shortcuts
You probably already use some keyboard shortcuts without thinking about them, such as copying and pasting.
Learning a few more shortcuts can reduce the amount of time you spend moving between menus and using your mouse. Once you become familiar with the shortcuts you use most often, they can become part of your normal way of working.
5. Enhancing accuracy with copy and paste
Copy and paste can save time, but it is also important to use it carefully.
When moving information between documents or applications, take a moment to check that it has transferred correctly. Formatting, spacing, links, or other details can sometimes change.
Using copy and paste thoughtfully can help you work more efficiently while reducing avoidable errors.
6. Managing your files with confidence
It is easy to end up with files called things like
Essay final, Essay final 2, and Essay final FINAL
Developing a simple system for naming and organising your files can make it much easier to find what you need later. Consider using meaningful filenames, appropriate folders and reliable storage locations.
Good file management is a small habit that can save you considerable time later.
Digital skills are also employability skills
Developing your digital skills at university therefore isn't just about getting through your next assignment. It is also an opportunity to become more confident in choosing and using technology to achieve a particular purpose.
This might mean finding a more efficient way to complete a task, adapting technology to meet your needs, organising information effectively or learning a new tool when you encounter one.
These are useful habits to carry into placements, part-time work, and graduate employment.
Start with one small change
Take a few minutes to explore the Digital Skills for Study guide and choose one digital skill to develop. You can return to the guidance whenever you need a reminder.
References
- Caldiroli, C.L., Gasparini, F., Corchs, S., Mangiatordi, A., Garbo, R., Antonietti, A. and Mantovani, F. (2023) ‘Comparing online cognitive load on mobile versus PC-based devices’, Personal and Ubiquitous Computing, 27, pp. 495–505. doi:10.1007/s00779-022-01707-8
- Jisc (2025) 2024/25 UK higher education students digital experience insights survey findings. Available at: https://digitalinsights.jisc.ac.uk/reports-and-briefings/our-reports/2024-25-uk-higher-education-students-digital-experience-insights-survey-findings/ (Accessed: 9 September 2026).
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