HAS (Herts Academic Skills)– HML Team
The Herts Academic Skills - HML team are here to support you in enhancing your academic skills and confidence. The HAS-HML team are based in the school of Health, Medicine and Life Sciences (HML) and made up of colleagues from the former SSAS (Student Success and Academic Skills) and ASU (Academic Support Unit) teams. Find out more about the services, resources and opportunities to fulfil your academic potential by accessing our new Canvas site.
⚠️HML students should enrol onto our new Canvas page here: www.go.herts.ac.uk/HAS-HML this will enable easy access to our sessions, updates, calendar of support and resources.
- How can the HAS-HML team help you?
- How do I access sessions?
- Academic Skills Workshops
- One-to-one sessions and Study Chats
- Resources for HML Students
- How to contact our team
How can the HAS-HML team help you?
Whether you are studying in the UK for the first time, about to embark on a placement or internship as part of your studies or a degree apprenticeship learner, the HAS-HML team are here to maximise your success at university and beyond.
We run regular one-to-one sessions and workshop. These interactive and practical sessions are designed to build core academic skills alongside specialist support for HML disciplines. We cover topics like:
- Structuring your essays, reports and dissertations
- Understanding the difference between critique and critical analysis
- Communicating effectively during academic presentations
- Correctly and efficiently referencing sources
- Ensuring your revision and exam strategies are effective
- Scientific, critical and reflective writing skills development
- Software specialist support and guidance (e.g. SPSS, Qualtrics, Mendeley)
How do I access sessions?
Our HAS-HML sessions are available to all undergraduate and taught postgraduate students currently registered on a course within our HML school. Please visit our Canvas site for full details of these and ensure you click the 'JOIN' button to get updates from us throughout the academic year. You'll find out more about our bookable and drop-in style workshops, one-to-one and study chat sessions and a range of self-study and student-focussed resources and materials for assignments in the HML school disciplines.
Academic Skills Workshops
From October 2025 through to the Summer of 2026, we will be offering a range of workshops to students.
These sessions are typically 60mins long, within a relaxed and inclusive environment for students from across the school and with time for Q&A and discussion built-in. It's up to you how interactive you'd like to be.
💡 Did you know?: We run more than 30 different workshop types throughout Semester A and Semester B. These are either a drop-in style workshop (HML skills) or bookable small-group sessions (HML specialist). Make sure you're enroled onto the canvas page to get updates about both!
Drop-in style HML Skills Workshops - these workshops are focused on generic academic skills and will be announced on the day via Canvas announcements. These will either be online or hybrid (on campus and online) and you simply drop in at the start. Sessions and topics include:
- referencing, sourcing information and academic integrity
- projects and dissertation support
- critical analysis and appraisal
- revision and exam techniques
Bookable HML Specialist Workshops - these workshops are focused on more specialist skills and software and require you to book in advance so we can ensure you have information in advance and after the session to make the most. Sessions and topics include:
- Scientific Writing for Lab reports
- SPSS and Qualtrics
- Mendeley and Excel support
You can access our list of upcoming workshops by clicking the Workshops button on Canvas.
One-to-one sessions and Study Chats
Our team of dedicated academic support staff offer generic help and advice through bookable one-to-one sessions. These sessions are usually 30-minutes long, must be booked in advance and can take place on campus or on-line with a member of the team. We do not proof-read work, and will you to come prepared with your work, brief and questions. We can, for example:
- provide guidance on referencing
- make sense of tutor feedback to improve your future assignments
- give advice on how to critically evaluate a short text
- direct you to further resources to help you with your studies (e.g. other UH workshops and on-line resources)
Please see our canvas page and click on the one-to-one button session with us. Please ensure you select your department as part of the booking process so we can ensure you are seen by the relevant colleague.
We also offer regular Study Chats, a chance to speak more informally about your approach to and revision for exams with an associate professor in learning and teaching. These are popular with students who want to get a steer on what, how and when best to study in preparation for assessments like Multiple choice questions (MCQs) and timed essay questions. Full details by clicking the Study Chats button our HAS-HML canvas page.
🎯 A reminder that we don't read or mark drafts of your work, nor can we proofread or edit your assignments but we will work with you, your assignment brief, marking criteria and previous feedback to ensure your work meets expectations and we maximise your academic potential. We work to empower you with the awareness and tools to continually improve your academic skills.
Resources for HML Students
Over the past few years we have developed a series of self-guided resources for students from across all discplines in our school. Students and Programme teams can make use of our student Resources Packs, a handy and user-friendly guide on a range of key academic skills relevant for your assginments, from active reading through to apps and software for productive study sessions. Check them out by clicking the Resources button when on our HAS-HML canvas page.
We also have a dedicated HML-Skills unit with useful tips and techniques to help re-focus your study habits to more effective and efficient approaches, with guidance on note-taking, time-management and how to maximise your potential in exam settings. Take a look by clicking HSK-Skills button when on our HAS-HML canvas page.
How to contact our team
Our team of friendly academic skills advisors are here to support and guide you through your academic journey. From your induction and first assessment, to your last assessment and graduation, we’ll be there every step of the way to boost your academic skills and confidence and to celebrate your success!
The best way to contact us is by email to has-hml@herts.ac.uk (include your ID number, name and query).
We have two offices on College Lane campus: Room C106 (Life and Medical sciences programmes) and Room LF271 (Health and Social Work programmes).
You can also call us on +44(0)1707 286530 (ext 3530)
🔍 While we will do our best to support any and all queries that come our way, programme or module related queries should be sent to the respective academic in charge as listed on your Canvas module site or as instructed during induction sessions.
Our friendly team is below - do say hi if you see us on campus :)
