Student News

The revision and exams period can be a stressful time, however, there are lots of proactive steps we can take to maintain our health, wellbeing and focus throughout this period. 

Here we’ve rounded up some top tips to help you feel calm and in control during revision and exam season… 

UofG Support Finder

If you'd like to find the right support, use the Support Finder to discover the right wellbeing services for you.

You can find the Support Finder plus lots of further information on support for your health and wellbeing through the Student Wellbeing Hompage.

Maintain the basics… 

When life is stressful, it can be really easy to stop maintaining the basics, but these are the things that give us a solid platform and keep us steady when life is challenging.

Try and keep a focus on: 

• Drinking lots of water - people often underestimate how much hydration helps our cognitive functioning! 
• Eating well - try to minimise sugar and caffeine and eat a rainbow of fresh fruit and veg. 
• Getting quality sleep, around 8 hours a night - if you're stressed, or struggling to relax and it’s affecting your sleep, there are lots of ways to aid getting a restful night. 
• Keep active – regular movement is a great de-stressor and helps keep us feeling fresher and more alert. Do some desk stretching, go for a short walk or throw on some upbeat music and dance around! Check out UofG Sports for plenty more info, including stretches you can do at your desk. 

Get a good routine in place and set realistic goals… 

• Think about when and where you work best - not everyone is a morning person, and there's no one best place or time to work - it's about what works for you. If you need to access the library as a place to study, you can check availability via the UofG Life App. 
• Form a realistic revision plan (remember, no one can study five subjects in one day) - having a clear plan of action helps to give us a sense of being in control and on top of what we need to do. Equally, don’t panic if you don’t stick rigidly to your plan – tomorrow is a new day. SLD have lots of information and resources on exams, assessment and study.
• Take frequent breaks - research tells us that we can only concentrate properly for 30-45 minutes. Try using a technique like Pomodoro to structure your revision into bitesize chunks, and when you do take a break make sure you don’t stay at your desk! 

Relax and take time off… 

It can be tempting to think we need to study and prep constantly, but this can be counter-productive and deplete your mental and physical energy levels, meaning you are less productive and less focused. Identify the things that re-energise and relax you and make sure to include these in your revision plans. Having a good balance is just as important as the amount of time spent studying! 

Ground yourself and remember to breathe... 

If you feel your anxiety rising at any point, try a simple grounding technique, ‘5,4,3,2,1’

Simply pause, and find 5 things you can see, 4 things you can hear, 3 things you can smell, 2 things you can touch, and 1 thing you can taste. This will help ground you in the present moment, improving focus and enhancing a greater sense of calm in those stressful moments. 

Keep it in perspective… 

How you do in an exam does not define you as a person; we all cope differently under pressure and there is so much more to who you are as a person beyond how you do in an exam. 

If you’re struggling, talk to someone… 

All students have access to our 24/7 Student Advice line (including access to Language Line, so you can speak in your native language) and partner app (which features live chat function and video calling), provided by Health Assured.

If you are experiencing difficulties with your mental health that is affecting your ability to function well, you can also self-refer to Counselling & Wellbeing for one-to-one support.

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Additional Support & Resources 

As well as the above support options, there are a number of services available: 

• Our trained Student Listeners can offer confidential support on issues such as exam stress and loneliness. 

• Our Student Support Officers can support with issues and challenges you might be experiencing.

• If you are a student living in halls of residence you can contact your Residence Life Team who are on hand for support, welfare issues and signposting. 
  
  
• The student conduct team is here to make sure you get the most out of your in-person and online exam experience, including resources on what to expect in an exam hall, what you can bring with you and more. 

The UofG Life app also provides useful links to health and wellbeing resources available to students. You can download the app via Apple Store and Google Play. You can also access the app via the University’s app website.

First published: 2 April 2026