Identify Time to Study. If you are employed by an organisation, they may give you study leave; otherwise you will need to study in your own time. The important thing is to plan a regular slot each week. You might also want your agency to give you some acknowledgement of your achievements.

Decide on your Study Group - could be a peer group, just one colleague, or a trusted supervisor for your topic discussions. Arrange your meeting times at the start of each topic and use these as the deadline for completion. The aim of the Study Group is to sharpen up your thoughts on what you have learned.

A Learning Journal is a way for you to record new ideas and concepts as you go along. You can use a notebook or create an electronic document to record your learning. We encourage you to do this as it is an important first step to take when completing the course; it enables you to write and create diagrams as you engage in the various course activities. Some entries may be short and specific whereas others will allow you to reflect on what you have read or learned. Noting your reflections can deepen your learning experience. The key is to make it a fun and interesting experience rather than a chore.

Now have a look at the Checklist to ensure that you have everything in place before you start...