As students at Mount Kigali University (MKU) complete their first round of Continuous Assessment Tests (CATs) this semester, many have turned their focus to finding better ways of studying and revising. While strong grades remain a key priority, students say they are also learning to balance academic work with personal life and extracurricular commitments.
For some, revision has been a difficult task due to procrastination or the challenge of managing large volumes of coursework. With different subjects requiring different learning approaches, students have started adopting strategies tailored to their own strengths.
“It’s easier to revise notes when they are broken into the most important parts,” said Moshtaha Ayimana, a third-semester Nursing student, who prefers simplified notes and key-point summaries.
Others are turning to visual methods to improve understanding and memory. Dan Gahunde, a second-semester ICT and Business student, explained:
“Practical and complex topics become easier to remember as pictures and drawings, with theory being easier to remember through text.”
Teaching staff have also noticed the evolving study habits and agree that students need a mindset shift. Catheline Abuko, a Language and Communication lecturer at MKU, said many students still view studying narrowly:
“Students see studying as a chore they need to get over rather than refreshing knowledge gained from class.”
To support these changes, lecturers and student leaders have encouraged the use of group discussions, scheduled revision times, and digital learning resources to help keep students engaged and organized throughout the semester.
Although revision can seem demanding, MKU continues to promote studying as a skill that grows over time rather than a source of stress. Students believe that by learning new techniques now, they can boost their performance not just in university, but also in their future professional lives.
