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Peer-assisted study sessions
Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) is a free peer-facilitated learning program available to students enrolled in most core units of study in the University of Sydney Business School, selected undergraduate and Juris Doctor units in the University of Sydney Law School and select units in the Faculty of Arts and Social Sciences.
- What's involved
- Eligibility and registration
- Sessions and materials
What's involved
COVID-19 update: PASS has moved to online delivery
As units of study work to transition to online delivery, we are doing the same. We understand it's a difficult time and want to ensure we can still deliver our program to you from the comfort of your own home.
From 30 March, we will be introducing online interactive sessions. If you're registered for PASS, we will email you this week with information on how to access these sessions. You will still be able to access the materials you need each week on our PASS Canvas site.
PASS involves weekly hour-long sessions where you work in groups of 10 to 16 students to answer specially prepared activities and problem questions, based around a unit of study you’re enrolled in. Find a list of the units of study where PASS is available.
PASS doesn’t re-teach or deliver new content. It’s an opportunity to reinforce key points from lecture and tutorial materials while applying your skills to solve problem questions. The atmosphere of the sessions is relaxed, friendly and low-pressure and you’re encouraged to ask questions and raise concerns with content.
Sessions are led by trained PASS facilitators, who recently excelled in the same unit of study. The facilitator doesn’t re-teach lecture material, but rather guides group interaction and problem solving.
You work interactively with your peers, benefiting not only from group learning but also from the recent experience of your facilitator. As a peer group, generally you decide what is covered in each session. That way, PASS directly responds to your needs and feedback.
Find out about becoming a PASS facilitator.
When PASS sessions begin
Registration for both undergraduate and postgraduate units in Semester 1 will open at 9am, Monday 24 February. However, programs for undergraduate and postgraduate units start on different dates.
PASS sessions for Undergraduate units start in the week beginning on 2 March.
PASS sessions for Postgraduate units will start in the week beginning the 16 March. This accommodates the start of the Master of Commerce and the Master of Professional Accounting degrees.
Juris Doctor sessions begin in Semester 1, start in Week 3 (the week beginning 9 March).
Additional sessions may be opened up in the following weeks to deal with unexpected student demand.
Benefits of PASS
Statistics from previous years have shown that students who attend PASS regularly generally achieve higher grades in their PASS units than those who don't attend. They are also less likely to fail the unit.
Attending PASS regularly can also help improve your:
- academic performance. If you attend more than 10 sessions in a semester, you’re more likely to achieve a final grade in your PASS units of study approximately 8-20 marks higher than students who don’t attend PASS.
- ability to study effectively. Studying and collaborating with high-achieving peers and setting your own agenda are highly effective study techniques.
- transition to university studies and understanding of course expectations. By getting to know students across different years of your course, you can learn first hand about the University’s culture and expectations for learning.
- communication, team work, critical thinking and discipline-specific language skills. Studying with peers and regularly working in positive and productive team environments will help you develop a range of graduate attributes.
- experience of academic support. If you’re reluctant to ask your lecturer questions, PASS facilitators are an approachable alternative and many will have experienced the same problems you’re having. You can discuss these problems in a confidential and informal context. Regular feedback in a supportive, student-centred environment will also help you learn more effectively.
- learning autonomy. You’re encouraged to take responsibility for your learning and develop lifelong learning skills.
- self-confidence.
It’s also a great way to meet new people and make friends.
You don’t have to be ‘struggling’ to attend. PASS is for all students who want to improve their academic performance.
PASS in Sociology
Discussing ideas and applying them in different contexts is key to learning to write and think like a sociologist. PASS in Sociology offers a friendly environment to support you in critically engaging with thinkers, their theories and key concepts.
Through discussions with your peers, you will deepen your ability to understand and undertake sociological analysis. PASS is an opportunity to focus on the areas you're most concerned about and develop your skills in collaboration with your peers.
PASS in Law
Law is an ideal discipline for a strongly student-driven support program. In Law you’ll address dense and complicated material that requires extensive and careful reading. PASS offers a great opportunity to concentrate on the areas you’re most concerned about in a supportive student-centred learning environment.
Law’s focus on problem solving and appreciating the value of different approaches mean that peer collaboration is important in the learning process. PASS in Law facilitates collaboration over problem questions and encourages greater engagement.
PASS units of study
PASS will be held for the following units of study in 2020:
Undergraduate
- ACCT1006 Accounting and Financial Management
- ACCT2019 Management Accounting
- BUSS1000 Future of Business
- BUSS1020 Quantitative Business Analysis
- BUSS1030 Accounting, Business and Society
- BUSS1040 Economics for Business Decision Making
- CLAW1001 Foundations of Business Law
- FINC2011 Corporate Finance I
- FINC2012 Corporate Finance II
- INFS1000 Digital Business Innovation
- LAWS1015 Contracts
- LAWS1023 Public International Law
- SCLG1001 Introduction to Sociology 1
Postgraduate
- ACCT5001 Accounting Principles
- ACCT6001 Intermediate Financial Reporting
- BUSS5020 Business Insights
- CLAW5001 Legal Environment of Business
- QBUS5001 Quantitative Methods for Business
- FINC5001 Capital Markets and Corporate Finance
- LAWS5001 Torts
- LAWS5002 Contracts
Undergraduate
- ACCT1006 Accounting and Financial Management
- ACCT2019 Management Accounting
- BUSS1000 Future of Business
- BUSS1020 Quantitative Business Analysis
- BUSS1030 Accounting, Business and Society
- BUSS1040 Economics for Business Decision Making
- CLAW1001 Foundations of Business Law
- FINC2011 Corporate Finance I
- FINC2012 Corporate Finance II
- INFS1000 Digital Business Innovation
- LAWS1012 Torts
- LAWS1016 Criminal Law
- LAWS1017 Torts and Contracts II
- SCLG1002 Introduction to Sociology 2
Postgraduate
- ACCT5001 Accounting Principles
- ACCT6001 Intermediate Financial Reporting
- BUSS5020 Business Insights
- QBUS5001 Quantitative Methods for Business
- FINC5001 Capital Markets and Corporate Finance
- CLAW5001 Legal Environment of Business
- LAWS5004 Criminal Law
- LAWS5005 Public International Law
- LAWS5006 Torts and Contracts II
Last updated: 01 April 2020
