Critical Thinking at University: An Introduction
Build practical critical-thinking skills for academic study
Critical Thinking at University: An Introduction is an online course offered by the University of Leeds that explains the principles of critical thinking in an academic context and introduces a practical model for analysing arguments and evidence. It uses guided reflections and applied activities to help learners translate abstract concepts into classroom and research practice.
Designed for prospective undergraduates, new postgraduates and learners seeking to strengthen academic skills, the course focuses on reflective practice, source evaluation and strategy development so reasoning becomes more disciplined and transferable across disciplines. Participants complete short activities and peer discussions to produce a personal action plan for continued improvement.
At a Glance
Critical Thinking at University: An Introduction is an online course taught by educators at the University of Leeds that explains what critical thinking means in a university context and offers practical strategies to develop those skills.
It focuses on transferable approaches and reflective activities designed to prepare learners for academic study across disciplines.
| Level | Beginner |
| Rating | 4.6 out of 5 |
| Duration | 2 weeks |
| Languages | English |
| Certificate | Certificate available on completion (requires ≥90% of steps completed and all assessments) |
| Access | Free access on FutureLearn with an optional upgrade for extended access and certificate |
| Course includes |
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| Price | Free with an optional paid certificate/upgrade |
What This Course Teaches
This course frames outcomes as measurable competencies you can demonstrate in academic work, emphasizing reflective practice, conceptual explanation, challenge identification, and strategy development. By completing the activities you will be able to reflect on your approach, explain key concepts, identify obstacles, and develop practical strategies to improve your reasoning.
How the Course Is Structured
The course is organised as a short, thematic sequence of activities delivered over two weeks and split into two main weekly modules; learners progress through a mix of step-based activities rather than long lectures. In total the syllabus lists ten discrete activity steps across the two-week programme, and the published structure frames learning as week-by-week guided tasks.
Curriculum overview
01 Welcome ▾
Introduces the course and what critical thinking means in a university context, setting expectations for learning activities.
02 What is critical thinking? ▾
Establishes learners’ existing ideas and introduces a working definition of critical thinking with everyday examples.
- Initial reflection activity
03 A model for critical thinking ▾
Introduces the Learnhigher critical thinking model to support a systematic, analytical approach to study tasks.
04 Why is critical thinking important at university? ▾
Explains the relevance of critical thinking for academic success and illustrates differences across levels of study with examples and testimonies.
05 Summary ▾
Wraps up week one with a concise summary of key points and a glossary of terms introduced so far.
06 Welcome to Week 2 ▾
Sets out the week’s focus on practical strategies to overcome challenges to critical thinking and prepares learners for applied activities.
07 Challenges to thinking critically at university ▾
Identifies common barriers students face when trying to think critically and prompts reflection on those specific challenges.
08 How can you improve your critical thinking? ▾
Presents practical strategies and examples for addressing the challenges identified and supports learners in applying these approaches.
09 How will critical thinking help you at university? ▾
Examines the practical outcomes of applying critical thinking across academic tasks and guides learners to plan continued development.
- Action plan creation
10 Summary ▾
Concludes the course with signposted further resources to support ongoing development of critical thinking skills.
Audience & Requirements
This course targets prospective university students preparing for academic study, current undergraduates and taught postgraduates who may be unfamiliar with UK study conventions, and professionals seeking a concise refresh of academic critical-thinking skills. It is best suited to learners who want practical, discipline-neutral strategies they can apply across essay writing, seminar discussion, and research planning.
- Prospective university students preparing for academic study.
- Current undergraduates or new taught postgraduates, especially those new to UK study styles.
- Professionals seeking a short, practical refresh of academic critical-thinking skills.
- No special prerequisites or prior subject-specific knowledge.
- Willingness to complete written reflections and participate in peer discussion activities.
- Proficiency in English sufficient for academic reading and written tasks.
Final Verdict
This is a practical, accessible introduction to university-level critical thinking that represents good value for learners seeking transferable, evidence-based strategies. Given its strong user rating and placement on a platform that supports a global classroom, the course reliably teaches measurable competencies and offers an optional paid certificate for those who want formal recognition.
Recommended for prospective undergraduates, early postgraduates, and professionals who need a concise, discipline-neutral refresher; it is less suitable for learners seeking deep, subject-specific practice or extended hands-on training.
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