3 steps to start your own successful virtual study group 💻 🎒

Have you ever stared at your notes for hours, only to realize you haven't actually learned anything? Or have you wondered if you’re even on the right track with an assignment?

You don’t have to figure it out alone.

Whether you’re in high school, college, or taking online courses after work, your online study group can make learning way less stressful and more fun.

With a virtual study group, you can exchange ideas, keep each other motivated, and stay on track.

The best study groups aren’t just random people, they’re made up of your peers who actually want to learn together.

Here are some things to remember when forming your study group:

Form Small Groups

Aim for 3–5 members. This number is big enough for different perspectives but small enough to keep things organized and make sure everyone participates.

Invite Members

Ask around in class or bring it up during lunch to see who’s interested. If you're in an online school, drop a message in your class group chat or course forum to see who’s in.

Choose Reliable Members

Try to find people who show up, respect everyone’s time, and are ready to contribute.

Engineering student Fatima Hussain explains why it’s important to have the right study group partners in the video below:

A good virtual study group needs tech tools that are easy to use, reliable, and of course free!

Photo by Surface on Unsplash

You and your study group partners will need to consider various tech options for online communication and collaboration. Here are some tools that can help you:

Video Conferencing Platforms

• Zoom — free plan allows 40-minute calls for up to 100 people

  Pros: stable connection, breakout rooms, widely used

  Cons: 40-minute limit on free calls

• Google Meet — free with a Google account

  Pros: 60 minutes for groups, integrates with Google Calendar

  Cons: fewer advanced features

• Microsoft Teams — free plan with a Microsoft account.

  Pros: Built-in file sharing, good for schools already using Microsoft tools

  Cons: can feel clunky for beginners

Productivity Tools

• Google Docs — free with a Google account.

  Pros: real-time collaboration, autosaves your work, easy to share

  Cons: limited offline mode

• Notion — free personal plan

  Pros: combines notes, tasks, and databases in one

  Cons: steeper learning curve

• Trello— free basic plan

  Pros: visual task tracking

  Cons: not great for long-form notes

Group Chat Apps

• Messenger — free with a Facebook/Meta account

  Pros: widely used, file sharing, built-in video chat

  Cons: potential distractions from personal chats

• WhatsApp — free

  Pros: works on mobile, encrypted, supports voice notes

  Cons: limited file type support

• Discord — free

  Pros: channels for topics, voice & video chat, screen sharing

  Cons: easy to get distracted in public servers

Without structure, a virtual study group is just a hangout that happens to be on Zoom.

Assign a Leader

Pick someone to host each session, send out the link, set the agenda, and keep things moving. You can agree to switch up so everyone will get a chance to lead the study session.

Decide on Frequency & Timing

Once or twice a week usually works best. Keep it consistent so it becomes a habit.

For example:

• High school/college: late afternoon or early evening

• Young professionals: evenings or weekends work better

Set Goals Before Each Meeting

Decide what you’ll cover (e.g., review chapters, solve problem sets, prepare for a test, etc.). Share it ahead of time so everyone is prepared and no one’s lost when the session starts.

Keep It Focused

Stick to 45–90 minutes. If you need to study longer, schedule short breaks every hour.

Leave Room for Social Time

End with a few minutes to talk about non-school stuff. It makes the group feel more friendly and fun to come back to.

Ready to start your own virtual study group?