Are you tired of studying alone? Online study groups can be the solution. They can help you:

  • Gain new perspectives.

  • Give and receive support, motivation, and inspiration.

  • Build your network through friendly connections.

Whether you're interested in joining a local or global group, starting your own, or just looking for platforms, tools, and tips, there's bound to be something out there for you!

A cartoon Zoom study group. Four characters appear in squares on the screen.

Stay Local

There are plenty of websites and platforms to find online study groups, but often the best place to start is where you are.

Many schools, colleges, and universities allow educators (and students) to create a group using Canvas, Moodle, or Piazza.

A group of students mingles in a lecture room. Photo by Adhitya Sibikumar on Unsplash

Ask your instructor, search through your institution's website, or contact student services to see if there is a group for students in your study year, discipline, or class. 🤓

Go Global

If you can't find a local online study group, there are other — global — options to find people who are organizing study groups.

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  • Search Reddit for study groups in your subject. You can try specific subreddits like r/STEMStudyGroups or general ones like r/college and r/university.

  • Search Discord for groups tagged with "study".

  • Try "study group + subject/interest/unit code" in your favorite search engine.

Platforms & Tools

If you're looking for online study groups that are a little more structured or have additional features and moderation, check out:

  • Study Together: an app and Discord server with over 700,000 members. You can study with others on camera, screen share, and chat 24/7.

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  • CSW offers tools like a timer, listen/watch-alongs, and live-streaming.

  • MoocLab and StudyStream also offer multiple online study groups.

Start Your Own Group

If you still can't find an online study group that works for you, consider starting your own! I ran an online study group over Zoom during university with four other students in my degree. It was fun and helped us to stay focused. Here are some tips:

  • Consider members carefully. Prioritize enthusiastic, committed, and supportive people.

  • Use an online meeting scheduler like Doodle to find a mutually convenient time.

  • Consider setting roles. Are you a leader? Take clear notes? Ask good questions? When each member has a role, they’re less likely to let one person do all the work. 😉

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Best Practices & Tips

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Finally, no matter what type of online study group you choose, here are a few research-backed tips to ensure success:

  • A group of 4-6 students is best.

  • Establish or follow a regular schedule that works for everyone.

  • Group members must agree upon set rules and follow through with the consequences for breaking such rules.

  • A study plan containing learning outcomes to be met during the group sessions.

Some other tips to succeed in an online study group:

  • If you're joining an organized group, make sure you attend regularly. Set aside time in your calendar to join the online study group at the same time each week.

  • Create or access a shared folder (using Google Drive, for example) where members can upload and access study materials, notes, and useful links.

  • Have fun! Bring snacks or play some icebreaker games.

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Quiz

You've invited 5 students to join your study group. What are some ways you can encourage them to contribute to the group? Select all that apply:

Take Action

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So, what are you waiting for? Prepare to join your first online study group:

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