NotebookLM: the study tool that makes your notes actually useful

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Too many lecture slides? Dense PDFs? Notes everywhere?
NotebookLM is one of the best free AI study tools out there for turning messy study material into something clear, organised and much easier to work with. It’s been featured in QUB student-facing AI and digital learning resources, including guidance from the Centre for Educational Development, as a practical way to support learning

What NotebookLM actually does

NotebookLM is Google’s AI research and study tool. You upload your own materials — such as lecture notes, PDFs, websites or other sources — and it helps you work with your content rather than giving random answers from the internet. Google says it can analyse your sources, turn complexity into clarity, and act as a thinking partner for study and research.

Why students tend to love it

It can help you:

  • summarise long readings into clearer key points
  • ask questions about your notes and get answers linked back to your sources
  • create study guides, quizzes and flashcards for revision
  • generate audio overview podcast so you can listen back while walking, commuting or resting
  • spot themes, connections and gaps across multiple sources
  • break down overwhelming reading into something more manageable and structured

For a lot of students, that means less staring at a wall of text and more actually understanding what you’re meant to know.

What the free version gives you

At the time of writing, the free version of NotebookLM includes:

  • 100 notebooks
  • up to 50 sources per notebook
  • 50 chat queries per day
  • 3 audio generations per day

That is a generous free version for most students using it for weekly reading, revision, essay planning or module organisation.

Why it’s useful as a digital study support tool

Used well, NotebookLM is best thought of as a digital study support tool. It can help you organise information, revise more efficiently, understand difficult material, and learn in a way that suits you better. QUB’s student AI guidance makes clear that AI can be a valuable aid in learning and revising, and that students should be guided on how to use it effectively and appropriately.

Will using it get you into trouble?

Using NotebookLM for study support is not, by itself, an academic offence.
The important point is how you use it.

At QUB, students are expected to understand when and how AI can be used in assessment, including any restrictions, and misuse can fall under academic misconduct regulations. Module teams should clarify what is and is not allowed, and if you are unsure, you should check with your tutor.

A sensible way to frame it is this:

  • Good use: revising, summarising your own reading, testing your understanding, creating study guides, or helping you organise ideas.
  • Risky use: submitting AI-generated work as if it were your own, or using AI in an assessment where your module guidance does not allow it.

So yes — it can be a really helpful tool. Just use it as support for learning, not a shortcut around academic integrity.

Want to explore more?

QUB’s AI Hub has further guidance for students, including the Self-Help Guide: Using AI to save time and broader information on responsible use of AI at Queen’s. Visit the DigiHub for more info.

You can also access the attached NotebookLM guide here:

NotebookLMDownload

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Where to Get Support

✨ Bottom line: AI isn’t here to replace you. But if you use it responsibly — as a digital learning assistant — it can help you study smarter, save time, and feel more confident.

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