Students have to take increasing responsibility for their own learning. They face growing problems of information overload. Given the present financial limitations and increased student numbers, we must make the best possible use of resources. All these factors contribute to the importance of study guides in the management of students' learning. Study guides can help students to identify what they should be learning, to locate available learning opportunities and to make best use of these. Guides can encourage students to assess their own competence. Computer-based study guides offer advantages over print-based guides. The computer-based guide allows students to move quickly and easily from one section to another. The student can individualize it for personal needs, thus adding more information. It can include colour, pictures and sound. It can embrace computer-mediated communications. It is easy to update. Computer-based study guides are now ready to make a practical and significant contribution to medical education.