Uni text boooks aren't written for specific courses (i.e. a criminal law textbook wont be specific to MQ's criminal law course). Academics pick the most relevant book to the course and you go by that. They set readings and you do them but its all about independent learning and thought, you will have to relate what you read to the course.
Actually, last semester I attended university in New Zealand. Anyway, the Philosophy lecturer had been teaching for about 40 years I think he said, and he'd been head of the department and such. He was really old, sweet and random, and would make the strangest philosophy jokes - he was everything you would expect from a Philosophy lecturer.
Anyway, for this first year course he wrote his own textbook to go with it, and each chapter would cover in-depth reading for the lectures. It was quite good, and I still have the book because it was a great reference point for accessible information about basic philosophy and philosophers.
Although, for essays, you still were expected to do your own research to expand what you had learnt, and to reference different ideas etc.
All my courses I have always been given a unit outline which has what assessments there are, how much per cent they are worth, and usually what they are about, although sometimes that is released later. There are usually also recommended reading for all the different units, and sometimes some extra sort of "study guide" information.
Don't stress about how to learn things though. My first semester at ANU they really showed you the best ways to do things. Like for some subjects essay plans were assessable, and you handed them referencing two books, two journals, an encyclopedia. You know, teaching you where to look for the information. Pretty much all units had a tutorial in the library, and sometimes a mini assignment to go with it.
They would also spend a tutorial explaining what your assessment was, how to go about doing and what was expected. Some even had past assessments to look at.
Its different to high school but they really help with the transition. You are expected to use your brain, and study continuously, but its really not that hard when you get into it.
