There are two different types of sources that you will likely be using whilst at university, these are called Primary and Secondary sources, and do differ in certain aspects. Most of the time you will be using secondary sources in your studies, but you may be called upon at times to use Primary sources, so it is important to know the difference.
Primary resources are original materials created during the time period studied, or by individuals directly involved in the events or phenomena (firsthand accounts or data), These can include -
Original research articles or publications made at the time
Historical documents such as letters, diaries and speeches
Artworks and literature
Interviews and surveys
Secondary sources uses data that has already been collected, which is then analyzed, interpreted and critiqued. They provide context, commentary or summary of original research or work. Examples of sources can include -
Academic journal articles
Books
Literature reviews
Documentaries