Academic life

Having applied to Staffordshire University and secured a place, you may be wondering what you’ve let yourself in for…

Some people come to university confidently expecting three or so years of unbridled excitement and pleasure. Others approach it with anxiety or even dread, especially if it is their first time out of the ‘comfort zone’ of home and school.

All this is quite normal - we’ve all been there. We understand that, right now, there are lots of unanswered questions and lots of blank spots in your knowledge. So whether you are feeling ultra-confident or a nervous wreck, here is some straightforward information to help you get a feel for what university life might be like…

One of the first things you notice at university is the different way people refer to things like courses, lessons, qualifications and terms. We have a jargon buster you can refer to, but here are a few basics to get you started:

Modular degrees

All degree courses are modular in structure. This means they are made up from a number of separate sections or ‘modules.’ From a student’s point of view, this means you may be able to switch courses, if you want to, as certain modules apply to more than one subject.

Each module is like a mini-course in itself. They are taught through a combination of lectures, seminars and tutorials (see below). In addition, you will be expected to spend some time working on your own, for example, with background reading and preparing for seminars.

There are three different types of module:

• core modules, which everyone has to take
• specific options, chosen by students from a list of selected modules appropriate to your award
• general options, which are wider and more varied in nature, possibly involving volunteering, management and IT.

CAT scheme

You will work towards your degree based on a Credit Accumulation and Transfer (or CAT) system. This works by awarding students points or ‘credits’ for each module they complete. When you accumulate enough credits, you have completed your degree. (The grade of degree you achieve still depends on the quality of your work. The credits are more a measure of how far along the course you have progressed.)

For an honours degree you will need 360 credits. On a typical three-year course, full-time students usually acquire 120 credits each year.

By structuring degrees in this way, you have more options and flexibility as a student. For example, part-time students can choose how many credits they take in a year (within certain limits). Or if you have to take time off your course for any reason (ill health, family circumstances) you still have your credits and can return at another time to continue. You can even carry your credits between different universities if necessary.

Semesters and teaching blocks

Unlike the school system, universities don’t have three terms a year. Instead, each academic year consists of 24 weeks study, broken down into two, 12-week teaching blocks. These are also called semesters.

The first semester runs from September until Christmas. There is then a short teaching break, while students complete various projects and work is assessed.

The second semester usually starts in late January and teaching continues for a further 12 weeks. Assessment takes place in May.

The main forms of teaching at university are:

• lectures
• tutorials
• seminars

Lectures provide the foundations to the subject. Similar to a large classroom setting, they are used to inform, explain and illustrate. Lecturers use a range of teaching methods including visual, audio, and web-based materials to support your learning.

Tutorials involve a meeting of a small group of students and a Tutor. Here they can discuss lectures in more depth, ask questions and tackle specific problems.

Seminars tend to involve larger groups of students than tutorials and offer more intensive discussion. These are more common in the later years and can focus on discussion of presentations by fellow students.

You are responsible
As an adult you are expected to take responsibility for your own education. So while course attendance is compulsory, Tutors will not spend time chasing you if you fail to turn up. Do not interpret this as acceptance however, as you may be withdrawn from a module if you continually miss sessions.

Similarly, with written assignments and coursework, you are responsible for planning and completing your work on time. Some students leave everything late, only to find that the books, copiers and printers they need are all in use. So think ahead to avoid last-minute panics.

If you have any problems which affect your ability to attend or study, let your Tutor know. We will try to help. In more serious cases, students can claim ‘extenuating circumstances’ which are taken into account when work is assessed.

Lectures and seminars normally last for 50 minutes. Your timetable shows an hour for each, which includes ten minutes for moving from one session to another.

Some modules differ: they may consist of workshops lasting up to two hours, or include other forms of learning, such as reviewing a film. Similarly, the duration and format may change from week to week. There may also be class tests.

Written assignments come in various shapes and sizes. Your Tutor will explain what is expected from you – and when. You are expected to meet deadlines and hand your work in where requested, at which point you will get a receipt.

Exams

Examinations take place in May. The University produces a draft exam timetable in January. It is important that you see this and let us know if there are any clashes. The final exam timetable comes out in March.

Plagiarism, copying, cheating – whether in exams or coursework, are prohibited and will be subject to disciplinary action. You can of course include external sources and references in your work, and you will be shown how to incorporate these openly and honestly.

Some students have medical conditions or other difficulties which entitle them to special examination arrangements. If you have such a need, contact the School Office as early as possible so that appropriate arrangements can be made.

Assessment

Where possible, work is marked anonymously, so the Assessor does not know who it belongs to. Tutors mark each piece of work on a scale from one to 15, with four being a pass mark.

If you fail a module, you normally have one attempt to retrieve it. Unless it is a core module (see above) you can often replace it with another module. Sometimes, students may have a third attempt at a module, at the discretion of the University.

Results

Your results are sent to your home address at the end of the academic year. Results are also displayed on a noticeboard within the University. (This list displays students’ numbers, not names, for confidentiality purposes).