During Term Time

At University teaching is done through seminars and lectures. There is a need for a high level of independence when you are studying. Plus instead of being told what to study, you will be expected to use your initiative, listen, learn and take notes. Depending on the course you have chosen, there may also be guest lectures by specialists from a particular field or sector.

How much of my time should I allow for study?
We recommend about three hours of personal study for every hour taught. Most students have 8 – 14 taught hours per week, but this varies between awards, with some having extra practical time. This should work out to be a normal working week, but can vary when you have an assignment to complete or are revising for exams.

How will my work be assessed?
You will normally be assessed by a combination of coursework, examinations and your final dissertation (other awards will have practical assessments and Design Shows etc). Assessment varies from course to course and you may also have to keep portfolios and other documents. Your award and module handbooks will explain how your particular award will be assessed, so make sure you understand what is required of you and when. To find a copy of your Award Handbook visit your Faculty Induction Pages through the Before Arrival page of this site.

What should I do if I have any problems?
Don’t panic – and don’t wait till things get out of hand. Talk to your Personal Tutor as soon as you feel you need help. We are a ‘learning partnership’ and believe you are capable of successfully completing your studies.

We want you to succeed on your chosen course of study and offer lots of ways to help you be successful. In fact, from the Personal Tutor who will be assigned to you soon after you arrive, to our Faculty Student Guidance Advisors/Student Guidance Officer who are there to provide specialist information, as well as confidential, impartial advice, we’ll do as much as possible to support you throughout your studies.
You will be meeting your Faculty Student Guidance Advisors during welcome week but for contact details of who they are and who the central Student Guidance Officer is please visit their webpage for names and contact details. 
The A2Z4U guide is also a key source of information about the whole University giving you an A to Z list of who and where.

Are there any regulations I need to know about?
Before you join us, please take a few moments to read our General Regulations for Students and Academic Award Regulations

How do you treat Plagiarism or Academic Dishonesty?
We will not tolerate cheating or plagiarism and will deal with either very seriously. Cheating is defined as any attempt to complete an examination or assessment by unfair means. Plagiarism is defined as submitting the work of others as your own for the purposes of satisfying assessment requirements. Plagiarism is also allowing your work to be copied by other students. For more details, please see: Breaches of Assessment Regulations: Academic Misconduct  (PDF, file size: 168.68KB)  and also our IT Services useful pages on Plagiarism.

What is a lecture?
Lectures allow you to benefit from the expertise of subject specialists and are a way of sharing information with a large number of students.  To benefit fully from your lectures, you will need to develop good listening, note taking and thinking skills. A lot of information can pass from the lecturer to you in a couple of hours and the notes you take will be invaluable for your coursework and exams.  The course/module outline given to you at the beginning of the course will give you an idea of how the lectures will take you through the material to be covered.

You must attend as many lectures as possible - attendance is compulsory and students missing lectures will be followed up by Faculty Support Staff.  Often information is communicated that cannot be gained from other people's notes.

What is a seminar/tutorial?
Seminars and Tutorials are more informal than lectures. Their structure may change from subject to subject, but they will all provide you with an opportunity to explore a topic in more detail. You work in smaller groups and look in more depth at the issues raised in the lectures. You can add your own thoughts and opinions which can often lead to a debate. Tutorials are normally on a smaller scale than seminars which often include oral presentations. You'll gain experience of presenting a topic (a skill highly valued by employers) and will develop a range of transferable skills, such as communication, presentation and problem solving.

What are case studies?
A case study is where you will get to look at how real-life events have had an impact on what you are studying.  For example, Law students will look at real legal cases, whereas Marketing students could study strategies used by a famous company to get us to buy their products.

What is group work?
This is an opportunity to work with fellow students on a piece of work or a project. You will work together, sharing ideas and knowledge, which may involve you giving a presentation on your findings.

What are work placements?
If your award includes a work placement, this can provide you with the chance to gain valuable hands-on experience of the working world, which could involve a few weeks to a full year in industry. You could work here in the UK or experience work in another country!

How can you help me improve my study skills?

Academic Skills Tutors (Librarians and Study Skills Team) - There is such an array of information 'out there', available in so many different forms, accessible in so many different ways, that it can be quite daunting to wade through it. Fear not, help is at hand in the form of Academic Skills Tutors. Not only can they help you to sort the good information from the bad, but they can help you to develop your skills and reach your full potential.

Drop-in sessions and tutorials are available throughout the year, in addition to bespoke workshops.

For support with study skills such as academic writing, critical analysis, time management and exam stress email studyskills@staffs.ac.uk or visit Study Skills Centres

For subject support, referencing and plagiarism advice and training on how to access and use our resources email libraryhelpdesk@staffs.ac.uk or visit Library

ASK
No need to be daunted at the prospect of completing your first assignment, our award-winning online Assignment Survival Kit (ASK) will guide you through the process of planning and preparation.  It can help you to manage your time effectively and will provide you with a step-by-step schedule, useful information and email reminders.  There's also practical help and advice from fellow students via the ASK Podcasts

24 Hour Help
For all your library and IT related enquiries, day or night and during weekends and vacations call:
t:01782 294771 / 01782 294135 (Stoke Campus)
t:01785 353339 (Stafford and Shrewsbury Campuses)
or visit 247 Student Support
More about our advanced facilities and what they offer