Overview

For first year students, beginning your university career can feel like a big change, particularly when you go from sitting in a classroom with a small number of your classmates to suddenly spending most of your time attending lectures in large theatres with several hundred students.

This is why first year undergraduates receive the most support – delivered through Personal Tutor groups, and through twice-weekly meetings with Supervisors, which you and four of your peers will attend together, and assignments for credit.

As you progress through your degree, the amount of support you receive decreases a little while, at the same time, you will become a more independent learner. At this point in your university career, if there is something you don't understand then you have learnt many of the tools to find resources to help, and to tackle the problem in a systematic manner

• In the second year, core modules will have approximately fortnightly assignments for credit, support classes and will be supported by the new mathXchange.
• By the third year most modules will have only support classes, some will have assignments for credit.
• Fourth year modules will also sometimes have support classes and will sometimes have assignments for credit, but this is not always the case.

Throughout this time your Personal Tutor will also be there to help you, although once you reach the third year they might be less familiar with specific modules if those topics are not in their own research areas. We try to keep you with the same Personal Tutor throughout your degree if we can, but this is often not possible - for example, if the tutor takes research leave.

During all this time you will receive feedback on your work and understanding of the material. This comes in many forms; feedback is not just written comments on a piece of work. For example:

• Assignment sheets marked by your Supervisor will have written comments on as well as the mark, and your supervisions will be crucial to aiding your understanding of the work and where you could improve.
• Assignment sheets marked by Support Class TAs will often have less written feedback on due to the number they have to mark in a short time so they can get it back to you as soon as possible. However, the marks you receive for each question, or part of question, will tell you how you have done, and the Support Classes will often highlight common mistakes. These classes are also the opportunity to ask questions, so don't be shy!
• Any mark you get is feedback. If you get a disappointing mark then try to understand why you got that mark. The best time to do this is straight after you get the feedback (not when you start revising for exams).
• In the first year you will have some online multiple-choice tests for some of your core modules, for which you are given the solutions soon after finishing. This is instant feedback; you know straight away if you understood the material you were being tested on.
• For the second-year essay (part of the module Scientific Communication, core), third year essay (an optional module) and fourth year project (core) there is ample opportunity to get feedback, although don't expect to have someone looking over your shoulder. To get feedback you need to produce some work and hand it in to the supervisor of that module (your Personal Tutor for the second-year essay).

Monitoring Points

Over the year there will be up to 13 monitor points for every student in the department, details will be circulated separately since they vary depending on which year you are in. Examples include attendance at supervisions, handing in at least 80% of specified assignments and seeing your tutor at appropriate times. Missing monitoring points has consequences; three will trigger an interview with your tutor, if you miss as many as eight you could have your registration at the University terminated.

If you attend your lectures, complete the majority of your assessed assignments (read core for first and second years), and see your tutor when you are asked then none of this will affect you as the monitor points will be ticked off and you will not trigger any events. If you are building up missed monitor points then it is a sign that you are not engaging with the degree, and you should discuss this with your tutor sooner rather than later.

Missing Monitoring Points

Please be aware that you will be contacted should we become concerned about your missed Contact Points, and we have to report missed points to the University who will also contact you directly.

1. If three Monitoring Points are missed we will contact you to investigate whether you are having any problems that are preventing you from fully engaging with your course.
2. If four Monitoring Points are missed we may refer you to the relevant professional within the University welfare system who could help you, such as the Senior Tutor or the Counselling Service, as appropriate.
3. If six Monitoring Points are missed you will be contacted to make you aware that you are at risk of being recommended for termination of your registration at the University.
4. If eight Monitoring Points are missed the Department is able to invoke Regulation 36 to begin termination of registration proceedings and your case is handed over to the Academic Office.

Frequently Asked Questions

What if I cannot meet a monitoring point due to factors beyond my control, such as a family emergency?

If you have any extenuating circumstances which may prevent you attending a monitoring point, please submit this information, along with any relevant evidence, to Tabula via the mitigating circumstances ribbon.

I have been incorrectly recorded as having missed a monitoring point. How can I get this fixed?

If you have been incorrectly recorded as having missed a monitoring point, please email to ask for the record to be corrected. Please include any relevant evidence (such as an email from your personal tutor if the monitoring point relates to a personal tutor meeting).