10: Resources

Academic Resources

The Department is investing substantial resource into providing the highest standards of academic support for our MSc students.

This support comes in a variety of ways, aimed at targeting different aspects of your academic studies, including support with module content, preparation for assessments and drop in opportunities.

The academic support available is listed below.

Maths Revision

Maths revision materialsLink opens in a new window have been created on Moodle, which you may wish to refer to for additional support.

Maths and Statistics Drop-in Sessions

If you are struggling with any aspect of the Maths or Stats content on your modules, please make use of the Drop in Sessions. They are run by Assistant Professor, Nicholas Jackson (nicholas.jackson@warwick.ac.ukLink opens in a new window). You can view the details for the sessions on the academic supportLink opens in a new window pages.

STATA

We are able to offer you a licence for the statistical software package, STATA. This resource is primarily funded by the Department and is essential for your MSc studies. To download the software visit: https://warwick.ac.uk/services/its/servicessupport/software/list/stataLink opens in a new window.

In term 1 you can contact Subhasish Dey, during their Advice and Feedback hours, if you would like help with STATA. Subhasish.Dey@warwick.ac.ukLink opens in a new window

STATA helpdesks are run over the summer to aid with dissertation preparation : STATA Dissertation HelpdeskLink opens in a new window

Additionally, there is an Introduction to Stata courseLink opens in a new window in Moodle, which will be helpful for those unfamiliar with the package, and Information and Digital Group (IDG) also provide STATA resources.

Advice and Feedback Hours

The lecturers that you see within your modules are there to provide you with guidance on their subject area. Every member of academic staff, including class tutors, has at least two Advice and Feedback hours each week of term. You should make use of these, as a means of clarifying any areas of confusion within previous lectures or to discuss future topics. You can also use them to discuss areas that you both find interesting. You should always ensure you are prepared for your lecturer’s feedback hours. You should not be using them as a means of asking the lecturer to repeat the lecture, but should attend them with specific questions or areas of confusion that you would like clarification on.

You can find the Advice and Feedback Hours of members of staff on their individual pages.

Wellbeing Drop-In Sessions

Your wellbeing is important to us whether you are experiencing difficulty with academic or personal issues. Your Senior Tutor, Han Zhang, and the Student Support and Progression Officer hold office hours to meet students in term time and more information can be found hereLink opens in a new window.

Dissertations

For students taking EC959, MSc Dissertations, we run helpdesks over the summer term and vacation where you can speak to a member of staff and gain support and advice about technical and software aspects of your dissertation. Details of the tutors and the times will be published on the Dissertation InformationLink opens in a new window webpage.

The University Library

The LibraryLink opens in a new window is open 24/7 and provides a range of study spaces and information resources to support your studies at Warwick, including books, journals and databases and a specialist librarian for economics. It is located on Library Road, a short walk from the Department of Economics. You will need your university ID card to access the library and borrow library books.

Additional study and social space for postgraduate students is available in the Postgrad Hub at The Junction. The Postgrad Hub is open from 8am to 10pm Monday to Sunday and you will need your university ID card to access the space.

The Help Desk is located on the 1st floor of the library and is open 8am to 10pm Monday to Sunday. You can contact library staff in person, or by telephone, email or chat, for all general library enquiries. Jackie Hanes, the economics librarian, is also available to help you with library, research and referencing matters. She is available 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday, and can also be contacted by telephone, email or chat, and you can book a 1-2-1 appointment.

Library Contacts

All new students receive an introduction to the library during welcome week. There is also an online library induction programme, Get Started, which includes virtual and self-guided library tours, and training on how to use reading lists and find books and journals.

Most modules have an online reading list, which is available via Moodle or directly from Talis AspireLink opens in a new window. You can link directly from your reading list to library resources. Login to digital library resources with your university IT user number and password. You can also use Library SearchLink opens in a new window, the library’s search engine, to access the full range of library books, journals and databases.

The library’s collection of print economics books is shelved on the 5th floor of the library. You can borrow up-to 999 for 365 days, providing they are not required by another user. Use My Library Account to request and renew library books, including click-and-collect and recalling/reserving on-loan library books.

The library’s Subject GuideLink opens in a new window includes recommended books, journals and databases for economists, sources of economic data and statistics, and guidance on academic skills, referencing and research support. You can also contact the economics librarian and book a 1-2-1 appointment on-campus or online.

The library provides access to many specialist resources for economists including The Economist and Financial Times digital newspapers, and company and financial databases including Capital IQ, Fame, Orbis, Finaeon, Statista and LSEG Workspace. The economics librarian can help you access and use specialist economics databases.

The Postgraduate Hub

The Postgraduate HubLink opens in a new window is located in the Junction Building. It is a peer-led collaborative community space that brings together postgraduates from across Warwick.

At the PG Hub you can:

• Book meeting rooms for group-work and collaborative study, as well as find first-come-first-served study and meeting space;
• Ask any questions you might have about your postgraduate life at Warwick;
• Access support for your dissertation;
• Find mentorship to take you to the next level;
• Get actively involved in cultural events, such as Halloween, Chinese New Year, Eid and other celebrations;
• Locate support for your studies and future career plans through events and drop-ins;
• Share your postgraduate life through our competitions and social media.

We recognise that postgraduate life is about more than just work. The PG Hub exists to make your time at the University more productive and enjoyable, so we welcome your ideas on things you want to see as a Warwick postgraduate.

Opening times: 09:00 – 22:00 (see website for holiday opening) For more information: http://warwick.ac.uk/pghub/postgraduate_hub #WarwickPGHub pghub@warwick.ac.uk

Information and Digital Group (IDG) Services

Information and Digital Group (IDG) provide the essential resources and support necessary to give all students access to information technology services and support.

You can find essential guidance on getting started with university IT services by visiting the Student IT InductionLink opens in a new window website.

Service Desk

IDG provide a dedicated Service Desk to assist with IT-related issues. You can contact them online, via email, or by phone. Further information on how to contact IDG can be found at: services/idg/services-support

Your email address

Once you have registered with IDG and your account has been activated you will have a usercode, password and an email address which is usually in the format:

initials.surname.number@warwick.ac.uk

This address will be your ‘official’ University email address which the Department will use for all email communications. It will be your responsibility to ensure that you check this email account. You can access this account via webmailLink opens in a new window.

You can visit email setup Link opens in a new window to help you set up your email account on your mobile phone.

OneDrive

Please keep your files safe in the cloud with OneDriveLink opens in a new window. Avoid saving work directly on to your laptop.

OneNote

We recommend OneNoteLink opens in a new window for making notes and creating lists to help organise your studies.

Network access from student residences

The University provides a network connection from every room in student residences enabling you to access the internet and files saved on the network. Use of the residential network is subject to an Acceptable Use Policy.

Computer security

Any computer attached to a network is susceptible to attacks from viruses and spyware. Please ensure you have Antivirus software installed with an up to date subscription as this is a requirement for access to the network. The Information and Digital Group (IDG) provide guidance and links to free anti-virus software to help keep your computer safe.

Open access areas

There are many open access areas Link opens in a new windowoperated by IDG. (You will need your University ID card to enter some of the open access areas.) The computers are all connected to the network and the internet and provide access to printers, the Library online catalogue and a wide range of software applications. All computers in open access areas run on the Windows 7 operating system (except room A0.01 - SUSE Linux).

Student iPad and Laptop Loan Service

Information and Digital Group (IDG) provides iPads and laptops for short term loan, for more information please visit hereLink opens in a new window.

IT facilities in the Department

In the Economics Department there is a study space specifically devoted to MSc students on the first floor where you can work on your laptop.

The Department's Bloomberg Terminals are located in room S0.55. The Bloomberg Terminal is a computer software system which provides access to current and historical financial information on individual equities, stock market indices, fixed-income securities, currencies, commodities, and futures for both international and domestic markets. It also provides company profiles and financial statements, analysts' forecasts, news on worldwide financial markets, and audio and video interviews and presentations by key players in business and finance.

To use the Bloomberg Terminals, you must register for a Bloomberg for Education accountLink opens in a new window, selecting the learner option. Then you must complete the Bloomberg Market Concepts (BMC) e-learning course and send proof of your completed certificate to economics.it@warwick.ac.ukLink opens in a new window. We will then grant you access to bookLink opens in a new window the use of one of these terminals in half-hourly sessions. You will only be able to use the terminal if you have pre-booked online. Please note that there are restrictions in the amount of data you are permitted to download. This is imposed by Bloomberg and further information is provided by the terminals.

Printing

To print from printers in the University, you will need to register your University ID card with the printing system (you only need to do this once). To do this, visit a Kyocera printer (situated on all floors in the Library and in other Information and Digital Group (IDG) work areas) and swipe your University ID card against the printer card reader. Press Cancel at the PUK screen. Type in your IDG username and password on the printer screen and press OK.

You will also need enough credit in your printing account to print to other printers in the University. You can buy printer credits online with a debit or credit card or check your credit at warwick.ac.uk/printercredits. Any credit remaining in your printer account will be lost when you leave the University. No refund of remaining credit will be given.

Printing costs are as follows:

A4 black and white (per sheet): 5p single sided, 8p double sided
A4 colour (per sheet): 15p single sided, 28p double sided
A3 black and white (per sheet): 9p single sided, 16p double sided
A3 colour (per sheet): 30p single sided, 58p double-sided

Further details can be found at: warwick.ac.uk/studentprint

Software

We have a wide range of software for economists. Besides generic software, such as Microsoft Office, email and web browsers, the econometric software we use includes Stata and and SPSS.

The Department is very pleased to be able to offer you a licence for the statistical software package, Stata. This resource is primarily funded by the Department and is essential for your MSc studies.

In Moodle you will find resources and information to help you use the software at Introduction to StataLink opens in a new window. You may also wish to look at Introduction to RLink opens in a new window.

All software available to students at Warwick can be found in the Information and Digital Group (IDG) software listLink opens in a new window.

Getting help

If you have general problems logging in to the Information and Digital Group (IDG) open access areas you should contact the IDG Service Desk. If you have specific problems relating to the computers or printers in the Department you should contact the Department’s Computer Support Staff via economics.it@warwick.ac.ukLink opens in a new window.