Frequently Asked Questions

Your Personal Tutor is an academic member of staff from your home department at Warwick.

In some departments, they will be available for catch-ups throughout the term to discuss your progress and any questions you may have. They can offer advice on module choices, course topics, academic writing support, careers and more. In other departments, you will meet weekly with your Personal Tutor fur tutorials.

Personal Tutors provide you with a connection to your department and the wider University. This means you are known by name, as an individual, and have access to the support that is right for you.

All Warwick undergraduates and postgraduates on taught courses have a Personal Tutor. Your Personal Tutor is an accessible, approachable point of contact for your department.

They can:

• Support you at different stages of your studies, e.g. from school to university, or from Year 1 to Year 2, or from UG to PG study.

• Suggest ways to get involved in your department and the wider university.

• Help explain and contextualise any feedback you receive.

• Offer advice on how to develop your academic performance.

• Signpost to development opportunities and support.

• Supply references to support applications for jobs or further study.

If you have health, wellbeing or personal issues that might affect your studies, you can also discuss these with your Personal Tutor. They can ensure you find the right support at the University, and signpost you to where you can access further help.

If you have a more complex issue, your Personal Tutor may refer you to the Department Senior Tutor.

You may feel more comfortable approaching your Senior Tutor yourself.

Senior Tutors have oversight of all Personal Tutors in your department, and are usually involved with the mitigating circumstances process.

Find out how to get in touch with your Department Senior Tutor.Link opens in a new window

If you are a new student - your department should email you with details of your Personal Tutor.

Your Personal Tutor should also make direct contact with you at the beginning of each term to arrange a meeting.

This information is also available on Tabula or MyWBS.

If you are still unsure, email your department’s central office.

It's a good idea to be proactive. What do you want to discuss? Think about:

• What are you looking to get out of each stage of your studies?
• Which skills would you like to develop? What opportunities are there in the university?
• How is your learning experience developing? Are you having any problems with modules, or your course in general? What is going well with your studies?
• Do you have any questions about employability?
• Are there any other issues affecting your studies, such as accommodation or finances?

Let your Personal Tutor know about any extra-curricular activities you do. This helps them get to know you a little better. It's also something they can draw on later when writing references for you.

Don't be afraid to ask questions. It may be helpful to take notes to your meeting, so you don't forget them.

You should have at least 3 one-to-one meetings with your Personal Tutor per academic year. They will be in touch to arrange this, but also feel free to reach out to them yourself.

Other than the required meeting each term, students are free to book further meetings with their personal tutor if needed. Your department may also organise group tutorials.

Make sure to check your inbox regularly, so you never miss communications from your Personal Tutor, or department in general.

If your Personal Tutor does not respond within a reasonable timeframe, you can follow up with a polite reminder.

Please bear in mind that staff won't necessarily check emails outside of normal working hours, and will also have teaching and research commitments on top of their personal tutoring duties. Try to be patient!

If you still do not receive a response, you can contact your Department Senior Tutor, who can provide further support and advice.

In an emergency, you should always contact Community SafetyLink opens in a new window.

You can contact your Personal Tutor during University holidays if you need support.

However, it is important to note that academic members of staff will take periods of annual leave/research leave during the University holidays.

This means that they may not be able to reply straightaway, or as promptly as normal.

Many will set an 'out of office' email response if this is the case - which will probably direct you to an alternative contact in their absence (e.g. the Department Senior TutorLink opens in a new window).

Yes - your Personal Tutor can provide advice and support throughout your placement, internship or year abroad.

You are expected to contact your Personal Tutor as normal, and they should also be in touch with you throughout the year.

They can also discuss any academic or personal challenges, reflect on your professional development, and direct you to appropriate University support if needed.

Your Dissertation Supervisor supports your research project and academic work on your dissertation.

Your Personal Tutor provides broader academic guidance, pastoral support, and can help if personal circumstances are affecting your studies.

If you are unsure who is best placed to help, contact your Personal Tutor first. They can direct you to the appropriate person.

If you're finding it difficult to balance assessments, deadlines, or other commitments, your Personal Tutor can help you.

This includes prioritising your workload, discussing strategies for managing your time, and signposting you to appropriate academic or wellbeing support if your circumstances are affecting your studies.

Your Personal Tutor can help you:

• Interpret assessment feedback.
• Identify patterns across your work.
• Discuss strategies to improve your academic skills (e.g. critical writing, revision, time management, or exam preparation).

They can also direct you to specialist academic skills support if needed.

Yes. While module leaders manage assessment decisions, your Personal Tutor can discuss how the situation is affecting you academically or personally, help you consider appropriate next steps, and signpost relevant support.

While careers advice is available through Student Opportunity, Personal Tutors can discuss career aspirations, postgraduate study, academic progression, references, and how your studies align with your future goals.

Yes absolutely - a Personal Tutor should be your default referee from the University.

When applying to jobs, especially on Unitemps, it is useful to notify your Personal Tutor that you have put them down as a referee so they can be on the lookout for any reference request.

This is also why it is important to attend and engage as much as possible in your Personal Tutor meetings.

If you experience issues that affect your studies, your Personal Tutor can support you.

If you're experiencing wellbeing issues, Personal Tutors will listen to your concerns and, where appropriate, signpost you to the right services on campus.

Personal Tutors can also provide academic support and guidance. This may include:

• Academic issues, such as appeals and complaints.

• Problems with teaching or modules.

• Concerns with supervision, feedback, study skills or marking.

• Temporary withdrawal or changing your course.

• Concerns about mitigating circumstances procedures or decisions.

• Unresolved breakdowns in the relationship with a Tutor, Course Leader or Supervisor.

• University regulations, guidelines, procedures or policies.

If you require more specialist services or further departmental support, your Personal Tutor can help redirect you into the appropriate points of contact.

If your case requires more specialised support, your Personal Tutor might refer you to wellbeing services.

Any details you discuss with wellbeing services are confidential and not fed back to your department unless you give permission.

Of course. Personal Tutors regularly support students adjusting to studying in the UK and can discuss wellbeing, academic expectations, University processes, and appropriate support services.

Yes, you can – but this is an exception rather than a routine occurrence.

Usually, your Personal Tutor will remain the same across your course. However, if your Tutor has a sabbatical leave, then you may have another Tutor in the meantime.

If you wish to discuss this, or if you have any difficulties with your Personal Tutor, contact your Department Senior Tutor first.

The protection of student confidentiality is important to us. Please read these guidelines carefully and discuss any questions or concerns with any member of staff in the Dean of Students Office.

The Dean of Students Office encourages departments to keep brief and factual records of meetings and discussions with students that comply with the Data Protection Act 2018 and adhere to the University Data Protection PolicyLink opens in a new window.

The Act requires a student’s consent for records to be kept, which is sought at the first meeting. This may take the form of a note that a student's verbal agreement was provided.

Basic information is recorded to enable us to provide robust and professional advice and support to students and is securely stored in electronic and/or paper format. This data is not kept for longer than is necessary and beyond this point is securely destroyed. Please see the University's retention schedule for guidelinesLink opens in a new window on how long certain types of information is kept.

We will not normally disclose verbal or written information about a student to others (inside or outside of the University) unless we have permission to do so. However, sharing information with other professionals or departments may be useful in providing the best support, for example arranging adjustments to study or referring to other support and advice services. In such a situation, we will seek students’ permission to disclose information. What we disclose and to whom will be agreed in advance.

Please note that in exceptional circumstances, for example where there is good reason to believe that a student or others are at risk of harm, it may be necessary to disclose information to other professionals, without explicit consent.