Exchange Student Guide Academic Year 2021-2022

Home , Magic Bus (Stagecoach), University of Manchester

Department of Languages

Contents

WELCOME ...... 3

What To Do Before You Leave Home ...... 4

What To Do When You Arrive At Manchester Met...... 5

2021/2022 Academic Year Term Dates ...... 5

There is no teaching in the third term...... 5

Course requirements ...... 6

Block Teaching ...... 7

Assessment ...... 7

Marks ...... 7

Accommodation in Manchester - General Information ...... 9

Manchester and Life in Britain ...... 11

Transport in and around Manchester ...... 12

A note of caution ...... 13

Government Travel Regulations ...... 13

Health Services ...... 13

Insurance ...... 13

Banking ...... 14

Living in the UK ...... 14

Manchester Metropolitan University- some background ...... 15

The University’s Facilities ...... 15

How to find us ...... 17

How to get to Manchester Met ...... 17

WELCOME

Welcome to Manchester, to Manchester Metropolitan University and to the Department of Languages and Information Communication. The Department is based in the Grosvenor Building, which is located on one of the main roads into the city centre. You will find your lecturers’ offices in this building. Lectures may be held in this building and in other buildings around the campus.

The link below will open the Manchester Met webpage which contains details of how to get to our Manchester campus. You will also find a map of the All Saints campus where your studies will take place: https://www.mmu.ac.uk/travel/manchester/

This guide provides introductory information about your period of study as an Exchange Student. Additional information will be provided at a welcome meeting where I hope to meet you. You will also be able to get information from your tutors and from staff in any other departments in which you may study. Do not hesitate to ask us for any information you need before or during your studies at Manchester Met.

We hope your stay in Manchester will be beneficial, rewarding and enjoyable.

Fiona Long Incoming Exchange student Coordinator [email protected]

The Department of Languages Manchester Metropolitan University The Grosvenor Building, Faculty of the Arts Manchester M15 6BG

What To Do Before You Leave Home

1) Remember to bring with you: • your passport • spare passport photographs for membership/discount cards

2) Ensure you have: • sufficient money • arranged at least temporary accommodation in advance and have a note of the address at which you will be staying • drawn up a learning agreement (specifying which course units from the ones contained in this guide you will need to study), signed by your home tutor

3) Send in your application form by the appropriate deadline to our International Office: [email protected]

Using the syllabuses provided on the Exchange student webpage you should choose your course options prior to coming to Manchester. Please consult your tutor at your home university to make sure you know exactly what is expected of you. Following completion of your application form, please get your option choices approved by your home tutor before sending them to us.

Please consider the options available to you, the content of your learning agreement and the requirements of your home university when choosing. Timetable clashes may sometimes restrict your choice. For this reason you should consider two reserve choices, in case they are needed.

You should choose courses which total 60 ECTS credits (for a two-term stay) unless your home university specifies otherwise. You may choose to take fewer credits but we do not recommend taking more than 60 ECTS credits. Your choice of course units is binding for all academic purposes, especially with regard to registration for examinations and assessments.

When you arrive in Manchester your options will be confirmed and your enrolment will be completed.

If you require any information for your university, such as a letter confirming your period of study at Manchester Metropolitan University, please bring a letter, prepared by your university, which we will then date, stamp and sign.

What To Do When You Arrive At Manchester Met

Induction Week is held from 13th- 17th September 2021. Details of the programme for this week will be sent to you nearer the time. During this week you will be given information about the university and you will be able to confirm your study timetable. There will also be opportunities to get signatures for your learning agreement and any other documents required by your home university.

If you have enrolled at home before arrival in Manchester you will be issued with a student ID card during induction week. You can collect this from any Student Hub on campus. The card will enable you to use the library, the computing facilities, and other Manchester Metropolitan University sites.

2021/2022 Academic Year Term Dates

Autumn term 13 September 2021 - 17 December 2021 Spring term 10 January 2022 – 14 April 2022 Summer term 3 May 2022 - 24 June 2022

Please note:

There is no teaching in the third term.

The university is closed on Bank (public) holidays

Classes start on the hour and last for 50-60 minutes. A two-hour class provides 100-110 minutes of teaching plus a 10-minute break.

Course requirements

Some courses require students to have a certain level of language or previous study in order to join classes. Please consult the option form and the course description document for more details. Please note that some courses have a limited number of places. In this case, priority will go to home students. For this reason, please make sure that you name two alternative options when making your unit choices.

If you wish to take courses offered by other departments, this must be agreed with the respective course leaders before your learning agreement is signed. We are unable to guarantee places on courses offered by other departments so you should try to contact them before your arrival.

The option form is correct at the time of publication. We cannot guarantee that there will be places for all students on all their first choices of course or that all courses will be running.

In Induction Week your choice of course units will be confirmed. Due to the short nature of the block organisation, it is really important that you make the right choices about your units. Changes to units are not possible unless there is a timetable clash, the course is the wrong level for you or your chosen course is over-subscribed.

Please pay close attention to the completion of your Application Forms, as any missing or incomplete information may be rejected in the computerised registration process. Some additional information can be found on the ‘Choosing your modules’ webpage.

You need to do the following:

1. Please return your completed institutional application form to the Erasmus Institutional Co-ordinator. The contact details can be found on the form.

2. You should also make your course unit choices. Information about these is available on the webpage where you found this guide. The university will contact you before the start of your exchange to ask for your option choices. When your choices are approved, they will be added to your personal timetable which you will be able to access online.

Block Teaching The academic year 21/22 will be structured in blocks. Each term will contain two teaching blocks of 6 weeks. Each teaching block will be followed by an assessment week. Block teaching enables you to focus on one or two subjects in detail, in a short period of time and to take your assessments shortly after you have completed your learning. You will take two units with 15 credits each (7.5 ECTS) in each block. More information about the units and when they will be running is on the Department of Languages’ Exchanges webpage.

Assessment You are required to take the appropriate assessment for the course units you select. This may take the form of examination, course work, group work, or other assessments determined by the relevant department(s). The majority of assessments take place online. For these assessments you will find a place on your unit’s Moodle area where you can submit your work. It will look similar to this:

As our academic year is currently organised in blocks, assessments will usually take place at the end of each block, either in the final week or in the assessment week immediately after the block. Some assessments may also take place during teaching weeks. You will need to do all the assessments for the unit to get the full credits. Check with the unit tutor if you have any questions about the assessments you need to do.

Marks The British marking system may differ from those used in your home countries. The following is a guide to British marks:

70% plus - excellent marks 60-69% - good marks 50-59% - satisfactory marks 41-49% - poor marks; you should discuss them with your tutor 40% - pass mark - condoned mark- you may be able to pass this unit depending on 30-39% your other grades. 29% or less - fail; you should discuss this with your tutor

During the summer term (June or July) we will send you a transcript containing the marks for all the assessments you have completed during your stay. This will contain your British marks and also a conversion into ECTS credits. Certification is agreed in conjunction with your home university. Transcripts for students only staying at Manchester Met from September to December will be sent in the following term (February or March).

Please note: If you need the full credits awarded for a unit, you must ensure that you are able to take all the set assessments. You should ensure you know the assessment dates to ensure you are in Manchester if your unit requires any assessments to be taken in class time (ie. face- to-face).

Accommodation in Manchester - General Information

Manchester Metropolitan University provides a service for all students who need help in obtaining accommodation in Manchester.

An accommodation application form is available online only on the Accommodation website. You should complete the form as soon as possible if you wish to stay in university accommodation. Indicate clearly on the form that you are an exchange student. To apply online you will be required to use your Manchester Met ID number. We can issue you with a Manchester Met ID number once we have received your application form. Please note that you MUST apply for accommodation online.

Accommodation Office contact: [email protected]

In addition to providing information about Halls of Residence, the Accommodation Office can help you find either catered or self-catering accommodation in the private sector. They keep a register of properties and try to visit as many of them as possible. Manchester seems to have enough accommodation at a reasonable price to meet students’ needs.

Once you are placed in your accommodation, the Accommodation officers remain available, in liaison with the welfare officers of the Students' Union, to assist students who have problems related to rent, contracts, welfare, differences with landlord etc, or who wish to change accommodation. The Accommodation officers will provide you with all the information you need, and further information will be provided on arrival.

Student accommodation is also provided by Manchester Student Homes https://www.manchesterstudenthomes.com/Accommodation which is owned and managed by Manchester Met and the University of Manchester.

Please note: Carefully check the length of the contract and the length of your stay before signing up for any accommodation. If you sign up for a 12-month contract, you will be expected to pay for the full rental period. If you leave early, you will still be liable for the rent.

If you rent in the private sector, you may be liable for Council Tax charges in addition to your rent. Please check any accommodation contract carefully before signing

Temporary Accommodation in Manchester

There is a youth hostel in Manchester, in the Castlefield area of the city, 15-minute walk from the university campus (www.yha.org.uk).

If you arrive in Manchester late at night you could also try the following hotels:

Holiday Inn Express 2-4 Oxford Road Manchester or

Ibis Hotels Charles Street/Princess Street or 96 Portland Street Manchester

All these hotels are close to Manchester Met and to the city centre,

You should then contact the Accommodation Office as early as possible so that they can help you arrange permanent accommodation.

Manchester and Life in Britain

Manchester Official Manchester information website: https://www.visitmanchester.com/

Also try: https://www.creativetourist.com/manchester/

Manchester is home to one of the largest education precincts in Europe, comprising Manchester Metropolitan University, The University of Manchester, The Manchester Business School and The Royal Northern College of Music. Over fifty thousand students come to study here from all over the United Kingdom and overseas. The city has more students per head of population than any other comparable city in Western Europe, and its educational, commercial, cultural and leisure facilities provide an ideal environment in which to study. Greater Manchester has a population of 2.8 million, with all the amenities to be expected of a cosmopolitan city which is commercially and culturally at the heart of the United Kingdom. Its galleries, specialist libraries and museums are internationally known. The multi-racial composition of the city is apparent in some of its buildings; English landmarks co-exist with Hindu temples, Chinese ceremonial arches and Islamic mosques. There is also a wide variety of shops and restaurants; Armenian, Chinese, Spanish, Polish, Indian, West Indian and many more. As a major communications centre Manchester is well served by motorways and inter-city rail services. The Metrolink, a tram system, provides good access to the city centre. The airport railway station provides a frequent service, as well as regular trains to Manchester Piccadilly. Many buses run between the student areas and the city centre. For those who enjoy outdoor life Manchester is conveniently situated, with the Lake District, the Peak District, the Cheshire countryside and North Wales all within easy reach, while the region is home to leading sports clubs such as Lancashire County Cricket Club and United and City Football Clubs. The city caters for musical tastes from pop to opera. The world famous Hallé orchestra has its home here in the Bridgewater Hall and there are two large concert areas within easy reach of the city centre as well as many other small venues. Those who enjoy theatre-going are provided for by numerous theatres including the Royal Exchange, Library, Contact, Palace and Opera House. Manchester is an important financial centre in which many service industries are based and its commercial life benefits the university by providing placement opportunities. Many companies have formed links with specific degree courses.

Transport in and around Manchester The Student Travel Office in the Students' Union and Student Hubs will be able to provide you with up to date travel information upon arrival.

Buses The main operator for bus services within Manchester and surrounding areas is Stagecoach who also operate Magic Bus services. There are enquiry offices at most terminals where you can ask for timetables and costs of journeys, or you can check online on the tfgm website

Most local bus journeys begin or end in Manchester city centre at Piccadilly Bus Station, with frequent services to Manchester Met. Services very early in the morning, late at night and on Sundays are less frequent. You can save money by buying various types of saver tickets including a Unirider for which you need your student ID card. You can get these at Piccadilly and also on the Stagecoach bus website.

Please note: if you are waiting at a bus stop and want the bus to stop, you need to put out your hand to signal to the driver. Equally, if you are on the bus, you must press the bell for the bus to stop.

Trains National and local train services are available in the City Centre from the following railway stations; Piccadilly, Victoria and Oxford Road. Do check from which of the stations your journey will begin and end. Most stations have an enquiry office. Advice on travel, timetables, costs etc. can also be found at National Rail Enquiries and the Trainline website.

Student Railcard If you plan to visit places of interest in Britain at weekends, it is worth considering buying a ‘16- 25 Railcard’. The card is available to students in full-time education (over 15 hours per week) for at least 20 weeks of a year. It offers a discount of ⅓ off the price of Standard Class rail travel and is valid for 12 months. You can collect an application form from any main rail station. One of the Student Hubs will be able to validate and stamp your application.

Coaches The National Express coach service offers an extensive range of travel (which is often less expensive than travel by rail) and coaches depart from Chorlton Street Coach Station (close to Piccadilly bus station) in the City Centre. National Express also has available a discount travel scheme for students.

Taxis Although travel by taxi in Manchester is not as costly as it is in London, it is still an expensive method of travel. All taxis are metered. As in London, black cabs can be stopped on the street. The illuminated yellow sign on the roof shows that the taxi is available. Local taxis should be booked in advance by phoning the taxi company. They are not permitted to pick up customers without prior bookings as they are not insured to do so.

A note of caution We hope that you will take the opportunity of exploring Manchester and the surrounding area during your stay. However, all big cities have their problems nowadays, and we do not advise you to wander around Manchester alone in the evenings, or to carry large amounts of money with you. The police advise avoiding unlit areas at night, including parks, not taking short-cuts and taking a night bus rather than walking whenever possible. Care should also be taken when using your mobile phone or other electronic devices in the street. Be aware of who is around you. Having said this, Manchester is generally a safe, student-friendly city and we hope that you will not have any problems during your stay.

Government Travel Regulations Make sure you have a valid passport and suitable travel documents. If you need to get one, or if your present one needs to be renewed, do this well before you travel. If you arrive into the UK from an EU country, you will be allowed entry as a visitor for up to six months. This will also allow you to study at the University for up to six months from the date you arrive. It is advised that you print a copy of your Offer of Admission letter to show on entry if requested and keep a copy of your boarding pass to confirm the date you entered the UK.

Using eGates upon arrival If you are eligible to use an eGate on arrival and you are arriving in the UK for study purpose, we recommend that you keep a copy of your boarding pass as the University will be required to confirm the date you arrived in the UK when you enrol for your exchange.

Health Services If you begin a course of study in the UK that is longer than 6 months, you need to pay the immigration health surcharge as a part of your visa application. You may be eligible for a full or partial reimbursement if you meet the criteria. If your course of study is less than 6 months, you do not need to pay the immigration health surcharge. If you have a valid EU-issued EHIC , you can access medically necessary treatment during your stay.

There is a doctors’ surgery on the All Saints Campus as well as another nearby. The Manchester Royal Infirmary (main city hospital) is 15-minutes walk away. Further details about medical services close to the university are on our website here.

Advice on contraception and related matters can be obtained from your doctor, Student Health Service or local Family Planning Clinic. Some methods of contraception such as condoms which can also prevent the spread of diseases transmitted sexually, including AIDS, can easily be bought from chemist shops or the Student Union.

Insurance It is strongly recommended that you insure your personal property against loss or theft as soon as possible after arriving. If in doubt, ask the Students' Union Welfare Office for advice. 13

Students in halls of residence are covered by a group insurance scheme, the cost of which is covered by hall fees, but the University cannot accept responsibility for personal property lost on its premises. Personal accident insurance should be taken before you leave home.

Banking If you wish to open a bank account you will require some form of identification such as your passport. Most banks encourage students to bank with them and offer special advantages. The main account available to you is a current account which provides you with a cash card, providing access to 24-hour automatic cash dispensers. Do not carry large amounts of cash around with you.

Living in the UK More information about Arriving in the UK and Living in the UK can be found on the International student pages of our website.

Manchester Metropolitan University- some background

Manchester Metropolitan University was originally formed as a Polytechnic by the merger of the College of Art and Design, the College of Commerce, and the John Dalton College of Technology (now the Faculty of Science and Engineering) of the Metropolitan University. Mergers in the mid-1970's and early 1980's made Manchester Polytechnic one of the largest in the country. In 1992 the Polytechnic became a University awarding its own degrees. It has a student population of around 36,000 and is the second largest establishment of higher education in the UK. It is unusual in age profile, with one fifth of the full-time and sandwich students aged over 25. Their routes to higher education are also different in many cases.

Manchester Metropolitan University places great emphasis on the welfare of its students through personal tutors and Student Services which offer educational advice, personal counselling, and assistance with study techniques.

The University’s Facilities

Library Services

The Library at All Saints has a total stock of over 650,000 volumes and subscribes to over 3,000 periodical titles The library houses a comprehensive stock with major holdings in art and design, science and technology, law, librarianship, social sciences and humanities. It also houses a number of special collections including a children's collection, a book design collection, local history and home economics collections. You have access to these facilities once you have completed your registration.

The demand for heavily used textbooks is met by the provision of short loan and one-week collections. Many books are also available electronically as e-books. The catalogue of the entire Library's holding is available directly to users on-line.

Sport and Recreation Very good quality facilities for sport and recreation can be found at the Sugden Sports Centre at All Saints. These comprise a sports hall/gymnasium, squash courts, weight training area and floodlit outdoor play area.

Students’ Union All full-time students are members of the Students' Union and the annual fee is included in your tuition fee. The Students' Union is run by students for students and offers a wide variety of services. The union exists to promote the educational, recreational, social and general interests of students. Services and facilities range from education and welfare advice to shops, bars, travel offices, banking, games rooms etc. The union is a place to meet other students by joining a student society or club or attending the numerous social and sporting events. Opposite the Students’ Union you will find ‘The Salutation’ pub which is owned and run by the university.

Cafeterias/Refectories There is a student cafeteria (‘the Bistro’) in the Geoffrey Manton Building and food is also available in the Business School on the corner of the All Saints park and in Benzie Buiding (The School of Art). In addition, hot and cold food can be purchased in the Students’ Union building nearby.

Chaplaincy The chaplains are appointed to serve all members of the University whatever their convictions or beliefs. The Chaplains work in co-operation with the other student services.

Counselling In addition to the personal tutor system which operates throughout the Languages Department, the university offers a Counselling, Mental Health and Wellbeing service. Counsellors may be consulted at any time in the strictest confidence about any problem, whether it is something to do with work or something of an intimate and personal nature.

Help we can offer The university also offers study support. This includes help with academic writing, numeracy, specific learning difficulties, study skills and assistive technologies. More information is available on the Study Skills pages of our website.

Useful contacts Your personal tutor will be able to help you with a range of difficulties you may encounter while in Manchester. Personal tutors can be approached for both academic and personal matters.

A Solicitor is available for appointments in the Students’ Union.

How to find us The link below shows maps of the main All Saints campus where your tutors are based and where most of your classes will be held. There are also details of how to rech our campus: http://www2.mmu.ac.uk/travel/

How to get to Manchester Met

Travelling by rail Manchester is served by two mainline rail stations: Piccadilly and Victoria which are connected by the Metrolink tram system. Oxford Road station is closest to the All Saints Campus.

Travelling by coach If you travel by coach you will arrive at Manchester Coach Station on Chorlton Street, from where you can walk down to Whitworth Street and turn right before turning left onto Oxford Road for All Saints Campus.