Student Services Student Academic Support College to University Helping you prepare for University Life For more information, advice and guidance, please conatct: Louise Cascarino HN to Degree Transition Adviser University of Abertay Dundee E: [email protected] T: 01382 308138 M: 07970 282962 Or join us on Facebook: Look for Abertay Entry. This booklet is available in alternative formats: Please contact us. Abertay University About this booklet Congratulations on taking the decision to move from college to university. That is not always an easy decision to make, so well done. Now, what’s next? It can seem daunting when making the transition from college to university. Where do you start? What do you have to do before you get here? How can you make the process that little bit easier? Your experience can be made so much smoother and easier if you spend a bit of time finding out more about the university and your course before you begin. This booklet has been created to help answer questions you might have about the move and about what studying at university can be like. We asked students who made that move in the past year what information they would have found useful beforehand to help them with their transition from college to university. Ideas about being better organised. Getting familiar with the modules you will be doing. How to find your timetable and understand it. How to tackle the recommended reading. So if you READ anything before you get to University we would recommend THIS BOOKLET! Contents Part 1 – Key information and contacts Abertay’s campus 4 University jargon 5 Help available at Abertay 7 Your questions answered 9 Part 2—Preparation activities for before you start at university Inside information 11 Module descriptors explained 12 Option modules explained 17 Finding, reading and understanding your timetable 18 How well has your HNC or HND course prepared you? 20 What do your tutors say about you? 22 Bridging Programme 24 Things to do 26 Useful links 27 Part 1 – Key information and contacts Abertay University Campus Library Kydd Building For books and journals (obviously). The main entrance to the University, Also for computers, study rooms to where you will have most of your book for group work and for library classes. Old College, the Baxter Building and IT help. The Library is also home and the Graham Building - where other to Student Services, which can be classes are held - can all be accessed found on level 2. via the Kydd Building. Student Centre Abertay’s main social hub. The Students’ Association is also responsible for representing students on University management committees. 4 University jargon Universities and colleges are terrible at using words that mean something to staff but not explaining them to students. Here is some of the jargon that you’ll face. A full glossary can be found at: http://www.abertay.ac.uk/studying/support/academic/atoz/ · Academic tutor: Member of staff responsible for checking how you are settling in to your new course. They are a good person to turn to if you are having trouble with your course. · Blackboard: An online learning environment that many modules use where you can find lecture notes, coursework details and online discussions. Also called WebCT. · Bridging Programme: Activities laid on to help students moving from an HNC or HND to the second or third year of a degree course. · Credits: Points earned as you complete each part of your course. Normally, degree students have to earn 120 credits each year. · Direct entry: Coming on to a degree course but not on to its first year. This might be because your qualifications (such as an HNC) or experience mean that you have equivalent skills and knowledge as students who have taken the first year of the course. · External examiners: Academics from other institutions appointed to check on the quality and standard of teaching and assessment on your modules. · Induction: One or two weeks of administration and preparation activities before teaching starts. · Lab (laboratory): A practical exercise in either a computer room or a science lab. · Lecture: Where the lecturer will speak and you are expected to take notes. Lectures are provided for you to gain information on a subject, not to be the only method of your studies. · Module: A section of a course covering one specific topic, such as Visual Literacy, statistics for business or contexts of sport. Usually you will complete 4 modules each semester. Modules have codes; keep a record of the them as they will be useful when working out your timetable. 5 · Module descriptor: A valuable source of information, such as what you will learn within the module , how you will be assessed, a guide to how much independent study time will be required of you in order to complete the module. Pages 12-17 explain where you can find module descriptors and more detail of their benefits · OASIS: An online service for Abertay students where you can update your personal details and find your grades. · Orientation Week: Comes before teaching starts, to give all new students the opportunity to complete the registration process for your course, meet your tutors and classmates, and begin your academic, social, and cultural life at Abertay University. · Portal: The homepage for Abertay students and staff, where you can find links to your course materials, the library and support services. · Practical: Active work, possibly in the lab or involving fieldwork, such as surveying a building. · Programme structure: The outline of what each year of your course involves. · Semester: Usually there are two semesters each academic year, September to January and January to May. · Seminar: A cross between a lecture and a tutorial. A chance to discuss a topic in depth in a small group. Often, the students will take turns to lead the discussion each week. · Student Services: The team of advisors who can help with the range of questions and issues you might have before and during your course. The team includes a transition advisor, counsellors, careers advisors, disabled student advisors, a finance advisor, an international student advisor and academic support advisors. You can make appointments with all of them through the Student Services reception, based on level 2 of the Library. · Transition: Making the move from studying for an HNC or HND to a degree course with help from teaching and support staff. · Tutorial: An opportunity for you to discuss issues raised in lectures and your own private reading with a small group of other students and a member of teaching staff. 6 What help is available at Abertay? Student Services is your main source of information, advice and guidance. For quick questions and appointments, contact Student Services Reception located on level 2 of the Library, or email [email protected]. Much more information is available online at http://www.abertay.ac.uk/studying/support/ Student Services includes the following teams: Disability Service You are encouraged on your application form to tell the University if you have a disability. If you have not done that or feel uncomfortable doing it that way, please contact us. Once you have told us, you will be contacted towards the start of term and asked to make an initial appointment with one of the advisors. Career Development Centre Students can receive one-to-one support to help identify career opportunities and focus on clear career goals. There is also a drop-in service which runs three times a week - an ideal opportunity to get your CV checked or receive help with job hunting. We are part of Student Services; find us on Level 2 of the Library. Student Funding Advisor The Student Funding Advisor holds regular drop-in times to ask for help with funding and budget issues. Contact Student Services Reception to find out when the next drop-in will be held. Counselling Students seek counselling to help with specific concerns, such as bereavement, anxiety, academic issues, depression and loneliness. Whatever the reason (and it does not have to be when you are in crisis,) the counsellor will seek to understand how you experience your difficulties in a safe environment without judging you. 7 Student Academic Support Student Academic Support can help you with how you go about your studies: making the most of your time, juggling studies with your other commitments, tackling coursework, checking your work, preparing for exams and more. HN-Degree Transitions Advisor Louise Cascarino, our HN-Degree Transition Advisor, is here to support you before and during your time at Abertay. If you have any worries or concerns or would just like to chat to someone about what to expect, get in touch. Contact: Louise Cascarino Phone: 01382 308138 Mobile: 07970282962 Email: [email protected] Online: http://www.abertay.abertay.ac.uk/studying/support/supportfor collegeleavers/ Facebook: Search for Abertay Entry, where you can also get together with other students coming to Abertay and students already here who have come from college. Library & Information Services Academic Librarians The librarians can help you with your research skills so you can work more efficiently and make the most of the library and online resources. They can also help with referencing. A brief overview of services available can be found online at: http://www.abertay.ac.uk/about/facilities/library/ IT help The IT Helpdesk and Trainers, based on the ground floor of the Library, can help with all your practical IT problems, from general computer worries to making better use of software. Self-help and training resources are also available once you are registered. Until then, Microsoft has online training guides at: http://tinyurl.