Student ServicesStudying in the UK
- Teaching and learning methods used in the UK
- 'Mitigating Circumstances': assessment and examinations
- Talk to us
- Study tips
- Who can you ask for help with your studies?
- Plagiarism
Teaching and learning methods used in the UK
Lecture
A large class (sometimes over 100 students), lasting just under one hour. The lecturer will give a general overview of a topic and you will need to take notes. There is usually little or no opportunity to ask questions during lectures.
Seminar
A small class of up to 15 students. The tutor will notify students of the topic in advance and often a group of students will prepare a short presentation for discussion. The aim is for students to analyse the topic through debate. Reasoned argument is encouraged; don't be afraid to speak out, to challenge others (including the tutor!) and contribute your own ideas.
Tutorial
A meeting between a tutor and an individual student or small group of students. This is an opportunity for you to discuss the progress of your work and to tell the tutor about any problems you are having with a topic or with study methods.
Practical Work
On many courses you will have practical workshops e.g. in laboratories, intended to give you practical application of the theories.
Independent study
This is an integral part of the UK academic culture. It will help you develop key skills such as research, critical analysis and problem solving, and to develop your own ideas.
Written work
This may include essays, a project or a dissertation, and assignment questions.
Assessments
These include:
- Closed examinations where you are not allowed to refer to books or notes and have a specific time to complete a number of questions
- Open examinations where you can refer to books and notes
- Assessed essays, projects and dissertations
- Group work projects
- Presentations to a seminar
- Practical assessments
Be very clear about what you are allowed to take into an exam. Taking unauthorised materials into an exam could have very serious consequences. Information about this is contained in the 'Regulations for Students' booklet.
'Mitigating Circumstances': assessment and examinations
If you believe your studies or your examination may have been affected by exceptional circumstances such as illness, then you may be able to submit 'mitigating circumstances'. To claim mitigating circumstances, it is very important that you have told your Director of Studies about your circumstances before the exam or assessment period.
University regulation 15.3 (d) states:
A student who wishes any mitigating circumstances to be taken into account by the Board of Examiners for Programmes should notify the appropriate Director of Studies within three days of the completion of the assessment for which representation is being made and should submit a medical certificate if the circumstances relate to illness or injury.
Where mitigating circumstances exist prior to the assessment period, students will normally be expected to have notified the Director of Studies of those circumstances before the start of the assessment period.
Talk to us
You may find it difficult to tell someone about your personal issues, but it is important that you do - people will listen to you and do their best to help. Don't forget, the International Student Advisers are always here to help and doctors can only provide a medical certificate for an illness about which the have been consulted. Details of mitigating circumstances and other University regulations are at: www.bath.ac.uk/regulations
Study Tips
In the UK students often work independently, studying on their own for long periods of time. Students are expected to develop a critical approach to information - to analyse what they read and hear, to say if they think it is right or wrong and to give their own opinion.
Managing your work and time
At the start of your course you should know how much work you are expected to do and important dates for completing it.
Essential details
Before beginning a piece of work be sure of the following:
- When writing an essay or assignment, how long should it be?
- Will it be assessed or is it for practice?
- What proportion of your overall marks does a piece of work or examination represent?
Lectures
Don't write down everything the lecturer says; get the main points and important details. If there is something you don't understand, make a note and ask about it in a tutorial.
Seminars
Seminars can be intimidating but don't worry - many other students feel the same way at first. To contribute your thoughts and ideas to a seminar:
- know the subject
- have a list of questions and ideas for discussion and
- in the seminar, challenge other people's ideas.
This is what makes seminars stimulating and useful!
Reading
On most courses you will have a list of books and journals. Don't buy them all. Ask your tutor which ones you should buy and which you should borrow from the library. Before you buy any book, ask your department if they have a second-hand book exchange.
Using the Library
If you need any help understanding the library ask at the Information Desk on level 2 of the library. The library staff will be happy to help you and can put you in touch with a librarian who specialises in your subject area.
Who can you ask for help with your studies?
Undergraduate students: Your personal tutor should be your first point of contact. Talk to your tutor about academic problems, personal and health related problems that may affect your studies.
Postgraduate students: On a taught Masters you will have a Director of Studies. Research postgraduates will have a Supervisor. Also check the student booklet given to you when you join the department.
Plagiarism is forbidden
Plagiarism means presenting someone else's work as your own, which is strictly forbidden. Penalties for plagiarism can be very severe and can include failing your course.
To be safe: Whenever you use a quotation from a book, or a website, or reproduce an author's ideas (even in your own words) note the original source. This process is known as 'referencing'. Check with your tutor about how you should reference your work.
As an international student you must be particularly careful not to plagiarise. If you don't have perfect English can be easy and tempting to copy things from books and journals. This is okay, but you must reference the work and before giving the work to a tutor or for assessment, take time to check that you have referenced all your sources. To prepare you, visit the following online interactive tool, "Plagiarism and how you can avoid it".