Role of an academic advisor
Before the 2024/25 academic year, Academic Advisors were called Personal Tutors. You might find some students and staff still refer to personal tutoring.
When you join the University, you are assigned an Academic Advisor, an academic staff member within your department. They will act as a personalised point of contact, supporting your academic and professional development throughout your journey at Bath. This might include:
- discussing your transition into the University community and your academic studies and progression
- discussing with you matters like unit choices, placement opportunities and future career plans
- providing you with a reference for work experience, internships, your placement, further studies, or career
- guiding you to sources of support with any matters or situations that are negatively impacting your studies
Your academic advisor is not a counsellor and will not know all the answers to your queries, but they can listen and advise you on where to go in the university to receive additional advice and support.
They are one part of your student support network here at Bath, which also includes your Director of Studies, Unit conveners, Student Support, Careers, Skills, MASH, Placements Officers, Student Experience/Support Officers, Security, and ResLife.
If you need to talk to somebody urgently about your, or a friend's or student's wellbeing call the support helplines which are open 24 hours a day, every day: Urgent or emergency wellbeing support.
Meeting with your academic advisor
If you are a new student (UG and PGT), your Academic Advisor will arrange to meet with you during welcome week or the first week of teaching (in-person or via Teams), and on at least two more occasions during your first semester. They will offer at least one meeting per semester on an ongoing basis for the remainder of your studies. This includes when away on placement or study year abroad.
Your Academic Advisor may increase the number of meetings depending on your circumstances, for example they may request to meet on your return from placement, study year abroad or a period of suspense. You can also request additional meetings by emailing your advisor or going along to their ‘office hours’ (if applicable).
Academic departments run academic advising in different ways. Your Academic Advisor might meet with you in a group with other students (sometimes called a group tutorial) but should also offer you the opportunity to arrange a one-to-one meeting. Your advisor might set pre-work or activities to prepare for the meeting, or it might be more informal. It is a good idea to think in advance about some topics you want to discuss with your advisor so the time together is helpful and constructive, e.g. reflect on your learning and/or professional needs and goals and discuss these in the meeting.
It is recommended you read through the Statement of Expectations for Academic Advising ahead of your first meeting. It might also be useful to go through it with your advisor at your first meeting as it outlines the expectations and responsibilities of advisor and student.
You are responsible for attending meetings with your Academic Advisor, and for communicating with them if for any reason you are unable to attend. Your advisor will keep a record of your meetings, including non-attendance.
Meetings between advisor and student are confidential except in situations where your advisor suspects you or someone else may be unsafe. There will be the need for advisors to make referrals to relevant colleagues throughout the student journey which will include sharing information on a need-to-know basis. This is so students can receive the most appropriate advice and support. Notes of meetings will also be stored confidentially on SAMIS, to ensure continuity of support, in case of staff changes.
The importance of academic advising
It is important to engage and meet with your advisor as outlined above. Academic advising can benefit you and the advisor:
- your Academic Advisor is familiar with your department and can help you navigate your academic journey (if they are new too then you can learn together)
- academic advising forms part of a wider support network for taught students at the University. They can signpost or link you in with additional advice and support when required
- your advisor will provide references for a placement or other career opportunities in the future, so it is important to get to know each other
- you can exchange insights on what it is like as a student or staff member and so build an understanding of the wider community at Bath
What to do if things go wrong
If you have not heard from, or find you want to change your Academic Advisor, contact your Director of Studies to discuss it further. If you would like support and advice from someone outside of your academic department then you can also contact: