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Adviser of Studies Handbook for Students OLD

Adviser of Studies Handbook for Students

This guide has been developed by the Academic Skills Centre, Student Services for Academic Year 2022-23

This handbook is a guide to working with your Adviser of Studies

About your Adviser of studies

You are allocated an Adviser of Studies when you start university. This applies to undergraduate and postgraduate students. Normally your Adviser will be an experienced member of the teaching staff in your School. You can discuss a range of topics with them, for example, course concerns, financial issues, your exams, personal issues, your health and wellbeing, feeling valued and having a sense of belonging to the University.

Your Adviser is the first point of contact within the School/Discipline.

What does an Adviser of Studies do?

Advisers of Studies support you in two ways:

Academic

If you have any concerns about your course or module choice this is the type of issue you should discuss with your Adviser as soon as possible. Your Adviser will give advice and guidance at key stages. They can help you make course choices; support you with your personal development planning where applicable; and give advice on professional and academic progress and skills development, offering useful improvement strategies and highlighting opportunities for engagement and professional development.

Pastoral

Your Adviser will offer general advice and information and ensure that if you are experiencing difficulties you are supported through referral to the appropriate professional service(s).

What will this entail?

They will:

  • take time to get to know you and listen to you;
  • keep in touch with you, whether you are full-time or part-time, postgraduate or undergraduate, studying on campus or remotely;
  • let you know when they can be contacted, either through University email, online communication tools such as Teams or Blackboard Collaborate, or for a timetabled or pre-arranged on-campus meeting;
  • keep records of meetings to allow your Adviser to provide a consistency of support, follow up on queries and to help both of you remember key discussions;
  • keep your data secure: Such records will be processed in line with data protection requirements and with your consent. Find out more: GDPR requirements