ASSESSMENT AND STUDY SKILLS

TEACHING

A range of teaching methods are employed by the School. Some of these will be very familiar to you from school or college, others will be new.

Much of the teaching material is delivered via lectures (50 minutes duration), which may be attended by over 200 students at Level 1, but are smaller at Level 2 and smaller still at Level 3.

In addition, teaching may be delivered through tutorials (groups of six); seminars (groups of approximately 30); computer classes; lab practical classes; independent study; groupwork; online exercises and fieldwork. Opportunities for extra help, including 'drop-in' workshops, one-to-one assistance, and an extensive programme of generic skills training offered by the University’s Skills Centre, are also readily available.

LEARNING

Students are expected to read widely for each module they study. A ten-credit module equates to 100 hours study time, which encompasses contact time (lectures, classes), private reading and study time, the preparation of any assignments and revision for exams. A full workload is 120 credits at each level of study, so students are expected to spend approximately 40 hours per week during term-time on their studies.

FEEDBACK

Students learn from prompt and constructive feedback, which is provided in written (sometimes also verbal) form.

ATTENDANCE

Attendance at all sessions is considered to be compulsory and registers are taken at some sessions. Non-attendance is followed up and patterns of non-attendance without justification may lead to disciplinary action.

ASSESSMENT

Assessment methods vary from module to module, with most modules being assessed through two or three components (e.g. exam; coursework; presentation). The University has two formal examination periods at the end of the teaching blocks (semester one and semester two), but coursework deadlines vary across the teaching weeks, and are staggered to avoid too great a build-up of coursework at any one time. Assessment methods include: examinations; individual or group reports; practical exercises; individual or group presentations; essays; posters; projects (such as the dissertation); and reflective logs.

PROGRESSION

Students are required to pass a minimum of 100 credits, including any modules which carry the status ‘pass to progress’, in order to progress normally to the next level of their Honours programme.