Postgraduate Student Handbook by Coventry University Recruitment and Admissions Office

Postgraduate Student Handbook

Get to know your new city

Hello and welcome Normally at this time of year we would be writing to our new students to tell you all about what you can look forward to as you start your new life as a Coventry University student. Obviously this is not a normal year and many of the things we would describe in this guide are not happening in the usual way. Even so, whether you have come to us straight from an undergraduate degree or are returning to university after spending time working or having a family, we think you have made a great decision in choosing Coventry University for your postgraduate study, no matter what that currently looks like. Most of you will have completed an undergraduate degree and will be used to university life, but we understand that, as a postgraduate student, you may have different priorities and concerns, and we hope that this guide will go some way to answering any questions you may have. We aim to cover the things we think you’ll need to know to help you to settle in over the first few weeks, but if there’s something you want to talk about before you get here, then feel free to get in touch and we’ll do our best to help. For the latest news and updates, it’s worth checking our web pages at www.coventry. ac.uk/coronavirus-info/our-response-tocovid-19 and our social media channels. There is also a set of postgraduate FAQs available on our website, which you may find useful. You can view them at www.coventry. ac.uk/study-at-coventry/postgraduatestudy/postgraduate-study-faqs. Whether you’re going to be with us here on campus and living in halls, commuting in from home on a daily basis or studying with us online, we hope that the Coventry University community will feel like your natural home and in no time at all. With all best wishes,

Settling in

Welfare and mental health support

Arts and culture

Living on campus... or at home

Develop your leadership skills

Fargo Village

Semester dates

Global opportunities

Sport

How we will deliver courses while prioritising health and safety

Postgraduates’ community

In the local area

Study spaces and academic support

Getting to know your new city

Information Points

Helpful tips

Food and drink

Further information on the COVID-19 situation

Music and nightlife 19

The Postgraduate Admissions Team 2

Living on campus... or at home

If you’ve reserved student accommodation through FutureLets, then you should have been allocated a room in one of the following halls of residence:

Settling in All Coventry University postgraduate courses for September 2020 entry begin on Monday 14 September. If you’re living on campus, we suggest that you arrive a couple of days earlier to give yourself a chance to settle into your new surroundings. Coventry University accommodation lets begin on a staggered arrivals basis from 1 September, but please check your contract for dates applicable to you. Induction Please go to www.coventry.ac.uk/studyat-coventry/get-ready for a step-by-step guide to everything you’ll need to do before you arrive. 4

Once your place has been confirmed, you should receive an email from us, guiding you through the process for enrolling on your course. Once complete, you should be able to access your online induction. The online induction module takes approximately six to eight hours to complete and covers things such as an introduction to Coventry University, and hints and tips to get the most out of city life here. This is also where you will find your course and module learning materials.

Our Student Engagement Centre Team should then contact you to check everything’s okay ahead of the start of term; save 024 7765 6565 to your phone so you know who it is when they call. If you want to talk to one of the team, they are available Monday to Friday between 8am and 8pm.

Hawkins Road The Cycle Works Parish Rooms Bishop Gate Godiva Place Singer Hall Priory Hall Please note, if you are staying in halls, additional health and safety measures will be in place and each on-campus accommodation block will receive a regular deep clean with anti-viral disinfectant for all high traffic common areas. Cleaning during the day will focus on touch points. Hand sanitiser points and anti-viral wipes will also be available in all on-campus blocks, and social distancing measures and one-way systems will be introduced.

We appreciate you may have concerns about your accommodation agreement if we were forced to close the campus for an extended period of time. We have therefore amended our ‘Licence to Occupy’ agreement, meaning you would be able to surrender your Licence to Occupy (if you wish), and the financial commitment that goes with it, if the campus has to close for a period of 21 consecutive days or more. The FutureLets Team will let you know about arrival details, including how to book an arrival time slot and so on, by email before you get here, so keep an eye on your inbox.

other local stations in between, including the other Coventry stations at Tile Hill, Canley and Arena Park. The main bus station, Pool Meadow, is only around five minutes’ walk from the students’ building, TheHub, and serves many destinations all over the Midlands and beyond. If you’re thinking of cycling in, there are plenty of sheltered bike-locking areas on campus, and for those driving to campus, there is a student-only car park that charges just £1 for four hours and £2 to park all day*. *prices correct at the time of printing and are subject to change.

For those of you who plan to live at home and commute to campus, it’s worth getting to know the local bus, train and cycle routes, as well as the student parking options. Coventry railway station is just a ten minute walk from campus, with regular services from Birmingham, Leamington Spa, Nuneaton, Rugby and many

Semester dates Start of semester

Study break

Exams

End of semester

Semester 1

14 September 2020

13 December 2020 – 17 January 2021

5 December 2020 – 12 December 2020

12 December 2020

Semester 2

18 January 2021

18 April 2021 – 16 May 2021

10 April 2021 – 17 April 2021

17 April 2021

Semester 3

17 May 2021

15 August 2021 – 12 September 2021

7 August 2021 – 14 August 2021

14 August 2021

Graduation period

Autumn 2021

If you are due to begin your course in January 2021 or May 2021, please see our information on semester dates at www.coventry.ac.uk/life-on-campus/term-dates.

How we will deliver courses while prioritising health and safety We are fully committed to delivering as much on-campus learning and the widest university experience possible from September 2020. but we also know how important it is that you have all the information you need to plan for September. We are committed to following UK Government and Public Health England advice and recommendations regarding COVID-19. We will keep you regularly updated as the situation progresses. The plans for 2020/2021 academic year may change if there are any changes in UK Government policy, advice or guidance. Subject to there being any changes in Government advice, we will be offering a blend of on-campus learning and online learning to ensure you have a consistent and high-quality experience.

We are currently working course by course to determine how your timetable will look from September, and hope, on most courses, to provide at least five hours of on-campus timetabled learning per student each week during each semester/block, with the remainder delivered online. Our approach is based on four key principles: The safety and wellbeing of all students and colleagues is paramount Maintaining the integrity and depth of the educational experience Our flexibility in responding to changing circumstances Assurance of the quality of our offer. There are a number of elements to our approach.

Blended learning

Campus management

Blended learning means that courses will be delivered via a mix of on-campus and online activity. Our on-campus delivery will be carried out in line with Government advice and instruction, including the appropriate social distancing requirements. It is your choice whether to attend on-campus delivery initially or not.

We are putting in place a number of additional health and safety measures across all our campuses, which include the following. For the most up to date information on our plans to welcome students please keep checking the web page at www.coventry.ac.uk/ coronavirus-info/our-response-to-covid-19.

If you are unable to join us on campus at the start of your course, we offer a fully online route for the vast majority of our courses, as long as there are no specific requirements for on-campus activity (e.g. laboratory, workshop or simulation sessions) that cannot be managed online.

Enhanced building hygiene High-traffic common areas in university buildings on campus will receive a regular deep clean with anti-viral disinfectant. Day cleaning staff will focus on cleaning touch points using anti-viral disinfectant. Hand sanitiser points and anti-viral wipes will be available in all university buildings. Mobile sanitising stations will be installed in all university building main entrances and on each floor. Alterations will be made to increase ventilation within university buildings where reasonably practicable.

Our timetabling will be managed to avoid large gatherings of students and to minimise the number of days per week that commuting students will need to travel onto campus. You will be taught in the same small groups (pods) for any on-campus activities – e.g. tutorials, laboratories, studios, practical assessments, etc. Assessments will normally be completed and submitted online.

Social distancing Social distancing signage, markers and advice will be present on campus. Restricted numbers will be permitted in buildings to encourage social distancing. Student numbers will also be managed in other areas, including the library, social and other informal campus areas. We will instigate a booking system for spaces that are popular, such as the library, to make sure all students have the opportunity to access them.

Catering A queue management system, distancing markings on the floor, and clear signposting will be set up in all designated catering outlets from September. Tables and seating capacity will be reduced, with recommended spacing for socially distanced seating areas. All food and beverages will be served using disposable boxes, cups, cutlery and napkins. We will endeavour to use recyclable materials wherever possible. You will be able to eat your own food in all our designated eating areas. Sanitising stations will be available in all catering outlets. All surfaces within the catering areas will be regularly cleaned with anti-viral disinfectant. A cashless payment system, across all catering and retail outlets, will commence September 2020. Multiple kiosk-style catering facilities will be introduced to reduce queuing and to distribute demand.

Helpful tips for postgraduate study We know that many of you have studied at university before and may have already developed your own study techniques, but we hope that a few of our own hints and tips will help you to make the most of your time here.

Study spaces and academic support We understand how important it can be to find quiet space for individual and group study and as a postgraduate student, you should find plenty of provision on campus. If you visited us at one of our Open Days, you may remember our Jaguar Centre, which provides study and relaxation space for our postgraduate students. As well as private study areas, which can be used for group work or for when you need to work alone, you will find a café serving hot and cold drinks and snacks, a number of computer suites and free WiFi throughout. Reception is open weekdays 8.30am-5pm.

Coventry University has two very useful library-based help services that support all students with free maths and literacy advice and guidance. The Centre for Academic Writing can help you structure your arguments and develop an academic writing style for many types of postgraduate-level writing. Sigma Maths and Stats Support offers access to tutors on a drop-in basis for help with any mathematical or statistical problems you may be having.

Prepare

Be organised

Get involved

Take a look on the Student Portal at the topics you will be studying here before you arrive. Reading around the subject in advance should aid your understanding in lectures and seminars.

Make use of a diary, folders and post-it notes. Make sure you know where you are supposed to be and at what time. Timekeeping can be key to successful studying.

Don’t be afraid to ask your lecturers questions and enter into debate with them and your fellow students. The more you ask, the more you learn.

Keep in touch

Look after yourself

Make regular appointments with your lecturers and dissertation supervisor during their surgery hours to ask for feedback on the work you submit.

Try to stick to a healthy diet and get plenty of sleep. If you’re well fed and rested, this should make you more motivated to study.

Our library basement has also been converted into a designated postgraduate reading room with computers, iMacs, printing and photocopying facilities, free WiFi and a small kitchen. The reading room is open 24/7 and it’s great for when you really need to concentrate away from the distractions of campus life. To find out more about the general services that the library offers, please visit www.coventry. ac.uk/study-at-coventry/student-support/ academic-support/lanchester-library.

Welfare and mental health support We are committed to providing you with a high level of wellbeing support and, as a new student, your induction will introduce you to all of the support available and how to access it. From the start of the first semester, all of our normal services will be available, whether online or in person (at a safe distance). These include: access to our counselling and mental health service a dedicated team of disability advisors, providing advice and support access to our suite of Connections Matter resources designed to help you stay connected and healthy, both mentally and physically access to the Big White Wall, a completely anonymous digital mental health support service available online 24/7 for students and staff to express themselves freely and openly support with registering for NHS Health Services (GP) a medical centre in TheHub, and you can register with them at www.covunigp.co.uk. We also have a welfare officer, counsellors and mental health advisers, providing support during your time at Coventry University. Students who have asked for help often have an initial appointment with our welfare officer, who can advise on all sorts of difficulties, ranging from problems with health and relationships to bereavement issues and course worries. There is lots of information available to all students around self-care, but if you find you are still struggling, you can contact the Health and Wellbeing Team on 024 7765 8029 and they’ll be ready to listen. We also recommend you download the Coventry University Health and Wellbeing app from your app store so that you have instant access to university emergency numbers, other useful contacts and information.

Develop your leadership skills In a world where technology has brought us closer together, employers are looking to hire graduates who can work across cultures with well-developed problem solving and critical analysis skills. We want you to be able to compete and have the edge in today’s jobs market, so we have teamed up with the Chartered Management Institute (CMI) to offer a Professional Development module, designed to give you the leadership skills you might need to succeed.

The module will be taught over four learning workshops across one of your three semesters and will be supplemented with online learning sessions developed by the CMI. You will also work towards the Level 7 certificate in Strategic Management and Leadership, and will hold CMI membership whilst you study. Check www.coventry.ac.uk/course-finder to see if the Professional Development module is included within your course. If you’d like to find out more before you arrive, visit: www.coventry.ac.uk/globalprofdev. 13

Global opportunities If you are interested in finding out more about other cultures, global networking and how businesses operate here and in other countries, then it may be worth signing up to our Global Leaders Programme (GLP) for a fee of £250. You will be encouraged to learn one of over 20 languages and take part in workshops looking at leading teams, consultancy, presentation skills and networking. As a GLP member, you should also have the chance to explore how businesses function in different countries and will have the option of undertaking overseas trips or visits to industry*.

International trips and visits to industry vary each year, but in previous years international trips have taken place in Malaysia, India, Spain, Germany, Belgium, the USA and Sri Lanka; and industrial trips have included visits to organisations such as Manchester United FC, the BBC, Jaguar Land Rover, Morgan Motors and the Bank of England*. All of this is designed to help you develop your global leadership skills and gain international experiences to prepare you for a career in an intercultural and global workplace.

You can find out more about the GLP for postgraduates at www.coventry.ac.uk/studyat-coventry/student-support/enhanceyour-employability/global-leadersprogramme/for-postgraduates. *Please note that international opportunities and industrial trips such as studying and working abroad or volunteering abroad may be subject to application, additional costs, meeting applicable visa requirements and/or availability.

Postgraduates’ Community

As a Coventry University student, you will automatically become a member of the Postgraduates’ Community, which is part of Coventry University Students’ Union.

The Postgraduates’ Community can also try to support you in organising your own events and work towards addressing what you would like to see in your Students’ Union.

Its aim is to foster an active and growing postgraduate community at the university and to ensure that your Students’ Union can address your needs, because they understand that your requirements are often somewhat different to those of an undergraduate.

Have a look at www.cusu.org/communities/ postgrad to find out more about the Postgraduates’ Community and to see details of events you can get involved in after you arrive.

Getting to know your city We know that you’re here to study and gain that all-important postgraduate qualification, but we’re guessing you’re also planning to enjoy the city and all it has to offer along the way. While things may remain a little out of the ordinary when you first arrive, we hope that normal life will resume soon and you can start to take full advantage of your new city home and all it has to offer. In the meantime, take a look at the next few pages for our top tips on where to eat, drink and be entertained in and around Coventry.

Music and nightlife

Food and drink One of the best things about coming to Coventry has to be the chance to try out all the cafés, bars and restaurants on offer, and with the wide range available across the city, you’re not going to be short of options. At the time of writing, we can’t confirm that all of the places mentioned here will still be open and available, but fingers crossed. If some have disappeared, the spirit of Coventry will mean that new and exciting places are bound to spring up to replace them. If you want to venture into the city centre for lunch, then don’t miss out on a trip to Noodle Bar in the Bull Yard to try their authentic Chinese food and extra-large portions. Alternatively, check out Wagamama and Cosy Club for an early evening meal in Broadgate. Make sure you visit Pizza Express, Las Iguanas and Zizzi, all just a short walk from campus, to take advantage of their student discounts. Nando’s is also located very close to campus. Other student favourites are Basement Browns and Chi Bar on the High Street and Falafel Corner just off Broadgate. 18

For a vegan alternative, head to The Pod Café on Far Gosford Street and try their ethically sourced, home-grown food, or cross over the road to find Habibi and enjoy their Middle Eastern halal cuisine served in an exotic Bedouin tent. To satisfy those sweet tooth cravings, try Creams Café, five minutes’ walk from campus on Swanswell Street, and choose from an array of crêpes, ice creams and milkshakes. You could also take a short trip to Sprinkles on Hales Street where you can work your way through their mouth-watering selection of waffles, sundaes and sorbets.

If you’re into your music, then you’re not going to be disappointed with the range of options for a night out in Coventry. In Earlsdon, you’ll find Millsy’s, a fancy bar with fancy food and well known for its DJs, local acts and a weekly open mic night. Just a few streets away is the Nursery Tavern, an award-winning pub and small music venue that hosts folk and acoustic acts. Back in the city centre is The Tin Music and Arts in the Canal Basin, where you’ll find music

of all types, film nights and other arty events, and at The Big Comfy Bookshop in Fargo Village you can drop in to regular folk and acoustic sessions, poetry nights and games evenings.

For those who can’t get enough of their traditional student type events, try Teezers for crazy golf, clubhouse cocktails and street food or JJ’s on Fridays and Saturdays at the Skydome.

If you’re after big name bands in a cool, urban vibe setting then head for The Empire on Hertford Street, or to the more commercial Kasbah, just outside the city centre. Recent acts to have graced the stages there are Sean Kingston, Twenty One Pilots and Charlie Sloth.

Fargo Village holistic hippy goods and doubling up as a popup yoga studio; Just Dropped In…Records for new and used vinyl across a variety of genres; and Auntie Olive’s Attic, where you’ll find 50s, 60s and 70s fashion, furniture and homeware.

Arts and culture

Twisted Barrel Ale run loads of events – from brewery tours to pilot beer weekends – and they’re all held inside the brewery, meaning you can enjoy a pint in the building it was created in. Once you’ve tried and tested all of the cool shops, beer and eateries at Fargo, try your luck at Escape Live, Coventry’s premier themed escape game where you have 60 minutes to make your way out of a locked room by solving puzzles, cracking codes and working together.

Get your culture fix by visiting Coventry’s selection of theatres and museums. Or kick back and catch a film at one of the city’s cinemas. Theatre Warwick Arts Centre, which is a short bus ride away on the outskirts of Coventry, is a major local arts attraction with top notch live comedy, music for all tastes as well as theatre, film and talks. Or take in a show at the city-centre Belgrade Theatre, which offers an eclectic programme of produced, visiting and community shows together with discounts for students. In nearby Earlsdon, you’ll find The Albany Theatre, an Art Deco theatre that hosts local and national comedy acts, live music and an annual pantomime. Or venture down to the bottom of City Arcade and find the Shop Front Theatre, a former fish and chip restaurant now offering a small performance space where sets and lighting are minimal, leaving storylines to speak for themselves. Cinema As well as the university’s own Square One cinema on campus, there’s an Odeon in the Skydome and a Showcase Cinema in Walsgrave, which is a short walk from the 8 and 8A bus routes. All three offer discounted tickets for students.

Museums As the birthplace of the British motor industry, Coventry is home to the recently redeveloped Transport Museum. This city centre museum features the fastest car in the world, a 4D Land Speed Record Simulator and also showcases Coventry’s rich manufacturing history. Explore Coventry’s most famous contribution to music at the 2-Tone Village on Walsgrave Road, just outside the city centre. Created to celebrate our 2-tone heritage, this area includes a café, the Simmer Down Caribbean restaurant, vintage and memorabilia stores and The Coventry Music Museum. Back on campus you’ll find The Herbert Art Gallery and Museum on Bayley Lane near University Square. The galleries include art, natural history and touring exhibitions, and there are lots of events to get involved in.

City of Culture Coventry will be the UK City of Culture 2021, a year-long event that is set to transform the arts and culture scene in the city, with the programme of activities and events now due to begin in May 2021. Coventry also holds a Biennial of Contemporary Art, which brings high quality contemporary visual art to the city and surrounding area, with the next one due to be held in the autumn of 2021.

Fargo Village provides a Shoreditch-style hub of art, music and food in Coventry’s cultural quarter. Just down the road from campus, you can find artists and artisans showcasing their creativity and talent. As you walk through the village you’ll find shipping containers that have been transformed into artists’ workspaces, galleries and shops. The Indoor Market is where you can find an eclectic mix of independent shops – but by its very nature, shops come and go, so we can’t say for sure what will be open in the future. As a taster, some of Fargo’s more unusual offerings include Buddha Boutique, offering

Sport Keeping fit and looking after yourself helps to keep your mind alert and well-motivated for study. Here on campus we’ve got a Sport and Recreation Centre with a number of sports halls, studios and a fitness suite, all available for you to use. However, if watching sport is more up your street, then take a look at what’s on offer in the local area. Our premiership rugby team, Wasps, plays at the Ricoh Arena along with Wasps Netball, our local Netball Superleague team. You can watch Coventry RFC, our Greene King IPA Championship side, which plays at the Butts Park Arena, a few minutes’ walk from the city centre. Coventry and North Warwickshire Hockey Club fields four men’s and two ladies’ sides. Training and matches take place at the Coventry University Sports Ground at Westwood Heath, with new players and volunteers always welcome. If you prefer the rink to the pitch, head to the Skydome Arena to support local Elite League ice hockey team, Coventry Blaze. If you really want to make a splash, you could try out the new Olympic-sized pool at The Alan Higgs Centre on the outskirts of Coventry or the UK’s newest indoor water park, The Wave, located on New Union Street in the city centre.

In the local area Had your fill of the well-known coffee chains? Then take a short trip to Earlsdon to find a range of independent shops and a pavement café culture. There’s also an annual Earlsdon Festival, which takes place around the May Day bank holiday with live music, workshops, pub games and stalls to enjoy. The War Memorial Park in Earlsdon is Coventry’s largest city park. It hosts the city’s Saturday morning 5k Park Run, the Godiva Festival every summer and lots of other events. Many students head down to this park on sunny afternoons.

If you’re feeling a bit more adventurous, then consider checking out the leafy, castle towns of Kenilworth (15 mins by car) and Warwick (25 mins). For a full-on tourist fix, head to Stratford-upon-Avon (35 mins) and catch a show at the Royal Shakespeare Theatre, while away your afternoon on a riverboat or take a tour around one of Shakespeare’s family homes.

The Skydome has a cinema, ice rink, restaurants and bars, so there’s always something to do. It’s next to historic Spon Street, where you’ll find even more places to eat and go out. 22

Information Points If you have any questions or problems, contact an Information Point. Theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re a one-stop service who deal with all enquiries from beginning to end. When youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re on campus, there is an Information Point in all faculty buildings, TheHub and Lanchester Library, and you can contact them by telephone or email from anywhere. T: 024 7765 6565 E: infopoint.ss@coventry.ac.uk

Other useful numbers: Main university number T: 024 7765 7688

Academic Registry T: 024 7765 2200

Accommodation (FutureLets) T: 024 7715 8158

Protection Service T: 024 7765 7363

Funding T: 024 7765 2040

Faculty of Arts and Humanities T: 024 7765 8248

Fees T: 024 7765 2277

Faculty of Business and Law T: 024 7765 8410

Medical Centre T: 024 7659 2012

Faculty of Engineering, Environment and Computing T: 024 7765 8888

Health and Wellbeing T: 024 7765 8029

Faculty of Health and Life Sciences T: 024 7765 5800

Further information on the COVID-19 situation We have a set of FAQ answers available for all our students to access, and these will be kept up to date during the weeks leading up to the start of the academic year. These include FAQs on plans for September 2020, our online teaching and learning plans, campus access and general information. You can find them at www.coventry.ac.uk/ coronavirus-info/our-response-to-covid-19/ Please take the time to check them on a regular basis as the situation is ever changing.

The contents of this guide are correct at the time of writing. However, please consult our website at www.coventry.ac.uk to check any changes to the facilities and services described here. Where there is a difference between the contents of this guide and our website, the contents of the website take precedence and represent the basis on which we intend to deliver our services to you. If you are not able to access information online, please contact CU Recruitment and Admissions Ltd on 024 7765 2222 or email ukadmissions@coventry.ac.uk for the most up-to-date information concerning university services. CU Recruitment and Admissions Ltd is a wholly owned subsidiary of Coventry University that manages recruitment and admissions for and on behalf of Coventry University Group.

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