WELCOME TO SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER! Congratulations on your place This guide has been created just for you by us - your peer mentors! This will give you all the information you need about what to expect in your first year; it is designed to give you a head start and smooth transition into university life. We look forward to meeting you in welcome week! If you have any queries or just fancy a chat, join our peer mentoring Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/394540913984052/ and join our Manchester Anthropology Facebook group: https://www.facebook.com/ManAnthropology?fref=ts Best wishes,
*** Contents: Your Peer Mentors – Page 2 Studying at the University of Manchester page – page 3-4 Life as a Student in Manchester – page 6-7 A Manchester Guide – page 8 What to Look Forward to – page 9 Contacts page – page 10
1
YOUR PEER MENTORS Your Peer Mentor scheme is set up so that higher year university students can give support to lower students on the same course. We are here to help ☺ Hilary Smail Co-Ordinator and Peer Mentor
Joey Beeso-Cope Peer Mentor
Lily Charnock Peer Mentor
Bella Stevens Peer Mentor
Inka Vann Peer Mentor
Olivia Burt Peer Mentor
Lauren Kentebe Peer Mentor
Eleanor Marcus- Walker Peer Mentor
Rosa Denis Peer Mentor
Rachel Goodier Peer Mentor
Keira Koroma Peer Mentor
Veronika Trebulova Peer Mentor
Florence Waller-Carr Peer Mentor Peer Mentors help with new student’s induction and adjustment into university life. We are a support network – so use us!
2
STUDYING AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MANCHESTER: Introductions! Studying at university is much differentt to work at sixth form of college. Independent study is crucial. Throughout the modules you take, you are most likely to be provided with readings for each lecture; it is essential that you keep on top of the reading lists yourselves. This will be your key to success and a first class degree. What you will be studying: In your first year you will experience Social Anthropology on a broad scale. As well as at least 5 core modules, you will be entitled to a free choice, which can be outside of the discipline if you wish. ut the year you are bound to have some favourite courses, but Throughout make sure you spend an equal amount of time on them all – as each of them counts towards ards your final grade. However, also take note that you need 40% to pass your first year, and the grade does not count towards your degree. This does not mean that your first year is not important! It sets the crucial foundations for doing well later on. When exams are on the horizon, it is a good idea to set up study or discussion groups – help each other where you can! Anthropology is a discipline that benefits from debates and opinion sharing. Most importantly, enjoy the course and savour as much as you you can! Not just because it will help you in your exams and essays, but also because anthropology has a range of fascinating modules that will make you see the world in different lights!
3
The Arthur Lewis Building The Arthur Lewis Building is the home of Social Anthropology and other social sciences. This is where you will find your lecturers, tutors and other academic advisors. There are computer clusters that you can use throughout the year with access to printers. printers There is also a common room and a café where you can study and relax with friends!
Useful things to know… Some key dates: 2013/14 academic year Semester 1 starts Winter graduation Christmas break starts Christmas break ends Semester 1 ends Semester 2 starts Easter break starts Easter break ends Semester 2 ends Summer graduation
16 September 2013 9-13 December 2013 13 December 2013 13 January 2014 26 January 2014 27 January 2014 4 April 2014 28 April 2014 6 June 2014 7-18 July 2014
Campus, city and accommodation maps Arriving in an unfamiliar city can be quite daunting, but never fear – people are at hand to help you out and maps can c be found here: here http://www.manchester.ac.uk/aboutus/travel/maps/ 4
Lectures, tutorials and seminars It sometimes hard to get everything noted down in lectures. Presentations are available from Blackboard (your interactive learning space, you are given a login on arrival), which can be printed off. With permission, all lessons can be recorded and transcribed later on. There are numerous ways to ensure that you get everything possible out of your learning time. Lectures are 1-2 hours and led by a lecturer who usually dictates for the whole session. Tutorials and seminars on the other hand are place for group discussions and are led by a postgraduate tutor.
Living in Halls...
5
LIFE AS A STUDENT IN MANCHESTER Everyday life - travel health and shopping Travel: Whether planning on travelling by car, bus foot or bike, travelling will not be an issue: Manchester has one of the best transport links. Public transport is frequent, accessible and cheap. There is also a free bus that runs between the two campuses (bus 147), however most students buy an annual Unirider for the ‘Magic Bus’. There is plenty of student parking for drivers, a cycle routes for cyclists. Manchester also has a tramline; it does not run between the University but is a great way of getting around the city centre and train stations. While taxis are expensive, they are a great way of getting home after a night out (remember to save money aside!). Here are some useful numbers: Oxford Cars: 01612 759 339 – Manchester Cars: 01612 283 355 Radio Cars: 01612 368 033
Health: I’m sure you have heard of the infamous ‘fresher’s flu’ – keeping fit and healthy is important for you to have fun and enjoy your studies. When you arrive, make sure you register with a doctor and a dentist. There are also emergency or walk in centres close to campus on Oxford Road for immediate needs.
Food Shopping: There are a number of popular places, such as: • Sainsbury’s Fallowfield, Wilmslow Road • A number of smaller supermarkets along Oxford Rd, which are useful for Victoria Park and City Centre Halls • There are many Halal shops on Curry Mile, or Rusholme • If you are prepared to go further afield, there are ASDAs, ALDIs and Tescos in Hulme, Longsight and the City Centre. • Oxford road also has its very own fruit and veg stand at great prices – Have a Banana! 6
Societies You’ll be surprised by how many societies there are to join! Any sport, interest and hobby you can think of and more. There are also many charity and fundraising organisations to get involved with, as well as the Manchester RAG!
AND….don’t forget to join our very own Anthropology Society! 7
THE MANCHESTER MANCHESTER GUIDE Bars, clubs, restaurants, entertainment and shopping Entertainment! Cinema: Though the Printworks houses an ODEON cinema, ticket prices are much cheaper at the AMC in Deansgate. Didsbury also has a great cinema, bowling and restaurant complex. Music: Manchester has a thriving music scene, from live Reggae to deep House: we’ve got it. Venues such as the Academy, The The Apollo, the MEN arena and many more (free) smaller gems! Look out for gig listings at the Student’s Union. Culture: There are art galleries, theatres and museums all within a 10 minute walk from campus. Check out Visit Manchester! http://www.visitmanchester.com
Shopping: The Arndale and the Trafford Centre entre are the famous large shopping centres, where you can also find entertainment. The Arndale is situated in the city centre, which is surrounded by shops and everything that will meet your needs. You can access the Trafford centre by taking the 250 50 bus from Piccadilly Gardens. The Northern Quarter (which is seen as Manchester’s own Camden) is where you can find unique shops, as well as funky bars, cafes and coffee houses. houses Deansgate iss the uptown area of the city centre where you will find your swanky, classy hideouts. For sports fans, Manchester is blessed with Sports City, which is the largest concentration of sports facilities and venues in Europe.
8
WHAT TO LOOK FORWARD TO: Events throughout the year Bonfire night! For those of you that likee fireworks and a good old fairground, ground, Manchester puts on a great display on Platt fields Park – just opposite to thee Fallowfield Halls of Residence.. Thousands of students flock to the street for this event.
Halloween lloween is also a favourite excuse for students to put on their best costumes and dancing shoes. Bars and clubs go all out with decorations and themes, though tickets sell out ut early! It is not to be missed!
You cannot, under any circumstances, travel homee for Christmas without experiencing Manchester’s Christmas market! Food, German Beer, market stalls and entertainment ensure that you have a good time with friends and get into the festival mood! For these events and more, your peer mentors will be setting up festive nights for us all to get together… (as well as many more throughout the year!) 9
USEFUL CONTACTS Help and Advice When you first arrive at university, you will be given a handbook that will list all the importance academic information. Prior to this, here are some useful contacts in the School of Social Sciences Department: Undergraduate Admissions Office The University of Manchester Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PT Tel: +44 (0) 161 275 2077 Email: ug-admissions@manchester.ac.uk School of Social Sciences The University of Manchester Oxford Road Manchester M13 9PT Tel: +44 (0) 161 275 1473 Email: socialsciences@manchester.ac.uk
The University of Manchester - 0161 275 2000 University of Manchester Student Union (UMSU) - 0161 275 2930 or http://www.umsu.manchester.ac.uk/ Student Services Centre – the place to go with issues regarding loans, tuition fees etc. - 0161 275 5000 John Rylands University Library - 0161 275 3738 or www.manchester.ac.uk/library Accommodation office - 0161 275 2888 or accommodation@manchester.ac.uk Students with disabilities: the University has its own Disability Support Office (DSO). This is on the second floor of University Place. Tel 0161 275 7512/ 8518. Accommodation: Each Hall of Residence can be contacted through their own reception. For general enquires, call 0161 275 2888. International Students: the International Student’s Advice team can be contacted by emailing iat@manchester.ac.uk or calling +44 (0) 161 275 5000. Nightline: this is a telephone advice service for students, run by student’s between 8pm and 8am everyday. You will find their contact number on the back of your student card.
And REMEMBER – don’t be nervous; we were all in your shoes once! We look forward to seeing you in September! All the best, your Peer Mentors
10
11