Student Support Guide
Contents 1 Introduction 1.1 Welcome to Central Saint Martins 2 Getting Started 3 Student Centre 4 Academic Support 4.1 Study Support 4.2 Library, Information and Digital Literacy Support 4.3 Academic Support across the University 4.4 Language Support 5 Specialist Advice 5.1 Accommodation 5.2 Careers and Employability 5.3 Counselling 5.4 Disability Support 5.5 Emergencies 5.6 Health Advice and Registering with a Doctor 5.7 Immigration Advice 5.8 Letters for Students 5.9 Money Advice 5.10 Mental Health Advice 5.11 Spiritual Support 5.12 Students’ Union at CSM 5.13 Travel Discounts 6 Unexpected Difficulties 6.1 Extenuating Circumstances 6.2 Complaints and Appeals
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Introduction
1.1
Welcome to Central Saint Martins! This booklet provides you with an introduction to the support that is available from the University and the College. It is designed to work in conjunction with the University’s intranet MyArts. Please use MyArts and your course Moodle site for more detailed information and guidance. The first source of support is the tutors on your course team. And they will do their best to provide advice and guidance. However, there will be occasions when they don’t have the right expertise, in which case they will recommend that you talk to someone else within the University. Or, there may be occasions when you feel it is easier to go directly to the specialist staff. A very wide range of support is offered by the College and University, and we aim to make it easy for you to find the help you may need. Guidance is given in many ways; in print, online, and, of course, in person. Do visit the Student Centre on the ground floor at King’s Cross if you have questions or need more information. We aim to ensure that support services are available to all students, whether you are a Foundation, Undergraduate or Postgraduate student. Some activities are designed for specific purposes, for example if English is an additional language for you. Others are tailored to the individual, for example if you have a disability. Whilst others, such as study support, are related to your course work and are open to all students and offered on a group as well as a one-toone basis. You will find there are many support activities on offer that are open across the University too, enabling you to learn and network across subjects and colleges. All our support is designed to help you make the most of your unique abilities and valuable time at CSM, so don’t hesitate to take up opportunities, and let us know if you have suggestions. We really value your feedback.
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Getting Started You’ll be introduced to student support information as well as other CSM guides in orientation and induction events during the early days of your time at CSM. The many events organised by the Students’ Union, the Language Centre, your Course and Programme will all be aimed at ensuring you find your way around and feel supported, especially if you are new to London or to University. Take a look at the Commonplace website (commonplace.arts. ac.uk), a University survival guide created for students by students. It provides help and advice if you are new to London, enables you to swap skills, trade unwanted stuff, advertise flat shares, promote collaborative project opportunities, find study tips and more. If you are on a BA course, your initial unit of study is Introduction to Study in Higher Education (ISHE). Activities in this unit are focused on supporting your transition into the University and your course, developing your understanding of what’s expected and helping you begin to identify your strengths and any areas where you may need additional support. Foundation and Postgraduate courses also include early activities to introduce you to the learning and teaching expectations of your course, and to each other. It is very important to take all opportunities to ask questions and discuss any aspects of your course with your tutors, especially if you anticipate any difficulties.
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Student centre The Student Centre provides direct access to many support services and many specialist staff (academic support, advice, counselling, disability support) are based there for at least part of the week. It is a good source of information about the College and University, and is where you can collect letters and ID cards. It is situated on the ground floor of King’s Cross in room C001, which is just to the right of the barriers. During term time opening hours are 10am to 6pm and during vacations, 10am to 4pm. The Student Centre can help you with: –– Enrolment –– Getting official letters for council tax, banks, etc. –– Course information –– Study support enquiries –– International student queries –– Accessing the University’s services for student –– Timetable queries –– Assessments –– Course work submissions –– Lockers –– Access problems –– Extenuating circumstances, appeals and complaints If necessary, your enquiry will be referred on to our Academic Administration team, appropriate staff in your course, or other relevant advisers. Phone: 020 7514 7202
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Academic Support There are four main kinds of academic support, offered in addition to the main teaching and technical support on your course. They are: –– Study Support –– Library, Information and Digital Literacy Support –– Academic Support Events –– Language Support The Academic Support team in the College works closely with all courses and with librarians, language tutors, employability and enterprise teams, to develop a wide range of support activities and resources. You will find sessions scheduled within your course as well as bookable and drop-in tutorials and college-wide group workshops. Many opportunities will be offered at the College and some will be at other sites such as High Holborn or the Learning Zones (King’s Cross and Elephant and Castle) open to all across the University. Look out for information on Academic Support at CSM on MyArts, and also on Moodle and in the Library. See also ‘Academic Support across the University’ below. Your course is carefully designed to develop your ability to work both independently and collaboratively, as professional practice demands. Your tutors are here to guide you through the many choices and challenges that you will experience – so always try to discuss your personal development plans and needs in your tutorials. Do take advantage of Academic Support opportunities, they are a great way to learn and network too.
4.1
Study Support Study Support provides additional guidance to develop your learning strategies and knowledge. A team of experienced tutors work across courses and programmes, leading workshops, one to one tutorials and other activities. These will develop the skills that underpin your success in your course and future, and develop your independent learning abilities. Study Support typically includes sessions to develop your skills and confidence in areas such as: –– Understanding academic language and cultures –– Time, workload and project management
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Effective research Reading and analysis Critical thinking and debate Planning and structuring written work (proposals, reports, essays, dissertations) Referencing, citation, crediting and bibliography Reflective writing Making oral presentations Working collaboratively Preparing for transition between levels of study Preparing for the workplace
To find out more about study support either search ‘Study Support’ or click on ‘Useful Links’ on MyArts. You can also visit ‘Academic Support’ on your course Moodle site or contact the team. Phone: 020 7514 2367 Email: studysupport@csm.arts.ac.uk 4.2
Library, Information and Digital Literacy Support This area of support is provided by the Library and the Learning Zones Library Support Library Services provide a wide range of collections, services and facilities to support you in your written and practice-based work. An essential aspect of academic support is provided by the Library: using learning resources, including e-resources, effectively supports not only your current studies, but your personal and professional development and your employability. Library support inductions at the beginning of your course introduce the Library and the Academic Support Librarian relevant to your subject area (see your Course Handbook and Course Moodle site). Further sessions throughout your course help to develop your understanding and ability to use the Library effectively so that you can find what you need and manage your research. This learning is known as information literacy. Sessions are designed as appropriate to levels of study and are scheduled in liaison with your course team to ensure they are relevant and timely.
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If you need help using the library you can ask for assistance at any time or you can book more intensive one to one support sessions: visit the Information Desk on the lower floor of the library, or call 0207 514 7310 or 7311. The library also offers a range of online FAQs and guides as well as an online ‘ask a librarian’ facility to help you. Further information about Library support is available through either searching ‘Library Support’ or clicking on ‘Useful Links’ on MyArts, and also via Moodle and the University website. Learning Zone Support Learning Zones are located within the Libraries at Kings Cross and at the Elephant and Castle. They are informal student-focused facilities, which encourage peer support with professional staff on-hand to assist you. They provide flexible space for individual study, group collaboration, sharing and innovation. You will find a range of digital technologies (Macs and PCs, iPads, smart plasma screens, etc.) and traditional study resources, assistive software such as Texthelp, Read Write Gold, and additional assistive technology equipment such as headphones. There is also adjustable and flexible furniture. The advisers in the Learning Zones are especially focused on digital skills and can help you with general software issues or enquiries about the digital world, including the use of Moodle and online tutorials such as those available from lynda.com. For more information either search ‘Learning Zone’ or click on ‘Useful Links’ on MyArts, or you can visit the UAL website and search ‘Learning Zone’. You will see additional Academic Support workshops and activities on offer in the Learning Zones from time to time, open to all students. These enable you to network with students from other courses and colleges, to explore themes and develop knowledge that crosses subject boundaries and that will help you work successfully and safely in global and virtual environments. These opportunities are part of Academic Support across the University and are announced via Academic Support at CSM on Moodle. Email: learningzone@arts.ac.uk
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Academic Support across the University Academic Support events across the University offer a space for collaborative and personal enquiry into the nature of arts learning, and how you learn, through a range of exploratory and experimental workshops, pop-ups, and discussions. These activities aim to help you understand what influences the way you learn, and how increasing self-awareness of your habits and motivations towards learning, enquiry and collaboration can improve your study practices, progress and achievement. Workshops explore a number of important themes including research, thinking, writing, presenting, collaborating, and how and why we get stuck – looking for example at creative blocks and troublesome knowledge. Academic Support events are held at a range of college sites and venues and are free to all fully-enrolled students from across the University, full or part-time, at all levels of study. They offer excellent opportunities to share experiences, develop your abilities, and network with students outside of your course or college. Academic Support Online is a new searchable resource base with relevant guidance materials, news, information, and links to workshops, tutorials, events and useful sources of academic support. Visit academicsupportonline@arts.ac.uk Academic Support workshops are publicised in a number of locations: either search ‘Academic Support Events’ or click on ‘Useful Links’ on MyArts; check the University website Events pages at events.arts.ac.uk; visit Academic Support Online; or check Twitter. Email: academicsupport@arts.ac.uk Phone: 020 7514 6189 Twitter: @UAL_AcadSupport
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Language Support This area of support includes –– English Language Support –– Course Specific Language Classes –– Academic English Skills Classes –– Language Tutorials –– Intensive English classes –– Proofreading service –– Modern Languages Either search ‘Language Centre’ or click on ‘Useful Links’ on MyArts for further information on all types of language support available. English Language Support To help prepare and support you through your college studies, we offer language support (classes, tutorials and workshops), throughout the academic year. This is for students for whom English is not their first language. Classes and tutorials are free to students studying a full time course at the University. All language support timetables are available from languagecentre.myblog.arts.ac.uk. Timetables change regularly so please keep checking for new courses or tutorials. Information will be available from late September but you can also find out about the provision by talking to your course leader, to your academic support lecturers, or by emailing the Language Centre on insessional-english@arts.ac.uk. Course Specific Language Classes Once your course starts, you should be informed by your course leader of the times and locations of English classes, or you can email insessional-english@arts.ac.uk. These classes are taught in the context of arts, design and communications and are designed to support you with the language and academic skills you need to successfully complete your course. Most classes are taught on the college sites and take place every week. Academic English Skills Classes These are offered to all students whose first language is not English. They are not attached to your course, but you can sign up for any of them. They cover such areas as language for presentations and
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improving your academic writing. Information on how to sign up is available from languagecentre.myblog.arts.ac.uk Language Tutorials If you would like a one-to-one session with a language tutor to look at your writing, get help understanding a difficult text, or prepare for a presentation, you can attend a tutorial. Tutorials last thirty minutes and there are sessions every week during standard term times at all the colleges and also at the Language Centre. You can attend anywhere not just at your usual building. There are three types of tutorial: –– Bookable tutorials. Information on how to book these is available from languagecentre.myblog.arts.ac.uk –– Drop-in tutorials, where you can just arrive any time within the advertised time slot and you don’t have to book. These usually take place in the Library. Timetables can be found at languagecentre.myblog.arts.ac.uk –– Online tutorials where you send up to 500 words by email to an English tutor at englishtutorial@arts.ac.uk, giving your name, student number and course in the email. The tutor will check your work and reply with suggestions within a few days. Intensive English classes These run during the winter and spring holidays. Classes will be advertised during other language classes, on languagecentre.myblog. arts.ac.uk and in emails from the Language Centre. Proofreading service If you would like your written work to be proofread before submission, you can bring it to the Language Centre. Proofreading usually costs £40 per 2000 word text and you should allow at least one week for proofreading to be completed. This is not a one-to-one tutorial, and you do not work on your text with a tutor. To book the service please bring your work to the Language Centre reception or email language-centre@arts.ac.uk with ‘proofreading’ as the subject. Modern Languages The Language Centre offers extra-curricular modern languages courses in the evenings. Information about timetables and fees is available through visiting the website and searching ‘modern languages’.
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Specialist Advice
5.1
Accommodation Whether you choose to live in one of the University’s halls of residence or in a privately rented home, UAL Accommodation Services can provide information and advice to help you find a suitable place to live. For further information about the range of accommodation services available either search ‘Accommodation’ or click on ‘Useful Links’ on MyArts. Phone: 020 75146240 Email: accommodation@arts.ac.uk
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Careers and Employability Careers and Employability supports you as a student and graduate to make and take opportunities so that you can be successful within creative and cultural sectors. Careers and Employability delivers a wealth of events, talks and workshops both at CSM, at High Holborn and across the University’s sites, helping you to find and prepare for work or develop your own enterprise. A range of funding, awards, and mentoring opportunities are available, along with external jobs and paid internships through the Creative Opportunities service, and part-time work within UAL through ArtsTemps. Careers and Employability also provides extensive online resources such as templates, videos and industry advice, plus additional online dedicated support from Artquest (for visual artists) and Own-it (for Intellectual Property advice). At CSM, Careers and Employability is supported by a dedicated Student Employability Practitioner and an Academic Co-ordinator, both of whom work with you and your course team. For full details either search ‘Student Jobs and Careers’ or click on ‘Useful Links’ on MyArts.
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Counselling The Counselling Service offers confidential one-to-one counselling and runs workshops on confidence, presentations and assertiveness. Contact the Counselling Service directly by telephone or email, using your university email account to arrange a consultation. Phone: 020 7514 6251 Email: counselling@arts.ac.uk
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Disability Support The Disability Service staff work with students who are or believe they may be disabled due to, for example: –– Dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties –– Sensory or physical impairments –– Long-term physical and mental health issues –– Autistic Spectrum Disorders –– Neurodiversity The Disability Service can: –– Provide confidential advice by phone, email, drop-ins and appointments –– Arrange dyslexia screenings and/or assessments –– Assess what you might need to access your course –– Help you to access funding –– Organise appropriate support –– Provide information about equipment or assistive technology –– Arrange extended library loans and other library support –– Arrange support workers (e.g. one to one study skills tuition, communicators, note-takers, technical and practical assistants, equipment, mentoring, interpreters) –– Help to communicate your needs to other staff who may need to know (e.g. your Programme Team, Academic Support team, Technicians, Library, Housing or Health and Safety Teams –– Signpost or refer you to other relevant support services For full details please either search ‘Disability’ or click on ‘Useful Links’ on MyArts. Phone: 020 7514 6156 Email: disability@arts.ac.uk
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Emergencies There are a large number of first aid trained staff at CSM. You should check who the first aiders are in your course area and in any workshops or technical areas you use. All the front of house security staff are first aid trained as well. If you cannot find the first aiders in your area, call 0207 514 6281 and a first aider will be found for you. In the event of a security emergency, call 0207 5140 2222 to contact the Security Team.
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Health Advice and Registering with a Doctor The Health Adviser offers confidential health advice and can help you access primary medical care, including general practitioners services. Phone: 020 7514 2988 Email: studenthealth@arts.ac.uk It is very important that you register with a local doctor - known as a General Practitioner (GP) - as soon as possible. A consultation with your doctor is free. Even if you tend to always be healthy, do not wait until you are ill to register. If you become ill, and you are not registered, you may not be able to see a doctor. We are in partnership with local National Health Service (NHS) doctor’s surgeries in London to make is easier for you to register. Register online at ualhealth.com You can also search for the address of doctors nearest to your home by visiting www.nhs.uk and searching for ‘GP’. Entering your home postcode will bring up a list of doctors nearest to where you live. You do not need any letters or documents from us, but the doctors will ask you to bring some ID, such as a passport, and proof that you live in their area. This can be a tenancy agreement or a bill or bank statement. For UK students who have been registered with a doctor at home, you can still usually see your family doctor as a temporary patient over the holidays if you need to.
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Immigration Advice Student Advisers within the Student Advice Service are Office of the Immigration Service Commissioner (OISC) compliant and can provide advice on UK student visa regulations. Phone: 020 7514 6250 Email: student.advisers@arts.ac.uk
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Letters for Students If you need letters to support an application for a Bank Account or for Council Tax or need a Certificates of Enrolment, visit the Student Centre with your Student ID Card. The letters contain all the required information for banks, local councils, visa applications and other official purposes. We are unable to edit or alter the content of them in any way. Phone: 020 7514 7202 Email: letters@csm.arts.ac.uk
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Money Advice For general enquiries and questions about funding and managing your money please come to the Student Centre between 9am and 5pm Monday to Friday. If you require more detailed advice you should make an appointment by phone, email or by visiting the Student Centre. Phone: 020 7514 6250 Email: student.services@arts.ac.uk
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Mental Health Advice Mental Health Advisers offer confidential advice on mental health, as well as running awareness raising events. Phone: 020 7514 6251 Email: studenthealth@arts.ac.uk / s.avasthi@arts.ac.uk
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Spiritual Support Spiritual care and pastoral support, whatever your faith, is provided by the University’s Chaplains and faith advisers. For full details either search ‘Chaplaincy’ or click on ‘Useful Links’ on MyArts. Phone: 07843 329587 Email: m.w.dean@arts.ac.uk Twitter: @ChaplaChap
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Students’ Union at CSM The Students’ Union (SU) provides advice on a wide range of matters to do with your time at University and your life as a student. The SU office at CSM is located on the 1st floor near the SU Café and entrance to the Library and Learning Zone. The main office is at the High Holborn building. For more information visit the SU website suarts.org Phone: 020 7514 6270 Email: advice@su.arts.ac.uk
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Travel Discounts (Bus/Underground, Rail & Coach) After you have been fully enrolled on your course you will be able to apply for the Transport for London (TFL) discount travel scheme and can save up to 30% on Travelcards and Bus & Tram Passes. Your course must be at least 14 weeks long. The 18+ Student Oyster Photocard is valid for the length of your course, but it is your responsibility to ensure that you reconfirm your eligibility to TFL by the end of October of each academic year. Failure to do so will result in your discount being cancelled and you will have to order and pay for a new card. For further details see visit tfl.gov.uk and search for ‘Student Oyster’. Students can also get discounts on travel outside of London on trains and coaches. The 16-25 Railcard gives you a third off train travel anywhere in the UK. You can apply for the card online (16-25railcard. co.uk) or by completing an application form which can be obtained from any railway station.
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The Young Persons Coachcard gives you a discount of up to 30% on National Express coach travel around the UK and is available as a 1 year or 3 year card. For more details visit nationalexpress.com and search for ‘Young Persons Coachcard’.
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Unexpected Difficulties
6.1
Extenuating Circumstances Something may happen that affects your performance or ability to meet an assessment deadline. These are known as Extenuating Circumstances or ‘ECs’. ECs are unexpected, significantly disruptive events beyond your control. As a student, it is your responsibility to make known any circumstances which have affected your ability to undertake course work or to submit work for assessment on time. Where appropriate, these circumstances can be taken into account by the Exam Board when making its decisions about your assessment grades. The EC Claim Form and additional guidance on EC categories and evidence required can be found by either searching ‘Extenuating Circumstances’ or clicking on ‘Useful Links’ on MyArts. Do contact the Students’ Union advice workers if you have any queries regarding your EC claim, or if you have any problems completing the form. Phone: 020 7514 6270 Email: advice@su.arts.ac.uk Advice and information can also be provided by the ECs team at CSM. Phone: 020 7514 7385 Email: ecclaims@csm.arts.ac.uk Extenuating Circumstances Claim Forms and the required evidence must be submitted to the Student Centre at King’s Cross or electronically to ecclaims@csm.arts.ac.uk. They should be submitted within two weeks of the ECs occurring and at least one week before the Exam Board meeting unless it is impossible to submit the claim because of the nature of the ECs. Where this is the case, ECs submitted late can be considered under the Appeals process (see Complaints and Appeals 6.2). If you have a disability and have agreed arrangements for ‘Accommodated Assessment’ you do not have to complete an EC Claim Form. This is because your needs will already have been taken into account through your Individual Support Agreement. It would be appropriate for you to apply for ECs on disability grounds only if
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a disability develops during your course or if there is an unexpected and significant change to your disability affecting your ability to undertake your course close to the assessment point, e.g. if you have a long-term medical condition which unexpectedly worsens too close to a deadline for further effective adjustments to be made for you in time. Contact the Disability Service if you need help with submission of ECs. Phone: 020 7514 6156 Email: disability@arts.ac.uk 6.2
Complaints and Appeals Although most concerns can be resolved easily by talking to members of staff, your course representative or the Students’ Union, sometimes it may not be possible to resolve your concern through these channels. The University’s Student Complaints Procedure sets out what you need to do to make a complaint about the College or a UAL department. Your complaint will be taken seriously and dealt with fairly. Making a complaint will not affect any decisions made about your academic progress, and does not affect your student rights. For advice contact the Students Union. Phone: 020 7514 6270 Email: advice@su.arts.ac.uk If you think you have grounds for requesting a review of an Exam Board decision, you should complete a Stage 1 ‘Request for Review of Exam Board Decision Form’, which is available by either searching ‘Appeals’ or clicking on ‘Useful Links’ on MyArts. For further information please also visit MyArts or contact the CSM Student Complaints and Appeals Officer: Phone: 020 7514 7374 Email: student.complaints@csm.arts.ac.uk
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