University of Bedfordshire Business School
School of Aviation, Marketing and Tourism
Welcome to the School of Aviation, Marketing and Tourism at the University of Bedfordshire.
The University of Bedfordshire Business School (UBBS) is a supportive and close-knit community where we place great emphasis on supporting your academic development, building your confidence and preparing you for the world of work. I encourage you to make good use of all the opportunities we offer and become an active member of our supportive School culture. For example, you could become an ambassador for our vibrant student society which provides an extra value-added experience to your course.
This booklet provides you with important information that will help you prepare for your course and for your first few weeks and months at University.
I look forward to welcoming you to UBBS in September.
Dr Annie Danbury Head of School
Portfolio Lead
• Sallie Phillips, sallie.phillips@beds.ac.uk
BSc Marketing Course Coordinator
• Giles Robertson, giles.robertson@beds.ac.uk
Hello, my name is Sallie Phillips and I am the Portfolio Lead. We are excited that you will be joining us this academic year. The first week in the Academic Calendar is Welcome Week where you will be introduced to your course, course team and fellow students.
Our team is committed to supporting and inspiring you to achieve your goals. During your studies, you will have a course coordinator, unit coordinator, tutors and a personal academic tutor (PAT) who are here to support you. Course teams have weekly office hours so you can book an appointment if you need to chat with them. We will be with you every step of the way as you start your academic journey.
Sallie Phillips Portfolio LeadStudent Information Desk (SiD) beds.ac.uk/sid sid@beds.ac.uk
Student Support beds.ac.uk/studentsupport
BedsSU (Students’ Union) bedssu.co.uk help@bedssu.co.uk
Our academic induction follows four key sessions which happen at the same time for all Business School students.
We start the week with an online session to say hello, (this will be at lunchtime on Tuesday 19 September for an hour). This is also an opportunity to hear from Faculty Executive Group members. On Thursday and Friday, we host four sessions designed to help you get ready for your studies. You will meet and work with your course team and meet other members of the faculty. You should attend the following sessions which will run for the full day:
Session 1
Meet your course team – get to know members of the teaching team and understand how your course operates
Thursday
Session 2
The Big Business Challenge – meet faculty executive members along with some of the employers we work with, who will host a fun team challenge
Friday
Session 1
Meet your personal academic tutor (PAT) – get to know them and find out how they can support you throughout your studies
Session 2
Prepare for your first week of study – learn how to access our systems and resources so you can have the best possible start
All the details about the different activities and where they will be held are included on our Faculty Academic Welcome pages. Check this page closer to the time for any changes to the sessions. But be assured that the sessions will take place on Thursday and Friday so you can start planning your week now.
Our colleagues in the student support and learning resources teams will also host sessions for all new starters. These are designed to help you become familiar with all the essential services you will use throughout your time with us.
Of course, Welcome Week wouldn’t be Welcome Week without the Freshers’ Fayre, which is run by the University of Bedfordshire Students’ Union. They will host plenty of events and activities, so keep an eye on their website and follow them on social media to find out more (see p.5).
We use an online noticeboard called Padlet to help our students keep up to date with everything that’s happening. This is linked from BREO, our virtual learning environment, and each subject cluster has its own individual space.
You can only access BREO once you are registered with us as a student. However, the Padlet noticeboard for Marketing students can be accessed now via this link
Feel free to take a look and become more familiar with the exciting events, trips and discussions happening in your subject area.
The course assessment strategy is closely aligned to the University’s teaching and learning strategy which is designed to:
• Have an immediate relevance to practice
• Draw on expertise by experience
• Foster active learning and be learner-centred in approach
A distinct feature of the course is the range of assessment tasks including workplace assessments that can have an immediate impact in practice. This helps put into practice what you are learning in university and can help increase your confidence.
These can vary depending on the course you are studying, but here’s an example of what your assessments might include:
Essays
Leaflets and posters
Reflective case studies
Audits
Presentations
In-class tests
Skills documents – practice based learning
Assessments are purposefully diverse and created to relate to industry practices.
Once you have met the conditions of your offer, you will receive an email to complete your online registration. Keep an eye on your emails and junk box to ensure you don’t miss it!
• Meet our Course Coordinator, Giles Robertson, who can tell you more about what makes our Marketing course so great
• Enjoy an amazing virtual tour of our campus
• The Chartered Institute of Marketing (CIM) has a host of useful articles, podcasts and webinars which can be accessed via its Content Hub
• Keep up to date with the latest digital marketing news and trends by reading the Digital Marketing Institute blog
Take time to familiarise yourself with the layout of our campus and the names of buildings. This will help you get around with ease when you arrive.
• Luton campus
• Eating and drinking on-campus
You will study these five units in your first year:
Anatomy of a Successful Marketeer
Academic Skills for Business
Principles of Marketing
Digital Innovation and Entrepreneurship
Digital Marketing and Analytics
Here is an example of how your timetable might look:
Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri
To find out how to access your timetable go to beds.ac.uk/timetable Academic information Guide to referencing Study Hub
What happens if I miss class due to illness or have difficulties with childcare or travel?
We understand that everyone will face some difficulties now and again and we aim to be flexible. You are encouraged to discuss ongoing issues with your personal academic tutor or unit lead. For independent advice or for ongoing attendance issues you can contact studentengagement@beds.ac.uk
Who can help me with my assessments?
The academic team is always available to guide you with the theory based content and you can book a one-to-one tutorial with your unit lead. If you need more time to complete an assignment, please contact the Student Engagement and Mitigation team (SEAM) who deal with assessment extensions. Their email is: mitigation@beds.ac.uk. You can find our Mitigation Policy and form on our website
What support is available for students with a learning difference or disability?
Our Disabilities team supports students with a range of disabilities including sensory and physical impairments, mental health difficulties, specific learning difficulties such as dyslexia, and medical conditions such as epilepsy, diabetes, sickle cell anaemia and arthritis. You may be eligible for a Learning and Teaching Agreement, where you can discuss any reasonable adjustments needed for classroom learning and examinations. You can email disability@beds.ac.uk for further information and advice.
Are there clubs and activities I can get involved with?
Yes, the Students’ Union can tell you everything you need to know about sports clubs, activities and events for all our students. You can even set up your own society! Contact Beds SU by emailing beds.su@beds.ac.uk
What if I’m struggling with my mental health at university?
The University has a range of services offering specialist help. You can email mentalhealth@beds.ac.uk for new or ongoing mental health support needs. To access our counselling services, email counselling@beds.ac.uk
Is there any support to help me manage my finances?
Our dedicated Student Money Advice team offers confidential financial advice, information and support. They can advise you on a range of funding options such as grants, loans, bursaries and scholarships, as well as guiding you on the best way to manage your finances. You can contact them by emailing studentmoney@beds.ac.uk
Marketing is a diverse discipline and this is reflected in our course. You will get to study a range of subjects such as people, culture, innovation and change.
We have a panel of external experts who bring their expertise into the University and help shape this course.
We work with many local businesses allowing our students to gain on the ground marketing experience.
Always remember, our team is here for you!
We know there’s a lot to take in when you start university. We’ll support you throughout, especially at the beginning. Some students adjust to university life more readily than others, and it can take time to feel at home, but this is normal and you’ll soon make friends. Remember, many of your fellow students will be feeling the same.
We are confident that you’ll love our friendly campus and everything the University of Bedfordshire has to offer.
We run our own Marketing Club which organises exciting field trips to places such as the Museum of Brands and to external marketing agencies.
We stay in touch with our alumni some of whom come back to share their knowledge and expertise with our students.
You could win the Dean’s prize for excellence in marketing, which is presented at the annual graduation ceremony. The prize also includes a personal commendation from the Dean, which is great for your CV.
We match our career advice to your hopes and expectations for your future career.
We offer a more personalised learning experience by having smaller lecture, seminar and workshop groups.
We have excellent accreditation partners including the Chartered Institute of Marketing and the Institute of Data & Marketing which will help with your career development.
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