Your First Week - Colchester Campus edition 2014-15 by University of Essex

Your

FirstWeek

Programme of events for Welcome Week 28 September â&#x20AC;&#x201C; 4 October 2014

Welcome I am delighted to welcome you as you start your educational journey at the University of Essex. We aim to provide a transformational learning experience in our living and learning community, an experience which will prepare you to shape your future with confidence and enable you to contribute meaningfully to the wider world. As well as your studies, you will have many rich opportunities to take part in the arts, sports, volunteering and student societies. Together these experiences will help you grow as a person as well as enhance your future employability. Work hard, play hard and make the most of all that our University provides. I wish you success and a happy and fulfilling student career at Essex.

How to use this programme

My first week

Getting ready

Getting here

Getting started

Professor Aletta Norval Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Education)

Diary pages

Beyond your first week

Maps

Useful checklist

Content

How to use this programme This programme provides you with useful information about Welcome Week, plus advice to help you settle in so you can start enjoying your studies and social life. The first sections are about how to prepare, how to get here and how to get started. From page 16 you will find a diary of events for the week so that you can build your timetable. It’s worth taking time to do this before you arrive, as it will help structure your week.

Knowing what you need to do – and when to do it Welcome Week may be a confusing time and it can be hard to know, and remember, what’s important and what’s for fun. To help you organise your time when you arrive we have included a checklist and a blank timetable to complete.

My first week What day?

Where to go if you have questions when you get here n On

Arrivals Day (Sunday 28 September 2014) there will be plenty of staff and students around campus to answer questions and point you in the right direction. n Throughout Welcome Week, look out for our student ambassadors (current students who help out at major University events) wearing purple or red ambassador t-shirts. n There will also be staff on information points in the centre of campus during Welcome Week. n Our University’s Student Support team and our Students’ Union Advice Centre are available during Welcome Week and throughout the year – contact details can be found at: www.essex.ac.uk/ students.

Big Welcome Talk My registration time My departmental events

My optional and fun events

Online updates

Finding your way around

There may have been changes to times and locations of events since this programme was printed. You can:

At the back of this book is a map of our Colchester Campus. Free maps will be available and there will be plenty of people around to give directions. You will almost certainly feel lost from time to time but this is not unusual, and you will learn to find your way around in the first few weeks. Tours of our Colchester Campus will be available on Sunday, Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Welcome Week, and tours of Colchester town centre will be available later in the week. Please see the ‘Diary Pages’ section of this programme, or visit the information point on Square 4 once you get here, for more details.

n Check

for updates to this programme and to your departmental events online at: www.essex.ac.uk/welcome n Visit our University of Essex Welcome Facebook page via: www.facebook.com/UoEWelcome n Find out about University of Essex Students’ Union events at: www.essex.su/freshers

Monday

What time?

Where? Ivor Crewe Lecture Hall (Square 5) Sports Centre (up the hill from Square 3)

In the weeks leading up to your arrival on campus there are many things that you can do to help make your first week as productive and exciting as possible. You will be receiving various communications from the University, there’s a lot to get through but we try and keep our information to the things that we think will be most important and useful so please make time to read it all. All the latest news and updated information will be available on our Welcome web pages so you should familiarise yourself with the pages and visit them regularly to check for additions or amendments to the Welcome programme.

Getting ready

Your Health Your Essentials – eat, play, live To make moving in to your new home as stress-free as possible, we have put together a selection of bedding, kitchen and electrical packs which can be purchased before you arrive. We can either deliver into your campus accommodation ready for when you get here or you can collect your order in store. To place your order visit: www.everythingessex.co.uk.

We want all our students to stay as healthy as possible so it’s important that you are able to visit a doctor when you need to. In order to see a doctor at our Health Centre you have to register first and the registration must be done at the appropriate time – it isn’t possible to wait and register the first time you are ill. There is a Health Centre located on the Colchester Campus, with doctors specialising in student health. The Medical Team, which includes doctors, nurse practitioners and a health care assistant, also run a nurse triage system which enables patients with urgent problems to be seen on the day. Under University regulations you are required to register with a local doctor for the duration of your studies. You are advised to download the medical questionnaire, over the summer, from the surgery website at: www.rowhedgesurgery.co.uk and take this with you to your registration appointment at the Health Centre. The questionnaire contains information that you may need to get from your previous doctor.

Why not check out some of our online tours and films of campus so that the environment will feel less unfamiliar when you arrive? There are many to choose from at: www.essex.ac.uk/explore. Thinking of buying a laptop computer?

Students’ Union (SU)

You may be thinking of buying a laptop to aid your studies. If you are, why not take a look at prices on our StudentStore website? As a student of the University of Essex you may benefit from special educational pricing. For more information visit: www.studentstore.co.uk/essex/

You can start to access almost all of our SU’s services and support online before you arrive, including joining sports clubs and societies and buying event tickets at: www.essex.su/freshers

You must attend one of the Health Centre registration sessions during Welcome Week to register as a patient. You will receive an appointment date and time for this in your Welcome Pack in your room when you arrive at University. The pack will also contain a copy of the medical questionnaire to complete (if not done via the download) prior to registering. Continued....

For further details visit the Health Centre Website at www.rowhedgesurgery.co.uk and click on the link to the “Student Section.” This will give you information you need about accessing health care as a student. It also explains who is entitled to register for NHS care and gives details of the clinics and services that are offered.

Arrivals Day We want your arrivals day to be ACE! – Arrive, Check-In, Explore! If you will be living in University accommodation, we expect you to arrive on Sunday 28 September 2014 – this is arrivals day.

Alternatively, if you are living off campus you can choose to register with a local GP (General Practitioner) surgery near to where you are living.

Arrive

Travel information

On arrival you will receive a warm welcome from our staff and students and there will be plenty of people on campus to help you find your way around.

Detailed information about how to travel to our University, for those coming from both within the UK and from overseas, can be found on our website at: www.essex.ac.uk/about/getting_here. On arrivals day, our Students’ Union offers a regular minibus service from the main Colchester Railway station to our Colchester Campus. The University of Essex also runs a coach service on arrivals day for students who will be arriving at Heathrow or Gatwick airports. More details and information on how to book in advance is at: www.essex.ac.uk/students/ new/international/travel.aspx. For local travel information to help you get around the local area once you have arrived visit: www.essex.ac.uk/transport. Please ensure that you make your travel arrangements in plenty of time to ensure that you are able to arrive on Sunday 28 September.

Ensure your belongings are packed properly as you will be responsible for transporting your own luggage to your accommodation. Bringing luggage on wheels or a fold up trolley may be useful as there may be a 5 – 10 minute walk.

Getting here

If you are aged under 18 at the start of your course and due to live in University accommodation, you must arrive on Sunday 28 September 2014 so that you can attend all your induction events.

Check-in

Explore Once you’ve moved your belongings into your room we look forward seeing you out and about on campus. There will be a range of activities, stalls and information on the squares at the heart of our campus and this is also where you will find the shops, cafes, restaurants and bars. A range of tours will be available from the information point on Square 4 so come along and find out what is on offer!

What happens if I can’t arrive on Arrivals Day? If you think you may need to arrive after arrivals day you must check whether you would miss any compulsory events. Arrangements for collecting the key to your accommodation may be different and you will have to request late registration if you miss the main registration period (see page 10).

If you will be living in University accommodation you should already have If you are not going to be living in University accommodation, you do received your letter of allocation, your contract and invoice and details of not need to be on our Colchester Campus on arrivals day although you where to go to check-in. Further information on accommodation charges would be very welcome to visit, meet others and join in the fun. and facilities are available at: www.essex.ac.uk/accommodation/ colchester_arrivals/default.aspx

Settling in Starting a new degree is likely to be a significant change in lifestyle for most of our new members, even if you’ve studied at degree level before. Give yourself time to settle in, meet new people and find your way around, it may feel overwhelming at first but it gets easier over time. Welcome Week is very different from the rest of the autumn term and you may not build routines until your teaching has begun in your second week so don’t expect too much of yourself at first. One of the best things you can do during Welcome Week is take time to find out where the rooms are that you’ll have to go to for lectures and seminars, this will help you avoid arriving late for teaching sessions.

FindYourWay@essex As with any new environment you may find the layout of our Colchester Campus confusing for the first few weeks but don’t worry! There is an app for iPhone and Android that you can download and a website here http://findyourway.essex.ac.uk that will help guide you around campus.

Getting started

Looking after yourself

Welcome programme

Our Colchester Campus is generally a safe environment but it is important to use common sense to help you stay safe as you settle in to student life. Make sure you keep your valuables close when you are travelling and once you move into your accommodation don’t forget to lock your bedroom door and, if you are in a ground floor room, close your window when you are not in the room, even if you’ve only gone to the kitchen. If you bring cash with you make sure you open a bank account and deposit your money as soon as possible. Details on how to open an account can be found here: www.essex.ac.uk/students/new/ international/banking.aspx

There are several compulsory events to attend during your first week, to introduce you to life at our University and help you settle in to your studies. Make sure you add these events into your timetable before you start adding the optional choices.

Further information about staying safe and staying well throughout your time at Essex is in found in Your Campus Guide for our Colchester Campus or on our web pages: www.essex.ac.uk/students/new/campus/colchester/default.aspx

Disabled students

In the diary pages from page 16, you will be able to see the compulsory events highlighted by the grey boxes. Anything not highlighted in grey boxes is an optional event which can be included in your timetable once you have confirmed your compulsory events.

Want to meet your named Disability Adviser, tell us about your disability, or find out more about receiving support? Then come to the Disability Services registration and welcome in Student Support so we can discuss how best to support you in your studies (please see diary pages for further information).

Information for students who are under 18 at the start of their course If you are under 18, you must arrive on Sunday 28 September 2014 and you must attend all your induction events in Welcome Week. There will be opportunities for you to ask questions, and to meet staff in your department, school or centre. You will be given important information about your time at Essex. If you are unsure about which events and talks you should attend, please go to one of the information points on campus or email: sso@essex.ac.uk.

Registration Don’t miss this! Registration for new students will take place at the Sports Centre between Tuesday 30 September and Thursday 2 October inclusive. You should register at the appropriate time – the schedule for Registration 2014 can be found on the back page of the “Welcome” sheet in your Welcome pack, in the diary pages (from page 16), or on the Welcome web pages: www.essex.ac.uk\welcome. Registration is split by department, school, centre and by country of nationality/residence as follows: UK/European Economic Area (EEA) students - If your country of nationality or residency is listed below you should register on the dates/ times shown for UK/EEA students, according to your department, school or centre, unless stated otherwise. Austria Estonia Ireland Netherlands Spain Belgium Finland Italy Norway Sweden Bulgaria France Latvia Poland Switzerland* Croatia Germany Liechtenstein Portugal United Kingdom Cyprus Greece Lithuania Romania Czech Republic Hungary Luxembourg Slovakia Denmark Iceland Malta Slovenia *Note: Switzerland is a Non-EEA country, but Swiss nationals are included as they do not require a visa to study in the UK.

Non-European Economic Area (EEA) international students - If your country of nationality or residency is NOT listed above you should register on the dates/times shown for non-EEA international students, according to your department, school, centre, unless stated otherwise. If you are a non-EEA international student please make sure you have read and understood the Welcome booklet and UK Home Office leaflet in your Welcome pack.

What do I need to bring to Registration?

Late registration You must register at the times indicated. If you cannot arrive at the University on time, you will need the permission of your department/ school/centre in order to register late in the week commencing Monday 6 October 2014. Please contact the Registration Office in the first instance at: registration@essex.ac.uk

Registration card

When you attend registration, you will receive your University registration identification: PLEASE NOTE IF YOU ARE A card. This card identifies you as a member of the University, is used for NON-EEA INTERNATIONAL STUDENT YOU MUST BRING YOUR identity and verification purposes and also gives you access to facilities, PASSPORT AND VISA WHICH ALLOWS YOU TO STUDY AT THE venues and benefits. UNIVERSITY OF ESSEX. If you have applied for a new Tier 4 visa you need to provide a copy of your passport and previous visa, as well as proof of postage of your visa application. We will not be able to register you if you do not have the correct paperwork and you cannot start your studies until you are fully registered.

n Photographic

n Confirmation

of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) statement: If you are a Non-EEA international student, please bring a printed copy with you.

n Original

award qualification certificates: If you have been asked to provide these.

n Documentation

relating to the payment of your tuition fees (if you have not paid them online): If you are a self-funded student please bring the first instalment of your tuition fees, unless you have paid this in advance.

You can find out more about Registration at: www.essex.ac.uk/students/new/registration.aspx

What’s on my registration card?

Joint course students

In addition to your name, photo and level of study, your card shows:

If you are taking a joint course, it will be ‘owned’ by a particular department, school or centre to which you belong. In addition, other departments, schools and centres may contribute to your joint course. When checking to find out when events will be held by your department, school or centre, you should also check and attend events held by other departments, schools or centres who contribute to your course. If you are an undergraduate, you can check if you are taking a joint course:

PRID – this is your personal identifier. In our example it is TESTB11004. This identifies your financial and library accounts at our University. If you stay at Essex and take a second course, you will keep this identifier. Your PRID is also shown as a barcode, for use by hand held scanning devices. Registration number – this is associated with your personal academic record for your course. In our example shown it is 0886051. If you stay at Essex and take a second course, you will be given a new registration number.

1. Check if your course is on the list at: www2.essex.ac.uk/academic/ offices/reg 2. Look across and note the departments, schools or centres who contribute to your course

Expiry date – this is the expected end date of your course. If you extend your course, you will need a new card.

3. Look on our Welcome web pages: www.essex.ac.uk/welcome to find details of the events run by those departments, schools or centres

Login – this is your username for your University computer account, in this example jtestb. Add @essex.ac.uk to create your email address. If you are under 18 years old when you start your studies, your registration card will state this. Once you turn 18, you will be able to exchange your registration card for a new one at no cost.

4. Note these events in your blank timetable

Timetable details You can view your personalised teaching timetable online at: www.essex.ac.uk/timetables. You will be prompted to enter your University of Essex login in the format: username@essex.ac.uk. A mobile device optimised timetable can be accessed on an internet phone using a browser at: bit.ly/pockettimetable. You should regularly check your online timetable as teaching events are subject to change. A full guide to online student timetables is available at: www2.essex.ac.uk/ academic/offices/tt/.

Postgraduate students should check which are their contributing departments by asking their lead department upon arrival.

English language assessment and academic English language support The Talent Development Centre provides English language assessment and support to students at the University of Essex. All students whose first language is not English must take the University English language assessment in order to benefit from the free English language support. The assessment is not a pass/fail examination, and is not used to determine entrance to University departments, schools or centres. Further information will be available at the English language test briefing, details of which can be found on page 20.

Registration with the police Students from the countries listed below, and who are studying at our University for more than six months, will usually be required to register with the police. Your entry clearance should state ‘police registration within seven days of arrival’. Afghanistan Algeria Argentina Armenia Azerbaijan Bahrain Belarus Bolivia Brazil China* Colombia Cuba Egypt Georgia Iran Iraq Israel Jordan Kazakhstan Kyrgyzstan Kuwait Lebanon Libya Moldova Morocco North Korea Oman Palestine Peru Qatar Russia Saudi Arabia Sudan Syria Tajikistan Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan United Arab Emirates Ukraine Uzbekistan Yemen *Some citizens of Hong Kong have new passports and are required to register with the police; if you are unsure if this applies to you, please check with the police when you arrive.

It is important to note that you must register with the police within seven days of your arrival in the UK. During Welcome Week the police registration team will be in LTB B on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday. To register, you will need: n your

passport and your Identity Card for Foreign Nationals (ICFN) or Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) if you have been issued with one

n the

registration fee of £34 in cash

n two

passport-sized photographs

n your

overseas (home) address

n proof

of the full address of where you are living in the UK (for example your accommodation allocation letter, tenancy agreement, bank statement or utility bill)

n your

original offer letter

If you have a spouse and/or children with you in the UK you will also need to take: n their

passports and ID card (ICFN or BRP), if they have one

n the

registration fee, £34 per person over the age of 16

n two

passport-sized photographs of each person over the age of 16

n Children

under 16 years old do not register with the police.

If you arrive in the UK on or before Monday 22 September 2014, or if you miss the registration sessions in LTB B, you will have to go to the nearest police station to register. You should ring the central police station in Colchester, telephone: 101 extension 10390 and make an appointment with the Foreign Nationals Registrar once you have arrived in the UK. You will need to travel to the central police station to do this after Welcome Week.

Optional events

n Health

There are a range of events, tours and activities available which do not relate directly to your academic department, school or centre. These include events that are open to all new students and some that are targeted to specific groups, eg mature students. Some take place on more than one day, eg the ‘Strategies for study’ workshops, while others happen only once, so please read the details carefully before deciding what you would like to attend.

Once you’ve put these things on your timetable, add your departmental welcome events, these are listed on the separate hand out in your Welcome pack.

Please also look out for information about the wide range of activities offered in our ‘Choose Your Adventure’ programme, which will be published separately. We are planning exciting sports- and arts-based events and activities, details of these will be published on the Welcome web pages and on our Welcome Week Facebook page as soon as they are finalised, so keep up to date online and don’t miss out!

How do I build my timetable for the week? There’s a lot to fit in, and we want you to get the most out of your first week. There is a blank timetable at the beginning of this programme for you to complete so that you can be as prepared as possible for Welcome Week. Firstly you need to timetable your compulsory events. The full list is below, details for each can be found in the grey boxes on the diary pages: n Big Welcome Talk n International Students’ Welcome (if you are an international student) n Registration n English Language Assessment (if English is not your first language) n Police Registration (if you are a relevant international student)

Centre registration (if you are a student who will be living on campus) n Making your First Year Count

You can add other optional events that are listed in the diary pages: n Arrivals Day Welcome n Strategies for study workshops n Campus tours n Town tours n Tours of the Albert Sloman Library n Games Without Frontiers n Microfiction n Welcome to the Family n Welcome to the Family for off campus students n Mature students’ reception n Freshers’ Fair n Welcome Village n Multi-Faith Chaplaincy event n Disability services registration and welcome

You can also visit our Students’ Union web pages and have a look at what they are offering: www.essex.su/freshers

As well as providing useful information, these events will give you the opportunity to meet staff and fellow students before you begin your course. With this programme, you should also have received information about induction events being run in your department, school or centre, and other departments, schools or centres that you may be involved with. To check the information, please visit: www.essex.ac.uk/welcome which will contain updates or alterations to events.

You can make friends with other new students arriving today, and ask current students about their experiences of living on campus. Family members are welcome too. There will also be an opportunity to buy used household items donated by previous years’ students.

Sunday 28 September Arrivals Day Welcome 11am – 7pm Square 4

Diary pages

Welcome to the University of Essex! As a new student who has just arrived onto our Colchester Campus and found your accommodation, you will probably have a few questions to ask – so come along to Square 4 for some answers. Alongside refreshments in our cafés, there will be information on services provided by our University and our Students’ Union to help you find your feet. You can also find out how to register for your course, how to log on to our IT network, take a quick tour of our Colchester Campus, and find out more about what’s happening throughout Welcome Week.

meet University staff and other parents and we’ll be more than happy to answer any questions and calm any worries you may have about this very exciting, but perhaps quite anxious time, before you go back to say your goodbyes.

If you will be under 18 at the start of your course, you must arrive today so you can settle in and attend all of your induction events.

Welcome to the Family

Parents and Adults Crèche

The must attend event if you want to find out all the amazing stuff you can get involved in via our Students’ Union during your time here at Essex. From joining sports clubs for FREE, to incredible nights out, getting a job on campus and much much more!

11am – 4pm Tony Rich Teaching Centre You’ve returned from the supermarket with enough tinned food to see out the Armageddon, and heaps of fruit and veg that, we hate to say it, will probably never get touched; you’ve traipsed up and down corridors laden with lamps, duvets and countless boxes of books and DVDs; and you’ve been given the distinct impression that you may be cramping your child’s style as they say hi to their new flatmates. So why not give them a while to settle in, and come and join us at the Parents and Adults Crèche? We’ll have plenty of tea and biscuits, and be hosting a talk on all the essential information you need to be aware of as a parent of an Essex student. There’ll also be the opportunity to

6pm onwards LTB 4

Campus tours Not sure where anything is? Don’t worry! Campus tours will be leaving from the information point on Square 4 at regular intervals throughout the day. While you’re here, you can also sign up for a town tour which will take place Wednesday to Friday this week.

Arts Venues: Open from day 1 Lakeside Theatre and Art Exchange gallery have a great programme of performances and exhibitions. Located on Square 5, both venues will be open to explore when you arrive at Essex. Art Exchange is a contemporary art gallery that hosts eight major exhibitions every year by professional artists and Essex students. All events are free and include regular art classes for beginners, talks by experts and art film screenings. Lakeside Theatre is a beautiful underground theatre that hosts hundreds of performances every year. From comedy and live music to fringe theatre, home grown shows and the much loved Open Mic night, the Lakeside team work hard to bring the best performances to Colchester Campus. Into the arts? Follow the venues on Twitter or Facebook now and then come and say hello when you arrive! /LakesideTheatre @LakesideTheatre @ArtExchangeUoE

Monday 29 September Big Welcome Talk Compulsory for all students This talk will introduce you to the essentials for succeeding at Essex. From academic expectations and study support, to IT services, employability, security, social and sporting life and accommodation, we want you to start making the most of your time at Essex from your first week. All new students, undergraduate and postgraduate, UK, EU and International, should attend this talk at the time given for your department. The talk is presented by a panel of helpful staff members, with plenty of opportunities to ask questions and get as much information as possible to set you on your way. Each talk lasts just under an hour and will start promptly so please make sure you arrive at the Lecture Hall before the start time. 11am Ivor Crewe Lecture Hall All students in the following departments/schools/centres: n Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities n History n Literature, Film, and Theatre Studies n International Academy n Philosophy and Art History n Psychoanalytic Studies n Economics n Government

1pm Ivor Crewe Lecture Hall All students in the following departments/schools/centres: n Biological Sciences n Mathematics n Psychology n Computer Science and Electronic Engineering n Health and Human Sciences n Sociology 3pm Ivor Crewe Lecture Hall All students in the following departments/schools/centres: n Essex Business School n Law n Human Rights n Language and Linguistics n Study abroad

International students’ welcome Compulsory for all international students 4.15pm Ivor Crewe Lecture Hall All international students from all departments/schools/centres should attend this session where we will introduce you to staff and services that can help you settle into studying in the UK. You will also be able to speak to other international students who have been studying at our University for at least a year.

Welcome Village 11am – 6pm Square 4 Come along to Welcome Village on Square 4 on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of Welcome Week to have your questions answered by helpful, friendly University staff and students about the range of services on Colchester Campus. Stalls range from essential services such as information about registration and core activity during the week, employability and careers, transport and information for international students. There will be a welfare area with stalls from Student Support, Nightline and the Multi Faith Chaplaincy, as well as information about arts, theatre, sports and other social activities taking place throughout the week. And don’t forget, if you want to join one of our many sports clubs and societies, come along to our celebrated Students’ Union Freshers’ Fair on Saturday 4 October from 12pm - 4pm on Squares 3, 4 and 5.

English language test briefing

Write.Read.Think.Good. Microfiction for better diction

Welcome to the family for off campus students

10am or 12pm LTB 8

1pm – 2pm 5N.7.23

6pm onwards Top Bar

Information about the English language assessment, which will take place on Wednesday, and is compulsory for all students whose first language is not English will be provided at this briefing session.

Do you want to learn to write better essays? Want to have fun doing it? This may be just the thing for you. The University has devised a writing skills course using a completely unique methodology: microfiction. Defined by us as a piece of writing in 10 words or fewer, we use microfiction as an approach to help you to develop three key skills for university success: communicating big ideas (write.good); extracting big ideas (read.good); and organising big ideas (think.good). Delivered in three one-hour parts, the write.read.think.good programme will provide you with a range of tools to engage effectively in the academic writing process, avoid plagiarism, and complete your assignments to a high standard by agreed deadlines. Each programme (two choices of dates are available) will take place on three consecutive days. To find out more visit: www.essex.ac.uk/ldev/microfiction

The Talent Development Centre provides English language assessment and support to students at Essex. If your first language is not English you must take the University English language assessment in order to benefit from the free English language support available. The assessment is not a pass/fail examination, and is not used to determine entrance to your department, school or centre.

Strategies for study workshop 1 5pm – 6pm LTB 3 (This workshop is repeated on Friday) Using University guidance and resources to support independent learning; Planning and managing your time effectively. The Welcome Week carousel is a series of three workshops intended for undergraduates, including those returning to study after an interval. All students are welcome and all sessions are free. Each workshop will be repeated so that you can find a time best suited to you.

Tuesday 30 September Registration – UK and EEA students Registration is compulsory for all students and takes place in the Sports Centre. 9.00am – 10.15am n Biological Sciences 10.15am – 10.45am n Computer Science and Electronic Engineering (including the Centre for Computational Finance and Economic Agents) 10.45am – 12.00pm n Government 1.00pm – 1.30pm n Language and Linguistics n Essex Abroad Programmes 1.30pm – 3.00pm n Economics n Sociology 3pm – 4pm n Human Rights Centre n Law

Mature students’ reception

Welcome Village

Making your First Year Count

Disability Services registration and welcome

10.30am – 11.30am 4S.6.28

12pm – 3pm Square 4

11.00am – 12.30pm Ivor Crewe Lecture Hall

Drop in from 9.30am – 12.30pm 4N.6.2 (Student Support)

Are you returning to education after working, travelling, having children or doing something else? We appreciate that your professional, educational and life experiences may vary, as will your individual needs. Do you have questions about the opportunities available to enhance your CV while at university, or how to adjust to studying at university? This reception provides you with an opportunity to meet other mature students in an informal setting, and hopefully make some useful contacts. Students and staff will be available to answer your questions or point you in the direction of an appropriate service for help. Perhaps you don’t have any of these questions, but would like to meet other mature students? This event is for you as well. We look forward to meeting you. Refreshments provided.

Come along to Welcome Village on Square 4 on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of your first week to have your questions answered by helpful, friendly University staff and students about the range of services on Colchester Campus. Stalls range from essential services such as information about registration and core activity during the week, employability and careers, transport and information for international students. There will be a welfare area with stalls from Student Support, Nightline and the Multi Faith Chaplaincy, as well as information about arts, theatre, sports and other social activities taking place throughout the week.

Compulsory for all UG students (This session is repeated on Wednesday and Thursday)

(This session will also be available on Thursday and Friday)

And don’t forget, if you want to join one of our many sports clubs and societies, come along to our celebrated Students’ Union Freshers’ Fair on Saturday 4 October from 12pm - 4pm on Squares 3, 4 and 5.

Registration with the police 9am – 4pm LTB B Also on Wednesday and Thursday. For international students (and dependants) whose visa states that police registration is required. See page 14 for detailed information about who should attend and what you need to bring.

Let us help you make your first year count! We know your first few weeks at Essex are going to be busy and it may feel like your first year will last forever. However, we promise it will fly by. You don’t need to think about what happens after you graduate right now or what your future career might look like – your first year is about getting involved and trying new things which ultimately will help you develop new skills and make you more employable. This interactive, fast paced session is designed to help you get the most from your first year. You’ll even be given your very own checklist to take away and ensure you really hit the ground running. Attendance is compulsory but you can pick which of the three sessions suits you best.

It is important to sign up with the disability service; our confidential service can offer advice and support during your time at university. You will need to provide us with supporting evidence of your condition such as a doctor’s letter, medical report or a diagnostic assessment of dyslexia. If you have not already been in touch we would encourage you to disclose to us any medical condition, disability, specific learning difficulty (such as dyslexia), mental health difficulties or other individual needs. Just drop in on any of these days for a one to one meeting with a member of the team. Information will be available on: n Disabled Students’ Allowances n Assessment of Need n Individual exam arrangements n Screening for dyslexia n Wellbeing services n Academic support n Study skills tuition n Accessibility around campus If you cannot make one of these days, Student Support offers a drop in service Monday to Friday from 10.30am to 4.00pm during term-time and 10.30am to 12.30pm during vacations. Come along to meet the team and find out more: www.essex.ac.uk/students/disability/default.aspx

Write.Read.Think.Good. Microfiction for better diction Games Without Frontiers: The Acid Test

Languages for All information sessions

Campus tours

1pm – 2pm 5N.7.23

3pm – 4pm 5N.7.23

5.00pm – 5.30pm repeated at 5.30pm – 6.00pm LTB 2

The Acid Test is a fun exercise enabling you to explore your planning and problem-solving skills and those of other people in your team. Planning and problem solving are important skills for university-level study in all fields of work, so why not take this opportunity to improve these skills, and meet and work with some new people at the same time?

Languages for All is a programme which provides students with the ability to study a language alongside your degree at Essex. All Essex students are eligible for one year of language tuition at no extra cost and additional tuition in subsequent years is available at a moderate fee. Languages for All does not affect your grades in your core degrees and is designed to fit alongside your busy schedule. It aims to encourage language learning among students in order to increase the following skills:

Not sure where anything is? Don’t worry! Campus tours will be leaving from the information point on Square 4 at regular intervals throughout the day. While you’re here, you can also sign up for a town tour which will take place Wednesday to Friday this week.

To find out more visit www.essex.ac.uk/ldev/microfiction

Postgrad mixer 2pm onwards Top Bar The perfect chance for Postgrads and mature students to mingle, and chat with the Students’ Union. With free tea, coffee and cake served, come along to find out about the great things we can offer you!

Games Without Frontiers is a short programme of workshops running from Tuesday to Friday that gives you the opportunity to play educational games which help to identify and develop the sorts of skills which are crucial for success at university and beyond. The programme is also a chance to meet other students of different nationalities, from different departments, and at different levels of study. Places for each session are limited to approximately 30 students and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Strategies for study workshop 2 5pm – 6pm LTB 3 (This workshop will be repeated on Friday) Note taking for ‘critical thinking’ and plagiarism prevention The Welcome Week carousel is a series of three workshops intended for undergraduates, including those returning to study after an interval. All students are welcome and all sessions are free. Each workshop will be repeated so that you can find a time best suited to you.

n language proficiency n employability n the confidence required

internationally n intercultural awareness

for you to work, travel and study

You can study a variety of languages at different levels and two different modes of study are offered: the Language Express, a taught evening class which takes place once a week, and the Language Portfolio, on-line taught modules with tutor support. The languages currently offered are: Arabic, French, German, Mandarin Chinese, Russian and Spanish. For more information please visit our website: www.essex.ac.uk/study/ languages/forall Terms and conditions apply.

Wednesday 1 October Registration – UK/EEA students and non-EEA international students Registration is compulsory for all students and takes place in the Sports Centre. 9.00am – 9.45am n Essex Business School – UK/EEA students 9.45am – 10.15am n Language and Linguistics – non-EEA international students n Sociology – non-EEA international students 10.15am – 11.00am n Biological Sciences – non-EEA international students n Economics – non-EEA international students 11am – 12pm n Human Rights Centre – non-EEA international students n Law – non-EEA international students n Psychoanalytic Studies – All students UK/EEA and non-EEA international students 1.00pm – 1.30pm n Government – non-EEA international students n Essex Abroad Programmes – non-EEA international students 1.30pm – 3.00pm n Essex Business School – non-EEA international students 3pm – 4pm n Computer Science and Electronic Engineering (including the Centre for Computational Finance and Economic Agents) – non/EEA international students

Session 1 (undergraduates) 8.45am – 10.30am

Session 3 (postgraduates) 2.15pm – 4.00pm

Come along to Welcome Village on Square 4 on Monday, Tuesday and Wednesday of your first week to have your questions answered by helpful, friendly University staff and students about the range of services on Colchester Campus. Stalls range from essential services such as information about registration and core activity during the week, employability and careers, transport and information for international students. There will be a welfare area with stalls from Student Support, Essex Nightline and the Multi Faith Chaplaincy, as well as information about arts, theatre, sports and other social activities taking place throughout the week.

Undergraduate students in the following departments, schools and centres:

Postgraduate students from the following departments, schools and centres:

n Mathematical Sciences n Computer Science and Electronic n Health and Human Sciences n Psychology n History n Government n Law n Human Rights Centre n Psychoanalytic Studies

n Biological Sciences n Mathematical Sciences n History n Philosophy and Art History

Session 2 (undergraduates) 11.00am – 12.45pm

Session 4 (postgraduates) 5.15pm – 6.30pm

Undergraduate students in the following departments, schools and centres:

Postgraduate students in the following departments, schools and centres:

n Biological Sciences n Economics n Language and Linguistics n Sociology n Philosophy and Art History

n Economics n Institute for Social and Economic n Language and Linguistics n Sociology n Government n Psychoanalytic Studies n School of Computer Science and

Welcome Village 12pm – 3pm Square 4

English language test Compulsory for non-UK students whose first language is not English See below for your test time by department. LTB 6 and 7 If your first language is not English you must sit this test. You can attend a briefing session on Monday to find out more.

Engineering

(including the Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities) n Essex Abroad Programmes n Literature, Film and Theatre Studies n Essex Business School

(including the Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities) n Literature, Film and Theatre Studies n Law n Human Rights Centre n Essex Abroad Programmes

Research

Electronic Engineering (including the Centre for Computational Finance and Economic Agents) n Health and Human Sciences n Psychology n Essex Business School

Registration with the police

Big Essex Award – information session

Tours of the Albert Sloman Library

Strategies for study workshop 3

9am – 4pm LTB B

11am – 12pm LTB 2

1.30pm – 4.30pm

5pm – 6pm LTB 3

Also on Tuesday and Thursday. For international students (and dependants) whose visa states that police registration is required. See page 14 for detailed information about who should attend and what you need to bring.

(This session is repeated on Thursday)

Making your First Year Count 2.00pm – 3.30pm Ioe Crewe Lecture Hall Compulsory for all UG students (This session will also be held on Tuesday and Thursday) Let us help you make your first year count! We know your first few weeks at Essex are going to be busy and it may feel like your first year will last forever. However, we promise it will fly by. You don’t need to think about what happens after you graduate right now or what your future career might look like – your first year is about getting involved and trying new things which ultimately will help you develop new skills and make you more employable. This interactive, fast paced session is designed to help you get the very most from your first year. You’ll even be given your very own checklist to take away and ensure you really hit the ground running Attendance is compulsory but you can pick which of the three sessions suits you best.

Come along and find out why over 500 students completed the University’s employability award last year! The Big Essex Award, open to all students, is designed to showcase your extra-curricular achievements and provide concrete proof to employers just how employable you are. So get ahead of the game and make your CV really stand out. Plus, complete the Award and we’ll record it on your degree transcript.

Write.Read.Think.Good. Microfiction for better diction 10am – 11am repeated at 1pm – 2pm 5N.7.23 Do you want to learn to write better essays? Want to have fun doing it? This may be just the thing for you. The University has devised a writing skills course using a completely unique methodology: microfiction. Defined by us as a piece of writing in 10 words or fewer, we use microfiction as an approach to help you to develop three key skills for university success: communicating big ideas (write.good); extracting big ideas (read.good); and organising big ideas (think.good). Delivered in three one-hour parts, the write.read.think.good programme will provide you with a range of tools to engage effectively in the academic writing process, avoid plagiarism, and complete your assignments to a high standard by agreed deadlines. Each programme (two choices of dates are available) will take place on three consecutive days. To find out more visit: www.essex.ac.uk/ldev/microfiction

We offer regular tours during Welcome Week and the first two weeks of term, and you are strongly encouraged to come along to one of these. Please sign up in our Library beforehand – details will be on the notice board in the Library foyer from the beginning of Welcome Week. Tours will be at 15-minute intervals. Each tour will last approximately 30 minutes and provide a general introduction to library services. Additional tours, for which you should also sign up in advance, will be conducted at 4pm and 4.30pm each day during the second week of term, and at 4pm and 4.30pm on Wednesday 15 October.

Games Without Frontiers: The Symbol Game 3pm – 4pm 5N.7.23 The Symbol Game is a card-based exercise designed to improve group problem-solving and communication. It will show you the importance of setting clear objectives, based on a sound analysis and understanding of the problem, which is important in both study and work. And it’s a lot of fun. Games Without Frontiers is a short programme of workshops running from Tuesday to Friday that gives you the opportunity to play educational games which help to identify and develop the sorts of skills which are crucial for success at university and beyond. The programme is also a chance to meet other students of different nationalities, from different departments, and at different levels of study. Places for each session are limited to approximately 30 students and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

(This workshop is repeated on Friday) Keeping track of what works for you: reviewing, revising and enjoying your study The Welcome Week carousel is a series of three workshops intended for undergraduates, including those returning to study after an interval. All students are welcome and all sessions are free. Each workshop will be repeated so that you can find a time best suited to you.

Town tours Tours of Colchester town centre will leave from the information point on Square 4 at regular intervals on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday – you need to sign up in advance so please visit early to check availability. The tour takes around two hours. You will need to pay your own bus fare, so please bring coins, not notes. This is not a tourist tour; it is an opportunity to find out how to get to all the useful places in Colchester, including the major banks, shops, cinema and police station.

Chaplaincy buffet 6pm – 8pm Multi-Faith Chaplaincy Come and enjoy a free buffet plus the opportunity to meet representatives of our faith communities. Everyone is welcome to drop in between these times. You can find us on level 3, entrance 2NE off square 2. During Welcome Week we have a range of welcome events open to those of all faiths and none. Please see our website: www2.essex.ac.uk/chaplaincy for a full listing.

Thursday 2 October Registration - all students from the following departments, schools and centres: Registration is compulsory for all students and takes place in the Sports Centre. 9am – 10am n Health and Human Sciences n Psychology 10am – 11am n History n Institute for Social and Economic Research n Philosophy and Art History (including the Centre for Interdisciplinary Studies in the Humanities) 11am – 12pm n Literature, Film and Theatre Studies n Mathematical Sciences 1pm – 2pm n International Academy

Making your First Year Count

Disability Services registration and welcome

4.00pm – 5.30pm Ivoe Crewe Lecture Hall

Drop in from 9.30am – 12.30pm 4N.6.2 (Student Support)

Compulsory for all UG students (This session will also be held on Tuesday and Wednesday)

(This session will also be available on Tuesday and Friday)

If you cannot make one of these days, Student Support offers a drop in service Monday to Friday from 10.30am to 4.00pm during term-time and 10.30am to 12.30pm during vacations. Come along to meet the team and find out more: www.essex.ac.uk/students/disability/default.aspx

Big Essex Award – information session

Tours of the Albert Sloman Library

2pm – 3pm LTB 7

1.30pm – 4.30pm

(This session is repeated on Wednesday) Come along and find out why over 500 students completed the University’s employability award last year! The Big Essex Award, open to all students, is designed to showcase your extra-curricular achievements and provide concrete proof to employers just how employable you are. So get ahead of the game and make your CV really stand out. Plus, complete the Award and we’ll record it on your degree transcript.

Town tours

Registration with the police

Tours of Colchester town centre will leave from the information point on Square 4 at regular intervals on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday – you need to sign up in advance so please visit early to check availability. The tour takes around two hours. You will need to pay your own bus fare, so please bring coins, not notes. This is not a tourist tour; it is an opportunity to find out how to get to all the useful places in Colchester, including the major banks, shops, cinema and police station.

9am – 4pm LTB B Also on Tuesday and Wednesday. For international students (and dependants) whose visa states that police registration is required. See page 14 for detailed information about who should attend and what you need to bring.

Games Without Frontiers: Don’t Spill It 3pm – 4pm 5N.7.23 Don’t Spill It involves you working as part of a team to build a device to transport a vessel over a specified distance without spilling its contents. Working as part of a team is a feature of many academic modules and other aspects of student life, so this exercise will give you a new way of understanding what is important in team working.

Games Without Frontiers is a short programme of workshops running from Tuesday to Friday that gives you the opportunity to play educational games which help to identify and develop the sorts of skills which are crucial for success at university and beyond. The programme is also a chance to meet other students of different nationalities, from different departments, and at different levels of study. Places for each session are limited to approximately 30 students so are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Write.Read.Think.Good. Microfiction for better diction 10am – 11am 5N.7.23 Do you want to learn to write better essays? Want to have fun doing it? This may be just the thing for you. The University has devised a writing skills course using a completely unique methodology: microfiction. Defined by us as a piece of writing in 10 words or fewer, we use microfiction as an approach to help you to develop three key skills for university success: communicating big ideas (write.good); extracting big ideas (read.good); and organising big ideas (think.good). Delivered in three one-hour parts, the write.read.think.good programme will provide you with a range of tools to engage effectively in the academic writing process, avoid plagiarism, and complete your assignments to a high standard by agreed deadlines. Each programme (two choices of dates are available) will take place on three consecutive days. To find out more visit www.essex.ac.uk/ldev/microfiction

Friday 3 October Strategies for study workshops The Welcome Week carousel is a series of three workshops intended for undergraduates, including those returning to study after an interval. All students are welcome and all sessions are free. Each workshop will be repeated so that you can find a time best suited to you. Strategies for study workshop 1 10am – 11am or 11am – 12pm LTB 3 Using University guidance and resources to support independent learning; Planning and managing your time effectively. Strategies for study workshop 2 10am – 11am or 11am – 12pm LTB 9 Note taking for ‘critical thinking’ and plagiarism prevention. Strategies for study workshop 3 1pm – 2pm LTB 9 Keeping track of what works for you: reviewing, revising and enjoying your study.

Disability Services registration and welcome

Town tours

Drop in from 9.30am – 12.30pm 4N.6.2 (Student Support)

(This session will also be available on Tuesday and Thursday) It is important to sign up with the disability service; our confidential service can offer advice and support during your time at university. You will need to provide us with supporting evidence of your condition such as a doctor’s letter, medical report or a diagnostic assessment of dyslexia.

Tours of the Albert Sloman Library If you have not already been in touch we would encourage you to disclose to us any medical condition, disability, specific learning difficulty 1.30pm – 4.30pm (such as dyslexia), mental health difficulties or other individual needs. We offer regular tours during Welcome Week and the first two weeks Just drop in on any of these days for a one to one meeting with a of term, and you are strongly encouraged to come along to one of member of the team. these. Please sign up in our Library beforehand – details will be on the notice board in the Library foyer from the beginning of Welcome Week. Information will be available on: Tours will be at 15-minute intervals. Each tour will last approximately 30 n Disabled Students’ Allowances minutes and provide a general introduction to library services. Additional n Assessment of Need tours, for which you should also sign up in advance, will be conducted at n Individual exam arrangements 4pm and 4.30pm each day during the second week of term, and at 4pm n Screening for dyslexia and 4.30pm on Wednesday 15 October. n Wellbeing services n Academic support n Study skills tuition Write.Read.Think.Good. Microfiction for better diction n Accessibility around campus 10am – 11am If you cannot make one of these days, Student Support offers a drop in 5N.7.23 service Monday to Friday from 10.30am to 4.00pm during term-time and Do you want to learn to write better essays? Want to have fun doing it? 10.30am to 12.30pm during vacations. This may be just the thing for you. The University has devised a writing Come along to meet the team and find out more: skills course using a completely unique methodology: microfiction. www.essex.ac.uk/students/disability/default.aspx Defined by us as a piece of writing in 10 words or fewer, we use

microfiction as an approach to help you to develop three key skills for university success: communicating big ideas (write.good); extracting big ideas (read.good); and organising big ideas (think.good). Delivered in three one-hour parts, the write.read.think.good programme will provide you with a range of tools to engage effectively in the academic writing process, avoid plagiarism, and complete your assignments to a high standard by agreed deadlines. Each programme (two choices of dates are available) will take place on three consecutive days.

Saturday 4 October Students’ Union Freshers’ Fair 12pm - 4pm Squares 3, 4 and 5

To find out more visit: www.essex.ac.uk/ldev/microfiction

Freshers’ Fair is the biggest event of the first week, with over 5,000 students on the Squares.

Games Without Frontiers: The Superteam Challenge

Squares 3, 4 and 5 will be packed to the brim with stalls showing all the sports clubs, societies, volunteering projects and other great stuff you can get involved in through the SU. This year, joining a sports club is FREE for all students – a great excuse to try something new while you’re here.

3pm – 4pm 5N.7.23 The Superteam Challenge requires a small team to carry out a range of tasks in a short space of time. To succeed you will need to plan, solve problems, work as a team and manage time effectively. There are prizes for the successful team. Games Without Frontiers is a short programme of workshops running from Tuesday to Friday that gives you the opportunity to play educational games which help to identify and develop the sorts of skills which are crucial for success at university and beyond. The programme is also a chance to meet other students of different nationalities, from different departments, and different levels of study. Places for each session are limited to approximately 30 students and are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

As well as the clubs and societies, the SU’s shops, restaurants, bars and other venues will be there showing off all of the amazing events and offers coming up. There’ll also be a whole host of student-friendly companies at the Fair, offering great student deals and a load of freebies.

This programme has, hopefully, helped you find out what you’ll be doing during your first week at our University. We know you’ll be keen to find out what happens next... Teaching begins on Monday 6 October and we recommend that you use some of your time during Welcome Week to find the rooms for your lectures, seminars or other key meetings during the autumn term. You should also make sure you know where the admin office is for your department, school or centre.

r u o y d n o Bey ek first we

Student life isn’t all about study and it’s not all about partying either! Throughout the academic year there will be a range of non-alcohol based social activities on offer including late night café society in the stylish Zest café on Square 3, cinema programme/films in the LTB, and an exciting and varied arts programme of comedy, film, theatre, music and exhibitions in the theatre and gallery. This is in addition to the variety of club, society and volunteering opportunities, so there really is something for everyone, whatever your interests.

us p m a C Guide

Your

In your welcome pack you should also have received Your campus guide – this contains a great deal of information that will be of use to you throughout your course of study, so we recommend that you read it now and then keep it close, you never know when it might come in handy!

ion us edit Campyear 2014–15 r e t s e Colch - academic ition

d Third e

39 In Your Campus Guide you will find a series of useful maps which you can keep and refer to throughout the year. To get you here and find your way around during your first week, an area map and a plan of our Colchester Campus are included in this booklet

A133 Colchester

Access to Knowledge Gateway and Day Nursery only

Barrier control (buses only)

NHS walk-in centre

Fire station

A 12

A134 Sudbury

A12 Colchester A1232

Town centre

Police station

University Quays

IPS WIC H

ffirstsite

Colchester Institute

4 5

p Ca

d Roa

a Ro

21 North Car Park

University Quays

New building to house Essex Business School (opens 2014)

OA D HR

University Quays

WIC IPS

ICH

AD RO

Central buildings

HILL

B M11

Luton

A12

I LL

Colchester

Stansted

A133

Harwich

OE H

RO AD

M25

Loughton Campus M25

City

Heathrow

Colchester Campus Loughton Campus Southend Campus LONDON

A12

A130 Southend

A12 A13

A127

A13

A127

Southend-on-Sea

Southend Campus

A Main entrance to the University

London Liverpool Street and St Pancras International (Eurostar)

M25

Routes onto Colchester Campus

Ebbsfleet International (Eurostar)

B Route to Knowledge Gateway

and Day Nursery

M20 M23

Dover Gatwick

Folkestone

Other buildings New developments

South Courts Harwich Brightlingsea Manningtree Walton Thaxted Frinton Rowhedge Alresford

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8

South Towers Bertrand Russell Eddington

9 10

North Towers Rayleigh Keynes Tawney William Morris

11 12 13 14

Wolfson Court

The Houses Anne Knight Isaac Rebow Swaynes Richard Woods Thomas Hopper Josephine Butler

ad Valley Ro

University Quays Sainty Quay Hawkins Quay Matthews Quay

16 17 18 19 20 21

22 23 24

TAXI

P P

Square

Valley Car Park

Bus stop Sports pavilion and sports field

P P

Car parking Accessible parking Cycle path

Square

1 10

Entrance 3

South Courts 1

P P

Sports Centre

4 2

Multi-decked car park

6 Car Park B

7 3

Synthetic pitch

Tennis courts

(Pre-arranged disabled parking only)

Bo un da ry R oad

Taxi point Traffic lights

Visitors’ Reception

South Towers

Student residences

Chelmsford

Information/ Security Centre

Square

Barrier control (buses only)

Colchester Campus

Health Centre

Square

Student residences ilw Ra

I NG

A133 Clacton

HYTHE

Colchester Campus

a Ro rk

ST .A

SOUTH WAY

B1027 Brightlingsea

Wivenhoe House hotel and Edge Hotel School

OA D

EAST HILL

A12 London and M25

HIGH STREET

Foot-bridge to University

B&Q Superstore

Student Centre and Library extension (opens 2014)

ro a d

4 A133

Constable Building

North Towers N

h oug thr

COWD RAY AVENU

East Lodge

TAXI

Day Nursery

Barrier control (buses only)

A120 Harwich

The Houses

14 2

(Pedestrians only)

P P

ers Tow rth oad No R

Entrance 5

Lakeside House

LEX

Maps

ield

A12 Colchester Central A133

West Lodge

Entrance 4

The Meadows

A133 Clacton

Parkside office village (opens 2014)

sf Ne

A12 Ipswich/ The North and Midlands

RO AD

Colchester General Hospital

34 A1

A12

Route to main campus

TAXI

Car Park A

ar y nd ou

Entrance 1 (Main Entrance)

Entrance 2

(For multi-decked car park, staff and visitors only, and Sports Centre parking)

Disabled Visitors

Main Entrance B1028 Wivenhoe

For information on access and parking arrangements, please contact Visitors’ Reception +44 (0)1206 874321 in advance of your visit.

Before you arrive Sign up to use myEssex for applicants via: www.essex.ac.uk/ students Activate your University of Essex computer and e-mail account (you can do this once you have signed into myEssex) Complete pre-registration online (open from September): check and update your personal information; emergency contact; course details; upload a photograph; sign up to our University’s Regulations; pay your tuition fees (if you are a self-funded student) Select optional modules using eNROL, the online module enrolment system: via: www.essex.ac.uk/apply If registering with the Health Centre, you will need to bring a print out or list of all childhood vaccinations, and a list of any medicines you take regularly

Useful t checklis

Check when your department, school, or centre events will take place during Welcome Week at: www.essex.ac.uk/welcome Plan the compulsory events you should attend, eg Big Welcome Talk, Registration, International Students’ Welcome (if you are an international student), English Language Assessment (if English is not your first language), Police Registration (if you are an international student), Health Centre registration (if you are a student who will be living on campus), Making your First Year Count Plan the optional events you want to attend (eg welcome to the family for off campus students, study strategies workshops) Start accessing the SU’s services, including joining clubs and societies and getting your NUS Extra discount card, online at: www.essex.su/freshers

During Welcome Week Attend Big Welcome Talk, and departmental, school or centre events, compulsory events and optional events, details available at: www. essex.ac.uk/welcome Attend registration at the Sports Centre and collect your registration and library card, see the schedule at: www.essex.ac.uk/welcome and in the diary pages of this programme If you are registering with the Health Centre, don’t forget to attend your patient registration appointment If you need to use a computer on campus we have a number of PC labs available. You can find out PC lab locations and opening times at: www.essex.ac.uk/it/computers/labs/ or watch a guided tour at: http://vimeo.com/uniofessex/pc If you need IT help, the IT Helpdesk is the first point of contact for all problems and queries relating to our services. Visit their website at: www.essex.ac.uk/it/help/ Sign in to your myEssex student portal at: www.essex.ac.uk/myEssex. Sign in to webmail at: https://email.essex.ac.uk to check your University emails. View your personalised teaching timetable online at: www.essex. ac.uk/timetables and check the location of teaching rooms via: www. essex.ac.uk/about/campuses/colchester Meet new friends and make the most of your free time by signing up to student sports clubs and societies at SU Freshers’ Fair

International students Register with the police, if required to do so, see page 14 or: www.essex.ac.uk/welcome Attend the English language assessment, if required to do so, this could entitle you to free English language support classes throughout the year Attend the International Students’ Welcome, see page 19.

During your first month Check how you will be assessed/examined on your course Check when you are required to submit your first piece of coursework Visit our Albert Sloman Library and understand how to use online library catalogues and databases Find out what plagiarism is and how to avoid it Find out about skills development, eg skills programmes, personal development planning Access and read The Rule Book at www.essex.ac.uk/students/new/ campus/colchester/default.aspx Be aware of the range of support services available to students and be ready to ask for help if you need it Visit our Employability and Careers Centre on Square 2 any time from your first day at Essex and find out how we can help you start your career or continue with further study

Notes

Contains recycled materials

ÂŠ University of Essex 2014 Designed and printed by Print Essex at the University of Essex