Personal Tutor System

Within the first few weeks of arriving at the University, your department will allocate you a Personal Tutor. If you do not know who this is, please contact School of English Reception to ask. The Personal Tutor is a member of academic staff in your department who is there to help you if you are having any difficulties: with your studies or personal difficulties that you are worried about or are impacting on your studies. Your Personal Tutor is likely to be the same person throughout your degree, although this may change if your Personal Tutor goes on Research Leave. If this occurs, your Department will allocate you a replacement Personal Tutor. If you are a Dual Honours student, your Personal Tutor will be from your Home Department (normally whichever of your subject is first alphabetically) but your second department may also have a member of academic staff with responsibilities for dual degree students whom you can contact as well.

The School will make arrangements for you to meet your Personal Tutor at the beginning of your course and at least once during every semester thereafter. However, if you are experiencing difficulties, don’t wait for your scheduled meeting but do contact your Personal Tutor as they will want to help you identify ways to help resolve the problem. You can email or phone your Personal Tutor to ask for an appointment or visit your Personal Tutor during their office hours and your Personal Tutor may request to see you, if, for example, you miss seminars without explanation.So that you can understand what can be expected from your personal tutor, the staff and students in the School of English have outlined some key points:

• A Personal Tutor is the first point of contact within the School for any problem or issue which cannot be resolved by administrative staff or your course tutors.

• A Personal Tutor monitors significant developments which may affect the academic work of students, such as illness, family problems etc.

• A Personal Tutor will liaise with other tutors and members of the School on your behalf, if necessary.

• A Personal Tutor can direct you towards the wide range of specialised help, such as careers advice, or student counselling, provided by the University and the Union of Students.

• A Personal Tutor is a source of advice and assistance, but full responsibility for counselling falls to the trained guidance offered by the University Counselling services.

Of course, this relationship with your personal tutor comes with its own responsibilities. It is expected that you will:

• Attend all meetings with your Personal Tutor as far as possible, whether you or your personal tutor arrange them.
• Give maximum notice and arrange alternative times if an appointment cannot be kept.
• Inform your personal tutor promptly of any difficulties you are experiencing that affect your studies.
• Act responsibly on the advice you receive from your Personal Tutor and keep any appointments that are made (e.g. with student support services) on your behalf.