Information about the University

The Division address is:

Division of Pharmacy and Optometry
The University of Manchester
Stopford Building
Oxford Road
Manchester
M13 9PT

Contact details:
Telephone number: 0161 306 4295
General enquiries: 0161 275 7943
Switchboard: 0161 275 2000

iovs@manchester.ac.uk

To access Stopford Building you will need a swipe card or an appointment.

Computing Facilities

Further details can be found on the following web page:

http://www.itservices.manchester.ac.uk/pcclusters/

In addition to the computers in the Division of Pharmacy and Optometry there are a number of public facilities elsewhere on campus. In particular there are large clusters of machines with printers in John Rylands University Library, the Alan Gilbert Learning Commons and Kilburn Building, and smaller clusters in the Samuel Alexander Building and the Stopford Building. The porters in each of these buildings will direct you to the right room. The Stopford Building is open 24 hours a day.

Students can access the internet without restriction but you will find that there are web “rush hours” when the large number of people trying to access the system from elsewhere practically brings it to a standstill. First thing in the morning is the best time for serious net surfing. Our own computers are heavily used for real work during the day so please don’t play on the internet while other students are queuing for a machine.

IT Services Support Centre and FBMH eLearning Support

Details can be found at: https://elearning.bmh.manchester.ac.uk/student/technical-support/

Telephone: +44 (0)161 306 5544 (or extension 65544). Telephone support is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

In person: Walk-up help and support is available at the Joule Library, Main Library or Alan Gilbert Learning Commons.

Blackboard

Blackboard, the University’s ‘virtual learning environment’, will be used for online teaching.

What is Blackboard?

Blackboard is a web-based system that complements and builds upon traditional learning methods used at The University of Manchester. By using Blackboard you can

  • View course materials and learning resources
  • Communicate with lectures and other students
  • Collaborate in groups
  • Get feedback
  • Submit assignments
  • Monitoring your own progress at a time and place of your own convenience.

Training in the use of software

The Faculty eLearning team have produced a short introduction to Blackboard for new students. The recording is hosted in two places: the VLS and on YouTube:

The recording is just over seven minutes long and covers most of the commonly used tools in Blackboard.

Library Facilities

The University of Manchester Library provides resources and support for your programme. The Library has an extensive collection of eBooks, databases and journals online, in addition to the print holdings in The Main Library.

The Alan Gilbert Learning Commons provides a 24/7 learning environment in addition to study skills workshops.

Off -campus, many resources are available by logging in with your University username and password (this includes individual book chapters digitised as part of a unit’s directed reading); where this option is not available, the material can still be accessed through the University’s VPN service, and this is clearly indicated in the Electronic Journals A-Z list and on the information page for each of the Databases . A small number of titles require a Special username and password . For further details, see Accessing e-journals, e-books and databases .

Training materials to help you make the most of the Library’s resources will be available in Blackboard.

The ‘My Library’ tab in My Manchester has quick links to get you started:

Using other libraries has information on both regional (NOWAL) and national (SCONUL) schemes which may be helpful.

Student Support and Guidance Within the Programme

There are several options for support. The Postgraduate Programmes Administrator is likely to be able to direct you to the most suitable support. Contact iovs@manchester.ac.uk.

If you have any queries or would like to discuss any issues at all – academic, administrative, technical or personal – please do not hesitate to get in touch. All personal issues will be dealt with confidentially.

If we are unable to help you directly, we can put you in touch with many of the support services that are available to students of the University through our Student Services Centre. You can approach these services independently, without the involvement of programme staff. Use the A-Z of Student Services Guide as an additional source of information.

Student Support from the University

The University offers a range of support and guidance services to students, for example, Student Health Service, Student Union Advice Centre, Student Counselling and Careers Advice. Details of all these services can be obtained from the A-Z of Student Services

Disability Advisory and Support Office

The University of Manchester welcomes students with a disability or specific learning difficulties. The University has a Disability Advisory and Support Office, who can supply further information, and staff will be pleased to meet you, by prior arrangement, to discuss your needs. Staff will liaise with your School to make the necessary arrangements for your support during your time in Manchester. The office can also provide a copy of the University’s Disability Statement, ‘Opportunities for Students with Additional Support Needs at the University of Manchester’ which sets out the policy and provision for students with a disability.

The Disability Advisory and Support Office is located on the 2nd Floor of University Place, Block 2.

Contact

E-mail: dass@manchester.ac.uk

Phone 0161 275 7512/8518; Text 07899 658 790; Minicom 0161 275 2794;
Fax: 0161 275 7018; Website: http://www.dass.manchester.ac.uk/

In addition, the Division of Pharmacy & Optometry has a Disability Co-ordinator: Sandra Humphries.

Counselling Service

The counselling service is available for all students. It is free and consists of a team of professional counsellors. The service provides confidential counselling for anyone who wants help with personal problems affecting their work or well-being.

The service is open 9.00am to 5.00pm Monday to Friday all year round except public holidays.

http://www.studentnet.manchester.ac.uk/counselling/

Occupational Health

Occupational Health is a specialised area of medicine concerned with the way in which an individual’s health can affect his or her ability to do a job and to study and conversely how the work environment can affect an individual’s health. Their aim is to promote the physical, mental and social well-being of students and to reduce the incidence of ill-health arising from exposure to work place hazards.

http://www.occhealth.manchester.ac.uk/

Students Union Advice Service

The Students Union has advisers who can help with any matter ranging from finances to housing and beyond. To contact the UMSU Advice Service please email advice.umsu@manchester.ac.uk