5. Academic support for your personal advisees
5.1. Academic Skills Courses and Workshops
During the course of one-to-one meetings it may become apparent that a student needs some additional academic support. The University of Manchester Library offers a broad portfolio of online resources, workshops and drop-ins aimed at improving study skills which are held throughout the year, including special sessions during exams and the summer. Interactive online resources are available at all times, providing flexible support. Topics covered include study strategies for success; learning styles workshop, avoiding plagiarism, introducing referencing, managing your time and effective revision. More information about available courses can be found at the following URL
http://www.library.manchester.ac.uk/academicsupport/mylearningessentials/
Face-to-face workshops offered have limited availability so students should be advised to enrol as soon as possible, if they are interested.
5.2. Writer in Residence
The School has appointed two ‘Writers in Residence’, Mrs Margaret Murphy and Mr Robert Chapman, who are funded by The Royal Literary Fund. Margaret and Robert are based in room 2.532 in the Stopford Building.
Margaret can offer students 45 minute tutorials on effective writing, which run on Thursdays and Fridays and can be booked at www.wejoinin.com/writer.lifesciences@manchester. Students can email Margaret at writer.lifesciences@manchester.ac.uk.
Robert is available for tutorials on Tuesdays and Wednesdays from 11am-5pm (term-time only). Students can book appointments with Robert via email: rob.chapman@manchester.ac.uk.
5.3 Peer Assisted Study Scheme (PASS)
The aim of PASS is primarily to support Year 1 students and to help them develop effective study and learning strategies. All 1st year students will be assigned to a PASS group in Welcome Week, but attendance is not compulsory. In general students who attend PASS tend to perform better in their 1st year exams than their contemporaries who did not. PASS sessions are regularly timetabled sessions. PASS sessions provide a non-threatening environment which aims to provide support and guidance to students who may be struggling with certain aspects of their course. Sessions are facilitated by PASS leaders who are either Year 2 or Year 3 students that have studied each course unit before and done well in it. All PASS leaders have taken part in a dedicated training programme run by Students as Partners (SaP) and will regularly attend debrief sessions throughout the academic year. The role of PASS sessions is not to teach students but to facilitate the development strategies which increase their understanding of topics and in so doing increase their confidence in their academic abilities,
PASS is not restricted to 1st years. Higher year discussion groups, linked to specific 2nd and 3rd year units also run and provide a valuable study resource for those students who participate in them. Discussion groups can be initiated by students if they feel that they would benefit from discussing course material in a group setting. The School Sabbatical intern can help organise room bookings:
Zachary Wilde (zachary.wilde@manchester.ac.uk)
5.3.1. What goes on in a PASS session?
For those of you who are unfamiliar with what goes on in PASS sessions a short video clip is available which gives a really good overview of PASS and has a series of interview with staff and students talking about PASS from their perspective.
5.4. Summer internships for Undergraduate Students
Many first and second year students are keen to do internships over the summer vacation and often ask their personal advisor about available positions and potential funding opportunities. Information about summer research experience placement and funding opportunities can be found on the intranet at: https://www.intranet.ls.manchester.ac.uk/education/studentsupport/bursaries.aspx. Students who are successful in getting a non-funded placement may be entitled to a work experience bursary to help financially with the costs of undertaking the placement. Further information on eligibility and the application process for this bursary can be obtained from http://www.careers.manchester.ac.uk/findjobs/workwhilestudy/bursaries/
5.5 The Study Abroad Programme
This programme allows undergraduate students to spend a semester studying abroad during the second year of their degree programme. In the School of Biological Sciences, this usually takes place during Semester 1. To qualify for the study abroad programmes student must attend one of the Study Abroad presentations and complete the formal application form which needs to be submitted early in December. Students will be notified of deadlines by the International programmes office. Advice on choosing courses at selected universities can be provided by the Senior Advisor and by Programme Directors. Even when accepted onto the Study Abroad programme students most achieve an average of 60% in their Level 1 examinations. Further information about the study abroad programme can be found here.