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August 2010

Dear LILL Student, Welcome to the Institute of Lifelong Learning Student Handbook for 2010-11. The purpose of this Handbook is to provide you with all the basic, general information you need to be a student on any LILL programme during the coming academic year. This Handbook gives you information about the University as a whole, about support facilities which are available, about the teaching centre at which you study, about general course regulations and about study skills. Wherever indented paragraphs appear, these are reproduced directly from general University regulations and guidelines. You will also receive a Course Handbook for the specific programme on which you are studying to provide you with the precise details you need for the year ahead, including information about all the modules you‘ll be studying. Wherever your Course Handbook provides additional or alternative information to what appears in this Handbook (e.g. more specific detail about assignment submission or marking criteria), then it is the Course Handbook which should be followed. Our intention is to provide a full Handbook like this in hard copy for new students each year, and supply supplementary material (any necessary amendments or additions which are needed) in every alternate year. Existing students should therefore ensure that they do not consult any Student Handbook or supplement which is more than two years old. A full copy of the latest version of the handbook will always be available on-line on the Institute of Lifelong Learning web site. If you note any omissions, or have suggestions for improvements, then we would be pleased to hear them. Future students will be very grateful for any such suggestions you might make. Whether you are on a face-to-face or distance learning course, I wish you well for the academic year ahead and hope that your experience as a LILL student is enjoyable, stretching and fulfilling. All good wishes, Clive Marsh Director of Learning and Teaching (cm286@le.ac.uk)

This Handbook is designed to help you access information you will find useful throughout

your time on this Course. Details are correct at the time of going to print, but please be aware

that Universities are dynamic institutions which are frequently reviewing requirements and

procedures. It is, therefore, possible that there may be some changes to the current contents.

We will always do our best to inform you of any such changes well in advance and, where

they affect you, discuss them with you directly.

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Contents General Introduction The University of Leicester 7

The Institute of Lifelong Learning 7

Part One: Registering and Getting Started Registration 9

Computer Accounts 9

The Institute of Lifelong Learning (LILL) web-site 9

University Library Card 10

LILL Contact Details 10

University-Student Communication 10

Handling procedures and paperwork (dealing with ‗the system‘!) 11

Part Two: General Information (...which you’ll need frequently) The Structure of Courses: Modules and Credits 13

University Regulations 13

Attendance 14

Illness/Notification of Ill Health 15

Teaching and Learning 15

Blackboard 16

Progression 17

Neglect of Academic Obligations 17

Fees and Finance

Policy on Payment of Fees and Refunds 18

Financial Advice 19

Personal Tutor Arrangements 19

Student Representation 19

Student Evaluation of Courses/Modules 20

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Assessable Work/Assignments

Remembering the Level 20

Submission of Assessable Work 20

Word Length 21

Paying attention to the marking scheme 21

Respecting deadlines 22

Extensions 22

Penalties for late assignments 22

Mitigating Circumstances 22

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism 23

Other Forms of Academic Misconduct 26

Return of work from staff 27

Course Completion and Classification of Award 27

Part Three: Facilities and Resources I.T. Support 29

Library Facilities 30

University Bookshop 34

Student Support and Development Service (SSDS) 35

Student Development 35

AccessAbility Centre 36

Student Welfare Service 36

Counselling, Health and Wellbeing 37

Students‘ Union

Education Unit 38

Study Skills 39

Teaching Centres:

Northampton 40

Vaughan College 42

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Part Four: Information for Reference Complaints and Appeals

Complaints Procedure 45

Appeals Procedure 45

Ethical Approval of Student Projects 45

Marking and Moderation 45

Personal Development Planning 46

Employability 46

Course Handbooks 49

Appendices: Assignment Submission Form

Assignment Extension Request Form

Assignment Feedback Form

Module Evaluation Form

Assessment criteria (=Marking Scheme) (Undergraduate)

Certificate Classification Bands

General Regulations for Certificate and Diploma Courses of Higher Education

Receiving University E-Mail at Home

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General Introduction

The University The University of Leicester is one of the UK‘s leading research and teaching universities. The University was founded as a University College in 1921 and granted a Royal Charter in 1957. It has an estate of approximately 232 acres that includes a fifteen-acre Botanic Garden, an arboretum and a range of residences in the suburbs that are set in attractive gardens. The University has 23,000 students, studying within four Colleges:

Arts, Humanities and Law

Medicine, Biological Sciences and Psychology

Science and Engineering.

Social Science There is a University-wide Graduate School and an Institute of Lifelong Learning. The University employs approximately 3,500 staff. The Institute of Lifelong Learning sits within the College of Social Science, though relates to many different academic disciplines in fulfilling its university-wide role. A judge in a recent awards ceremony described Leicester as ―elite without being elitist‖. We are proud to be elite. But we are at least as proud to be an inclusive and progressive university. This commitment to high quality, an inclusive academic culture and belief in the synergy of teaching and research are our hallmarks. We believe that teaching is inspirational when delivered by passionate scholars engaged in world-changing research that is delivered in an academic community that includes postgraduate as well as undergraduate students. For a University that believes teaching and research are synergistic, it is pleasing that the National Student Survey reveals that 91% of full-time students are satisfied with their courses. Consistently amongst the best in the country, this 2009 result is matched only by Cambridge amongst mainstream universities in England. Already ranked in the top-15 universities in Britain, by 2015 we aim to rise further to become top-10. It is a cornerstone of our success that we are the only top-15 UK university to meet Government benchmarks on inclusivity. Institute of Lifelong Learning Government policies and initiatives continue to highlight the importance of lifelong learning to individuals and to the broader society and economy. We have a long tradition of providing a wide range of adult education courses and the current, broad, high-quality programme of lifelong learning opportunities continues this tradition. The Leicester Institute of Lifelong Learning (LILL) was set up on 1 August 2000, and is a department within the College of Social Science. It builds on the work of Vaughan College (founded 1862) and on a long and distinguished tradition of adult education within the city of Leicester, absorbing within it the immediate predecessor to the Institute, the Department of Adult Education. Jackie Dunne is Director of Lifelong Learning. As a leading research university, there are great opportunities for us to develop a comprehensive, dynamic and imaginative portfolio of lifelong learning activities. The Institute seeks to encourage and

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facilitate departments in developing programmes of lifelong learning, and in delivering their research and expertise to the wider community. It is also developing and expanding its own programme of part-time degrees, diplomas and certificates, short courses, day schools and study visits, and social, cultural and artistic events. Student enrolments to the Institute exceed 4000 per year. The Leicester Institute of Lifelong Learning (LILL) aims to work closely with partners in the region, including further education colleges, private companies, public-sector organisations and voluntary bodies, to meet their education and training needs and to disseminate research findings. In order to meet increased demands to match expertise and knowledge with the requirements of individuals and employers, our lifelong learning programme needs to be accessible, flexible, versatile and innovative.

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Part One: Registering and Getting Started Registration It is vitally important that you register at the start of each academic year (or on the twelve month anniversary of your previous registration date if you started your course part-way through the academic year). This is a requirement for all students. Students who fail to register within the first week of term without having sought prior permission or without evidence of special circumstances will be charged a late registration fee of £75.00. Students who have not registered by the end of the second week of the Autumn Term will be regarded as having withdrawn from their course. Computer Accounts As part of your registration you will have created a University Computer User (CFS) account. This will give you access to the University‘s online resources including a University Email Account, a ‗My Documents‘ storage area, Blackboard (virtual learning environment) and other online learning resources which you can access via the University Website using your CFS username and password. Your username will consist of your initials and a number. If you forget this your Course Administrator will be able to remind you of it. You will have set the password yourself along with a security question. You will be advised to choose a ‗strong password‘, one which includes unusual characters and a mixture of numbers and letters. If you forget your password, type this web address in to your web browser to access the password reset facility: https://wads.le.ac.uk/cc/ResetApp/pwd_home_page.html You will need your cfs username, your student number (9 digit), which can be found on your student library card, your date of birth and the answer to your security question, which you will be prompted for. All of these facilities can be accessed from the University‘s Homepage: www.le.ac.uk The important links are ―Remote Access To‖ and ―Current Students‖. Click on them and have a look round. You will sometimes be prompted to log in. If so, just use your cfs username and password. In the event of any problems please contact your Course Administrator in the first instance. For more technical queries please contact LILL‘s Technical and Information Officer, John Tompkins, (jet13@le.ac.uk) or the University‘s IT Help Desk (ithelp@le.ac.uk). The Institute of Lifelong Learning (LILL) web-site The address for the Institute website is: www.le.ac.uk/lifelonglearning/

On the LILL website you will find more information about the department and its staff, along with information about other courses that are available. You will also find a section called

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‗Student Support Area‘ (accessed from the left-hand side of the Homepage) through which you will be able to access information about study skills and University services and facilities.

University Library Card At registration each student will receive a University membership card. This card must be carried at all times and produced on request for inspection by any member of the University staff or any official of the Students' Union. If it is lost, a replacement, for which a charge of £6 will be made, must be obtained through the Registry. LILL Contact Details Details of all LILL‘s contracted staff (full- and part-time) can be found at: http://www2.le.ac.uk/departments/lifelong-learning/people The list of staff does not, however, include all Course Directors or Module Tutors. These contact details should be provided in Course Handbooks. The Course Handbook will make clear the best channels of communication on your course. If, however, you are in any doubt, contact your Course Administrator first. Three staff with particular roles across the whole of the Institute, with whom you may have direct contact at some point in your studies are: Halina McDowell (Equal Opportunities Officer) htf1@le.ac.uk Angela Cantrill (AccessAbility contact - Leicester) acc13@le.ac.uk Paul Adams (AccessAbility contact - Northampton) pa43@le.ac.uk Louise Taylor (Finance Officer) lm40@le.ac.uk University-Student Communication Please note that we require students to give their Course Administrator immediate notification, in writing (e-mail is acceptable), of any change in their contact details.

Students should also contact their Course Administrator or teaching centre if they are likely to be absent from teaching sessions/tutorials due to ill health or for any other reason.

Students are registered on LILL courses on the understanding that they can arrange frequent and regular access to the internet, whether this be from one of the University‘s teaching centres and/or the University‘s libraries, or from home, work, or other local facilities such as a local authority library or internet cafe. Communication between course tutors and students will often be carried out over e-mail. Students will also need to use the internet in order to access the University Library's electronic resources. On many courses, students will also require internet access in order to submit assessed assignments. The University will from time to time wish to communicate official information to students electronically via their individual CFS email accounts. It is therefore the responsibility of all students to activate and regularly access their CFS email accounts, as any communication sent by this method will be deemed to have been received. It is possible, should students so

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wish, to set up a divert from their CFS account to a personal account. Instructions for doing this are included elsewhere in this handbook.

Information may also be conveyed to students via files placed on a course‘s Blackboard site (see further under ‗Blackboard‘ in this Handbook).

Handling procedures and paperwork (dealing with ‘the system’!) For those new to Higher Education, or returning to study after some time, the nature and scale of the paperwork or electronic communication needed to ‗get going‘ may seem complex or overwhelming at first. It is crucial, if things do seem too much, that you seek help at the earliest point possible. Your Course Administrator is there as the first port-of-call for any administrative difficulties. Some Administrators work part-time. But even if you cannot reach your own Administrator on the day you need help, you will be contacted when possible, or – if the matter is urgent – other available staff will always do their best to help. If you do experience difficulties, please do not let your frustrations continue to a point where you think the whole world is against you! Seek help.

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Part Two: General Information (...which you’ll need regularly)

The Structure of Courses: Modules and Credits Most Institute of Lifelong Learning students are on award-bearing programmes. In other words, you are studying on a programme which leads to a qualification. Award-bearing programmes are modular in structure. Within the modular system, a certain number of credits are awarded for each successfully completed module. 120 credits at (Higher Education) HE Level 1/ Level 4 in the Framework for Higher Education Qualifications leads to a Certificate of Higher Education A further 120 credits (at HE Level 2/FHEQ Level 5) leads to a Diploma of Higher Education A Foundation Degree also comprises 240 credits (120 credits at HE Level 1/FHEQ Level 4, and 120 credits at HE Level 2/FHEQ Level 5), with the emphasis of many of the modules being on practice. The successful award of 360 credits (including a further 120 credits at HE Level 3/FHEQ Level 6) results in the award of a Bachelor‘s degree. As a general rule, for face-to-face modules, each 10-credit module consists of fifteen teaching contact hours plus sixty private study hours, including time for completion of the relevant assessment. At Postgraduate Level, a Postgraduate Certificate comprises 60-credits at HE Level 4/FHEQ Level 7, a Postgraduate Diploma 120 credits, and a Masters award 180 credits (the final 60 credits usually comprising a dissertation). University Regulations The University‘s General Regulations for undergraduate and postgraduate programmes, from which many of the indented paragraphs contained in this Handbook are taken, can be found at the Academic Office website at: http://www.le.ac.uk/academic/Regs/index.html Hard copies are available for consultation at Vaughan College, at the Institute of Lifelong Learning offices at 128 Regent Road and on the main University campus at the Main Library, the Education Unit, the Students‘ Union, and the Admissions Office. Where there is any dispute about a regulation or interpretation of a regulation or guideline, LILL must refer to the University‘s Academic and Research Services for guidance or for a ruling.

Please note that the Student Charter, the Student Code of Social Responsibility, and a core extract from the Race Equality Policy are included as Annexes B-D of the University Regulations (pp94-104). You are encouraged to familiarize yourself with these documents. The first two both affirm that, ‗Students and staff of the University are members of a single community, working in partnership within available resources to provide a research and learning environment in which all members are given the opportunity to realise their full potential‘.

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The Student Charter states: Students are expected to: • seek such study support as is necessary for their programme of study • familiarise themselves with the information provided to them by the University and by their department • accept responsibility for pursuing their studies diligently • comply with University regulations and procedures • meet University and departmental deadlines • keep appointments with University staff • refer problems promptly to their academic/personal tutors • manage their time sensibly, giving priority when necessary to their academic work • understand that academic staff have research and administrative responsibilities which may sometimes limit their availability • observe such health and safety regulations as are currently in force • use University facilities with care and consideration for others

Attendance You are expected to attend all scheduled teaching sessions and attendance is monitored through a register. If you miss more than one session of any module, you run the risk of not understanding the subject matter. If you are unable to attend at any time, you must advise the Course Director or Administrator and your apologies will be forwarded to the relevant tutor. In special circumstances, absences may be authorised in advance by the Course Director. As the regulations state:

Attendance is an essential requirement for all programmes of study, full or part-time...and all students are normally required to attend such lectures, seminars, practicals and other formal classes as are specified in their course timetables or departmental handbooks. Departments are empowered to authorise short absences for personal reasons, but requests for absences of more than one week must be explicitly approved by the University, and will only be granted if the department is in agreement with the proposal, and if the student concerned takes full responsibility for the completion of outstanding academic work. This procedure also applies if the absence is required for religious reasons...

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Illness/Notification of Ill Health Students who suffer a minor illness for a period of less than seven days are required to report this to their departments: (a) if the illness leads to absence from classes at which attendance is compulsory; (b) where it might be a contributory factor in a failure to meet course deadlines or to perform up to expectations in any academic assignment. At LILL‘s teaching centres, therefore, students must ring in on the first day of sickness. Apologies for absence are then passed on to tutors. Where the illness is of more than seven days‘ duration or is of a non-minor nature, medical advice should be sought and a medical certificate (doctor‘s note) provided. This should be forwarded to the Course Administrator, who can then notify the Course Director. Students should be in contact with module tutors (and, as appropriate, Course Directors) by e-mail concerning the practical consequences of any absences. Teaching and Learning In universities, there are as many styles of teaching as there are teachers, and this should be seen as a strength because of the variety it entails and because it is difficult to be prescriptive about a mode of education which is based on individual judgement and group interaction. ‗Group interaction‘ is also quite different in the cases of face-to-face education and distance learning. In face-to-face teaching, some teachers prefer to teach mainly by lecture and question, some quite informally by open discussion and guidance, while others adopt a position somewhere in the range between. In many LILL courses teaching tends towards the more informal end of the spectrum and most sessions are taught in the style of a seminar where open discussion is encouraged – although many sessions may also contain elements of lecture-style delivery. Whichever teaching mode is adopted, however, it is important that you adapt your mode of learning accordingly so that you make the most of each module and of the particular strengths of each tutor. Don't be unduly deferential to tutors. Their job is to teach you the subject, to impart and to enable you to learn, the essential knowledge, skills and critical practices relating to your discipline of study, be that primarily literacy, numeracy, reasoning, logic, inter-personal skills, self-understanding or self-expression. If you feel this is not happening in the way you could reasonably expect it to happen, then you must say so. Remember, teaching can be an isolated activity. It is not always possible for the teacher to know how a class, or an individual‘s learning, is proceeding unless students offer their opinions. All LILL tutors ask from you is what you can ask of us - courtesy and respect. It goes without saying that seminar discussions or discussion boards can only happen if students have prepared themselves and are ready to participate in a mutually supportive and constructive manner. Use the seminars and on-line facilities (as appropriate to your course) to your own advantage. Listen and read, and take notes on what you find relevant. Don't take notes without listening to or reading what is relevant, or what is made relevant, to you. If you do, you might find yourself with a heap of paper, but no understanding. The Course Director is always available to offer general help and advice, but it is the course tutors who command your learning at the most important level, in the classroom/on-line.

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As the University‘s Student Charter states: The University is committed to providing the best teaching and learning experience for its students within the resources available. The University will: • offer teaching programmes which benefit from the research environment in which they are offered and which encourage the development of critical thought and the ability to evaluate and communicate information • have in place modular taught courses which are designed to regulate workload and encourage periodic feedback on performance • take account, as appropriate, of the needs of employers and professional bodies • through the design of its courses, encourage the acquisition of transferable skills to enhance employment prospects, taking into account the range of careers entered into by its students • have in place a Staff Development Programme which provides development and training activities related to teaching and learning, in which staff are strongly encouraged to participate • promote the use of learning and teaching methods which are appropriate to the subject matter and to students' needs Students are expected to: • take full advantage of the opportunities provided for intellectual development and the acquisition of knowledge

Blackboard ‗Blackboard‘ is a Virtual Learning Environment (VLE). It supports on-line learning and teaching and is used extensively in Distance Learning Programmes. It also supports face-to-face courses. Once you are enrolled on the Blackboard site for your course then you will benefit from a range of features. These could include:

Electronic versions of course-related materials, allowing you to easily search and retrieve key information needed for assignments;

Searchable on-line versions of the course handbook, module guides and University regulations;

Links to recent publications and on-line resources relevant to your studies;

Links to the library;

Links to relevant internet sites.

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Many courses also use Blackboard for on-line discussions between students, and for electronic submission of coursework. Course Handbooks will clearly identify how Blackboard will be used within specific courses, and within individual modules.

Progression The progression of each student (from one year to the next, or from one level to the next) is considered at each Board of Examiners. To enable progression to occur, it is essential that completion of all assessable work is kept up to date and that all fees due are paid. Neglect of Academic Obligations

The nature of students‘ academic obligations (for example, attendance at lectures and classes, performance of practical and written work, etc.,) varies from programme to programme and from department to department. If students are in doubt about their obligations, they should without delay consult their Course Director, Personal Tutor or Programme Director. Students may be reported to the University for serious neglect of their academic obligations. In such cases, the Head of Department (or other appropriate person) will notify the students in writing of the alleged neglect and invite them to make representations in writing and/or through their Personal Tutor. The University may decide for undergraduate students: (a) to take no action; or (b) to issue a formal warning that the students will need to use their best efforts if they are to be successful in their examinations; or (c) to issue a formal warning that the University: (i) may not allow the students to resit any examinations that they may fail during the session; or (ii) will not allow the students to resit any examinations that they may fail during the session other than in the most exceptional circumstances; (d) to recommend that the students‘ courses be terminated. The University may decide for taught postgraduate students: (a) to take no action; or Regulations Concerning Undergraduate and Postgraduate Taught Students (b) to issue a formal warning that if the students continue to neglect their academic obligations their registration will or may be terminated; or (c) to recommend that the student‘s course be terminated Students will be informed of the University‘s decision in writing.

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Fees and Finance

Policy on Payment of Fees and Refunds

Students become liable for the full module or sessional fee when they register. Students who are eligible to apply for support under the Government‘s student support arrangements must produce evidence of their award before or at the time of registration. Other sponsored and self-financing students are required to provide adequate proof of their ability to pay the tuition fees for the course in the form of a financial guarantee.

The registration of students who fail to pay tuition fees by the due date will be suspended. Students will not be allowed to attend classes.

Students on courses of one or more years‘ duration, may, as a privilege, pay University fees in three termly instalments as follows: the first instalment before or at registration, and the second and final instalments within the first seven days of each term.

If the term’s fee is not paid within seven days of the start of each term, this privilege is forfeited, and students will become immediately liable to pay the whole tuition fee for the year, without further delay.

Fees are not returnable. The fees payable by occasional students depend on the period of attendance and the courses taken. The registration of students who fail to pay tuition fees within fourteen days of the issue of the invoice will be suspended.

If enrolling by post, please include some proof of entitlement to benefit (e.g., a photocopy).

It is also possible to pay course fees of over £20 by credit or debit card. Precise instructions will be given when you enrol by post or telephone.

Award of Degrees, Diplomas or Certificates Ordinance IV(8) provides that "No person shall be admitted to a Degree or granted a Degree or Diploma or Certificate unless he has paid the fees prescribed and any other sums due to the University". This Ordinance may be enforced in respect of the non-payment of approved fees, fines imposed in accordance with Library regulations, accounts rendered by the University Bookshop and any other sums due to the University. Cancellations and Refunds The University reserves the right to cancel courses prior to commencement and to move the location of courses without notice should the need arise. Courses are subject to minimum student enrolment.

If a course is cancelled or withdrawn by the University prior to commencement, your fees will be refunded in full.

If you withdraw from a course at least 14 days before the first meeting, and notify us in writing, your fees may be refunded and an administration charge levied.

Once a course has begun, refunds can only be made in exceptional circumstances, when an administrative charge may be levied. Requests for such refunds should be made in writing to the Institute Manager, outlining the circumstances. Exceptional

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circumstances might include serious illness or a necessary move to another part of the country, but will NOT include failure to complete the course successfully. Even in these exceptional circumstances refunds will only be given for whole terms following receipt of the written request.

Teaching staff will be required to exclude students from classes when fees are outstanding.

Financial Advice For receipt of financial advice, note this paragraph from the Student Welfare Service section later in this Handbook.

Financial advice is offered, with information on budgeting and DSS benefits. Students can apply for hardship grants and loans through the Service; Welfare staff can assist with applications to charities and trusts.

Personal Tutor Arrangements

The University‘s Guidelines on the University’s Personal Tutor System declare that, ‗Each department must have in place systems for supporting students in relation to: Regular pastoral care, Personal development planning, Crisis support.‘ The full Guidelines can be found at: http://www.le.ac.uk/ua/ac/quality/guidelines/cotlptut.pdf As these Guidelines are written primarily for full-time courses based at the main University campus, they have needed to be adapted for LILL use. The adapted version, as agreed by the LILL Academic Committee during 2009, can be found as Appendix ??. You will be made aware of the specific personal tutor arrangements for your course in your Course Handbook. Student Representation In keeping with University procedures, all LILL programmes are required to demonstrate how consultation with students occurs, through the existence of some form of structured student representation. This ensures that student feedback is taken into account in the running and development of a course. The University guidelines for the running of Student/Staff Committees can be found at: http://www.le.ac.uk/ua/ac/quality/guidelines/cotlssc.pdf Many LILL programmes find it difficult to set up student/staff committees in the manner proposed for full-time courses. This is due to the time-, employment- or domestic demands on part-time learners, who are often not in a position to come to extra meetings. Nevertheless, all LILL courses are required to show how student feedback may be given, and the structures which exist for this purpose will be clearly indicated clearly in your Course Handbook. In addition to standard means of students‘ providing feedback (written or oral) to individual modules, this may further comprise/include:

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Holding an open end-of-year forum to which all students on a programme are invited

Using a short time at the end of the final module of the year for reflection on the year as a whole (notes of which are taken both by a representative student and the tutor present for forwarding to the Course Director)

Inviting any students who wish (or representative students chosen by a year-group/cohort/programme) to attend a final/separate section of a Tutors‘ Meeting/Board of Studies/Board of Examiners

It is a Course Director‘s responsibility to ensure that such consultation happens in some form. Student Evaluation of Courses/Modules Feedback is invited on courses and on individual modules on a regular basis across LILL courses. When formal course or module evaluation is requested in the form of questionnaires, it is expected that students will complete these to enable the Institute to continue to develop its courses appropriately. A standard LILL module evaluation form is available (see Appendices), though individual courses may seek feedback in different ways. Students should feel free to offer feedback, positive and negative, on any aspect of the course at any stage, and are invited to send written comments to the Course Director.

Assessable Work/Assignments A range of guidelines and regulations exist with respect to the submission of assessable work. This section draws attention to these, whilst also providing practical tips for approaching assessable work. Remembering the Level

It is vital to remember the academic level at which you are studying (see ‗The Structure of Courses: Modules and Credits’ above). Further information about what the levels mean (in terms of the scale of knowledge and types of skills expected) can be found at: http://www.qaa.ac.uk/academicinfrastructure/FHEQ/EWNI08/FHEQ08.pdf (especially pp14-20 for undergraduate awards, and pp20-25 for postgraduate awards). This link leads you to the nationally agreed understandings of what each of the Higher Education levels entails. Submission of Assessable Work

All assignments should be submitted by the specified submission date. The specific means of submission will be made clear in your Course Handbook. Some courses use electronic submission. Others require hard copy submission.

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When hard copies are required, work can usually be posted but it is your responsibility to ensure that the work actually arrives safely and on time. If you do not hand your work in personally, you may wish to ensure its safe arrival, and cover yourself by sending an e-copy to a Course Administrator to prove its completion. ‗Got lost in the post‘ is not an acceptable reason for failing to meet a deadline. All work should normally be word-processed or typed and must be accompanied by a front cover sheet (‗Essay Tracking Record‘) which can be obtained from your teaching centre (if you are on a taught course), downloaded from the Student Support area of the LILL website, or, in the case of most courses, from the relevant course Blackboard site. A sample form is attached as Appendix ?? in this handbook and, as you will see, this contains a tear-off section to serve as a receipt. Deadlines for many of the assignments for an entire academic year may well be notified in the course handbook at the start of the year and you should plan your work for each module accordingly to ensure that all deadlines are met. The deadlines are there to ensure fairness to all students and to assist in the efficient management of the course. Just as importantly, they are also there to help you manage your studies effectively and to prevent you from falling behind. Studying for an award in Higher Education is not simply about ‗learning a subject‘ but also developing transferable skills. Managing time and managing yourself as you complete necessary tasks is a key aspect of what you do. Word Length Individual courses will make clear whether penalties exist for being under or over the set word length for a written piece of work, and how such penalties will be calculated and applied. Paying attention to the marking scheme It is vital that you make yourself fully aware of the marking scheme (‗scheme of assessment‘) according to which your submitted work will be assessed. Familiarity with the scheme of assessment is helpful not only when you receive your work back – when you can check ‗how you did‘ (‗why did I get that mark, and not a higher or lower grade/mark?‘ The marking scheme will help you understand your mark.) It is also useful to look at the marking scheme before you undertake work. The different ranges of marks/grading bands show you what is expected at each group of points on the marking scale. The more you engage critically with the material presented in the course, and with material you have discovered for yourself, and the more you present your ideas in a well-structured and well-ordered way, the higher your mark will be. The Undergraduate Examination Conventions and Scheme of Assessment can be found as Appendix IV of the Code of Practice on Examining Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate Programmes at: http://www.le.ac.uk/academic/quality/Codes/examining/examining-code.pdf (see pp. 41-46). For ease, the assessment criteria at module level are reproduced in the Appendices of this document. All LILL schemes of assessment are based on these criteria. Where no additional specific marking schemes are provided in course handbooks, it is these criteria which are followed by markers.

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The Postgraduate Assessment Conventions, Classifications and Schemes of Assessment is Appendix V in the same document (pp.47-49). Respecting deadlines Deadlines for submission will be clearly declared in the Course Handbook, or in other documentation provided with respect to modules being studied. It is important that these are met, or that a formal request has been made (using an appropriate form) to receive permission for the submission deadline to be extended. Extensions All requests for extensions to submission dates for assessed work must be made on a standard form before the original deadline expires. Extension request forms are available from the Course Administrator (and/or the teaching centre), or may be downloaded from the Area for Current Students of the LILL website. A sample form is attached as an appendix to this handbook. Distance Learning courses will make clear in their Course Handbooks the procedures for requesting extensions. If an extension is granted, confirmation (via letter or the appropriate part of the extension form) will be sent to indicate the new submission date. There may be a delay in your work being marked, as special arrangements will need to be made for assignments subject to an extension. Penalties for late assignments Course Handbooks will make clear the penalties which will be imposed upon late assignments, if any. When Course Handbooks do not indicate alternative arrangements, and when no specific penalties are indicated, there is a common scale of penalties for all University of Leicester programmes, and which many of LILL‘s course opt to apply. A penalty of 10% of the available marks for a piece of work is imposed upon the expiry of the deadline. A penalty of 5% of the available marks will then be imposed on each of the ten subsequent working days. (‗Available marks‘ in this context means the maximum marks available for the piece of work—for most essays this will be 100. ‗Working day‘ in this context means a period of twenty four hours or part thereof from Monday to Friday inclusive.) Where a penalty has been imposed, it will be clearly identified as such in the final adjusted mark. Mitigating Circumstances The general regulation governing the submission of evidence of mitigating circumstances is set out below.

It is the responsibility of students to inform their department(s) of any matters (whether of an academic, personal, medical or other nature) which may be relevant to their academic performance, and to supply substantiating evidence, for example, a medical certificate. Such information should be submitted before the expiry of any departmental deadlines governing the submission of evidence of special circumstances. If no such deadlines exist, the evidence must be submitted as soon as it is available, and in any event before the meeting of the relevant board of examiners is due to take place.

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Appeals against degree classification and appeals against termination of course may be disallowed if the appeal is based on mitigating circumstances which the appeals panel believes should have been communicated earlier to the department concerned.

Academic Integrity and Plagiarism

On all LILL courses, teaching, on-line material and personal research are intended to lead to understanding of the subject matter of the course and the promotion of informed, independent thought. Assessable work is set to promote and evaluate such understanding. Respect for the work of others and the potential of all students and scholars to contribute to a discipline are fundamental to the tradition of University education. It is very important that written work is presented and referenced in such a way that the reader can clearly judge the relative contributions of different sources and the research and thought of the author. The unreferenced copying of text or ideas constitutes plagiarism. To guard against this, please note:

All quotations should be fully referenced following the guidelines given in your study skills modules and/or by individual module tutors

All case studies, theories and ideas taken from other sources should be acknowledged

The reader should always be able to judge whether an argument is your own or has been derived from another source

Good working methods can ensure you do not commit plagiarism:

Make sure you have enough time to complete your work (the temptation to plagiarise can come when panic sets in – leave time to synthesise, organise and form judgements on your thoughts)

Make clear notes (always distinguish between an author‘s words and thoughts and your own responses)

Keep track of the sources you have used (always take down the details of books and compile a Bibliography, annotating your notes so you can find the relevant source or page easily)

NEVER cut and paste material from the internet into the text of an essay (treat electronic material like a published source – read and make notes/or print out and annotate, much as you would do with a photocopy from a book – and, if anything, be even more cautious and critical with internet sources than with books).

Value your own skills and opinions – remember that the tutor wants to see your work. A University statement on academic honesty is reproduced below.

As you read through University Regulations, you will note that there is a specific regulation about academic honesty. This describes the penalties which apply when students cheat in written examinations or present someone else‘s material for assessment as if it were their own (this is called plagiarism). Very few students indeed commit such offences, but the University believes that it is important that all students understand why academic honesty is a matter of such concern to the University, and why such severe penalties are imposed.

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Universities are places of learning in two senses. For students on taught courses, learning takes place through listening and talking to academic staff, discussion with peers, reading primary and secondary texts, researching topics for dissertations and project work, undertaking scientific experiments under supervision and so on. For Ph.D. students and academic staff, learning takes the form of original research, where the outcome will be a contribution to the sum of human knowledge. At whatever level this learning takes place, however, a common factor is the search for truth, and this is why an over-riding concern for intellectual honesty pervades all the University‘s activities, including the means by which it assesses students‘ abilities. Throughout your time at the University you will legitimately gather information from many sources, but when you present yourself for any examination or assessment, you are asking the markers to judge what you have made as an individual of the studies you have undertaken. This judgement will then be carried forward into the outside world as a means of telling future employers, other universities, financial sponsors, and others who have an interest in your capabilities that you have undertaken the academic work required of you by course regulations, that you are capable of performing at a certain intellectual level, and that you have the skills and attributes consistent with your range of marks and the level of your award. If you use dishonest means with the aim of presenting a better academic picture of yourself than you deserve, you are engaging in a falsehood which may have the severest repercussions. If you are discovered, which is the most likely outcome, the penalties are severe. If by some chance you are not discovered, you will spend the rest of your life failing to measure up to the academic promise indicated by your degree results and other people‘s expectations of your abilities. Cheating in written examinations The University assumes that students know without being told that this is dishonest, and it therefore applies strict penalties in all written examinations at all levels. Any student found copying from another student, talking in an examination, or in possession of unauthorised material, is reported by the invigilator to the Examinations Officer, who refers the matter to the Registrar. The standard penalty is for a mark of zero to be given to the module concerned, but in some circumstances, particularly in the case of a repeat offence, the penalty could be permanent exclusion from the University. The risks associated with cheating are enormous. The simple advice is: Don‘t do it. Collaboration Many modules offer students the opportunity to work together in pairs or teams. Care should be taken to read departmental guidelines on how such modules are to be assessed. If a joint or collaborative report is requested, the team can work together right up to the point of submission. In such circumstances, individuals may be asked to indicate the sections of the report they contributed to, or the assessment may be of the group itself, or there may be an additional form of assessment, such as presentation session, which allows for individualised grading. A more common arrangement is where the collaborative investigation of a topic is followed by the submission of a report from each team member, where each report is independently produced. Similarly, work undertaken on computers or at the laboratory

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bench may be jointly undertaken with other students, but the outcome for assessment purposes is still meant to reveal the intellectual abilities of the individual students, and therefore has to be prepared by that student without the assistance of others. If you do not understand what is required of you, ask the module convenor or another academic tutor, or your personal tutor. Do not guess. Plagiarism Plagiarism is to take the work of another person and use it as if it were one‘s own in such a way as to mislead the reader. Whole pieces of work can be plagiarised (for example, if a student put his or her name on another student‘s essay), or part pieces, where chapters or extracts may be lifted from other sources, including the Internet, without acknowledgement. Sometimes plagiarism happens inadvertently, where students fail to read instructions about or do not understand the rules governing the presentation of work which require sources to be acknowledged. In such cases, the problem is usually identified very early in the course and can be put right through discussion with academic tutors. Deliberate attempts to mislead the examiners, however, are regarded as cheating and are treated very severely by Boards of Examiners. Any plagiarism in assessments which contribute to the final degree classification are likely to lead, at the very least, to the down-grading of the degree class by one division or, at Master‘s degree level, to a down-grading of the award to Diploma level. In the worst cases, expulsion from the University is a possibility. The severity of the penalties imposed for plagiarism stems from the University‘s view that learning is a search for truth and that falsehood and deception have no place in this search. The emphasis placed on avoiding plagiarism sometimes worries students, who believe that they will find it impossible to avoid using someone else‘s thoughts when they spend all their time reading critical works, commentaries and other secondary sources and are required to show in their work that they have studied such material. Sometimes problems arise from poor working practices, where students muddle up their own notes with extracts or notes taken from published sources. In the light of all that has been said above, the question you should ask yourself about any piece of academic work are ‗Will the marker be able to distinguish between my own ideas and those I have obtained from others?‘ What markers fundamentally want to see is that students have read widely round the subject, that the sources used have been acknowledged, and that the conclusions which arise from the study are the student‘s own. The University has issued a code of practice on plagiarism to departments which includes guidance on the best ways of assisting students in the early part of their studies. This is in order to instil in them the sort of good learning habits which will help to guard against the dangers of academic dishonesty. If you are in any doubt about what constitutes good practice, read through departmental guidelines carefully and then if necessary ask your personal or academic tutors for further advice. Check the Student Development website for guidance on how to avoid plagiarism (http://www.le.ac.uk/studentdevelopment) or make an appointment for individual advice.

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Two leaflets, ‗Avoiding Plagiarism‘ and ‗Referencing and Bibliographies‘, are available from Vaughan College, from the Student Learning Centre Website (www.le.ac.uk/slc) in the Study Skills section, and also from the Student Development Zone on the 2nd floor of the David Wilson Library. An interactive tutorial on how to avoid plagiarism, 'Don't Cheat Yourself' is available at: http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ssds/sd/ld/resources/study/plagiarism-tutorial The University‘s Code of Practice on Plagiarism, which sets out in detail the University‘s approach to this topic, including the penalties applied when plagiarism is discovered, can be found as pp29-34 of the Code of Practice on Examining Undergraduate and Taught Postgraduate Programmes on the Academic Office website at: http://www.le.ac.uk/academic/quality/Codes/examining/UGExamsCode.pdf As an example, the table below lists the penalties for cases of plagiarism at undergraduate level: First offence: Failure of the module, resit allowed, severe written warning Second and third offences: A mark of 0 for the module.

Resubmission required for the purposes of progression Possible downgrading of degree class if the offences are for modules which contribute to the final classification, and if the normal application of the standard scheme of assessment incorporating marks of 0 does not automatically lead to a downgrading. In applying this penalty, Boards of Examiners will have due regard to the significance of the plagiarised work in the overall scheme of assessment.

Fourth offence or multiple* simultaneous offences after the second offence: Termination of course [*In this context ‗multiple‘ means plagiarism in more than one separate module and plagiarism applying to double modules of 30 or 40 credits]. Other Forms of Academic Misconduct In addition to Plagiarism and Collaboration, the following actions also constitute academic misconduct, and will be penalised if detected:

Personation: falsely pretending to be someone else in order to gain academic credit, either on behalf of yourself or another.

Duplication: submitting the same work twice for academic credit. This includes work

for which credit has already been awarded by another course, at the University of Leicester or elsewhere.

Fabrication: making untruthful statements in order to obtain credit. For example,

falsifying the word count on an assignment, or fabricating false references.

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Return of work from staff The following statement can be found in the LILL Handbook for Tutors:

As a general rule, for taught courses, returned (moderated/second-marked) work should be returned to students within six weeks at the maximum. It is recommended, especially for Certificate courses, that a return time of 3-5 weeks be aimed for. (The shorter time enables students to make greater use of the feedback received.) Distance Learning programmes may in some cases have longer return times, but these should still be clear and clearly communicated.

In the same way that the (domestic, health and employment) demands on part-time students can lead to higher than average requests for extensions (and cause complications with marking schedules), so also demands on LILL‘s many part-time tutors can complicate the plans made for return times. Students can, however, be assured that all Course Directors will endeavour to meet the declared target return times.

Course Completion and Classification of Award The scheme of degree classification in operation at the University of Leicester can be found at: http://www.le.ac.uk/academic/quality/Codes/examining/NewClassificationScheme.pdf This document also indicates how borderline cases are handled. Guidelines on Undergraduate Progression and Completion are to be found at: http://www.le.ac.uk/academic/quality/Codes/examining/progression-guidelines-2010.pdf These are followed directly when possible and adapted where necessary (e.g. for awards lower than degree level). For undergraduate Bachelor‘s degrees, the University classification bands apply, as follows: 1st-class honours 70%+ Upper second-class honours, or 2.i 60-69% Lower second-class honours, or 2.ii 50-59% Third-class honours 40-49% Pass 35-39% Fail Under 35% For Undergraduate Certificates and Foundation Degrees, the following bands apply: A Pass will be awarded for a mark of 40% - 59% A Merit will be awarded for a mark of 60%-69% A Distinction for 70% or more Details of postgraduate classifications are to be found at: http://www.le.ac.uk/academic/quality/Codes/examining/examining-code.pdf (pp47-49).

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Part Three: Facilities and Resources I.T. Support Here is the general University statement about I.T. services.

Support for the University’s central computing services is provided by staff in IT Services. The computing service used by most students is referred to as the CFS service and it makes use of Microsoft’s Windows operating system to provide access to the Microsoft Office suite of programmes and other software that will help you with your studies. Computer Accounts: When you complete your online University registration you will be issued with an email address and a username for accessing the CFS service. The University Website: Staff in IT Services manage the systems that provide information on the University Website. The CFS service has Internet Explorer and when a student runs this browser on campus the University’s internal home page for students is displayed. Content is mainly provided by University staff and many departments will use this service to disseminate information. Regulations of Use: Students must abide by Senate’s Regulations Concerning the Use of Computing Services. These regulations, which are available on the University website, state that ‘The staff of the University will at all times have authority to maintain good order in the use of the University's computing facilities and may suspend or exclude from their use any person who breaks these Regulations.’ Access to Computers: Most of our teaching buildings have Student PC Areas where there are PCs you can use and some of these rooms have overnight and week-end access. There are also several Student PC Areas in the David Wilson Library. NOTE: The University expects students to use the PCs in Student PC Areas for legitimate academic purposes only and with consideration for others’ needs. Resources Protected by Athens: The University subscribes to a number of database services which are protected by Athens. To obtain access to these resources you must use your CFS username. NOTE: Support for these external services is provided by staff in the David Wilson Library. Remote Access to University Email: You can use the Outlook Web Access service to obtain secure access to your University email from anywhere in the world. A web browser is required and the address for this service is http://webmail.le.ac.uk/ NOTE: Your CFS username and password will be requested. Wireless Network Service: The Wireless Network service is freely available to all members of the University and provides Internet web browsing and access to your University email and filestore. You can also access Blackboard, the University's Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), and if registered you can obtain access to the ULTRA service which runs Linux. NOTE: Your laptop must be suitably configured to connect to the

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Wireless Network service. Halls of Residence Network: Facilities for internet access are available in all of the study rooms in University accommodation. This residential network, which is provided by a commercial ISP, can be used to access the University’s central computing services. Printing Facilities: Registered students may use the printers in our Student PC Areas. The costs of printing are automatically debited from your ‘Print and Copy’ account which is created when you register for a computer account. For more information about the printing facilities available please visit the IT Services website (see below). IT Support: If you are on campus and have an IT related problem or query you can visit the Help Zone in the David Wilson Library. This is a combined Library and IT Services one-stop-shop for help and support. You can also contact the IT Service Desk (email: ithelp@le.ac.uk or tel: 0116 252 2253) or your department may have computer support staff who can offer you help. ITS Website: For more information about the services and IT support available please visit the IT Services website at http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/itservices Contact Details IT Service Desk Open: Monday to Friday, 9:00 - 17:00 Tel: 0116-252-2253 Email: ithelp@le.ac.uk

John Tompkins, LILL‘s Technical and Information Officer (jet13@le.ac.uk), is also available to deal with any problems which arise. John has a number of briefing sheets dealing with common problems. Library Facilities Here is the general University statement about Library services for UNDERGRADUATES.

Using the University Library will make a key contribution to success in your studies.

Facilities: The Library comprises the award winning David Wilson Library on the main campus, the Clinical Sciences Library at Leicester Royal Infirmary, together with the Digital Library. The Library buildings offer inspirational, state-of-the-art services and facilities, comprising in total 1700 study spaces, over 370 student PCs and Wi-Fi throughout both buildings. The David Wilson Library also provides 13 group study rooms bookable only by students, and a Graduate School Reading Room exclusive to postgraduate students. Opening hours are generous; including 24/7 during the summer examination period. The Clinical Sciences Library is open 24/7 all year round.

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Entrance to the libraries requires a Student ID/University Library card which is issued as part of registration. To make full use of the library Catalogue you need a Library PIN, which is sent to your University of Leicester email address. For security reasons your card and PIN should not be shared with anyone.

The Library’s Collections The Library’s collections are significant with over 1 million books and journals. They are a supplement to the core texts which you will need to own. Visit the Library catalogue at https://library.le.ac.uk to search for books and printed journals. You can borrow and return books and journals using the self service machines in both Libraries. The number of items that you can borrow will depend on which course you are on, visit: www.le.ac.uk/li/services/borrowing.html for details. Normal loan books can be borrowed for up to four weeks, but may be recalled because another user wants the book. The original due date will be shortened and the book must be returned by the new date. Loans can be renewed using the Catalogue, email or telephone. Please renew on time to avoid a fine. Books in heavy demand are in the David Wilson Library Express Zone. Self-service photocopiers and printing are available at both libraries and all students have an electronic ‘Print & Copy Account’ which can be credited to pay for photocopying. Leicester Digital Library Visit www.le.ac.uk/li/digital for

Both on and off campus access to, 18,000 journals, databases and electronic books through the internet.

‘Subject Rooms’ which bring together the most important resources for your subject, - providing you with an ideal starting point.

Leicester e-link lists our electronic journals. You can also access the Digital Library from the mylibrary tab in Blackboard. Your CFS user name and password, which you get when you register, is needed to access the Digital Library off campus. For more details on accessing the digital library off campus, please visit http://www.le.ac.uk/li/digital/accessoffcampushelp.htm Support

Visit our home page at www.le.ac.uk/library for opening times, services, introductory vodcasts, online tutorials…

In the David Wilson Library visit the Help Zone on the ground floor for both Library and IT enquiries

The Help Team are there to offer advice; look out for their blue or purple shirts

Pick up one of our printed guides in the Library

Many departments organise introductory sessions to the Library during the first term

Email or phone our Enquiry Service (see contact details below)

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Ask the Information Librarian who specializes in your subject area (see website for details)

Distance Learners and part-time research students can use the Library’s Distance Learning Service, which offers additional help in obtaining material. Visit www.le.ac.uk/li/distance for details. Students with dyslexia and other specific learning difficulties, disabilities and long term conditions can make use of additional services and facilities. Visit www.le.ac.uk/li/disabilities for details. The Library welcomes feedback from students, and a comment form is available at www.le.ac.uk/library/about/comments.html or in the Libraries. Library Regulations and Charges The Library is a shared service for all members of the University and, as such, some rules need to be respected when using it. Please note that as a registered student Senate’s Library Regulations apply to you; these can be found at www.le.ac.uk/li/about/regulations.html. The Librarian, or any person nominated by the Librarian, can apply sanctions, or levy a fine on any user who breaks these regulations. Please visit: http://www.le.ac.uk/li/about/policies.html for current charges and other fees. Contact Details Web site: www.le.ac.uk/library David Wilson Library: Email: library@le.ac.uk Tel: (0116) 252 2043 Clinical Sciences Library: Email: clinlib@le.ac.uk Tel: (0116) 252 3104 We look forward to seeing you in the Library.

The text for POSTGRADUATE students reads as follows:

University Library The University Library is a significant research library. It comprises the David Wilson Library, an award winning building at the heart of the campus, and the specialist Clinical Sciences Library at the local hospital. The inspirational David Wilson Library building was opened by HM The Queen in April 2008. The building, contemporary in design, combines state-of-the-art technology with the strengths of a traditional research library and over 1,500 study places, with Wi-Fi available throughout. Opening hours are generous, including extended vacation opening to cater for postgraduate students. The Library provides access to over a million printed volumes and a wide range of electronic journals and information resources; using them

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effectively will make a key contribution to success in your studies. These resources supplement any core texts which you may need to own. Leicester Digital Library http://www.le.ac.uk/library/digital Leicester has significant electronic collections. We subscribe to over 18,000 electronic journals and an increasing number of electronic books. The majority of these resources are available off campus. David Wilson Library Graduate School Reading Room & Media Zoo The Graduate School Reading Room in the David Wilson Library is exclusive to postgraduates and University staff. It offers a variety of study spaces from silent study to informal space, and group study rooms that can be booked only by postgraduate students. The Graduate Media Zoo in the Graduate School Reading Room provides a ‘safe’ environment for you to learn about and experiment with the ‘technological wildlife’ available in Higher Education. The Media Zoo offers the opportunity to handle and see the potential of new devices such as eBook Readers, and take a tour around the 3D virtual world of Second Life. Support for distance learning and part-time research students The University Library places special emphasis on support for distance-learning and part-time research post-graduates who cannot always visit the Library in person. Services include postal loans for books and arranging access to local libraries. Special Collections The David Wilson Library includes the Kirby & West Special Collections suite. This state of the art facility houses many fine collections both medieval and modern. These resources can provide students with dissertation options. Specialist support for researching your subject area The Library has Information Librarians for each subject area. They may be contacted by email, phone or in person. You may find it particularly useful to contact them when beginning a piece of extended project work or dissertation. Using the Library Entrance to the libraries requires a Student ID/University Library card which is issued as part of registration. To make full use of the Library Catalogue you need a Library PIN, which is sent to your University of Leicester email address. For security reasons your card and PIN should not be shared with anyone. Your CFS username and password, which you get when you register, is needed to access the Digital Library off campus. For more details please visit http://www.le.ac.uk/li/digital/accessoffcampushelp.htm Library Regulations The Library is a shared service for all members of the University and, as such, some rules need to be respected when using it. Please note that as a registered student Senate’s Library Regulations apply to you; these can be found at www.le.ac.uk/li/about/regulations.html. The Librarian, or any

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person nominated by the Librarian, can apply sanctions, or levy a fine on any user who breaks these regulations. Please visit: http://www.le.ac.uk/li/about/policies.html for current charges and other fees. We look forward to seeing you in the Library. Contact Details Web site: www.le.ac.uk/library David Wilson Library: email: library@le.ac.uk Tel: (0116) 252 2043 Clinical Sciences Library: Email: clinlib@le.ac.uk Tel: (0116) 252 3104

LILL students also have access to Teaching Centre Libraries at Vaughan College and the Northampton Centre. For details of library access, see the ‗Teaching Centre‘ sections below. University of Leicester students can access other UK libraries, including other University libraries, via the SCONUL system. For more details, see www.access.sconul.ac.uk. Students can obtain an application form for SCONUL library access from their Course Administrator once they have a valid University of Leicester library card, or from one of the teaching centre libraries. Arrangements for postal access to resources by Distance Learning students will be made clear within individual courses. University Bookshop The following text is written mostly with full-time courses in mind. It may not be the case that ‗all prescribed and recommended texts‘ for LILL courses will be on the shelves when you go, though you are encouraged to use the University Bookshop as much as possible.

The Bookshop is owned and managed by the University. Established in 1958 the bookshop moved to new premises on the ground floor of the David Wilson Library in April 2008.

All prescribed and recommended texts are kept in stock, so that students can rely on the Bookshop to supply all the books that they are encouraged to buy in the course of their studies. A wide range of paperbacks and books of general interest are also kept in stock. Any book not in stock can be quickly provided to order.

Maps, greeting cards, and a wide range of stationery items are stocked as well as University of Leicester branded merchandise including an ever changing range of clothing.

The opening hours are as follows:

Monday to Friday 9.00 a.m. - 5.30 p.m. (during term-time) Monday to Friday 9.00 a.m. - 5.00 p.m. (during vacation) Saturday 9.00 a.m. - 12.30 p.m. (all year)

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The Bookshop is open to the general public as well as to all students. In addition to accepting payment in cash, by cheque, Visa, Mastercard and Maestro, there is a mechanism by which money may be deposited with the bookshop by parents or friends and later used to purchase books and stationery.

Contact details: Telephone: 0116 229 7440 E-mail: bookshop@le.ac.uk

Student Support and Development Service (SSDS) A summary of the services offered by the Student Support and Development Service (SSDS) and other service providers can be found in the SSDS leaflet Making Connections. This is available on-line at: http://www2.le.ac.uk/offices/ssds/about_us/making-connections?searchterm=making connections SSDS offers a holistic service to students, meeting needs in three major areas of student life: health and well-being, practical matters, and learning and career development. The sections that follow provide information on all these areas.

Learning and Career Development

Student Development Whether it‘s developing the skills you need to succeed on your course, or in your life beyond university, Student Development is here to support and facilitate your academic, professional and personal development. Visit the Student Development Zone in the David Wilson Library to access our extensive range of resources: we have over 50 different study guide titles and 20 career development guides, so whether it‘s writing better essays or building a CV, instant advice is available to take away. You can also access these resources from our website along with a range of online resources such as interactive study skills tutorials and videos on developing your career prospects. One-to-one advice is available via study consultations, research consultations, maths help and careers consultations. You can see our advisors face-to-face in the Student Development Zone or use our website to find out how to access our services remotely. Every term, we have a busy programme of interactive workshops covering a diverse range of topics. Our learning development titles range from avoiding plagiarism to improving your essay writing, to giving effective presentations. Career development titles cover all the essential areas such as CV writing, job searching, application forms and interview skills. Student Development provides lots of opportunities for you to develop your employability skills whilst at University. We maintain strong links with employers and advertise their vacancies and work experience opportunities through JOBSonline (on our website). We have a busy programme of

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employer-led events, from skills workshops to careers fairs, and we organise numerous opportunities for you to make the most of your time at University. Choose from a wide range of volunteering opportunities, work placement schemes and enterprise activities, or take an accredited programme and gain a Leicester Award in Employability skills. Research postgraduates are catered for with resources, events and training specific to their needs: from Starting your PhD workshops to University-wide events such as the Annual Festival of Postgraduate Research. To find out more about how Student Development can enhance your success at university and beyond, visit our website. Contact: Student Development, Student Development Zone, Second Floor, David Wilson Library Telephone: 0116 252 5090 Email: sdzhelpdesk@le.ac.uk Website: www.le.ac.uk/studentdevelopment

AccessAbility Centre The Centre offers a range of services to all University of Leicester students who have specific learning difficulties, such as dyslexia, disabilities or long-term conditions. Staff offer one-to-one support, assessment of dyslexia, the co-ordination of alternative examination arrangements and assistance with applications for the Disabled Students' Allowance. The open access Centre acts as a resource base for students and staff and is a relaxed place for students to work. Its computers are equipped with specialised software for speech output (essay planning software and basic speech output software are on the University wide CFS network). Low-level photocopying, printing and scanning facilities are also available. The Centre welcomes self-referrals as well as referrals from academic staff. Contact: AccessAbility Centre, AccessAbility Zone, David Wilson Library. Tel/minicom: 0116 252 5002, Fax: 0116 252 5513, Email: accessable@le.ac.uk, Website: http://www.le.ac.uk/accessability/

Practical matters

Student Welfare Service

The Student Welfare Centre offers wide ranging support for students. Practical advice and information is available on a wide range of issues. Financial advice is offered, with information on budgeting and DSS benefits. Students can apply for hardship grants and loans through the Service; Welfare staff can assist with applications to charities and trusts. For international students, the Student Welfare Service runs various Welcome programmes throughout the year. Information is provided on

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specific hardship funds, advice is given on immigration. Students are advised to renew their visas through the scheme provided by Student Welfare. The Service also co-ordinates HOST visits to British families and hospitality visits to local families in Leicester. International students with children may be eligible for help with childcare costs, which are claimed through the Service. Welfare Officers can provide materials on health-related issues including alcohol and drugs, meningitis, pregnancy testing, and sexual health. The Student Welfare Service co-ordinates pastoral care for students living in University residences; the Service recruits and trains the Sub-Wardens and Resident Advisors who provide this support. Postgraduate and mature students are invited to apply for these positions; information and application forms are available on the website. The Service also works closely with the local community to intervene in disputes with neighbours and to improve living conditions for those students who choose private rented accommodation. A legal advice clinic is held in conjunction with the School of Law. Contact: Student Welfare Service, 1st Floor Percy Gee Building. Telephone: 0116 223 1185 Fax: 0116 223 1196 Email: welfare@le.ac.uk Website: http://www.le.ac.uk/welfare

Counselling, Health and Wellbeing

Student Counselling Service

The Student Counselling Service provides free and confidential services to all students. Students seek out the Service for a variety of reasons, ranging from difficulties with adjusting to University life, or family/relationship concerns, to stress, depression, anxiety or related issues. Counselling services are short-term. While some students see a counsellor just once or twice, others may go and see them regularly over a period of several weeks. Students who are having difficulties are encouraged to talk them through with a counsellor. This can sometimes prevent them turning into major problems - so if in doubt, go and see them! Contact: Student Counselling Service, 161 Welford Road (behind the Freemen‘s Common Health Centre) Office hours: 10.00 a.m. to 8.00 p.m. Monday and Thursday; 10.00a.m. to 5.00p.m. Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday. Appointments can be made by telephone, email, or call in and speak to a receptionist in person. Telephone: 0116 223 1780. E-mail: counselling@le.ac.uk Website: http://www.le.ac.uk/counselling/

Student Support (mental wellbeing) This discreet and confidential service offers one-to-one support to students managing mental health issues at university. The aim of the service is to

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assist students to lessen the impact these might have on their studies. If required, the service can co-ordinate a network of support from those available both at the University and in the wider community. It will also, with the students‘ permission, liaise on their behalf with their Departments or other parts of the University. Students are welcome to make contact with the service at any point in their course. Pre-entry contact is also encouraged, from prospective students who wish to discuss any support they may require on course. An appointment to meet with an adviser can be made by telephone, letter or email. The service also provides advice and information to members of the university community who have general concerns about mental health issues. Contact: Student Support (mental wellbeing), 161 Welford Road (behind the Freemen‘s Common Health Centre) Telephone: 0116 252 2283 Email: mentalhealth@le.ac.uk Website: www.le.ac.uk/mentalhealth

Student Healthy Living Service

The Student Healthy Living Service strives to help students enjoy a balanced life; the service helps individuals to identify an approach to life which can improve their wellbeing, enhance study and reach their full potential. The service is committed to the delivery of health and wellbeing activities that support students in developing life skills. As well as supporting academic achievement, these skills are transferable and should prove beneficial through the transition from University to the demands of employment and graduate careers. The Student Healthy Living Service works closely with the Freemen‘s Common Health Centre and also provides direction to appropriate health care services. More information can be found on the Healthy Living Service website. Contact: The Student Healthy Living Service, 161 Welford Road (above Freemen‘s Common Health Centre) Telephone: 0116 223 1268 Email: healthyliving@le.ac.uk Website: http://go.le.ac.uk/healthyliving

Students’ Union In addition to the many other practical ways in which the Students‘ Union supports LILL students, it is important to note its Education Unit.

The Education Unit is one of the crucial services that the Students‘ Union offers to students. The Unit provides a friendly, impartial and confidential service to help and advise students about the options available to them on a wide range of topics such as academic appeals, changing courses and examinations. If a student wishes to come and talk to us about their personal circumstances or problems they have encountered on their course we will offer guidance about where to go and what to do.

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The Education Unit is based within the redeveloped Students‘ Union on the corridor between Willingale‘s Shop and the Abode Accommodation Agency. Opening hours are weekdays 10.00 a.m. till 4.00 p.m. and you can either pop in or book an appointment in advance by contacting us on the details below. The service is available for all students and you can be assured that the Education Unit has a policy of treating all casework in the strictest of confidence. Phone: 0116 223 1132/1228 E-mail: educationunit@le.ac.uk Website: http://leicesterunion.com/yourunion/ed_the_education_unit

Study Skills The Student Development Zone on the 2nd floor of the David Wilson Library is a major resource for help with study skills. The Zone produces a number of useful Study Guides. These are also available from Student Development‘s website: www.le.ac.uk/studentdevelopment See the ‗Student Development‘ section within the Student Support and Development Service (SSDS) entry above.

In addition to the central University study support, and whatever individual tutors offer themselves whilst delivering their own modules, the Institute of Lifelong Learning provides dedicated support for part-time, adult learners. At present this comes in the form of Saturday sessions (currently offered three times a year at the Leicester teaching centre, Vaughan College), led by a staff member from the University‘s Student Support and Development Service (SSDS). Examples of sessions offered include:

Reading and note-taking

Essay-writing

Planning and structuring essays (advanced: level 2 and above)

Critical analysis and Academic language

Issues for Speakers of Languages other than English As from September 2010, one of the Institute‘s part-time tutors will also be able to allocate some dedicated Study Skills support time on an individual or small group basis at key points throughout the academic year. To check on what is available, contact the Centre Administrator at Vaughan College.

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Teaching Centres Northampton

Personnel and General Support Members of staff at the Northampton Centre are committed to providing students and tutors with the highest possible level of service and support. All have different roles and responsibilities, but all will endeavour to answer any queries you may have and to provide general advice and guidance relating to courses and facilities. (Please see under previous section for information on the College Library and computer facilities.) University of Leicester, Northampton, Centre Administrator: Paul Adams Northampton College Manager: Richard Drake Northampton College Site supervisors: 0779 352 5599 Office Hours Term Time Out of Term Monday to Thursday 9.00 am - 7.00 pm 9.00 am– 5.00pm Fridays 9.00 am – 4.00pm 9.00 am– 4.00pm Saturdays as advertised

Café Opening Hours: Monday to Thursday 8.45am – 2.30pm Evening: 5.30pm - 8.15pm Friday 8.45am– 2.00pm Saturdays Closed NB. When the café is closed hot drinks and snacks are still available from the vending machines.

Disabled Access Access to all levels of Lower Mounts is possible by use of lifts and parking spaces are available for disabled students. If you have any queries regarding disabled access, please contact the Northampton College receptionist Liz Gray. It would be helpful if students could indicate on their enrolment form whether they are registered disabled and display their badges in any vehicle using any of the five allocated spaces at the Lower Mounts site.

Parking The College car park is solely for the use of staff, tutors and disabled students (blue badge holders only).

Nursery Provision The crèche is open every day for children between the ages of 2 and 5 years only. The charge of £3.10 per hour includes a drink and biscuits. Places in the nursery are limited. Please contact Northampton College Nursery Supervisor, Alison Dungate, for further details.

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Northampton Centre ID Card All students need to register for their ID cards at reception using the form provided on the induction day. Proof of entitlement will be required and to gain continued access to the building for classes. Northampton Centre Library Northampton Centre Library offers excellent facilities for quiet study and access to many course related titles. There is not only the University of Leicester section at the Lower Mounts building but also through your membership card of Northampton College, access to Northampton College titles at their other sites. Membership cards are gained through registration with the college on entry to the course. The majority of books at Lower Mounts can be borrowed for three weeks and, if not requested by another student, renewed after that period in person, by telephone or online. Fines are charged for overdue items or books that have been recalled but not returned within the specified time. Opening hours: The library at Lower Mounts is open on Mondays to Thursdays from 8.45am to 9.00pm and on Fridays from 8.45 to 4.00pm. On the days when the College is open on a Saturday the suite is open from 9.30am to 1.30pm. Students should check if these times apply outside of term time. The Northampton College Librarian can be contacted by telephone (01604 736209) or by email at lmlibrary@northamptoncollege.ac.uk. More details may be found at: http://www.northamptoncollege.ac.uk/library/contact.asp.

University of Northampton Library The SCONUL access scheme allows students registered at the University of Leicester to access resources at other participating institutions including the University of Northampton Park Campus, Boughton Green Road, where there are excellent facilities and a good range of books to support any aspect of your study. Therefore, membership of this is strongly encouraged, details will be passed to you on registration and more information on opening and access can be found online at http://library.northampton.ac.uk/about.

Northampton College Computers Within the Lower Mounts library on the first floor there is a suite of computers that students registered with Northampton College may use. They provide email, word processing and Internet access. All users of these machines must scan in and out of the library and act in accordance with Northampton College rules. A password will be required to logon and then through remote access the University of Leicester facilities may be obtained. Again a password will be required for this and once set, it will allow students not only to use the machines at the college but also to access their CFS account from home. The computer facilities at Lower Mounts are available Mondays to Thursdays from 8.45am to 9.00pm and on Fridays from 8.45 to 4.00pm. On the days when the College is open on a Saturday the suite is open from 9.30am to 1.30pm. Students should check if these times apply outside of term time.

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Vaughan College, Leicester Personnel and General Support at Vaughan College

Members of the permanent staff at Vaughan College are committed to providing students and tutors with the highest possible level of service and support. All have different roles and responsibilities, but all will endeavour to answer any queries you may have and to provide general advice and guidance relating to courses and facilities. Centre Administrator: Angela Cantrill (acc13@le.ac.uk) Reception/Student Records and Support: Simon Ball (sdb26@le.ac.uk), Val Collins (part-time librarian; vc29@le.ac.uk), Laura Downer (ld112@le.ac.uk), Heather Roach (hcr5@le.ac.uk) and Karen White (kw140@le.ac.uk) Café Supervisor: Debbie Wood Porters: John Holmes and Andy Allen Office Hours

Monday to Thursday 9.00 am - 8.00 pm Friday 9.00 am - 4.30 pm Out of Term Monday to Friday 9.00 am - 4.30 pm Common Room and Café

The College has a café area where drinks, snacks and hot food are available from 11 a.m. until 2 p.m. and from 5 p.m. until 8 p.m., Monday to Thursday and some Fridays in term time. When the café is closed, there are vending and snack machines for student and staff use. Please note that only food and drinks purchased within the College may be consumed in the café area. Food and drinks (apart from water) are not allowed in teaching rooms on health and safety grounds. Disabled Access

Access to all levels of Vaughan College is possible by use of lifts and parking spaces are available for disabled students. If you have any queries regarding disabled access, please contact the Centre Administrator. It would be helpful if students could indicate on their enrolment form whether they are a wheelchair user. Parking

The College car park is for the sole use of staff, tutors and disabled students. There are various car parking facilities around the College, including the John Lewis car park and the NCP (St. Nicholas Circle). For evening students, the cheapest parking nearby is currently at the John Lewis car park (at the Highcross Shopping Centre) on Vaughan Way. Vaughan College Library

Vaughan College Library offers excellent facilities for quiet study and it contains copies of most key texts and many secondary texts for the degree. In addition to membership of Vaughan College Library, students on the degree also have full membership of the main

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University Library (see below for information). Vaughan Library allows access to the University's Library catalogue, which can also be accessed on-line from your home computer via the Institute‘s website – click on ―Existing Staff and Students‖. The majority of books can be borrowed for one month and renewed after that period in person, by telephone or on-line, unless another reader has recalled them. Fines for overdue books are charged at the rate of 20p per day for each item or 40p per day for overdue recalled items. Opening Hours Term-time 9.00 - 20.00 Monday to Thursday. 9.00 - 16.30 Friday Out of Term 9.00 - 16.30 Monday to Friday The Library is also open on occasional Saturdays (please ring to confirm). Vaughan College Library can be contacted by email at vaughanlib@le.ac.uk.

Vaughan College Computer Suite

This is an open access computer suite, occupying Room 3 of the College on the first floor, providing registered students with computing facilities including word processing, email and Internet access. Students are invited to make full use of this valuable learning resource. All students will be registered as users of the University‘s computer network at the start of the academic year and set up with a ‗CFS username and password‘. This enables you to use the computer facilities at Vaughan and on the main campus and also allows remote access to the Library‘s online resources. Normal opening hours for the Vaughan computer suite during term time are as follows: Monday-Thursday 9.30am - 8.00pm Friday 9.30am - 4.30pm The suite is also open on some Saturdays, 10.00am - 2.00pm. Please check in advance for these dates. Occasionally (in the day-time, or in an evening), the computer suite may be booked for teaching purposes. Year 1 students will receive guidance on all relevant Library and IT matters during induction and in the first Study Skills module. No Smoking Smoking is not permitted in any part of the building. Smoking is permissible on the outdoor concourse, away from the front entrance. The door must not be propped open as this damages the mechanism and is also a security issue. The door is normally locked at 7 p.m., so individuals will need to ring the bell to be readmitted after this time. Please do not smoke at the rear of the building.

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Part Four: Information for Reference Complaints and Appeals Complaints Procedure The University is committed to providing the highest quality of education possible within the limits imposed by the resources available to it, and strives to ensure that its students gain maximum benefit from the academic, social and cultural experiences it offers. Where students feel that their legitimate expectations are not being met, or where misunderstandings about the nature of the University's provision occur, the University expects that problems will be speedily and effectively dealt with at local level. Its complaints mechanism is based on the assumption that staff will at all times deal thoughtfully and sympathetically with students' problems, so as to minimise the extent to which formal procedures need to be followed. Within LILL, all complaints should be addressed, in the first instance, to the Course Director for the award on which you study. If s/he is not able to deal satisfactorily with the complaint then it may be referred, either by him/her or the complainant to the Head of Department (the Director of LILL, Jackie Dunne), Institute of Lifelong Learning, 128 Regent Road, Leicester, LE1 7PA. In the case of the Counselling programme, where a Course Director cannot resolve an issue, a complaint may be referred in the first instance to the Director of the Counselling and Psychotherapy Programme (Prof. Sue Wheeler). If matters cannot be resolved informally, students should address any formal complaint in writing to the senior officer responsible for the relevant area of activity (for a list of senior officers and full details of the formal complaints procedure, see University Regulations). It should be stressed, as the University‘s Complaints Procedure indicates, that:

Students are expected to utilise the consultative and organisational arrangements in place at departmental and institutional level (these include heads of department, the personal tutor system, staff/student committees and the Staff/Student Council, the services of the Students' Union's sabbatical officers and its Student Support Centre...). Students are expected to familiarise themselves with the constitution and membership of those bodies which are intended to represent their interests, and for general complaints about academic matters to avail themselves of the opportunities provided for direct feedback on the performance of individuals or in relation to the provision of services.

Students should not turn to the formal Complaints Procedure as a first step when considering that a query about the course should be raised, or deem that an issue should be addressed. It is vital that the nature of any query, problem or complaint should be assessed with respect to structures which may already be in place for its being addressed or resolved. The full text of the University‘s Complaints Procedure can be found in the General Regulations (pp16-18) at: http://www.le.ac.uk/academic/Regs/2009-0/GeneralRegs09-10.pdf

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Appeals Procedure Appeals procedures exist specifically for appeals against:

Termination of course

Degree Classification (Undergraduates)

Award of a Lesser Qualification (Postgraduates)

These procedures are described in the General Regulations: http://www.le.ac.uk/academic/Regs/2009-0/GeneralRegs09-10.pdf Students wishing to make an appeal should check these regulations carefully before making any appeal, and consult with their Course Director.

Advice on the operation of the complaints procedure can be obtained from the Academic Registrar, Fielding Johnson Building (tel 0116 2522419), or from the Education Unit, Students‘ Union (tel 0116 2231132, e-mail: educationunit@le.ac.uk). The latter can also provide assistance in formulating complaints, and in supporting students throughout the formal stages of the complaints procedure.

Ethical Approval of Student Projects Before you can carry out research you will need to be granted ethical approval by the University of Leicester. The procedure for this will be explained to you on any course on which such research is required. Before you can be granted ethical approval, you will need to read the University‘s Protocol for Ethical Approval of student work. This is available at:

http://www2.le.ac.uk/institution/committees/research-ethics/protocol-for-ethical-approval-of-student-work-non-clinical-research-on-human-subjects

Marking and Moderation In keeping with University of Leicester procedures, all marks awarded on LILL programmes, at all academic levels, are subject to some form internal moderation and to scrutiny by external examiners. It is recommended that a form of moderation is used, according to which between 25% and 50% of pieces of assessable work in any given group are reviewed/second-marked. The particular students‘ work to receive internal scrutiny will be agreed between first marker and moderators though will normally include the highest mark, the lowest mark and any border-line cases (e.g. between First/2.1 or between Merit/Pass). The external examiner may be offered a sample according to the above criteria. S/he is, however, at liberty to ask to see any work of her/his choosing. S/he should also be shown the work of all students who may be awarded a Distinction or a First Class degree on any programme. For more on the University of Leicester‘s regulations on marking and moderation, see: http://www.le.ac.uk/ua/ac/quality/Codes/examining/examining-code.pdf

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Personal Development Planning

Personal Development Planning (PDP) is a structured and supported process designed to give students the opportunity to reflect on their progress and plan for their future development. In doing so, it is hoped that PDP will better enable students to improve and enhance both their academic performance and their prospects for professional and career success after graduation.

Many LILL students are already in employment, or are at a stage of life and personal development when they are looking to make a major change. ‗PDP‘ can be seen as an aspect of a LILL student‘s relationship with their personal tutor/course director. Personal development planning is something which students have to undertake on their own behalf, but can be supported by LILL staff whenever a student wishes to reflect on their own planning for the future. In broad terms, the key responsibilities of a personal tutor/course director are:

To encourage and foster individual students‘ reflection on their future plans

To offer guidance, if needed, on setting effective and realistic objectives

To refer students to appropriate support services and/or opportunities for development

Employability

The University embraces employability as being a set of achievements – skills, understandings and personal attributes – that makes graduates more likely to gain employment and be successful in their chosen occupations, and which benefits themselves, the workforce, the community and the economy. Ultimately, students are responsible for their employability; however it is important to remember that departments and the Student Support and Development Service are also responsible for enabling and encouraging students to engage in developing and realising their potential, which includes their employability. Student Development can play a pivotal role in supporting departments in embedding employability within the curriculum, as well providing students with opportunities outside of the curriculum. For many LILL students, a primary reason for choosing to study is to improve their career prospects. They will need to be able to articulate and demonstrate to tutors who may consider admitting them to higher courses (undergraduate and postgraduate), employers and other recruiters, the skills and knowledge they have developed during their years of study, and then link these to the particular needs of the tutor or recruiter. Students may improve their employability along the lines described below. (The list is written primarily for full-time students, but some of the ways are useful as they stand. Other can be adapted to the circumstances of LILL students.)

Ten ways a student can develop their employability:

―Applicants lack the right combination of academic and soft skills‖ - this is something many employers say about graduates. ‗Soft skills‘ are inter-personal skills: skills in communication, being friendly, forming good relationships. Ensure that you are not in this category by developing your employability skills:

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1. Research and talk through your ideas with an adviser from Student Development and with your departmental Careers Tutor.

2. Link what you learn within your modules to how you could use it in the wider world (e.g. specific subject knowledge and skills you use such as problem-solving and team-work).

3. Undertake a work placement or internship after the second year or during vacations and think through what you have gained from the experience.

4. Do some voluntary work. Student Development collaborates with the Students‘ Union to organise volunteering opportunities, ranging from marketing to counselling www.le.ac.uk/volunteering.

5. Speak to employers about what they expect from you (many employers hold workshops and presentations on campus or attend careers fairs, all arranged by Student Development).

6. Get some work experience or work shadow somebody in the type of job or organisation you find interesting. This will help you decide if it‘s really for you.

7. Take an active role in Students‘ Union activities and within your own department to develop your communication, organisation, interpersonal and related skills. .

8. Develop study skills, such as presentation and numeracy skills with help from Student Development: www.le.ac.uk/studentdevelopment.

9. Participate in one of the Leicester Award for Employability programmes organised by Student Development.

10. Attend any talks, workshops and careers events organised within your department and the wider University.

Further details are available at: www.le.ac.uk/studentdevelopment.

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...and finally... Course Handbooks This Student Handbook has covered the general information you need to get the most from your studies as a member of the University of Leicester and of the Institute of Lifelong Learning. You will also receive a Course Handbook, either each year, or for the whole of your award, which will contain more detailed information and instructions about finding your way through your course. The Course Handbook is likely to contain: A greeting from the Course Director

Contact details of relevant staff Best communication practice on your course Details of any induction events/practices Details of modules Timetable/s for the year Course-specific information on:

Assignments (Preparation and Submission)

Attendance requirements (if appropriate)

Marking Schemes

Plagiarism

Progression and Classification of Awards Any other matters pertaining specifically to the course