Academic advice and teaching support

Learners on the programme have several advisers. If you have problems of any kind, it is important that you let us know as soon as possible. We will keep our discussions confidential unless you tell us that we may pass details to other specified people.

If you would like advice on the academic content of a module, talk to the module leader.

If you would like advice on personal learning or application of the programme content talk to your personal tutor.

If you would like advice on the programme as a whole or your personal circumstances, contact the Programme Director.

The University Libraries and bookshops

The University libraries offer a range of dedicated study spaces, digital and print resources, as well as information skills advice to support you in your studies.

All the information you need to get started with using the library and computing services can be found at:
https://sheffield.libguides.com/libraryessentials

The Information Commons is a major learning resource for all learners of the University. Besides extensive personal working space, it has a large number of PCs available and contains the more frequently used textbooks. There are ten meeting rooms for your use, which provide a convenient place for group meetings to take place. The Information Commons is open 24-hours-a-day, seven-days-a-week. For more information, see: sheffield.ac.uk/infocommons

The Information Commons is where much of the School’s collection of books and journals is housed. Some books which are in high demand and are intended mainly for learner use are held in the Information Commons. The University’s online StarPlus catalogue will give you full details of all books in the collection, including their location and current availability.

For journals you will mainly use the online collection which can be accessed from any PC connected to the University’s intranet or from the internet, using MUSE.

sheffield.libguides.com/guidemanagement

Your module tutors will indicate the relevant material for each module.

Priority zero-contact services

BOOKS 2 YOU service: You can now request a book in the usual way through StarPlus from Western Bank Library in the first instance. Library colleagues will retrieve the requested items and they will be delivered direct to your doorstep – anywhere in the UK. We are predicting a high demand for this service during the first few weeks and would ask you to be considerate and only request items that are vital for your research and cannot be accessed digitally. Please also bear with us as we get the service up and running in the coming days.

Digitisation service: To increase access to digital materials, we will be offering a digitisation service later in the summer. This will be aimed at the digitisation of original and secondary materials to support research and to help academics prepare teaching for the 2020-21 academic year. The focus will be on digitising materials for the next academic session where this is feasible and copyright and donor permissions allow.

Free postal service: We also have a free postal service in agreement with the Royal Mail for finishing students to return books.

Additional support from 301

The Student Skills and Development Centre offers a range of services for all learners:

• Academic Skills Workshop.

• Study Skills Sessions.

• Specialist Dyslexia / SpLD tutorial Service.

• Writing Advisory Service.

• Maths and Statistics help.

Find out more: sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/301

Other support services

The University has a wide range of support services and an excellent guide to them can be found on the Students Services Information Desk (SSID) website:

sheffield.ac.uk/ssid

This website links you to services such as the University Health Service, The Counselling Service, Student Support and Guidance and the Student Advice Centre in the Students’ Union. In particular, you might like to look at the section “Things not going right?”

Information for disabled or dyslexic learners

If you have a disability, medical condition, or specific learning difficulty, we strongly encourage you to contact the Disability and Dyslexia Support Service (DDSS).

The DDSS is a confidential and friendly service which offers a range of support, including:

• Liaising with academic staff and central services about disabled learners’ support needs.

• Helping learners to apply for Disabled Students’ Allowances.

• Organising support workers, such as note takers, readers, library support, scribes, interpreters.

• Advising on specialist equipment and technology.

• Referring dyslexic learners for study skills support, at the English Language Teaching Centre.

• Referring learners who think that they might be dyslexic for diagnostic assessments with an educational psychologist.

• Putting learners in contact with local and national external agencies who offer support and advice to disabled people on specific issues.

For further information, please contact the DDSS:

sheffield.ac.uk/disability

If you require alternative assessment arrangements, please make sure that you contact the DDSS at the earliest opportunity.