Departmental study support

The Department offers additional support to all its students/learners with academic writing, calculation skills, referencing and other skills needed for studying successfully. This support is available throughout the academic year and can be accessed in a number of different ways.

VLE resources

In addition to the resources provided by the University, all Health Sciences students/learners also have access to the VLE Community web site called "Academic Support for Undergraduate Health Sciences Students".

Here you will find a wide range of information, advice and tools to help you develop your study skills.

To access this web site, log on to the VLE with your University username and password and look for the Community box where you will find a link to "Academic Support for Undergraduate Health Sciences Students". 

Academic skills support

Throughout your programme, module teaching teams will support you to develop your academic skills. Support will be aligned to develop the academic skills required for the type of assessment for each module (essay, presentation, examination, professional discussion). This support is complemented by the academic skills support offered by the University and is a good way to improve your academic standard.

To meet OFSTED requirements and compliance for professional programmes and the Education and Skills Funding Agency (ESFA) funding rules, there is a requirement for English and maths skills (functional skills) development to be embedded throughout your programme. This is provided in a number of different ways:

English skills

The University of York has selected NCFE Skills Builder platform as the e-learning provider for the delivery of functional skills training and assessment. Skills Builder offers a selection of online resources and services, which include: initial assessment & diagnostic reports which analyse strengths and weaknesses regarding your English skills; sets targets for your development; provides resources to support development (video tutorials; presentations; interactive tools); and keeps track of your progress, allowing you to compare results over the programme.

To use the platform, an account will be created for you at the start of your programme. You will be encouraged and supported to use Skills Builder throughout your programme and your progress will be reviewed at your Tripartite meetings by  your Academic Assessor and Personal Supervisor. You will have the opportunity to discuss your initial assessment & diagnostic report with your Academic Assessor and Personal Supervisor. Following this, your Personal Supervisor will support you with planning how you can use Skills Builder and Departmental & University academic skills resources for the development of your English skills.

Alongside this, module teaching teams will provide learning opportunities and support throughout modular content to enable you to develop your English skills. In line with the Departmental Academic model of support, the module teams will provide formative and summative feedback on your module assessment, which will include feedback relating to the development of your English skills. 

Maths support

The e-learning provider NCFE Skills Builder platform will be used for the delivery of functional skills training and assessment in relation to Maths skills development. You will also use the SafeMedicate platform for support and development of your maths skills.

You will be encouraged and supported to use Skills Builder throughout your programme and your progress will be reviewed at your Tripartite meetings by your Academic Assessor and Personal Supervisor. You will have the opportunity to discuss your initial assessment &diagnostic report with your personal Supervisor. Following this, your personal Supervisor will support you with planning how you can use Skills Builder and the UoY Maths Skills Centre for the development of your Maths skills. Alongside this, module teaching teams will offer learning opportunities and support to enable you to develop your Maths skills, as part of modular content and aligned to the specific practice and theoretical module learning outcomes.