We will support you with the academic demands of your studies. We will provide academic and study advice and support, throughout all years of your course. We will support you to structure your directed and independent study time.

Personal Academic Tutoring

Your named Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) (or team of PATs) will meet with you and support you with your studies. Conversations/meetings will cover a range of different things, depending on your needs. This includes:

• addressing general questions and concerns
• providing advice on University policies and processes
• signposting you to the support services of the University
• supporting you with academic/study concerns and questions
• support for postgraduate careers and further study, including signposting to the University’s Careers and Employability Service

Teaching support and advice for course assessments

• Your teaching team will explain key ideas and concepts, and provide a framework for you to build on the knowledge and skills developed at each stage of your course.
• Your teaching team will provide assessment explanations and advice for all of your assessments and explain the marking criteria.
• Your teaching team will advise you during the first year of your studies on how to write a University academic assignment.
• You will be provided with information on how to reference, and how to check your use of academic references from LLRI+ .
• You will be provided with support for all course assessments, and be supported by the course team if you need to re-submit an assessment.
• We provide you with advice and guidance on the range of support services available to support you with your studies.
• We provide in-unit early resits for some assessments, supporting you to succeed.

Support on finding and using information (information literacy) and digital literacy: Library, Learning Resources and Information (LLRI)

• Your induction will include a tour and introduction to the library to learn how to: use your reading lists; find books in the library; use the library webpages to borrow and return books, book study rooms, and ensure that Wi-Fi is working on your devices.
• We have Academic Liaison Librarians for your course, who will teach you how to search effectively and efficiently using search tools to find relevant and current information.
• Our Academic Liaison Librarians will teach you how to critically review and evaluate information for assessments.
• Our Academic Liaison Librarians will teach you why you need to reference, how you reference using tools like Cite Them Right and RefWorks and how to interpret assessment feedback that you have received.
• Our Microsoft Office tutors in our LLRI will help you develop your digital literacy skills in using Word, Excel, PowerPoint, to create academic posters and much more.

Support for academic writing

• We provide you with online academic writing support (grammar, spelling, choice of language, evidence and structure).
• We provide Enhanced English support for you if you identify that you need it, or if it is identified that you would benefit from this through one of our support systems.
• We provide Academic Skills Training to support you with academic skills development if you are an international student in your first year.
• Our Learning Development (LD) team, offer academic and study skills support (including maths and statistics) on a one-to-one or small group basis. We support topics such as effective structure, meaningful use of sources and writing critically, from the planning stages of your work to using feedback on submitted assignments.

We will provide you with clear information on the types of teaching you will receive. We will provide you with a timetable, so that you can plan when you need to attend scheduled learning activities. We will provide you with support to access your learning.

Detailed information on the types of teaching you will receive

• We provide you with clear information on the teaching you will receive on each of your units of study. This information is contained within Unit Information Forms, contained in our Virtual Learning Environment (VLE): BREO (Bedfordshire Resources for Education Online).
• We provide you with an induction to our VLE/BREO, so that you can access a range of resources and information to support you with your learning and assessments.
• We provide you with an online course handbook to support you in understanding your course as a whole, and how your learning and assessment work in each year develops your understanding and course success.

Clearly timetabled teaching and learning activities

• We provide you with an individual timetable, so that you know when your sessions are scheduled, and can plan travel, caring and work commitments effectively.
• Our timetabling system enables you to download your individual timetable into your personal calendars, to support you with your study planning.
• We provide a student notification system, informing you of any timetable changes, which automatically updates your individual timetable.

Access to University resources and facilities

• We provide libraries with long opening hours at our university campuses, that support you to access resources at different times to suit your study preferences.
• We provide IT/Computer resources that you can take out on loan from our library and resources centres.
• We provide student study areas, with computers, so that you can study on campus either individually or with your friends at times to suit you.
• We provide University facilities and resources to support you with the practical elements of your course. This includes subject specific specialist equipment, facilities and software, and bookable student spaces to enable you to practice prior to assessments/performances.

We will provide you with a range of extra-curricular activities alongside your studies. We will provide you with advice on the range of activities and communities you can join.

A curriculum with an employment focus

• We plan learning and assessments in your course which build the skills you need to progress from your course into a graduate job.
• We plan activities in your course where you can engage with employers (placement opportunities, visits, guest speakers, employment fairs) to build your employment knowledge and networks.
• We help you to use your information literacy skills to research the company, sector, or profession that you seek employment in.
• We embed work-based/work-related employability at every level of every course.

Work and volunteering opportunities

• We organise work and volunteering fairs on campus, to support you in making connections, and to build employer networks.
• We provide a Careers and Employability Service, which is available to you throughout all years of your course and after you graduate. They advertise job vacancies, support with CV writing and job applications, and provide support for developing your transferrable skills.

Student Representative and leadership opportunities

• We work closely with your Students’ Union (BedsSU), to provide you with leadership and student experience opportunities, which support you in developing new skills. These include our Student Experience Leaders Scheme and Student Ambassadors.

Students’ Union (BedsSU) societies and communities

• We work closely with your Students’ Union (BedsSU), who offer a diverse programme of social opportunities, including a range of societies and student networks created and run by student communities, providing a way to connect with like-minded individuals and make new friends through a shared hobby or personal interest, being part of the same course, or having a shared faith or culture.

Sporting activities and communities (UoB Sport)

• We provide a free 'Get Active' programme offering you a range of activities and experiences to engage with and meet new friends. These include fitness classes, swimming, yoga and a variety of taster experiences throughout the year to try out something new.
• We have over 20 competitive Sports teams, supported through UoB Sport, competing in university leagues as well as other national competitions.
• We provide fitness gyms at the Bedford and Luton Campuses.