1. Academic Expectations
Alex Drury, Academic Adviser, Student Guidance Service
Sophie Hargreaves, International Officer (UKBA Relations), UKBA Liaison Team

2. “The purpose of a University education is such that you gradually become more self-directed and independent learners; that you take charge of your own education. The staff will be here to help you in this transition, which will be occurring gradually over your period of studies.” Professor Dame Nancy Rothwell.

3. Attendance
Attendance is a bigger factor than entry qualifications in determining whether a student is successful; Students who attended performed better, regardless of whether their entry qualifications were the highest.

4. Tier 4 visa: attendance requirements
You must be a full-time student
Attend all lectures, seminars, exams etc
If you cannot attend for any reason, you must inform your School
You must attend the International Student Census. This takes place 3 times a year

5. You will need to balance:
Academic demands
Social / sporting / personal activities
Non-academic work

6. Independent Private Study
Required in addition to lectures etc.
Involves researching resources, reading, preparation of notes etc.
Time management, planning, motivation important
How much? As a guide, working week including contact hours

7. University students are ‘independent learners’; however, being independent does not mean you are unsupported. You will have support from your tutors, your lecturers and from a whole host of support staff and services.

8. Sources of help for independent learners
Course Director/Tutor
Student Guidance Service
Disability Support Office
Counselling Service
Student Union Advice Centre
International Student Officers in SCC
Other students/mentors/PASS leaders
Academic Phrasebank

9. How best to help yourself succeed?
Plan your time/work
Make sure you know what is expected
Seek advice if you are uncertain
Seek help if you have problems academic or otherwise

10. Protecting your Tier 4 Visa Status
Comply with UKBA restrictions on paid work during term time
Inform us of any change of circumstance, e.g. change of address, new phone number
If you lose your passport or biometric card, tell us and report it to the police
For any visa queries / concerns, contact:

11. Academic Malpractice What is it? Why does it matter?
How does it happen?
How does the University regard it?
How will the University respond to it?

12. Forms of Academic Malpractice
Cheating
Collusion
Fabrication/Falsification
Plagiarism
(the last 3 are also classed as cheating)

13. How does it happen? In most cases it happens accidentally through:
Lack of understanding of what is expected
Different ways of doing things in previous academic experience
Lack of practice and experience in the task being undertaken
In some cases it is done intentionally
Because of lack of confidence in own ability
Pressure of other problems
Requires less work and effort
Other students do it

14. How will the University respond?
Action will taken at Programme, School, Faculty or University level
Depends on the seriousness and extent of the offence
May depend on the level of study
If the offence was accidental it will be up to the student to show how and why this happened

15. PLAGIARISM The most common form of academic malpractice
Most plagiarism occurs unintentionally
What is plagiarism?
Plagiarise: “To take and use as one’s own, the thoughts, writings or inventions of another” (Oxford English Dictionary)
That is to use the material without clear and unambiguous acknowledgement of the source

16. PLAGIARISM how to avoid it
Reference, reference, reference!!!
What to reference?
Any idea or statement that is not your own or ‘common knowledge’
Need to reference text, diagrams, tables, pictures etc.
Direct quotations should have quotation marks thus: “………..”
Omissions from the original quotation should be indicated
Paraphrased text must also be referenced

17. PLAGIARISM how to avoid this
Not sure:
When to reference?
How to reference?
Check with tutors etc when work in progress
Check with journals, texts etc you use
When and how do they reference?
Check University document
Guidance to students on plagiarism and other forms of academic malpractice
Check other on-line sources of help

18. Assessment Undergraduate 70%+: First class
60%+: Upper Second class (2:i, 2:1)
50%+: Lower Second (2:ii, 2:2)
40%+: Third class
<40%: FAIL but there are compensation rules

19. Work hard but enjoy being in Manchester
and finally…
Work hard but enjoy being in Manchester