1. Rupert Lezemore Visiting Student Office College of Humanities & Social Science Rupert Lezemore Visiting Student Office College of Humanities & Social Science Visiting Student Office CHSS

2. Visiting Student Office CHSS Who are we? The College of Humanities & Social Science Visiting Student Office (VSO) Based in David Hume Tower in the Central Campus Look after Visiting Students  Pre-arrival  Post Arrival  On-course

3. Visiting Student Office CHSS Who are you? About 1300 Visiting Undergraduate Students in College About 1550 in the university  27% European (ERASMUS) Of the non-EU students, the largest four nationalities are:  US (68%), China 7%, Canada (7%), Australia (6%)  Roughly split into 40% S1, 33% S2, 27% FY  52 nationalities represented ERASMUSEUSubject Specific Departmental exchangeNon-EUSubject Specific International exchangeNon-EUUniversity wide International independentsNon-EUUniversity wide

4. Visiting Student Office CHSS What to do next Essential tasks this week Meet your Personal Tutor (PT) Confirm attendance (with PT or VSO) Finalise your courses (by end of week 2) Set up email Register (follow the link sent to you by email) Pay fees (if applicable) Bring updated transcript to the VSO (if required) Send a scanned copy of your passport and visa to Student Administration (non-EU)

5. Visiting Student Office CHSS What to do next Settling in Familiarise yourself with campus  Visiting Student Office (VSO)  Library (and Student Information Point)  International Office  Student unions  Main buildings, including: School Offices, key lecture theatres, etc.  King’s Buildings (KB) shuttle bus Access MyEd  access ‘Learn’  create your timetable

6. Courses / classes Enrolment, including high pressure areas: o English Literature; Politics & International Relations; Philosophy; History; History of Art o Academic English for International Students Course load o 60 credits per semester / 120 per year o 20 (sometimes 10) credits per course Lectures o Generally 3 per week per course o Up to 300+ students o Check ‘Learn’ for notes online Seminars/tutorials o 1 per week o 8 – 15 students o Group discussion Visiting Student Office CHSS

7. Visiting Student Office CHSS Assessments Plagiarism Extremely serious academic offence Disclaimers & detection software Examination timetabling Monday 27 th April – Friday 22 nd May Timetable published: Monday 2 nd March Grades Different marking scales 60-65% (UoE ‘B’) equivalent to US ‘A-’ 40% pass mark More details the Academic Guide

8. Key differences Terminology –Essay versus paper –Courses versus classes or modules –Lecturer or Course Organiser versus Professor Assessment is non-continuous No general education requirements Fewer contact hours Large classes UK versus US spelling No grade inflation Visiting Student Office CHSS

9. Timetables ‼Date DD/MM/YYYY ‼Time 24 Hour clock ‼Locations Missing an exam because of misread date time or locations are not grounds for receiving an alternative assessment or Special Circumstances Visiting Student Office CHSS check check check check check check check check check check check check check check check

10. Timetables Visiting Student Office CHSS

11. Timetables

12. Visiting Student Office CHSS

13. Visiting Student Office CHSS English Language Support Academic English for International Students (AEIS) –20 academic credits –Specific language entry requirements –Limited places English Language Support for International Students (ELSIS) –Non-credit bearing –Focus on academic language improvement Other sources of English language support –Tandem system (EUSA) –Academic Guide –Join societies & clubs –Make friends

14. Visiting Student Office CHSS English Language Support TEAM Tests –no IELTS / TOEFL score? –IELTS score below 6.5 in each component? –required for entry to English Language courses –required for entry to Honours courses (outwith your exchange subject) Tuesday 13 th January 13.00-14.00 David Hume Tower, Lecture Theatre A takes about 40 minutes results & enrolment @ VSO from Thursday at 2pm

15. Visiting Student Office CHSS English Language Support TEAM Tests

16. Visiting Student Office CHSS Sources of academic support LearnBetter online resource within ‘Learn’ EUSA Peer Assisted Learning Institute for Academic Development (IAD) Workshops throughout the semester taking lecture notes | reading academic papers | critical reading and writing | presentations | time management | exams & exam technique

17. Visiting Student Office CHSS Innovative learning week 16 – 20 Feb 2015 200+ fascinating events From TEDx and community architecture projects, to science ceilidhs! www.ed.ac.uk/innovative-learning @innovlearning #ILW2015

18. Visiting Student Office CHSS The role of the VSO Key contact –All course enrolments & changes –Complete paperwork for your home institution Welfare/pastoral support –Illness (importance of documentation) –Personal problems –Special Circumstances –Student Disability Service contact & liaison The future –Extend your stay –Come back for a post-graduate course ‘IF IN DOUBT CONTACT THE VSO’

19. Visiting Student Office CHSS The VSO team Rupert HillaryCalum Siobhan Tom

20. Visiting Student Office CHSS Your Personal Tutor (PT) Academic guidance –Academic problems / issues –Minor course enrolments & changes –Monitoring progress –Missed tutorials / seminars –Non-submission of coursework

21. Visiting Student Office CHSS Other sources of support Study Abroad Provider / home university International Office Student Information Points The Advice Place (EUSA) Multimedia Resource Centres (uCreate) International Students’ Centre (ISC) Academic staff –Course organisers, lecturers, tutors School support staff –Student Support Officers (SSOs) –Course / School Secretaries Friends and family

22. Visiting Student Office CHSS Other sources of support Academic Guide Will answer most questions Specific to Visiting Students **Pick up one at the end of this presentation** Keep in touch Twitter VSO website Come and see us

23. 3 rd floor, David Hume Tower …………… HSSvisitingstudents@ed.ac.uk …………… ed.ac.uk/humanities-soc-sci/visiting-exchange …………… 0131 650 4094 / 8268 …………… @VSO_UoE 3 rd floor, David Hume Tower …………… HSSvisitingstudents@ed.ac.uk …………… ed.ac.uk/humanities-soc-sci/visiting-exchange …………… 0131 650 4094 / 8268 …………… @VSO_UoE Visiting Student Office CHSS