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Institute of Psychology, Health and SocietyResearch Postgraduate Handbook
2013-2014
1. The Institute of Psychology, Health and Society (IPHS)
Welcome to the Institute of Psychology, Health and Society (IPHS) at theUniversity of Liverpool
This Handbook aims to be a user-friendly and helpful guide to life as a Postgraduate Research Student in IPHS. It provides a profile of the Institute you have joined, lists sources of advice and support, and details some of the rules and regulations that you need to know.
The information in this Handbook is intended for guidance only, and should be regarded as additional to and not in place of the decrees issued by the University and the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences.
It should be read in conjunction with the documentation available via the University of Liverpool Postgraduate Research Team website at: http://www.liv.ac.uk/gradschool. 1.1 Introduction to the Institute
The Institute of Psychology, Health and Society was formed in 2010 by merging staff from the School of Population, Community and Behavioural Sciences, the School of Psychology, Health and Community Care Research Unit and the School of Dental Science.
The Institute consists of four Departments, which reflect the dominant themes of its Research Activity: Department of Health Services Research, Department of Psychological Sciences, Department of Public Health and Policy and Department of Medical Education.
1.2 Locations
The Institute is located in three buildings on different parts of the Campus. The Waterhouse Building (Building 352), the Whelan Building (Building 302) are home to the Departments of Health Services Research, Psychological Sciences (clinical), and Public Health and Policy. The Eleanor Rathbone Building (Building 106) is home to the Department of Psychological Sciences (non-clinical). In addition the oral health research group which is part of Health Services Research is based in the Research Wing, School of Dentistry. Building numbers refer to the University Campus Map, which is online at: http://www.liv.ac.uk/maps/index.htm.
1.3 The IPHS Research Postgraduate Administrator
The Institute’s Research Postgraduate Administrator: Miss Lindsay Edmonds is based in Room LG40, Ground Floor, Sherrington Building, Ashton Street.
1.4 The Research Postgraduate Committee
Research Postgraduate business within the Institute is administered by the Research Postgraduate Committee. The Research Postgraduate Committee consists of the Institute Director of Research Postgraduate Studies: Professor Sue Higham and two Deputy Directors of PGR are Dr. Eric Robinson and Dr. Sabeel Valappil. The Research Committee have Research Postgraduate Leads for each of the four departments in the Institute: Dr. Sabeel Valappil (Health Services Research), Professor Richard Bentall (Psychological Sciences (clinical)), Dr. Martin O’Flaherty (Public Health and Policy), Dr. Jo
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Harrold (Psychological Sciences (non-clinical), and Dr. Helen O’Sullivan, (Medical Education). Student representation for each of the departments of IPHS also sit on the committee. The Committee is responsible for developing the Institute’s Research Postgraduate Policy, and the Departmental Leads are responsible for implementing this Policy in a way that suits the local needs of Students and Supervisors in the different Departments. Students and Supervisors are encouraged to direct any questions or concerns they might have about Research Postgraduate matters to their Departmental Lead, in the first instance. The Departmental Lead will bring any issues that cannot be resolved at local level to the Institute Committee for broader consideration.
1.5 Key Contacts for IPHS Postgraduates
IPHS Head of InstituteProfessor Peter KindermanBlock B, Second Floor, Waterhouse BuildingE-mail: [email protected]; telephone: +44 (0)151 794 8041.
IPHS Director of Research Postgraduate StudiesProfessor Sue Higham Research Wing, School of Dentistry E-mail: [email protected]; telephone: +44 (0)151 706 5251
IPHS Deputy Director of Research Postgraduate StudiesDr. Eric Robinson, Department of Psychological Sciences, Second Floor, Eleanor Rathbone BuildingEmail: [email protected]; telephone: +44 (0)151 794 1187
IPHS Deputy Director of Research Postgraduate StudiesDr. Sabeel Valappil, Deputy Director of PGR Studies, Research Wing, School of Dentistry Telephone number: 0151 706 5299; email: [email protected]
IPHS Research Postgraduate AdministratorMiss Lindsay Edmonds Room LG40, Ground Floor, Sherrington Building E-mail: [email protected]; telephone: +44 (0)151 794 1112
PGR Lead for Health Services ResearchDr. Sabeel Valappil, Research Wing, School of Dentistry email: [email protected] ; Telephone number: 0151 706 5299;
PGR Lead for Psychological Sciences (clinical) Professor Richard BentallSecond Floor, Block B, Waterhouse Building, 1-5 Dover StreetE-mail: [email protected]; telephone: +44 (0)151 794 5367
PGR Lead for Public Health and PolicyDr. Martin O’FlahertyThird Floor, Whelan Building E-mail: [email protected]; telephone: +44 (0)151 794 5597
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PGR Lead for Psychological Sciences (non-clinical)Dr. Jo HarroldSecond Floor, Eleanor Rathbone BuildingE-mail: [email protected]; telephone: +44 (0)151 794 1129
PGR Lead for Medical EducationDr. Helen O’SullivanCedar HouseEmail: [email protected]; 0151 794 8752
Student Representatives:
Amy Bidgood, Psychological Sciences, (non-clinical)Email: [email protected]; telephone number: +44 (0)151 794 1109
Emma Miles, Health Service ResearchEmail: [email protected]
Sophie Wickham, Psychological Sciences, (clinical)Email: [email protected]
Fayez Al Zarban, Public Health and Policy Email: [email protected]
TBC, Medical EducationEmail: tbc; telephone number:
1.5 Diversity and Equality
The University is committed to providing an environment which recognises and values people's differences, capitalises on the strengths that those differences bring to the institution and support all staff and students in maximising their potential to succeed.
This commitment is made with specific reference to a person's Age, Disability, Gender Reassignment, Marriage & Civil Partnership, Pregnancy & Maternity, Race, Religious Belief & Non Belief, Sex and Sexual Orientation. The University is committed to fulfilling its obligations under the Equality Act 2010. These pages provide information in the work being undertaken in diversity and equality and let staff, students and other stakeholders know how to get involved in this work, http://www.liv.ac.uk/diversity-and-equality/
1.6 The University Approach to Supporting Disabled Students
The University encourages a supportive and accessible environment for disabled students. Disabled students, including those with dyslexia or other specific learning difficulties, and those with mental health needs, are advised to discuss their individual needs with their academic School/Department and the Disability Support Team in the Student Services Centre in order that appropriate support arrangements can be made. On request, information in this Handbook can be made available in an alternative format.
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2. Studying for a Research Degree
2.1 The Research Postgraduate Team
The University of Liverpool Research Postgraduate Team supports, administers and coordinates training for the MPhil, PhD, and MD programmes at Liverpool. All postgraduate researchers and their supervisors are members of the Postgraduate Research Team, Foundation Building. For further information, see the Research Postgraduate website at: http://www.liv.ac.uk/gradschool/.
2.2 The Research Postgraduate Team Handbook
The Handbook For Postgraduate Research Students And Supervisors is a key source of information for those engaged in Postgraduate Research. The Handbook includes:
An introduction to the University of Liverpool Research Postgraduate Team; Information for Postgraduate Research Students, including sections on the Graduate PGR
Development Programme and Annual Progress Requirements; Policies and Procedures; University Codes of Practice that apply to Postgraduate Research; Ordinances and Regulations for the Degree of Master in Philosophy, the Degree of Doctor in
Philosophy and the Degree of Doctor of Medicine This Handbook is available online at http://www.liv.ac.uk/gradschool/pgrhandbook.pdf or through the link on the Postgraduate Research Team Home Page http://www.liv.ac.uk/gradschool/.Some important policies and procedures are also available as separate documents at: http://www.liv.ac.uk/gradschool/pgrhandbook/policies.htm. 2.4 The Research Degree: Required Components
In each year of the research degree, there are required components as follows:
Twelve months research (full-time or part-time as appropriate to the programme) The PGR Portfolio of Activity The compulsory PGR Development components required for the particular year of study The PGR Skills Training required by the Institute for the particular year of study The Annual Review of Progress (carried out within the Institute) Completion of the Annual Progress Report (APR) Form
2.5 The University of Liverpool PGR Development Programme As the Postgraduate Research website explains, all research students at the University of Liverpool are required to complete a PGR Development Programme. This programme includes a elements run through the Postgraduate Research (such as the First Year Development Workshop and the Second Year Poster Day), and a PGR Skills Training programme organised through the Institute.
The Postgraduate Research (PGR) Development Programme is compulsory for all research students. If
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students can supply evidence that they have already completed a similar programme elsewhere (e.g. in a Masters programme), they may be eligible for exemption from some of the Development Programme’s constituent parts. Students can apply for exemption using a form available from the Research Postgraduate website which has to be signed by their primary supervisor and and sent to the Faculty Director of Postgraduate Research: Professor Graham Kemp at: [email protected]. Students can apply for exemption from the PGR Skills Training delivered by their Institute by applying to the Institute Director of Postgraduate Research, Professor Sue Higham at [email protected]. Exemption from the University Poster Day, IPHS Postgraduate Conference and Annual Progress Requirements is not permitted. These requirements are summarized below. 1 First Year Development Workshop or First Year Development Online (30 credits) 1 presentation at University Poster day (10 credits) 1 Careers Skills Workshop (30 credits) PGR Skills Programme required by the Institute (10 credits per year) Completion of the Annual Progress Requirements (30 credits per year) Each credit represents approximately one hour of attendance or other activity. Without evidence of these being achieved (either through training or evidence of prior attainment of the skills via the exemption process), students will not be permitted to submit their thesis for examination. It is the research student’s responsibility to ensure they complete the Development Programme before the thesis is submitted, but it is the supervisor’s responsibility to guide and encourage students to take the most appropriate courses. Each year the Centre for Lifelong Learning runs training courses for Graduate Teaching Assistants. The University stipulates that all research students must have attended a training session on small group teaching before he/she can be employed as a GTA.
The PGR Development Programme meets the recommendations of the Roberts Report (SET for Success) and those laid down by all Research Councils and the AHRC by requiring all new research students to complete developmental activities that add up to at least six weeks of training over a three-year period. Students should plan their Development Programme using the PGR Portfolio of Activity, which has been designed to enable students to reflect on their activities, experiences and skills. The PGR Portfolio of Activity itself forms the equivalent of three weeks of developmental activity over three years.
The Research Postgraduate website contains detailed information about the Development Programme, including: • Research Postgraduate Team:
http://www.liv.ac.uk/student-administration/research/ Summary PGR Development Programme:
http://www.liv.ac.uk/pgr-development/ • Annual Progression requirements:
http://www.liv.ac.uk/pgr-development/programme/toolbox/ • First Year Development Workshops:
http://www.liv.ac.uk/pgr-development/first-year/ • Poster Day:
http://www.liv.ac.uk/pgr-development/poster-day/• Career Skills Requirement: http://www.liv.ac.uk/pgr-development/careers-development/
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2.5 IPHS PGR Skills Programme
As noted above, in addition to the training provided centrally by the PGR Development Team, research postgraduate students at Liverpool are also required to take part in the IPHS PGR Skills Programme. This consists of a set of compulsory modules to be completed by all students and a set of optional modules covering a range of different research skills and topics from which students can choose courses that suit their research interests and/or research needs.
Compulsory Modules
All students are required to complete the following compulsory modules:
PHSR101: First Year Research Skills. This module includes three components. These are: 1) attendance at the Institute Seminar Series – Students are required to attend those parts of the Institute seminar series that are relevant to their particular discipline; 2) Attendance and participation at the Annual Postgraduate Conference — Students are required to attend either a full morning or afternoon session of the conference and to give a research presentation based on some aspect of their first year work; and 3) Preparation and submission of a thesis plan and a piece of written work (e.g. a literature review or methodological review), the nature of which is to be agreed in consultation with the student’s supervisor — Students are required to submit this work to their annual review panel so that it can serve as the basis for a discussion of their progress and future research plans.
PHSR201: Second Year Research Skills. This module includes three components. These are: 1) Attendance at the Institute Seminar Series – Students are required to attend those parts of the Institute seminar series that are relevant to their particular discipline; 2) Attendance and participation at the Annual Postgraduate Conference — Students are required to attend either a full morning or afternoon session of the conference and to give a research presentation based on some aspect of their second year work; and 3) Preparation and submission of a thesis plan and a piece of written work (e.g. a methodological review or piece of empirical work), the nature of which is to be agreed in consultation with the student’s supervisor — Students are required to submit this work to their annual review panel so that it can serve as the basis for a discussion of their progress and future research plans.
PHSR301: Third Year Research Skills. This module includes three components. These are: 1) Attendance at the Institute Seminar Series – Students are required to attend those parts of the Institute seminar series that are relevant to their particular discipline; 2) Attendance and participation at the Annual Postgraduate Conference — Students are required to attend either a full morning or afternoon session of the conference and to give a research presentation based on some aspect of their third year work; and 3) Preparation and submission of a thesis plan and a piece of written work (usually a piece of empirical work, either quantitative or qualitative), the nature of which is to be agreed in consultation with the student’s supervisor — Students are required to submit this work to their annual review panel so that it can serve as the basis for a discussion of their progress and future research plans.
In the case of full-time students, these modules will be completed in years 1, 2 and 3 respectively. In the case of part-time students, each module can be completed over a 2-year period, with students submitting a piece of written work and presenting at the postgraduate conference every other year. All students (i.e. both full-time and part-time students) are required to attend a progress review meeting every year, and to submit a thesis plan to their panel not less than one week in advance of this meeting.
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Note that students will not be able to submit their thesis without having registered for all of the compulsory modules on Spider and having been signed off or exempted by the Institute Director of Research Postgraduate Studies. Students MUST therefore ensure that they register for all relevant modules each year, and obtain exemption in cases in which they are unable to fulfill all course requirements (e.g. part-time students whose work commitments prevent them from attending the Institute’s seminar programme).
Optional Modules
In addition to the compulsory modules outlined above, students may also take as many optional modules as they wish from the following list. Note that some of these modules are administered in IPHS and others in different parts of the Faculty.
Code Title RegistrationPSCR606 Attend a Conference SPIDERPSCR608 Submit a Paper for Publication SPIDERPSCR609 Critique of Proposed Publication SPIDERPSCR610 Organise a Mini-Conference SPIDERFLHR621 Statistical Issues in the Design and Analysis of Research
ProjectsSPIDER
FLHR624 Design and Analysis of Laboratory-Based Studies SPIDERFLHR626 Introduction to Logistic Regression SPIDERFLHR627 Introduction to Longitudinal Data Analysis SPIDERFLHR004 Meta-analysis SPIDERFLHR652 Validity and Reliability of Diagnostic Tests and other
Methods of MeasurementSPIDER
FLHR653 Survival Analysis SPIDERFLHR654 Unbiased design and statistical analysis in research
projectsSPIDER
MEDRTBC Epistemological and Methodological Approaches to Qualitative Research on Medicine, Health and Society
SPIDER
MEDRTBC Qualitative Research Methods (monthly only) SPIDER
2.6 The IPHS Seminar Series
The Institute of Psychology, Health and Society runs an Institute-level seminar series each session, which includes seminars on a variety of topics reflecting the range of research interests within the Institute. There are two seminars per month, each with a sixty-minute running time, including thirty minutes for the presentation, and fifteen minutes for discussion. Postgraduate students are expected to attend those parts of the seminar series that are relevant to their discipline as part of their PGR Skills Programme.
2.7 The IPHS Postgraduate Conference
The IPHS Postgraduate Conference, which traditionally takes place in early June, requires that all research students deliver a short oral presentation at their research to their colleagues and members of staff in the Department. The IPHS Postgraduate Conference is run as a series of mini-conferences, one in each of the four departments that make up the Institute. It is compulsory for postgraduate students to attend and present at the Postgraduate mini-conference in their home department.
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2.8 Annual Progress Review
All students registered on degrees at doctoral level are subject to annual review. In IPHS each Postgraduate Student is assigned a panel of two independent reviewers (i.e. members of staff who are not members of the student’s supervisory team). The student is required to attend a review meeting with this panel before the 31st July each year, and to submit a thesis plan and a piece of written work to the panel members not less than one week in advance of the meeting. Part-time students are required to submit a thesis plan every year, and a piece of written work every other year.
2.9 IPHS Annual Review Meeting
The purpose of the Annual Review meeting is to review the research student’s progress and provide independent evidence that can serve as the basis for a progress recommendation by the Institute Director of Research Postgraduate Studies. The student is required to submit a thesis plan and a piece of written work agreed in consultation with the supervisor not less than one week before the date of the meeting. Copies of this work should also be sent to Lindsay Edmonds, the Research Postgraduate Administrator at: [email protected]. The piece of written work should be something that provides evidence of normal progression towards a PhD at that stage in the context of the discipline, while inspiring confidence about a timely and successful completion of the thesis. Students whose progress is deemed unsatisfactory by their review panel will be given a chance to recover by completing a programme of remedial work in line with the University’s Termination of Studies procedure, which can be found online at:http://www.liv.ac.uk/media/livacuk/student-administration/research/documents/Guide,on,the,Academic,Progress,of,PGR,Students.pdf
Primary supervisor’s role in the IPHS annual review: the following information should be communicated to the student by the primary supervisor: The student should complete their PGR Portfolio of Activity for the year; The student should check their UNIVERSITY e-mail address regularly from mid-May onwards to
pick up the Annual Progress Report Form; The student should give a presentation at the annual Postgraduate Conference; A meeting will take place between the student and a panel of two independent assessors EVERY
YEAR. The purpose of the meeting is to discuss the student’s written work, samples of which should be sent to the panel members at least a week in advance. This can be scheduled at any time before 31st July.
Calendar
Early June: Postgraduate Conference; May: Completion of the Personal Development Record; Mid-May-June: notification sent to students electronically of the need to access the Annual
Progress Report (APR) Form; 31 July: deadline for the annual review meeting between two independent assessors and the
research student; 31 August: deadline for the student to complete their section of the APR form, it is then
forwarded to the primary supervisor, Institute Director and Faculty Director in turn; 1 October: Research Councils need confirmation of registration (or continuing registration) by
this date in order for grants to be paid
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2.10 The Annual Progress Report (APR) Form.
Towards the end of each Academic Session, usually in June each year, students are required to complete an Annual Progress Report, using the on-line system accessed via SPIDER Student Web. The purpose of the report is to ensure that students are making progress as expected, but also to ensure that students feel that their supervisory arrangements and facilities are satisfactory. Students should highlight any issues on these matters clearly in the form to provide retrospective evidence at the end of the studentship for any request for extension or suspension. The report can only be processed after satisfactory completion of the Institute’s annual review process, which results in a formal recommendation for their re-registration each year. It is therefore essential that the student and the supervisor complete the form promptly as required.
The Progress Reporting System gives numerous e-mail reminders to both students and supervisors. If these are consistently ignored, the University reserves the right to terminate the registration of any student who fails to complete an Annual Progress Report form by 30 th September in any year. Failure to complete an annual report by this deadline will therefore result in the student’s registration being terminated.
Annual Submission of the PGR Toolbox and Supervisory Meetings
Annual submission of PGR Toolbox is a pre-requisite for the completion of the Annual Progress Report (APR) Form. An upgrade to PhD or/and re-registration for the next year of research is not possible unless the APR form has been fully processed. For full time students, you must record a minimum of 12 meeting per academic year. For part time students is 6 meetings per year, one meeting every two months. You must keep in touch with your supervisors to record your meetings and updated your PGR toolbox. The minimum number of formal meetings required by 31 May in the 1st year of study for students registered at 1st October is 1 per month. It is recommended that students are required to have one per month, and this requirement will be adjusted pro-rata for students who have registered after October (e.g., if the start date was January then a minimum of three formal meetings would have to be recorded by the May deadline). Once students have completed their section of the report, it will be forwarded to the designated Primary Supervisor who will complete it on behalf of the supervisory team. From there, it will be sent to the Institute Director of Postgraduate Research, who completes their section and forwards the report to the Research Postgraduate Team. The Research Postgraduate Team may refer any issues identified in the report to the Faculty Director of Postgraduate Research for comment or action, and then will forward it to the Research Postgraduate Team with a formal recommendation in respect of the student’s re-registration.
While the APR system requires a minimum of twelve meetings per academic year for full time students, it is anticipated that in the first few months of a postgraduate research degree the student and the supervisory team will be meeting on a weekly basis.
2.11 Submission Pending
Once students have completed their data collection, it is possible to transfer registration to ‘Submission Pending’ status and pay a reduced fee. The recommendation for the transfer to ‘Submission Pending’ status, on completion of primary research, should be made on the ‘In-Session Review Form’: ‘Recommendation for Transfer of Registration’. This form is available on the Research Postgraduate website at: http://www.liv.ac.uk/pgr-development/careers-development/exemption/ and requires signatures of authorisation from supervisors and the Institute Director of Postgraduate Research. NB: the change to ‘Submission Pending’ status is NOT automatic at the end of three years full time. The ‘Submission Pending fee’ is a continuation fee charged to students who have completed
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their primary research (for at least the minimum required registration period) and are solely engaged in writing up their thesis for submission.
2.12 Submission of the PhD Thesis
When the student and both supervisors agree that the thesis is ready for submission, the supervisors should possible externals and complete an ‘intention to submit’ form. Student and supervisor should complete the appropriate sections, and then the form should be approved by the Institute Director of Postgraduate Research or the Head of Institute, and the Faculty Director of Postgraduate Research, before submission to the Postgraduate Research team.
The ‘intention to submit’ form must be submitted at least eight weeks in advance of the thesis itself.
In cases where submission is not straightforward, or improvements cannot be agreed between the student and supervisors, the IDPR should act in an advisory role. 2.13 Examination of the Thesis
Details of procedures related to the submission and examination of the PhD Thesis are in http://www.liv.ac.uk/student-administration/research/submission-and-examination/
2.14 Supervisors and Research Postgraduates
The Institute of Psychology Health and Society’s’ Guidelines for Supervisors follow the University of Liverpool’s Code of Practice on Research Student Supervision, which are available online at: http://www.liv.ac.uk/student-administration/research/pgr-handbook/.
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Key Elements of that Code of Practice on Research Student Supervision are as follows: ‘Section 2: Duties and Responsibilities of Primary Supervisors
Primary Supervisors, whether at the University or one of its accredited Colleges, have the following Duties and Responsibilities under this Code:
i. To ensure that students are familiar with the Codes of Practice and the Ordinances and Regulations that govern research degrees. ii. To ensure that students are aware of the current developments in both specific and wider areas of research. iii. To ensure that students, in consultation with the Institute Director of Postgraduate Research, complete the required Development Programmeiv. To ensure that students complete their Portfolio of Activity annually, indicating on the Annual Progress Report that this has been satisfactorily completed according to agreed targets. v. To give guidance about the planning of the research programme. A draft programme of work should be agreed by the student and supervisor at the outset, with indicative deadlines for completion of the stages of the research programme. vi. To give guidance about literature and sources, about requisite techniques (arranging for instruction where necessary) and about the problem of plagiarism. vii. To ensure that at least eight formal meetings takes place with the research student each year, with an agenda agreed in advance (using the Portfolio of Activity software) and an agreed record of outcomes and targets following the meeting, which must be recorded. viii. To be accessible to students as appropriate at times other than formal meetings. The expectation is that they will meet frequently with students on an informal basis. ix. To convene a meeting of the student and all supervisors at least once per term, (three times per year). Primary Supervisors are responsible for arranging this meeting and ensuring the outcomes are recorded. x. To encourage students to question critically the existing literature, the assumptions of the research project and the results they obtain. xi. To arrange for students to talk about their work to staff or at graduate seminars and to have practice in oral examinations and to encourage students to communicate their findings to others in the academic community. Where appropriate students should be encouraged to attend and contribute to conferences. xii. To ensure that students are made aware of inadequacy of progress or of standards of work below those generally expected. (Constructive criticism is an important role of the Primary Supervisor.) xiii. To ensure that the particular needs of overseas students are taken fully into account during the early stages of research and to give help and advice on language problems and training where necessary. xiv. To ensure that Annual Progress Reports are completed in accordance with the University procedure, to complete the relevant section of the report on behalf of the supervisory team and to ensure that students re-register promptly at the beginning of each session. xv. To ensure that appropriate and timely recommendations in terms of changes to registration are made (e.g. upgrade to PhD or change to Submission Pending). This may be done either as part of the Annual Progress Report or separately if in mid-session. xvi. To ensure that a draft of the thesis is read within an agreed timescale and suitable feedback given in good time to ensure submission. xvii. To ensure that any circumstances that might require a student’s formal registration to be amended or suspended are brought to the attention of the Postgraduate Research Team via the IDPR, immediately (e.g. changes to part-time registration, suspensions of study, upgrades to PhD, changes to Submission Pending). xviii. To assist the Head of Department with the selection of the Examiners, to inform the student of
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the names of the Examiners and to ensure that the student is prepared and supported for the oral examination.
Section 3: Duties and Responsibilities of Second and other Supervisors
Staff appointed as Second (or Third, etc.) Supervisors have the following Duties and Responsibilities:
i. To consult with the Primary Supervisor on the feasibility of the proposed project and the suitability of the student to undertake the research, before formal registration and in an initial meeting of the student and all supervisors.
ii. To meet with the student and all members of the supervisory team at least once per term (three times per year), to discuss progress and the direction the research is taking. There should be a formal record of these meetings retained by the Student in the Personal Development Record and by the Primary Supervisor in TULIP. Second Supervisors are encouraged to keep a copy of this record. iii. To be available at times other than formal meetings and provide general support as required to the student and the Primary Supervisor. The level of such involvement will vary, in accordance with the expected contribution agreed at the outset. In some cases, the role of the Second Supervisor will be a largely pastoral, supporting one, but in other cases the Second Supervisor will make an important academic input, which would give rise to an expectation for a greater frequency of contact. This should be agreed with the student and the Primary Supervisor. iv. To discuss with the Primary Supervisor any formal recommendations relating to the student’s registration, such as suspension of studies, transfer from MPhil to PhD (and vice versa) and to ‘submission pending’ status. v. To discuss with the Primary Supervisor the student’s progress as part of the Annual Progress Monitoring exercise. vi. To assist in the nomination of examiners.
Section 4: Duties and Responsibilities of Postgraduate Research Students In addition to the general responsibilities described in the University’s Student Charter, postgraduate research students have the following duties and responsibilities under this Code of Practice:
i.To agree a programme of work with all supervisors at the beginning of their first year and to review this at appropriate intervals in each academic year in consultation with the supervisors, ensuring that any deviation from the agreed programme is reported to supervisors without delay. ii. To familiarise themselves with the relevant Ordinances and Regulations governing their degrees and the requirements imposed on them by those Ordinances and Regulations. ii. To ensure that their obligations to their sponsors and funding bodies are met by the timely submission of the thesis, and to meet any other requirements imposed by the conditions of sponsorship. iv. To devote the appropriate time and effort to their studies. Full-time students are expected to spend a minimum of 35 hours per work engaged in research (including the PGR Development Programme), normally on the University campus. Part-time students are expected to devote an average of 16 hours per week to their studies. v. To check their University email account on a regular basis and act promptly on messages received from the University. vi. To maintain a Portfolio of Activity throughout the duration of their research degree. vii. To take the initiative in raising problems or difficulties, and to ensure that any circumstances that are impeding their progress are brought to the attention of their supervisors at the earliest opportunity. viii. To discuss with supervisors the type of guidance and comment they find most helpful and to agree
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a schedule of meetings. There must be at least one formal meeting per month. ix. In advance of each formal meeting, to complete an agenda using the Portfolio of Activity software and to send this to their Primary Supervisor. Following the meeting, the agreed outcomes and targets must also be recorded in the Portfolio of Activity. x. To maintain the progress of work in accordance with the stages agreed with supervisors, including in particular the presentation of written work as required in sufficient time to allow for comments and discussion before proceeding to the next stage. xi. To complete the University’s Annual Progress Report form in good time to ensure re- registration at the beginning of the new academic session, and to complete other progress reports required. xii. To communicate research findings to others in the academic community, formally in the annual seminar as part of the Annual Progress Monitoring procedure, and at other opportunities as agreed with the supervisors. xiii. Before submission, to clear any laboratory area in which they have been working, including the safe disposal of surplus chemicals and other materials. xiv. To notify the Postgraduate Research Team of their intention to submit the thesis at least two months in advance of submission, on the appropriate form to which they must attach: the thesis abstract; evidence that they have obtained at least 180 PGR Development Programme credits, which must include the statutory elements of the PGR Development Programme; and evidence that they have cleared any laboratory area in which they have been working (see (xiii) above). xi. To ensure that the thesis is submitted before the registration expiry date, is the student’s own work, and is in the correct format, and that all appropriate acknowledgements have been made.
2.15 Research Support Fee
The IPHS undertakes to provide every full-time PGR student with a new computer (either a desktop or laptop). This will normally be a basic HP model, since HP computers are available to the Institute with a four-year warranty that will cover the full period of the PhD. Each student, when offered a PhD place, will be asked to specify whether they wish to take up this option, and whether they would prefer a desktop or a laptop computer. This will help to ensure that the computer is in place by the student’s start date.
Research-Council students
In the case of Research-Council students, the computer will be purchased out of the RTSG money attached to the studentship. It is therefore in the interests of supervisors to provide the student with a computer out of their own resources if at all possible, since this will free up RTSG money for the student to spend on other things (e.g. Conference attendance, subject payments and other equipment).
Non-Research-Council students
In the case of Non-Research Council students, the student or sponsor will be charged a bench fee of £1,000 per year. This money will be placed in a fund ring-fenced for the use of Non-Research-Council students, which will be used to purchase a computer for each non-research council student at the beginning of their studies, and to support applications for conference travel, subject payments and consumables.
Under exceptional circumstances, supervisors may apply to have this bench fee waived. However, in such cases, it will be the supervisor’s responsibility to provide a computer either out of their own resources or, if no such resources are available, by applying for funding from the Research Support Budget. Such applications are only likely to be successful if a strong strategic case can be made.
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NB. Basic HP Desktops are currently available at a price of £611 including VAT and Basic HP Notebooks at a price of £646 including docking station, wireless keyboard and mouse, and VAT.
For Laboratory and/or clinical based projects, additional bench fees will be charged to cover consumables and equipment as applicable, up to a maximum of £10,000 per annum (including the cost of the computer).
2.16 Annual Leave
Students will be required to discuss all requests for annual leave with their supervisors in advance. Where applicable students will also need to adhere to any Research Council/Funder regulations on leave entitlement.
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3. Important Information for Research Postgraduates
3.1 The PGR Student Team
Information on policies and procedures related to Research Postgraduates is available at: The Postgraduate Team website at: http://www.liv.ac.uk/gradschool/ The Postgraduate Team Handbook at:
http://www.liv.ac.uk/student-administration/research/pgr-handbook/ Policies and procedures at: http://www.liv.ac.uk/gradschool/pgrhandbook/policies.htm
3.2 Code of Practice on Assessment
Details in regard to the Code of Practice on Assessment, Appendix L, Academic Integrity Policy for the academic session 2013/2014 can be found at: http://www.liv.ac.uk/media/livacuk/tqsd/code-of-practice-on-assessment/appendix_L_cop_assess.pdf
Fabrication of Data
Embellishment of Data occurs when a small amount of data is enhanced or exaggerated in order to emphasise data that has been obtained by legitimate means.
Fabrication of Data occurs when a student creates and presents an extensive amount or significant piece of data in order to conceal a paucity of legitimate data; or wholly fabricates a set of data in the absence of legitimate data.
For the full Postgraduate Research Polisty on Plagiarism and Fabrication of Data for Postgraduate Research Programmes see: http://www.liv.ac.uk/media/livacuk/tqsd/code-of-practice-on-assessment/appendix_L_cop_assess.pdf
3.3 Ethical Research Policy
The University of Liverpool requires all staff and research students working with human participants to apply to the appropriate committee for approval that the research meets ethical standards.
The University is committed to ensuring that research undertaken with the support of the University of Liverpool is ethical. It recognises that what is considered ethical can vary, depending on the academic discipline and conditions of research, and expects members of staff to comply with their own discipline’s code of ethics. It expects members of staff to be familiar with their own profession’s guidelines; and it expects members of staff to train postgraduate students under their supervision concerning these guidelines.
Below are a series of useful links to the University’s ethics pages. It is your responsibility to familiarise yourself with and comply with university policy.
UL Research Ethics Home Page: http://www.liv.ac.uk/researchethics/
UL Research Ethics Webpage (all policies and forms): http://www.liv.ac.uk/researchethics/localpolicy.htm#University_ethics UL Research Ethics Application forms and information
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http://www.liv.ac.uk/researchethics/apply,for,research,ethics/ UL Research Ethics Sub-Committee on Non-Invasive Procedures http://www.liv.ac.uk/researchethics/committee_schedules/
3.4 Health and Safety – and Risk Assessment Health and Safety: General
Student safety is important. Ensuring the health and safety of students, staff and visitors is one of the University’s highest priorities. The University is responsible for providing a safe environment and safe systems of work, but safety cannot be achieved without the full co- operation of everyone.
University Ordinances require every student whilst on University premises
to take reasonable care for the health and safety of themselves and others; to act in accordance with University safety rules.
In all schools/departments, students are required:
to read the fire procedure notices and familiarise themselves with the alternative fire exits; to report accidents, near misses or dangerous conditions to a responsible member of the
department; to co-operate with health and safety instructions.
On the University telephone system, the emergency number for fire, police or ambulance is 2222. In practical/laboratory departments there is a safety code/handbook, which sets out school/departmental safety arrangements in detail.
Health and Safety, Work Offsite, Risk Assessment Please consult the following: The University of Liverpool Health and Safety Website
http://www.liv.ac.uk/safety/ in particular: ‘Work offsite’, at:
http://www.liv.ac.uk/safety/work_area_hazards/work_offsite/ ‘Working Overseas’, at:
http://www.liv.ac.uk/safety/work_area_hazards/workingaway/working_overseas/ The Foreign & Commonwealth Office Website
For up-to-date information on the country or countries you intend to visit, consult the Foreign & Commonwealth Office website: https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/foreign-commonwealth-office
Please complete a Risk Assessment Form available at: http://www.liv.ac.uk/safety/documents_guidance/forms/
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3.5 Insurance
The Travelling Abroad on University Business Form The Research Postgraduate Website notes that: The Travelling Abroad on University Business form must be completed prior to travel outside of the UK, for periods of 6 months or less. The ‘Travelling Abroad on University Business Form’ is at: http://www.liv.ac.uk/student-administration/research/pgr-code-of-practice/a-z-forms/
The Research Postgraduate Research Forms Page: http://www.liv.ac.uk/student-administration/research/ Please complete the ‘Travelling Abroad on University Business Form’ regardless of the length of the period abroad, and ensure that a copy is given to the IPHS Research Postgraduate Administrator. The University of Liverpool’s Risk and Insurance Manager
Any queries in relation to insurance issues should be directed to John Stone, the University's Risk and Insurance Manager on 0151 794 2138 or by emailing [email protected]
If you are going abroad for a research trip, whether you are doing fieldwork, archival work, or research in a library, you should from now on contact the following person in the University administration with the details of your trip (dates, countries to be visited) before you leave:
John R. Stone, Risk & Insurance Manager, University of Liverpool [email protected] Telephone: 0151 794 2138
3.6 Implications of the Non-Payment of Fees
Students may either pay their fees in full at the start of a session or agree to pay in installments, by direct debit or continuous credit card authority. Home and EU undergraduates may obtain a tuition fee loan via their Local Authority. It is the student's responsibility to ensure that proper arrangements are made with the University for the payment of fees and this must be done either before or at the very beginning of a new session. Arrangements to pay fees are made on-line and any student who fails to make timely arrangements will be denied access to library and some computing facilities until such time as a suitable arrangement is in place. Also students who default on any payment will similarly be denied access to library and some computing facilities. Any student who then fails to respond within 30 days of the due date of any payment will have their IT and library access, including the University email account suspended until the whole of any outstanding amount has been paid. Any student in debt to the University at the time of sitting their examinations will not have those examinations marked or where the examination is marked will not be provided with the marks for those examinations, until the outstanding debt has been paid. Students will not be permitted to return to study in the next academic year until previous outstanding debts have been paid in full. Please note that all outstanding tuition fees must have been paid by a student before he or she may receive their degree certificate. The University is entitled to withhold degree certificates for non-payment of tuition fees and the University will hold onto any degree certificate which the student would otherwise be awarded until a student has discharged in full any outstanding tuition fees.
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Further details may be viewed on the web at: http://www.liv.ac.uk/student-administration/money/ Additional advice and guidance may be obtained by visiting the Student Administration Centre in the Foundation Building where specialist advisors are available to discuss the payment of fees. 3.7 Jury Service
From time to time students are called for jury service. Jurors are selected at random by Her Majesty’s Courts Service from the electoral register and everyone on the electoral register between the ages of 18 to 70 may be selected.
Where jury service is likely to interfere with your study or assessment, you may seek deferral of your service. The Jury Central Summoning Bureau evaluates any requests for deferral and those requests may usually be for no longer than 12 months.
To assist your request for jury service deferral you may request a letter from the Director of Student Administration and Support. To do so you should complete your jury summons including Section 3 and bring the completed form to the Student Administration Centre, Ground Floor, Foundation Building. The Student Administration Centre is open between 09:00 and 17:00.
When a jury summons is received by the Student Administration Centre, the Director of Student Administration and Support will write on your behalf to Her Majesty's Courts Service enclosing the summons and explaining that it would be detrimental to your studies to experience disruption due to undertaking jury service.
Her Majesty's Courts Service will reply directly to you. If you do not receive a reply in a reasonable time then you should contact Her Majesty's Courts Service directly to enquire about the progress of your application for deferral.
The University cannot request an excusal on your behalf. You should send any excusal request directly to the Summoning Bureau.
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4. Resources
4.1 The University Library
The University Library, founded in 1881, contains an impressive collection of approximately 1.9 million books and periodicals including extensive and important special collections of rare books and archives.
The Library subscribes to a portfolio of around 30,000 electronic books and online access to most major databases. The library also offers access to over 100,000 contemporary electronic books including academic e-books, reports and conference proceedings and over 317,000 digitised printed books. The Library is located on two main sites, the Sydney Jones Library and the Harold Cohen Library. The libraries provide about 1,100 computer and study spaces, zoned areas for group and quiet study and staffed helpdesks. The entire stock of the Library is included in its online catalogue and all electronic resources can be accessed in the library or via the web. The two main libraries are open 24 hours Monday to Friday throughout the academic year and there is a 24/7 renewal line for loans.
Recently the Sydney Jones Library, which houses the main collections for Arts and Social Sciences, benefitted from a £20million expansion and refurbishment, which further improved the excellent library collections and study environment. The Sydney Jones currently has seating for 600 readers and approximately 400 PCs. Bookable study rooms are available for student use. The Sydney Jones also has a “walk in “short loan collection and a cafe. The Special Collections and Archives department is located in the Sydney Jones Library and includes rare books, manuscripts and the library of the Science Fiction Foundation.
The Harold Cohen Library, with seating for 480 readers and 285 PCs, contains the main collections in Dentistry, Engineering, Science, Medicine, Veterinary Science and Mathematics. Work took place in summer 2008 to improve the environment in the reading rooms on the first floor and provide facilities for both group and quiet study. There is also a branch library at the Veterinary Teaching Hospital on the Wirral.
Your University ID card will give you access to the libraries, and enable you to self-issue and return books. There are introductory talks available for new students and staff will help you find your way around and show you how to use the online catalogue.
Printed guides to the various libraries, services and literature searching facilities are available at service points and staff at the Information Support Desks or Computing Helpdesks will be happy to help if you have a problem or a question. Further information on the Library can be found at http://www.liv.ac.uk/library/ 4.2 Computing Services
Computing Services provides central computing and information technology services to assist the University in carrying out its learning, teaching, research and administration.
There are a number of PC Teaching Centres, which are primarily used for teaching but, when not booked for classes, are available for individual student use. These are located in centres across the Precinct and at the Leahurst Veterinary Centre. There are also a number of Learning Centres, not bookable for classes, on the Precinct and in some of the Halls of Residence. The Teaching and Learning
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Centres each contain PCs linked together by a network. To use the PCs, you first need to self-register by following the information on the screen of a PC Teaching or Learning Centre, or at http://www.liv.ac.uk/csd/ on any computer connected to the Internet.
The PC Teaching Service is based on Microsoft Windows and provides access to a wide range of services, including electronic mail, the Internet, VITAL (the Virtual Learning Environment), word processing, spreadsheets and databases.
There are a number of locations within the Precinct where students may use either WiFi (wireless) or a wired connection to connect their own laptop computer (or other mobile device) to the University's network.
The main CSD Helpdesk is located in the Brownlow Hill Building (with satellites in the two main libraries) and provides a full range of support services including problem solving, software sales and registration queries.
Full details of the services provided by CSD are at http://www.liv.ac.uk/csd
4.3 The Spider Student Web
This is an important facility for students. It provides a PIN protected access to essential personal nd academic information. Using the Spider Student Web, students can undertake the following processes:
Entry and updating of emergency contact details (the emergency contact is the person that the University should contact in the unlikely event of the student suffering a serious illness or accident)
Entry and updating of term time and permanent addresses and telephone numbers Display of current registration details including module registrations Online registration for modules for the next academic year Access the online module catalogue Display of module mark details for the current and previous academic years including the
printing of an informal transcript Request Council Tax Student Certificates and Student Status Letters Display and print their examination timetable. (Note that this is the only method through which
students can obtain access to the timetable – timetables are not posted to students) Entry of graduation intentions including the booking of guest tickets for graduation ceremonies Booking of accommodation in University Halls of Residence The viewing of basic information on their fee account
In view of the importance of the Spider Student Web, students should familiarise themselves with the use of the system as early as possible in the academic year.
Students can see their own personalised teaching timetables through the Spider Student Web; students will need to be fully registered, and it can sometimes take 48 hours (occasionally more) for their full timetable to appear once they have registered for all their modules.
The timetables published through the Spider Student Web are updated throughout the year to take account of any changes, for example if a lecture has to be moved to another venue, or if a student changes seminar group.
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In addition, students can view timetables for programmes and individual modules.
Further information: http://www.liv.ac.uk/orbit/
There are a number of locations within the Precinct where students may use either WiFi (wireless) or a wired connection to connect their own laptop computer (or other mobile device) to the University's network.
The main CSD Helpdesk is located in the Brownlow Hill Building (with satellites in the two main libraries) and provides a full range of support services including problem solving, software sales and registration queries.
Full details of the services provided by CSD are at http://www.liv.ac.uk/csd 4.4 Liverpool Guild of Students
The students’ union, Liverpool Guild of Students, supports students through advice, lobbying and a range of extra-curricular activities, as well as being at the heart of the student social life.
LGoS is a student-led charity and every student at the University of Liverpool is a member. We actively listen to our members and student contributions guide and shape our policies. We lobby and encourage students to take a lead in their university experience. Our main duty is to ensure that the University delivers an excellent student experience. Keeping in contact with our students is one of our top priorities, and we do this in a variety of different ways – face-to-face, on Facebook and Twitter, within lecture theatres and online at: http://www.liv.ac.uk/studentsupport/ist/isa_soc.htm We exist to support and represent the students of the University, as well as ensure that they make the most of their time in Liverpool. In short, we deliver student life support through representation, encouraging participation and ensuring a positive experience. Representation
lgos.org/governance
LGoS is student led and student focused, and there are many opportunities for students to take an active role in our leadership and development. Four students are elected each year to take on the full time role of Student Representative Officer; these are students’ representatives to the University. They plan and implement lobbying activity, attend and chair meetings, develop policy, encourage engagement and ensure that they are accountable to students transparently and democratically. The Guild also has a staff team to support elected students, who also include Student Council, Scrutiny Panels and Working Groups as well as the Course Reps network. We support the system of student reps, students elected by their peers to attend staff- student liaison meetings and put the student point of view across. So if there are not enough books in the library, deadlines are too close to exams, rooms are overcrowded, or anything else is adversely affecting a student’s academic experience, they should talk to their course rep. If a student is interested in becoming a course rep then they should ask a member of staff in their department or contact the Representation & Democracy Co-ordinator Maria Tyldsley, [email protected] within the first few weeks of term.
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Advice
lgos.org/advice
We hope that students’ time at the University of Liverpool will be completely positive and trouble free, but when things do go wrong, we are here to help. We offer free, confidential, non-judgemental academic advice to help students to continue in their studies and achieve the result they are aiming for. For more information visit www.lgos.org/advice Activity Groups
Lgos.org/activities
There are lots of opportunities for students to get involved in LGoS, whether they want to volunteer their time to work on a community-based project with Community Action or join one of the many activity groups, from darts to theatre. We have over 100 groups representing a range of interests and activities. If there is not anything to suit a student’s tastes, they can start up their own activity group. More details can be found on our website at:www.lgos.org
Remember, many graduate employers will ask students about the extra-curricular activities they were involved in at university, so apart from being a fantastic opportunity to make friends with people with shared interests, becoming involved in an activity group is also a chance to gain valuable experience. 4.5 The Careers and Employability Service – It’s your career we’re talking about
The Careers & Employability Service provides information, advice and guidance on all a student needs to know about planning their career – be it working for a big firm, supporting a community organisation, studying for a higher degree, or taking time out to travel the world. And because our services are all about the student, we believe we can be relied on to give students a head start in whatever career they decide to follow.
But relax. We are not just here for those who were born knowing what they want to do. In fact, we specialise in helping those for whom life after University is for the time being one great big open book.
We can put students in touch with leading employers, introduce them to lots of stunning new career ideas, and even help students write world-class CVs and applications. All a student has to do is take the first step and visit us either in person or on-line. After all, it is your career we are talking about. The Careers & Employability Service offers:
Access to part time, term-time job vacancies Internships and work experience opportunities Graduate job vacancies with leading national and local employers Opportunities to meet organisations that want to recruit Liverpool graduates Personal consultations with careers advisers Volunteering opportunities in Liverpool, across the UK and overseas Specialist help with CVs, applications and interviews Information on further study options Advice and information on taking a year out Skills development opportunities Holiday jobs and work experience opportunities across the world (and in Liverpool)
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Impartial advice about options with a student’s degree. The Careers & Employability Service is located on the first floor of the Student Services Centre, next door to the Guild of Students on Mount Pleasant, opposite the Metropolitan Cathedral.
Details of all our services are on the University website at: http://www.liv.ac.uk/careers. You can contact the Careers & Employability Service by email: [email protected] or telephone: 0151 794 4647. You can also follow us on Facebook at: https://www.facebook.com/TheCareersandEmployabilityService or Twitter: https://twitter.com/intent/
4.6 The English Language Unit (ELU)
The English Language Unit (ELU) is a teaching unit within the School of the Arts, specialising in language teaching and learning. It offers language support for registered international students, visiting fellows and international staff members. It also supports the English Department in providing a range of postgraduate courses for language teachers. The Director is Dr Sue Thompson. Key services provided are:
Summer programmes in English for Academic Purposes (EAP) Year-round programmes in General English and EAP English classes for international students/staff members English classes for Erasmus and Socrates exchange students Bespoke English language programmes for University departments IELTS (International English Language Testing System) Testing IELTS Practice & Preparation Courses Cambridge ESOL CELTA (Certificate in English Language Teaching to Adults) Bespoke English language programmes for external organisations
Contact English Language Unit, English Department, University of Liverpool, Cypress Building, Chatham Street, Liverpool L69 7ZR
For EAP & International Student enquiries: Tel: +44 (0)151-794-2735; Email: [email protected] For IELTS enquiries and testing. Tel: +44 (0)151-794-3951; Email: [email protected] For CELTA course information. Tel: 0151 794 2722; Email: [email protected] General fax: +44 (0)151-794-2739
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5. Support Services for Students
5.1 Support and Advice
The University has a well-established network of advice, guidance and support services for all students. Specialist teams and experienced advisers are available to support students on a whole range of issues. Information is available on the web at: http://www.liv.ac.uk/study/support/ and in the publication Your University. A number of services are located in the Student Services Centre including the Student Support Services as follows: 5.2 Student Support Services
Student Support Services
The Student Support Services are based in the Student Services Centre. Our role is to provide students with advice, support and information. We have very experienced advisors who are available for students to come and talk through any issues they may have. We provide a confidential and quiet space for students to come and talk to us about any issues affecting their well-being. We can also offer a range of practical advice or will be able to direct students to the appropriate source of the information they need.
Specialist services within the Student Support Services are as follows: 5.3 Student Support Assistant (SSA)/Care Leavers’ Contact
The SSA is the first point of contact for students who seek advice from Student Support Services regarding any non-academic issues, which may be affecting their general welfare.
If a student needs to talk to someone, but is not sure who to ask for help, the SSA is here to listen and can provide support and initial guidance. The SSA can also signpost students to other more specialist sources of help within Student Support Services and the wider University community and, where appropriate, external agencies.
The SSA also offers on-going advice and support particularly for students who have been looked after by their local authority. If a student is a care leaver, they should contact the SSA to find out about the support available. Contact
Student Support Assistant 0151 794 5927Web: http://www.liv.ac.uk/study/contacts/
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5.5 The Disability Support Team
The Disability Support Team is available to provide support and guidance for students with a wide range of disabilities, health conditions or specific learning difficulties (e.g. dyslexia, dyspraxia). The University actively encourages students to contact the Disability Support Team as soon as possible, to discuss their support needs in a friendly and confidential environment. Working to a person centred approach, the Team, with the student’s consent can create an individual support plan. This details specific support requirements and recommends reasonable adjustments where appropriate, and is used to inform University academic departments, services and contacts of the student’s support needs. With consent, this plan is based around the student and can include different areas of support including:
Liaising with the student’s Academic School /Department to plan support. Liaising with the Student Administration and Support Division in relation to examination
support. Liaising with the Library. Guidance in applying for appropriate funding i.e. Disabled Student Allowance. Support in arranging specialist equipment or assessments including those for specific learning difficulties i.e. Educational Psychologist’s assessment. Referral to a wide range of internal and external contacts for specialist advice including the University’s Mental Health Advisory Service Support in arranging non-medical study assistance e.g. notetaker, study buddy
The ‘Guide to Support and Services for Disabled Students’ sets out further information on the Team and their work. The booklet can be obtained from the Student Support Services, Student Services Centre. It is also available at: http://www.liv.ac.uk/studentsupport/disability/ Contact Disability Support Team 0151 794 4714/0151 794 5117/0151 795 0323Email: [email protected]
5.6 Financial Support Team
The Financial Support Team (FST): http://www.liv.ac.uk/studentsupport/finance/ is available to offer students help and guidance on a range of financial matters. The team can advise students on their entitlement to statutory funding and liaise with funding bodies if they experience problems receiving their funding; students considering withdrawing, suspending or transferring their studies are encouraged to contact the Team for advice on their current and future funding.
FST are involved with the Money Doctors programme which is a Financial Services Authority initiative aimed at improving financial capability for higher education students. Throughout the year, the team will be running various interactive workshops and one to one sessions aimed at improving budgeting and money management.
The team also offers a specialist debt advice service, if a student is experiencing problems with debt, our money adviser can discuss any options and negotiate with creditors a repayment plan that the student can afford.
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The Team also offers:
Discretionary financial help through the access to learning fund for students experiencing financial hardship. Calculation of student support funding Calculation of welfare benefits, and help with appeals if necessary. Alternative sources of funding
Contact
Financial Support Team: 0151 794 6673/5860/5861; Email: [email protected]
5.7 International Support Team (IST) The International Support Team (IST) is a specialist advisory service for international students. The IST is here to support and advise international students both on arrival and throughout their studies. The IST provides specialist advice on student immigration matters (including advice on visa extensions) and other topics including personal and cultural issues. If the IST cannot help directly, they have a wide range of contacts and can refer students to another service that can assist.
The IST website contains lots of useful information on living and studying in Liverpool. This includes information on safety, health, finance and advice specifically aimed at those international students who have their family with them in the UK while they study here.
The IST produces a newsletter and bulletins, both of which are automatically sent to international students’ University email accounts. These often include important notes and changes to immigration rules and procedures so it is essential that international students read this information to keep up-to-date. The newsletter also contains features on interesting events taking place and information about UK life.
If the required information cannot be found on the IST website, then please email for advice or contact the IST for an appointment. Website: http://www.liv.ac.uk/studentsupport/ist/ Email: [email protected] 5.8 Student Counselling
The University Counselling Service helps students with personal and emotional problems. The counsellors are professionally qualified and experienced and enable students to talk over their difficulties in confidence. Students are able to contact the counselling Service with a wide range of worries, including personal, home and family relationships, depression, anxiety and loneliness. A Drop-In Service runs each weekday, Monday to Friday, in term time, between 1.00pm and 2.00pm (no pre-booking necessary). This walk-in service gives students the opportunity to meet for twenty minutes with a counsellor to talk over any difficulties they are having. Full details are posted on our website at: http://www.liv.ac.uk/counserv/ The permanent counselling staff offer a telephone consultation service Monday to Friday between 1.00pm and 2.00pm (times may vary in the vacation – see our website for details), which offers
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members of the University an opportunity to discuss concerns, receive information and advice about managing difficult situations (e.g. when supporting a colleague or student in distress). 5.9 Mental Health Adviser (MHA) The main function of the University MHA is to provide support to students with any mental health difficulties by facilitating their access to study successfully in the University.
The MHA works with individual students who have declared mental health needs during their application process to the University, or who develop mental health problems whilst at University. The role of the MHA is to offer support, advice and liaison between the student and the appropriate university departments to ensure that the students’ mental health needs are adequately and appropriately responded to. Additionally, the MHA is able to offer consultation to students and staff regarding concerns about themselves or their concerns for others.
The MHA works closely with the Disability Support Team and other Student Services, including the Student Health Service, Counselling Service, University Residences, and also with Academic Departments. Contact University Mental Health Adviser 0151 794 2320 Web http://www.liv.ac.uk/counserv/menthlth/ 5.10 Liverpool Guild of Students
We offer advice to students seeking information or representation regarding academic issues. This service is free, confidential and non-judgemental. Our aim is to provide students with the information they will need to make an informed decision about the options available. Students can book an appointment with our Academic Adviser by calling 0151 794 6868 or coming into the BASE in the Guild Building. Our adviser is able to advise and support students in the event that they:
wish to submit an academic appeal to challenge a grade or mark; have been accused of plagiarism, collusion or fabrication of data; have been discontinued from their course and wish to know their options; wish to complain about some aspect of university life, such as halls of residence, teaching, or the level of support offered by their department; or have been affected by illness, unexpected circumstances in their personal life or other
mitigation which they feel has affected their studies.
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6. Other Useful Publications
6.1 Student Charter
The University of Liverpool Student Charter is issued jointly by the Senate and Council of the University, and by the Liverpool Guild of Students. It makes explicit some of the reciprocal responsibilities which members of the University, both staff and students, have to each other and which policies and procedures in individual areas of the University should reflect. The Charter is included as an appendix to the ‘Your University’ publication given to new students. The Annexe to the Student Charter is updated each year. It contains the names of all Heads of Schools/Departments, Heads of Research Centres, Institutes and Units, Heads of Academic Services provided by the University, Wardens of the Halls of Residence, and Heads of Non-Academic Departments and other units. In a number of areas the detailed working out of the commitments in the Charter are contained in University-wide Codes of Practice or similar documents and the Annexe contains a list of those currently in force together with information about how to obtain a copy of the relevant document. An electronic version of both the Student Charter and Annual Annexe can be accessed at: http://www.liv.ac.uk/tqsd/pol_strat_cop/uol_charter.pdf 6.2 University Calendar
(includes Ordinances and Regulations governing degrees) The University Calendar is published at the beginning of each academic year by the Committee Secretariat. It contains information such as:
Terms and semester dates The schedule and membership for the central University committees (the schedule for
school/departmental committees can be obtained from your school or department) The University Statutes, Ordinances and Regulations – these are the rules that govern the
running of the University A list of all staff at the University
With effect from academic year 2009-10, the Calendar is only available as an electron document and may be accessed at: http://www.liv.ac.uk/commsec/calendar.htm 6.3 University Complaints Procedure
The University operates a Student Complaints Procedure to be used when students have a complaint against the University. This procedure provides for complaints to be dealt with, as far as possible, on an informal basis. It also sets out the formal route for the consideration of complaints should informal procedures fail to resolve a complaint satisfactorily. The Student Complaints Procedure can be accessed at: http://www.liv.ac.uk/studentsupport/FAQs/FAQ-Complaints.htm
Where the complaint is about an academic decision regarding assessment, the Assessment Appeals Procedure should be followed. Please see section 2.10.
Complaints relating to the conduct of students are dealt with through the University’s Disciplinary Procedure, which is administered by the Student Administration and Support Division. Further
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information and guidance about student conduct and discipline can be found at: http://www.liv.ac.uk/student-administration/student-administration-centre/
6.4 Your University
This is a general student handbook, which includes the University’s Student Charter. It is also a practical reference book with information on University services, activities and procedures, and advice on the day-to-day essentials of life, such as travel, money matters and your safety and wellbeing.
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