BirminghamCityUniversity
Standard Student Handbook
Student Course Handbook
Diploma in Professional Studies
in
Post-Compulsory Education and Training
Date of Course Approved/Reviewed / Version Number / Version Date16 April 2007 / Version 3, Issue 2 / December 2010
1. Welcome
Professor FionaChurch
Professor Fiona Church
Executive Dean
Faculty of Education, Law and Social Sciences
September 2010
Dear Student
Welcome
I am delighted to welcome you to your course and the start of your 'learning journey' here at Birmingham City University.
The Faculty of Education, Law and Social Sciences is committed to providing a high quality of learning opportunity for all our students and you will find that your course team are keen to support you in your studies. We hope that you will find your programme stimulating, challenging and of course, enjoyable!
We are sure you will embrace your new experiences with enthusiasm. We are a vibrant Faculty - our population embraces a range of nationalities, ages, cultures, levels of experience and prior knowledge.Some of you will have arrived directly from school or college,some of you will have come from other countries, some of you will already be high level managers and professionals or working towards developing your career. All are welcome and we look forward to meeting your particular needs as you work with us towards your desired goals.
I hope to see you during your induction period. If not, I am available to students through my regularmonthly‘drop-in' sessions. For details please see the ELSS Moodle site or visit the Admissions and Enrolments Office, 1st floor, Attwood Building or the Student Assessment and Support Office, 4th floor, Dawson Building. Please feel free to come and see me to let me know how you are doing, any issues you may have or to say how great everything is!
Your course team and Course Director are an important support mechanism - so make sure you get to know them during the next few weeks and ask forhelp when you need it. We are here to help you succeed.
On behalf of the Faculty I wish you every success with your studies and hope that you have an enjoyable and inspiring experience with us.
Best wishes
Professor Fiona Church
Contents
3Birmingham City University Mission Statement
4Important Documentation and Reading
5Your first days at Birmingham City University
5.1How to find the Faculty of Education, Law and Social Sciences
5.2Room Plans
5.3Academic Staff Contact Details
5.4Administrative Staff Contact Details
5.5Term Dates
5.6Absence Procedures
6Studying at Birmingham City University
6.1 Course Fees
6.2 Bursaries
6.3 Council Tax
6.4Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Disclosure
6.5Birmingham City University Email Account
6.6Online Learning
6.6.1Moodle
6.7Personal Development Planning
6.8Fitness for Practice
7What do you need to know about your course?
7.1Programme Specification
7.2Course Details
8How can you contribute to the development of your course?
8.1Board of Studies
8.2Module Evaluation
9Changes to your course
10Assessment
10.1 Assessment Regulations
10.2 How will you be assessed?
10.3 Why is it important to take all of your assessments?
10.4 Internal Moderation
10.5 Role of External Examiners
10.6 Coursework Extensions
10.7 Exceptional Circumstances
10.8 Error in the Conduct of an Assessment or of an Examination Board
10.9Cheating
10.10.1 Avoiding Allegations of Cheating
10.10Referencing
10.11Use of Standard English in Written Work
11Support and Guidance
11.1How to book a tutorial
11.2What to do on the event of personal problems
11.3Requesting a reference
11.4ICT problems
11.5Change in personal details
To find out what support and guidance is available please go to:
12Academic Skills Centre
13Birmingham City University Students’ Union
14Student Services
15Key Contacts including Academic Registry
16How do you make a complaint?
17National Student Survey and Birmingham City University Student Experience Survey
18Student Conduct
19What do you need to know about health, safety and security?
20How to interrupt your studies
21International Students – Requirements under the UK Border Agency (UKBA) Tier 4 Points Based System
Appendices
A: List of documents available on University’s intranet
B: Course specific regulatory matters
- Fitness for Practice Policy and Procedure
- Breakdown of Placements Policy and Procedure
C: Student Learning Agreements
D: Module outlines
3. BirminghamCityUniversityMission Statement
OUR MISSION
To be a powerful force for learning, creativity and enterprise, promoting economic, social and cultural wellbeing.
OUR VISION
We will be recognised regionally, nationally and internationally as a university which fosters intellectual, critical and creative endeavour and, through continuous innovation:
- Provides an educational experience of the highest quality with a strong commitment to employability and to flexible and practice-based learning;
- Is an exemplar for engagement with business, the professions and the community;
- Promotes centres of excellence in research and investigative practice;
- Is a force for equality and inclusion.
OUR APPROACH
We will attain this reputation through:
- The value we place on our staff and the expectations we place on them for the highest standards of professionalism and performance;
- Active partnership with the Students’ Union to ensure that together we meet students’ educational and wider social, cultural, sporting, welfare and personal development needs;
- Innovative use of technology to promote effective student learning and efficient business delivery;
- Continuous development of our portfolio of activities to meet changing needs;
- The development of the estate to achieve a first-class environment;
- A marketing and communications strategy which enables us to engage effectively with staff, partners and the wider community, and to promote the University’s capabilities;
- The promotion of sustainability in our policies and activities.
For more information about the University’s policies on equal opportunities and diversitysee: the University’s internet site at Appendix A to this Handbook tells you how to access documents from the internet and has a list of all the documents which are available.
4. Important Documentation and Reading
Some of the documents which you will be given during your time at BirminghamCityUniversityare important and you should keep them, particularly as future employers may wish to see evidence of your achievements. Make sure that you keep:
- module specifications for the modules which you study;
- your programme specification (see section 7.1 of this Handbook);
- your Award Certificate - this is evidence of the qualification which you have obtained;
- your final transcript - this is a record of your achievement which lists your grades for the assessments.
In addition, you are advised to familiarise yourself with the contents of this Handbook and the associated regulations which are mentioned in it. It is a good idea to keep a copy of this Handbook as you may need to refer to it during your time at BirminghamCityUniversity. The regulations mentioned in this Handbook can be downloaded from the University’s internet siteat
5. Your first days at BirminghamCityUniversity
Again, welcome to the Faculty and to the DPS Post-Compulsory Education and Trainingcourse. In your early days here we will introduce you to the structure and content of your course and will introduce you to the members of the course team and some of the Faculty staff who will be able to help and advise you during your course.
5.1How to find the Faculty of Education, Law and Social Sciences
The Faculty Office is located on the fourth floor of DawsonBuilding. Courses in the Schools of Primary and Early Years Education, and Secondary and Post-Compulsory Education are for the most part located in AttwoodBuilding. This handbook will refer mainly to the resources and staff you will find there.
5.2Room Plans
5.3Academic Staff Contact Details
Your main point of contact will be the Course Director, Karen McGrath. She is responsible for co-ordinating the administrative and academic elements of your course
Name:Karen McGrath
Contact:Ext 7341 - Room A137
Role:Course Director, Module Leader and Professional Development Tutor
Email:
Name:Janet Hoskyns
Contact:Ext 7337 - Room A135
Role:Acting Head of School of Education and Professional Development Tutor
Email:
Name:Tony Armstrong
Contact:Ext 7365 - Room A026
Role:Module Leader and Professional Development Tutor
Email:
Name:Anthony Coles
Contact:Ext 7387 - Room A137
Role:Module Leader and Professional Development Tutor
Email:
Name:Jean Dyson
Contact:Ext 5179 - Room A028
Role:Module Leader and Professional Development Tutor for Art and Design
Email:
Name:Jim McGrath
Contact:Ext 7366 - Room A138
Role:Module Leader and Professional Development Tutor
Email:
Name:Anita Reardon
Contact:Ext 5176 - Room A028
Role:Professional Development Tutor for Art and Design
Email:
Academic Staff Contact Details at SouthBirminghamCollege
Name:Sardul Dhesi
Contact:0121 694 5000
Role:Vice Principal responsible for HE courses
Email:
Hall Green Centre
Name:Correna Lewis
Contact:0121 694 5000
Role:Diploma in Professional Studies in Post-Compulsory Education and Training Tutor and Professional Development Tutor
Email:
5.4Administrative and Technical Staff Contact Details
Ian Hamley is the Director of Faculty Administration and oversees all the administrative processes in the Faculty. He and senior members of his team, can provide advice and guidance on course regulations, disciplinary matters, complaints procedure and other University processes and procedure relating to students.
Name:Ian Hamley
Contact:Ext 6321 - Room D223b
Role:Director of Faculty Administration
Email:
Name:Sarah Knight
Contact:Ext 7313 - Room A106b
Role:Operations Manager – Admissions and Enrolment
Email:
Name:Jill Burgin
Contact:Ext 7278 - Room D435
Role:Operations Manager – Student Assessment and Support
Email:
The Admissions & Enrolment Office
This office is in room A106b on the first floor of Attwood Building. This is where you should go with any queries about admissions, enrolment, tuition fees, CRB disclosures.
Student Assessment and Support Office
This office is located on the fourth floor of Dawson Building. This is where you should go with any queries related to assessment submission or issues to do with student support such as with requests for council tax exemption.
School Offices
School of Education
Secondary and Post-Compulsory Education Office
The Secondary and Post-Compulsory Education Office is based on the first floor of Attwood Building in Room 104b. The course administrators and the partnership administrators for the Secondary and Post-Compulsory courses can be found in this office. This is where you will go for information about any placements which might be part of your course. Staff in the office will also produce academic transcripts for students at the end of their course. You will need to inform this office about any change in your address or personal details while you are studying at the Faculty.
The staff whom you will meet are:
Name:Karla Donald
Contact:Ext 7338 - Room A104b
Role:Post-Compulsory Course Administrator
Email:
Name:Lynda Ford
Contact:Ext 5276 - Room A104b
Role:PGCE Secondary Course Administrator
Email:
Name:Samantha Gardiner-Hardy
Contact:Ext 7339 - Room A104b
Role:MA Courses Administrator
Email:
Name:Chris Markwell
Contact:Ext 7350 - Room A104b
Role:Secondary & PCET Partnership Administrator
Email:
5.5Term Dates
10.01.2011 - 15.04.2011
03.05.2011 - 22.07.2011
05.09.2011 - 14.11.2011
5.6Absence Procedures
You are expected to attend taught sessions and your placement teaching hours. In cases such as illness or other extenuating circumstances, please notify Karla Donald, the Course Administrator, wherever possible, indicating how long you anticipate being absent. Failure to follow absence procedures could mean that staff are unable to sign off relevant Standards Verification UK (SVUK) standards regarding professionalism. For those in receipt of a bursary it is essential that our attendance records are accurate. Failure to notify absences could lead to jeopardising your payments. All matters relating to attendance are covered in the Student Learning Agreement (see Appendix C of this book) which will be completed shortly after enrolment.
6.Studying at BirminghamCityUniversity
6.1 Course Fees
For more information on course fees please refer to:
New StudentsPre-Arrival Guide and the University’s website:
Returning Students Returners’ Guide to Enrolment and Fee Payment and the University website.
6.2Bursaries
Full time home undergraduate and PGCE students who are paying £3,290 tuition fees may be eligible for a Birmingham City University bursary. This non-repayable bursary of up to £525 will be offered on a sliding scale to those students who receive a full or partial maintenance grant.
Full details of this bursary and how to apply can be found at:
6.3Council Tax
Advice about council tax can be found can be found in the Pre-Arrival Guide and at .
6.4Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) Disclosure
As part of the admissions procedure for entry on to your course you will have undergone a Criminal Records Bureau (CRB) check. You should retain your copy of the Enhanced Disclosure that was issued to you.
If, during the course of your studies on your programme within the Faculty, or during any period of interruption of study, you receive a caution/conviction or are subject to on-going criminal proceedings, you are required to inform your Course Director immediately. If you do not do this, it may result in disciplinary action being taken against you.
6.5 Birmingham City University Email Account
When you join a Birmingham City University you will be given a Birmingham City University email account. Birmingham City University will use the email account to communicate important information about your course. It is essential, therefore, that you check your Birmingham City University email account regularly, so that you do not miss anyimportant information.
6.6Online Learning
6.6.1Moodle
Moodle is the University’s Course Management System (CMS) and Virtual Learning Environment. You can access Moodle by going to and entering yourUniversity network ID and password. Each faculty has its own Moodle which can be accessed from the main Moodle website.
Moodle is a great place to look for information to help you with your course. There are useful links to key resources and websites. You can also access calendars which show upcoming events as well as forums and Really Simple Syndication (RSS) Feeds which deliver the latest news and information without the need to search the web.
Moodle enables you to keep in contact with tutors and friends if you are onInstant Messaging and the many forums that have been established to support you. These communication tools are particularly useful if you are out of the University, for example if you are on placement. Moodle is available 24 hours a day, 365 days per year and from anywhere in the world.
Where modules are supported by Moodle, they might provide access to resources such as lecture notes, PowerPoint presentations or, in some cases, multimedia scenarios and video lectures. Other resources may include access to module guides and live reading lists (TalisLists) which take you straight into the Library’s website to enable you to check on the books, journals, and other resources that support the module.
Apart from providing flexible access to resources, Moodle is also used on some modules to provide learning activities to enhance your learning experience. This includesquizzeswhich test your knowledge and give immediate automated feedback; glossariesto explain complex terms and forums which enable you to ask tutors questions or work collaboratively and share experiences with fellow students. Other features include: Blogs, which are personal spaces that allow you to reflect upon your own learning privately;Choices which enable you to vote on certain issues; Wikis (collaborative websites) which allow you to work collaboratively with other students and workshops which allow students to review each others work.
For more information about Moodle contact: Your Course Director.
6.7 Personal Development Planning
Whilst studying at Birmingham City University you will have many opportunities to expand your academic, professional and personal horizons. Personal Development Planning (PDP) is a process undertaken by students at Birmingham City University to reflect upon their own learning, performance and achievement and to plan for their personal, educational andcareer development. It will enable you to articulate the skills you are developing in order to open up opportunities for the future.
Briefly, PDP is a means by which you can record, evaluate and review all that you are learning. It will:
- helpto keep you motivated;
- give you a better understanding of how you learn and how to improve your performance;
- give you clearer ideas about the kind of life and work you want;
- enable you to be in a better position to compete for jobs;
- help you to develop a positive, forward-looking approach.
There are different approaches to PDP across the University. You will be told during induction how PDP works on your course. There is a central PDP course which is delivered online through Moodle and is open to all students whatever their course or year of study. Students can complete this online course on their own and at their own pace as it does not require direct tutor support. However, in order to get the most out of the course, it is recommended that students discuss their PDP work with their Personal Tutor or Course Director or a careers advisor.
You can access the central PDP course online by going directly to Under the heading ‘non Faculty Student Courses’ click on Personal Development Planning. There are six sections of the PDP course. Choose ‘Introduction’.
You will be asked for your Birmingham City University network id and password. (These are the ones which you use to log on to any Birmingham City University computer).
For further information contact: Your Personal Tutor or Course Director
6.8 Fitness for Practice
Some of the University’s courses prepare students for entry into professions where they have to meet certain behavioural and/or health requirements if they are to practise the profession. Nursing and Teaching are two such professions. In awarding professional qualifications to these students, the University must be confident that the students are ‘fit to practice’ in their chosen career.