Newcastle University

Personal Tutors

What is a Personal Tutor?

A Personal Tutor is one part of a wider network of support available to students to suppor their personal and general academic development. Each student is assigned a Personal Tutor when they register, and this individual is the student's first port of call for advice or direction to further support.

What You Can Expect from your Personal Tutor?

Your Personal Tutor will:

• Will assist with the process of induction and orientation into academic life and the University community;
• Will retain an interest in your personal and general academic development throughout your academic career;
• Will offer general academic advice on your general progress and development and to signpost relevant careers and skills development provision;
• Will offer confidential help and advice about pastoral/non-academic matters and signpost students to other student services for further assistance if necessary;
• May be approached to provide references;
• May be invited to offer guidance or advice on University processes (e.g. extenuating circumstances).

How Often do You Meet?

Tutors in the School of English have mandatory meetings with their tutees twice during their first semester in the University and once per semester after that. Students may see their Personal Tutor during Office Hours at any point if they so need.

The Senior Tutor

The Senior Tutor acts as a second point of contact for a student in the event of the allocated Personal Tutor's absence from the University or in the event of complicated issues. The Senior Tutor also monitors the the effectiveness of the personal tutorial system. The current Senior Tutor is Dr. Stacy Gillis and she may be contacted with any queries about the Personal Tutor system.