Support in your School

Undergraduate and Postgraduate Taught Students

Personal Tutor

You will have a personal tutor assigned to you when you first start at Newcastle University. They are there to help you make the most of your studies.

Your Personal Tutor is your first port of call for all academic and pastoral matters. They can:

• help you reflect on your progress and offer general academic advice
• discuss any problems you may have, whether academic or personal, which may affect your academic progress
• direct you to other support services in the university
• provide advice on submitting a Personal Extenuating Circumstances form if something beyond your control is affecting your studies

Module Leader

If you want to discuss a particular module or assignment, then you can drop in to see the module leader during their office hour or contact them via email. Office hours are weekly slots which staff set aside so that students can come and see them. You can use this time to:

• ask questions about the module (though you should check if it is answered in your module handbook first!)
• discuss feedback you have received on the module and identify ways to improve
• ask questions about the topics on the module, for example, something might have particularly interested you and you would like recommendations for wider reading

For more information about the arrangements in your School, see your degree programme handbook.

Your School Office can be a good place to start if you have questions about university processes, your timetable or how to hand in work. They can also help you identify who are the right people to contact in your school or the wider university.

Postgraduate Research Students

Supervisor

If you are doing a research masters or PhD then your supervisor is your main point of contact. They are there to provide you with guidance for your research project, but they also can give help and advice on a personal basis for issues which affect your studies.

Your supervisor can:

• help you reflect on your progress and offer academic advice
• discuss any problems you may have, whether academic or personal, which may affect your academic progress
• direct you to other support services in the university
• provide advice on a Change of Circumstances if something beyond your control is affecting your studies

If you don't feel able to approach your supervisor about a particular matter, then there are alternative contacts in your School or Faculty. The Research Students Handbook on the Student Progress Website gives details of who you should contact.

Your School Office can also answer questions about university processes and procedures for research students or identify who are the right people to contact in your School.

Research Student Support Team

The Research Student Support team provide advice and guidance on the administration processes at each stage of your research degree, from registration to PhD vivas. For more information see the Research Student Support website.