New and returning students: academic year 2021/22

What to expect from your student experience as you start a new academic year

Welcome

Whether you’re starting an exciting new chapter or returning to campus for a new academic year in 2021/22, our priority is to ensure that you have a successful student experience in an enjoyable and safe environment. We are very much looking forward to seeing you.

Page last updated: 2 June 2021

Find out how to complete online enrolment, access course induction information and more through University induction.

What to expect from your study

Planning your studies

We hope that the majority of UK Government Covid restrictions will have been lifted or at least significantly eased by the start of academic year 2021/22 and we are planning a high-quality student experience, designed on the basis of in-person, face-to face, teaching and learning activities, supplemented with digital resources.

How your subject is taught

We teach a huge range of subjects, from design to dentistry, and maths to marine biology – and each subject has its own unique needs. The programme teams are designing the optimal teaching format for the various aspects of your course for the start of the next academic year.

Face-to-face sessions

Group teaching, including tutorials, workshops, studio, laboratory and practical-based sessions will take place in person, on-campus. We want you to have as much live interaction with your lecturers and your course-mates as possible. You will be expected to attend your face-to-face sessions as they are an important part of your overall university and learning experience.

If social distancing guidance is still in place by the start of the academic year we will draw on experience from the previous academic year to run smaller groups rather than large lecture or workshop sessions, supplemented with online materials. If we have to adapt teaching sessions in this way a risk assessment will inform the decision.

Learn on demand

We have always offered a variety of teaching formats and positive student feedback during 2020/21 on the value of certain online opportunities enables us to offer even more flexible learning for 2021/22. Therefore...

face-to-face teaching will sometimes be supported by digital live teaching sessions, where all students access the session via an online platform and interact with the lecturer.

you may be able to watch some of your lectures in a pre-recorded format on our secure Digital Learning Environment (DLE). This will cover the same content as a live lecture, but with the added benefit of allowing you to work through these materials at a time of your choice or to revisit materials after attending an in-person lecture.

In many instances these sessions will be supported with an online discussion area where you can ask questions and share ideas with your course-mates and lecturers, and use resources that challenge you to consolidate your learning.

Meetings with lecturers

You will be able to meet individually with your programme staff and your personal tutors to discuss your ideas, your progress, and receive feedback and support on your coursework and assignments.

Arrangements for international students

We are looking forward to welcoming our international students onto campus for the start of the 2021/22 academic year, however we are aware that because of travel restrictions this might not be possible in all situations.

Our programme staff are working to ensure that if you are unable to travel to the UK, we will do all that we can to support you to study remotely, temporarily, until you are able to join us in person.

For some programmes which require specialist teaching such as some lab-based, practical or clinical learning programmes, remote study may not be possible. Please discuss the implications of not being able to travel for any extended period with your programme team.

For more information, please contact International Student Advice or email studentservices@plymouth.ac.uk.

Our support for you

Digital skills

You will need to use digital platforms as part of your learning experience and we will support you to make sure you have the digital skills you need to access learning and programme materials and share information and coursework with others.

We have developed training materials and online sessions to support you in the use of these as part of your studies. You can access all of these materials as soon as you have completed your online enrolment for the 2021/22 academic year.

IT equipment: support and recommendations

We recommend that all students have access to their own technology to access their programme including the right hardware (for example, a laptop), software and connectivity (for example, broadband). If you’re purchasing a laptop, you should review our recommended IT equipment specifications for new students.

If you’re unsure about the specific computer requirements for your course, make sure to speak to our Student Services team on +44(0)1752 587676 who can put you in touch with the tutors on your course.

If you find that obtaining the right technology is difficult because of financial reasons, the University might be able to support you. Have a look at our bursaries and other funding options.

Please note: if your programme requires the use of specialist applications that are computing or graphics intensive, for example, CAD, gaming, film or design, you may need a higher specification computer. In this case please contact our Student Services team on +44(0)1752 587676 who can put you in touch with tutors on your course for advice.

Staying social and finding friends

Interacting with others and making friends is such an important part of your university experience, which is why we are continuing to work with the Students’ Union (UPSU) to make sure you feel supported by us and each other. Through online and safely conducted on-campus activities, you’ll be able to connect with others, have new experiences and build important social relationships.

Supporting your wellbeing

Your wellbeing has always been, and continues to be, a priority for us. If you’re struggling, you’re not alone. Reach out to our Student Services team for support, including our dedicated Mental Health team and a range of other services including:

Did you know that students suffering from anxiety, depression, or other mental health conditions may be able to access additional funding to support their studies?

Get in touch with our Student Services team or directly with Disability Services.

Healthy body and mind

There are evidenced links between good mental health and sport and exercise. Regular exercise can help to maintain personal wellbeing and help to mitigate the effects of mild to moderate depression and anxiety.

Through UPSU, our on-campus gym and wider sporting connections throughout the city, the University offers a range of fitness sessions and classes. There are also numerous sporting clubs and societies to get involved with¬ – find all of our clubs and societies on the UPSU website.

Covid testing and vaccinations

We have been providing on-site Covid testing during 2020/21 and if still needed by the autumn you will be able to access testing kits (lateral flow tests) to use regularly at home or be able to access testing support on-campus. We work closely with local NHS and Public Health services and can provide guidance on Covid vaccination opportunities and locations if you have not had both your vaccine doses by the time you join us.

Changes to government guidance

We hope for, and are planning for, being able to see you and teach you on campus. But given the changeable nature of the Covid situation and the possibility of updates to government guidance, we may need to move some teaching fully online for a period of time or make further adjustments on some or all of our modules at any time during the academic year.

We want to reassure you that even if we do have to adjust the way we teach, our experience from this last year has shown that we can do this very successfully and we will be working hard to maintain the quality of the student learning experience and your learning outcomes and achievements.

Further updates

The information for 2021/22 academic year was last updated on 2 June 2021 and will continue to be updated in the coming months and not least as government guidance changes. We do appreciate that any changes can be unsettling and we will keep you updated as regularly as we can.

We look forward to seeing you in 2021/22 and thank you for your continued hard work and support.