This page of our website will help prepare you for your studies in Academic Year 2022/23.
Term dates
Academic Year 2022/23
- Term 1 - Monday 05 September 2022
- Term 2 - Monday 09 January 2023
- Term 3 - Monday 08 May 2023
Below you can see other important dates throughout the academic year.
Learning and Teaching
You can find out all you need to know about our highly flexible, social learning approach on the Learning and Teaching tile of our Student Information Portal.
For the latest information on exams, assessments and appeals you can visit www.uws.ac.uk/current-students/supporting-your-studies/exams-assessment-appeals/
Our campuses
UWS incorporates four distinctive campuses situated in the west and south-west of Scotland: Ayr, Dumfries, Lanarkshire and Paisley, and one in the capital city of the UK: London. Each campus location has its own individual character, architecture and social scene. Whether you choose an urban or rural environment, our campuses offer modern accommodation, varied extra-curricular activities and excellent teaching and study facilities.
Find out more about our campuses, including our campus maps at www.uws.ac.uk/campuses
The Hub
You can contact The Hub for support or questions you may have during your student journey at UWS. There’s a Hub on every campus and an online portal too.
Our friendly Hub team can assist you with enrolment, council tax enquiries and payments for tuition and accommodation fees.
You can also access information and appointment booking for the support services available to you, including:
- Academic Skills Development
- Careers Guidance
- Counselling and Wellbeing
- Disability Support (including Assistive Technology)
- Funding and Advice
- International Student Support
- Multi Faith Chaplaincy
If you have questions about anything not mentioned above and you don’t know where to go, The Hub team will be happy to help or refer you to the appropriate team or department, so don’t hesitate to get in touch.
You can log into The Hub online at: http://hub.uws.ac.uk/
The How do I… section is where you will find all sorts of useful information to answer many of our frequently asked questions. This portal is also where you can access Library and IT Support.
You can also contact the Hub via email: hub@uws.ac.uk or telephone: 0141 848 3800.
Student Support
At UWS, we are committed to ensuring that every student gets the most out of their university experience, regardless of their personal circumstances or background. There is a wide range of support available to ensure that all students fulfil their potential, achieve their goals and enjoy their time at UWS.
Academic Skills Support
Our team of Academic Skills Advisers provide advice, guidance and resources to help develop and enhance individual skills for success at university and beyond.
We are available for 1:1 appointments or webinars on a wide range of topics including:
- Social learning
- Time management
- Note-taking and effective learning
- Grammar and punctuation
- Reading skills
- Critical thinking
- Revision and preparing for exams
- Giving presentations
- Referencing and avoiding plagiarism
- Interpreting feedback
- Reflective writing
- Writing essays, reports and dissertations
- Digital Skills
The Academic Skills Team have a podcast on Spotify called ‘A wee blether about…’. The team also maintain a range of resources on the Careers and Academic Skills Website, which is where you can book webinars and appointments. This is accessed by clicking on the Careers & Academic Skills tile on the UWS Student App or the log in link at supporting your studies.
Careers
Your Student Services Careers Team is here to help you to achieve your career goals by providing professional careers education, information, advice and guidance. You can use the resources and services of the Careers Team from first year through to two years after graduation.
All students are automatically registered with the UWS Careers & Academic Skills website where you will find a wide variety of resources for Careers and Academic Skills Development. This is also where you can book appointments with a Careers Adviser and to attend Careers Events.
You can find out more about the support our team can give you at www.uws.ac.uk/careers where you can also log in to the Online Careers & Academic Skills website.
Counselling and Wellbeing
If personal or emotional problems are making your life difficult, the Counselling Service at UWS can help. You can talk to one of our counsellors about anything that’s affecting your well-being, big or small. Our free, confidential service is available to all UWS students. The counselling team aims to create a safe, affirming and welcoming environment that embraces human diversity. It’s very important to us to provide equality of services and care to everyone, regardless of age, disability, race, sexual orientation, gender, gender identity, religion or belief.
Find out more at www.uws.ac.uk/current-students/supporting-your-health-wellbeing/counselling/
Disability Support
Disability is no barrier to success at UWS. Our friendly, confidential team will work with you to help identify appropriate support strategies and adjustments tailored to meet your individual needs.
If you have, or think you have a long term medical condition, unseen disability or specific learning difficulty, we will be able to offer you advice and guidance on support available. Don’t worry if you do not know what type of support you will need, our disability advisers will help you identify which support may be best for you.
Find out more at www.uws.ac.uk/disabilityservice/
Funding & Advice
Studying at university will likely have a big impact on your money, so planning ahead is key and will help you focus on your studies and complete your course. Whether you are living away from home for the first time, or are returning to education as a mature student, perhaps with children to support, we have help and advice that everyone can benefit from.
Find out more at www.uws.ac.uk/money-fees-funding
International Student Support
Coming to the UK as an international student is an exciting experience. However we understand that there are also many new challenges and our International Student Advisers are here to help you with many aspects of living and studying away from home.
We can help you with:
- Student immigration & student visas
- Travel advice
- Financial questions
- Relative visits
- Working in the UK
- General welfare support
- Settling into the UK
If you are a new international student in 2022/23, here are our 5 things to do in your first week at UWS:
- Arrange a Check in and Chat appointment
- Collect your Biometric Residence Permit (BRP) and register with the police (if applicable)
- Open a UK bank account
- Register with a Doctor (GP) - To find your local GP in Scotland, visit the NHS website and enter your postcode. London students can find local GP services here.
- Connect with other students (online or in person)
The UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCISA) website at www.ukcisa.org.uk also provides information on all aspects of international students studying in the UK.
Find out more at www.uws.ac.uk/current-students/supporting-your-health-wellbeing/international-student-support/
There is also a dedicated section for international students on our Student Information Portal.
Multifaith Chaplaincy
UWS welcomes and celebrates people of all faiths and none. Whatever your beliefs, you’ll find space for reflection on campus and personal support from the multifaith chaplaincy team.
Find out more at www.uws.ac.uk/current-students/supporting-your-health-wellbeing/multifaith-chaplaincy/
Support for carers, care experienced and estranged students
At UWS, we understand that being a carer, a care experienced student or an estranged student can have a big impact on your life and studies.
If you are in any of these categories, we have an extensive range of support available and you can find out more at www.uws.ac.uk/university-life/student-support-wellbeing/care-experienced-carer-or-estranged-student/
The Library
The Library is here to support learning throughout your student journey.
The Library gives you access to a wide range of books and journals online and in print. Library staff are available in-person or remotely to assist with any enquiries and offer one-to-one support to help you get the most out of your time at UWS.
This year we are running Library Skills Online sessions for all students. These 30-minute online sessions will help you develop key Library skills for studying and are delivered by a member of the Library team. The meetings are informal and you will have the opportunity to ask questions. More information on Library Skills Online including details of the programme can be found here https://uws-uk.libguides.com/LibrarySkillsOnline
To get you started, here are some ways to access the Library:
- Discover and access Library resources on One Search (sign-in required)
- Browse Library Guides created by expert Librarians to support you while using Library resources
- Login to UWS Portal to search Library information and access FAQ’s; if you can’t find what you are looking for ‘Log A Call’
- Use My Library Card (also your student ID card) to manage your Library account online, on or off campus: make or cancel reservations, renew items and check due dates
- Access a variety of study spaces on each campus including silent and group zones
- Register for our Welcome to the Library session
More information can be found here: www.uws.ac.uk/library
Meeting your Personal Tutor
During Welcome Week, all students will be allocated a Personal Tutor. For returning students this may be the same one you have had previously or you may be allocated someone new. This is usually a lecturer from your course who can offer you support and guidance with your studies. Your Personal Tutor will set up a meeting in the early part of Term 1, and thereafter you should meet at least once per term and maintain regular communication.
It is important that you fully engage with your Personal Tutor, even when things are going well, as they can help you to make good decisions and to get the most out of your time at UWS. They can also assist if you have a problem with any aspect of your studies. If you do have any issues, you should contact your Personal Tutor as soon as possible rather than wait until your next scheduled meeting.
You can check the name of your Personal Tutor in the Self Service Banner System, which you can access by clicking the My Student Record tile in the UWS Student App.
Get active and get involved
As well as going to your classes, there are many ways to make new friends, feel part of the UWS community, and to make sure your university experience is fulfilling, rewarding and fun.
This is not only important for your wellbeing, but students who get involved with other aspects of university life, such as UWS Achievement Awards, Team UWS and societies, tend to do better in their studies, build networks and gain skills which can help while at university and beyond. Employers are very interested to hear about extra-curricular activities as well as your degree.
The Students’ Union
All UWS students automatically become members of the Union. As well as hosting an exciting calendar of events year-round and offering the opportunity to get involved with a range of Societies. Your Union helps to improve your time at UWS by ensuring the student voice is heard.
The Sabbatical Team, as elected by students, campaign with you and for you to address any issues you may face, whether internally or at a national level. Your Union supports students through our confidential, free advice service as well as being a place that gives you the opportunity to make new friends and feel part of the UWS community.
There are lots of ways to get involved with Your Union. To Find out more and see our events visit www.uwsunion.org.uk
Sports
At UWS we recognise the transformative power of physical activity and sport in enabling health and wellbeing. University is an exciting time in your life and we are here to help you make the most of this experience and to provide opportunities to ensure you keep your body active as well as your mind.
As part of this commitment we offer FREE gym memberships to all of our students at our UWS operated facilities.
Team UWS is the core of the sporting community at the University. Student led clubs exist across a wide range of sports, and we are keen to work with those interested in developing even more. In addition to training and taking part in social and other activities, student members compete in league and cup competitions as well as individual championships as part of a wider network across Scottish Student Sport (SSS) and British Universities and Colleges Sport (BUCS).
We are proactive in our support of dual career student athletes who aspire to achieve performance goals within their sport alongside and beyond their period of study. Our Sport Scholarship Programme offers academic flexibility and financial support to high performing student athletes, and applications for 2022-2023 are currently open.
You can find out more about Team UWS, our Sport Scholarship Programme, on-campus gyms and external facility partnerships, sporting partners and much more at www.uws.ac.uk/university-life/sport-and-physical-activity-at-uws/
Find Team UWS social media links, contact details and information on joining by visiting https://linktr.ee/teamuws
If you have a specific query about sport and physical activity at UWS please email sportenquiry@uws.ac.uk
UWS systems
These are the core systems you will use most often during your studies. We would encourage you to familiarise yourself with them and get into the habit of logging in regularly.
UWS Student App
The UWS Student App is your student portal. As well as being an information resource it connects you in real-time to other UWS systems, making it easier for you to keep track of everything you need in one place. You can access the UWS Student App from your internet browser at https://studentapp.uws.ac.uk/ or download the app from the app store onto your device.
Virtual Learning Environments
Lecturers will provide access to a variety of learning content, resources, and interactive events for each of their classes. It’s important to visit your VLE regularly and participate in the online activities.
Self Service Banner (Your Student Record)
Self Service Banner (sometimes referred to as SSB) is the system that maintains your student record. It is really important that you familiarise yourself with this and that you keep your personal details up to date. We use the information held here in case of emergency, for example if the campus should suddenly be closed. This system is where you complete your enrolment; find out about your Personal Tutor; request Council Tax exemptions; view your confirmed grades and when it’s time, register for Graduation. There is much more available, so be sure to take a look around. You can access Self Service Banner by clicking on the My Student Record tile in the UWS Student App.
Your student email account & Microsoft 365
All UWS students are provided with a Microsoft 365 account. This includes your student email account and access to the full range of Microsoft software and applications, such as Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Teams, and much more. You can access this via the UWS Student App or by logging in at https://office.com/ with your University email address and password.
Student email account
Your student email address is in the format BannerID@studentmail.uws.ac.uk - your
BannerID begins with B00 and can be found on your student ID card (it is also sometimes referred to as your Student ID). This is one of the main ways the University will communicate with you so it is very important that you check your emails regularly. You should also use your student email account when communicating with the University.
Office 365 software and applications
Lighter versions of Office 365 apps can be accessed online, through your internet browser, whenever you want and wherever you are, so long as you have internet access. You are also able to download full versions of the software on up to five compatible personally-owned devices, including PCs, Macs and tablets.
When logged in to https://office.com you will see an Install Office link in the top right of your screen.
OneDrive
OneDrive is your personal online file storage space. You have 1TB of storage that allows you to save and share your files. This is much safer than saving your work on flash drives and you can access your files from any device at any time, so long as you have an internet connection. We recommend that you get in the habit of saving your work here.
Account security
You must keep your Microsoft 365 account secure. Ensure that you:
- Log out of your account when not in use
- Protect your password
- Protect your email account on mobile devices
- Do not click on links or open attachments in emails unless you are 100% confident that you can trust the sender
Additional authentication option
In addition to email and phone number authentication options, it is possible to set up the Microsoft Authenticator app.
If you have a smartphone:
Download the Microsoft Authenticator app from the Play/Apple store.
Visit https://aka.ms/mfasetup after the app is installed. Select Authenticate via the app and scan the QR code on screen using smartphone and the Authenticator App.
If you do not have a smartphone:
Visit https://aka.ms/mfasetup and select ‘Text code to my authentication phone number’.
You will only be asked to provide this once every 30 days unless you login from a new device, or change your password.
IT support
If you forget your password at any time, please go to passwordmanager.uws.ac.uk and follow the instructions to reset the password.
Visit our support chat, or contact The Hub on 0141 848 3800, or by email at hub@uws.ac.uk, if you need any assistance. There is also an IT Helpdesk you can visit on campus.
Laptop loan
Can’t find a PC? You can borrow a loan laptop to use on campus from the Library Info Point at Ayr Campus or from the self-serve laptop facilities at our Paisley, Lanarkshire and London campuses.
WiFi access on campus
Select EduRoam from the list of available WiFi networks on your device and log in with your University log in details.
Student responsibilities
As a UWS student you are expected to:
- Take responsibility for your own learning
- Make effective use of the support and guidance available to you across the University
- Abide by the principles of good academic practice (referencing guidelines; ethics awareness, avoiding plagiarism etc)
- Engage with your allocated personal tutor and other support frameworks to highlight issues affecting progress, academic performance or wellbeing
- Familiarise yourself with the Regulatory Framework, in particular the Assessment Regulations
- Maintain a high standard of personal conduct in your relations with staff, other students and visitors to the University
- Meet the attendance and engagements expectations for all components of your programme of study
Your voice
To help us make our teaching, facilities and services work for you, we like to ask you what we do well and where we can improve. You will also receive regular verbal and written feedback from your course team and other University staff to help guide you through your studies.
Keep an eye out for the range of ways we ask for your feedback through student surveys, module evaluations questionnaires, The Students’ Union and Student Representatives.
Printing Services
Our Printing Services team specialise in cost effective digital printing and are on-hand to support students with all of their printing needs.
Find out more at www.uws.ac.uk/current-students/it-printing/printing/
UWS contacts
It’s always important to know where to turn if you have a question about UWS, and below we highlight some of your key contacts during your time with us.
The Hub
Academic Skills
Careers
Care Experience Support
Counselling and Wellbeing
Disability Support
Funding Advice
IT Helpdesk
International Student Support
Library
Multifaith Chaplaincy
Printing Services
Student Residences
Students’ Union
Campus Security
Contact
Ayr: 01292 886211
Dumfries: 01387 345845
Lanarkshire: 01698 283100 and request Security
Paisley: 0141 848 3168
Last updated: 10/03/2022