University Homepage School Homepage School Contacts School Search

 

Informatics Fourth Year Honours Course Guide
If you have problems

If you have any problem relating to a specific course (e.g., not being able to keep up with the work) then go to see the relevant lecturer as soon as possible. If you have problems relating to the course as a whole, or have been unable to sort out course-related problems with the relevant lecturer, then contact the course organiser.

If you have problems relating to the use of computers then you can contact support using the support web form. If this brings no joy, see the computing officer or the Course Organiser (see staff list).

Students who have problems which threaten to disrupt their work should seek help at the earliest opportunity. The earlier that help is sought the more likely it is that a solution can be found or that action can be taken to minimise the disruption to the students' degree. Help can be sought from many quarters, e.g., the Director of Studies, the Health Service, the Student Advisory and Counselling Service, the Advice Place, etc. Problems directly related to the course can be taken up with course lecturers, student representatives, project supervisors, the Course Organiser, the Director of Studies, the Director of Teaching or the Head of School.

If a problem is likely to persist and disrupt a student's work then the relevant Course Organiser should be informed. S/he can decide to grant extensions to deadlines or seek further advise form the Chairman of the Board of Examiners. In such cases a doctor's sick note or similar documentary evidence is usually required. Such concessions are much more readily given if they are requested in advance of the deadline.

If you decide not to submit a piece of coursework then it is polite to inform the lecturer concerned. It will also mean that you are not chased for the work. Give the reason for the non-submission, e.g., pressure of other work, illness, bad time management, etc.

In extreme cases, students should consider withdrawing from the course for a year or more. There are no mechanisms for resitting examinations for Honours or resubmitting projects or dissertations, so that a bad mark, once awarded by the Board of Examiners, cannot be adjusted, except on appeal. After a year of severely disrupted work a student might be awarded a degree class that does not reflect his/her true ability. Such students might be better advised to withdraw, solve the problem and then repeat the year when their performance is restored.