Why is this guide important to you?

This Handbook will help you manage your studies and reach your full potential in your academic life at the University.

You may be a new or returning student at Christ Church. There are things you need to know, and things you’ll need to do to get the most out of your time with us.

Some information you’ll need now; a lot will become more important later. The Handbook doesn’t contain all the details, but it tells you the basics, and where to find out more if you need it.

Here are the main ways that you can stay informed during your time studying at Canterbury Christ Church University.

STUDENT WEBPAGES

Your student website provides you with key information about all the services available to you while at the University. There are also links to the latest news and events. There are quick links to your emails, calendar and Blackboard.

EMAIL

As part of your registration, you’ll be asked to create a University email account (username@ canterbury.ac.uk). All University-related email correspondence will be sent to this address. Therefore, you need to check it regularly. You can redirect your University email to another email account.

BLACKBOARD

Blackboard is your Virtual Learning Environment (VLE) where you’ll find most of your learning materials specific to your course. You can find a quick link to Blackboard through your student website. Your tutors will post module and assessment information, lecture recordings, revision, and other learning activities on Blackboard. Blackboard is also where you will submit the majority of your assessments electronically using Turnitin.

MYRECORD

MyRecord is where you can access information that the University holds about you, your application(s) and your studies. It is also the place for undertaking important University processes like registering, submitting a request to change your course and receiving your assessment results.

THE i-ZONE

The i-zone is your student helpdesk for information about all aspects of life at Christ Church. If i-zone does not know the answer, the team will know who to signpost you to. Whatever your query is, i-zone is always a good place to start.

You can get in touch via email at i-zone@canterbury.ac.uk, by telephone on 01227 922222, Live Chat or by visiting the i-zone desks at the Canterbury or Medway campuses.

Don’t forget to check out your Course Handbook and Module Handbooks, which give you more specific information about your course.

Access to key information relating to your course (or courses if you’re doing a combined honours degree) can be found on the student webpages including quick links to Blackboard, MyRecord and MyTimetable.

WHAT AM I EXPECTED TO LEARN?

Each course consists of separate parts known as modules. Each module focuses on specific topics and themes.

Your modules enable you to gain specific knowledge and skills known as ‘learning outcomes’. Throughout your modules, you will undertake regular assessment activities to test your achievement of these learning outcomes.

Each Undergraduate level of study (0*, 4, 5, 6, and 7 for an Integrated Master’s) consists of modules that together must have a total value of 120 credits. Modules typically have a value of 20 or 40 credits, or occasionally 10 credits.

You must achieve your learning outcomes and pass your modules to progress through your course and gain an award or credits.

You can read about your learning outcomes in your Course Handbook and Module Handbooks on Blackboard.

WHERE CAN I FIND SUPPORT FOR MY STUDIES?

You will be allocated a Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) when you arrive. The PAT will provide you with academic support to identify the academic skills you need to develop and succeed in your studies.

The Learning Skills Team will support you to become a successful and independent learner in your chosen subject. They provide a range of online resources, including the Learning Skills Hub, workshops and support for referencing, essay writing, dissertation writing, critical analysis and reflective writing. Each Faculty has a dedicated member of the Learning Skills Team to provide course advice that will help you develop your academic skills.

There are different types of mentors. Peer Mentors are from various backgrounds and are keen to share their knowledge and experiences as current students. Course Mentors, provide subject-specific facilitated study sessions to help students understand the course-specific needs and processes.

WHAT IF I WANT TO MAKE CHANGES TO MY STUDIES?

We appreciate that sometimes there may be a reason you need to request a change to your studies.

It could be if you want to:

• move from part-time or full-time,
• change your module(s) (if your course allows this),
• transfer to a different course (if your qualifications allow),
• take a break from your studies and return at a future date (which we call ‘interrupt’),
• leave your studies and not return to the University (which we call ‘withdraw’).

The first thing to do is discuss your options with your Personal Academic Tutor as soon as possible, as it is not always possible to agree to every change request.

It would be best to find out as soon as possible about the financial and professional implications of any decision that you may make and understand any limitations. We recommend that you speak to our Student Support Advisers for advice and if you are an international student please check the impact on your visa status with the Compliance Team.

If you want to change your studies, you need to complete a Changes to Study form. You can access this via MyRecord. You can read the details on this process here.

Each course will have a range of timetabled sessions both on-campus and online. In addition, you have to develop your own knowledge and manage your own time as you become an independent active learner.

WHAT ARE THE MAIN UNIVERSITY DATES?

You’re able to view your academic calendar for this year and next year here. If you’re unsure what calendar you’re on you can check details in MyRecord.

HOW CAN I ACCESS MY TIMETABLE?

All students can view the complete academic timetable for everything taught at Canterbury and Medway campuses via UniTimetables (the University’s online timetabling and rooming system). By the start of the academic year, most students can keep track of their personal timetable online via MyTimetable.

RECORDING YOUR ATTENDANCE

Attendance is monitored as part of the Student Engagement in Learning Policy.

You will have to use your Smartcard to ‘tap-in’ to on-campus sessions to register your attendance, so don’t forget to bring it with you to every on-campus teaching activity in your personal calendar. If you lose your smartcard you can get a replacement card - please contact the i-zone for more information.

The Course Team, and your Personal Academic Tutor, in particular, monitor your engagement with your studies including your attendance by using a Student Engagement Dashboard. The Dashboard will be used, by your Personal Academic Tutor or course support team in conversation with you, to give an indication of how your learning is progressing and where you may need further support.

WHAT DO I DO IF I CANNOT ATTEND UNIVERSITY?

We know that you’ve made a significant investment in time and money by choosing to come to university. If you are struggling to attend any of your sessions, make sure you let your Course Team know so that they can support you.

You must let your tutors know if you cannot attend so they can help you catch up on what you have missed.

ASSESSMENT REGULATIONS

All courses and awards are governed by University regulations and processes designed to ensure that they are structured, delivered and assessed in a fair, consistent and transparent way.

Our Assessment Regulations include details regarding the basic principles around standards, what your marks mean and the process of second sample marking and double marking.

Understanding these regulations and processes will help you achieve academic success. For further details, see Your Guide to Assessments and Award Processes.

HOW WILL I BE GIVEN FEEDBACK ON MY ASSESSMENTS?

Your tutors and peers provide feedback. You can also self-assess your own work against the marking criteria.

Feedback is valuable as it can help you develop as a learner and point you towards areas of strength and areas for improvement. Feedback is provided on formative tasks (which do not contribute to an overall mark) or summative assessments (which carry a mark towards completing the module).

The aim is to provide you with timely and useful feedback on your summative assessments so that you can develop your knowledge and skills. With this in mind, there is a target of 15 working days after the submission date for tutors to provide you with feedback. For certain assessment activities, such as dissertations, extended projects, independent studies and work submitted after the deadline, there is an extended period before you receive feedback.

Submitting Assessments

It’s important to complete your assessments, including examinations, on time but if you have any worries there is plenty of support.

HOW DO I SUBMIT ASSESSMENTS?

In many of your modules, you will be asked to routinely submit your assessments (with occasional exceptions) through Turnitin. It is an online service that can be accessed through your Blackboard.

Turnitin helps you and your tutors guard against plagiarism and other forms of academic misconduct. Work submitted through Turnitin will normally be marked anonymously to ensure that the identity of students remains unknown to staff who mark their assessments. If that is not the case, then students will have been advised why the work is not marked anonymously.

On occasions, you might be asked to submit your work through other means, your tutor will explain the process.

WHAT HAPPENS IF I AM UNABLE TO SUBMIT MY ASSESSMENT ON TIME?

The late submission policy states assessed work will only be permitted for a period of 2 working days after the scheduled deadline (working days are defined as Monday to Friday) and the penalty for late submission within the allowable period will be a flat 10% of the available marks. Some Professional Statutory and Regulatory Bodies (PSRB) have approved special regulations that mean late submission is not allowed.

Any delay in completing your assessment or reassessment might impact when you receive confirmation of your results for the relevant module/level. It could also affect your ability to complete your studies, or start your next year of study, on time. In a minority of cases, it might result in a delay in the release of your student finance for your next year of study. For final year students it may impact when you can graduate. 

Exceptional Circumstances

We understand that your ability to meet your deadlines can be sometimes impacted by exceptional events which are short-term in nature (i.e. lasting 1-2 weeks), unexpected and beyond your control.

In such situations, students on all taught courses are able to use the exceptional circumstances process to request a short coursework extension or postpone an examination. It is important to make your request at the time of the assessment deadline, and ensure you meet the criteria for the type of request you are making.

Temporary Learning Agreements

If you have problems likely to affect you for a longer period (several weeks or more) and they are not related to a disability, you should talk to your Personal Academic Tutor or Course Team as soon as possible. They may be able to support you with a Temporary Learning Agreement, if you meet the criteria for this option.

A Temporary Learning Agreement aims to provide you with support in completing your assessments, and this can include agreeing extensions, where necessary.

Learning Support Plans

If you have a disability, contact the Student Disability or Mental Wellbeing team. They can work with you to develop a longer-term Learning Support Plan and ensure there are reasonable adjustments in place to support you throughout your studies.

WHAT ABOUT TAKING EXAMS?

Your formal assessment and reassessment periods are available here.

Information about your specific examinations will be made available to you via your Blackboard. General information on examination procedures, special arrangements and exceptional circumstances can be found here.

WHAT IF I WAS UNWELL DURING MY EXAM?

If you have taken an examination and you don’t feel you performed to your best because of a short-term problem, you may be able to submit an Impaired Performance Exceptional Circumstance request (if you meet the criteria to do so). It would usually be if you were unwell in the examination, but it could be because of a personal problem. You may ask for another chance to take the examination at the next designated (re)assessment period for your course.

You would need to make this request within 7 days of your examination via the relevant form and provide supporting professional evidence.

We aim to provide an excellent education and we take any issues seriously. We encourage student feedback and want to work with students to improve the student experience.

HOW CAN I GIVE FEEDBACK?

We value your feedback and are always keen to hear your views or concerns on your student experience and course.

Student Voice Forums normally occur at least twice a year and are your chance to have your say. Student Representatives will be elected to attend these meetings to raise fellow students’ views and report back to their peer group on the outcomes. Student Representatives will also participate in Boards of Studies, which oversee course development and improvement.

Module evaluations occur at the end of each module when you have an opportunity to give confidential feedback on your course. There are also National Student Surveys that take place once a year, which give you a chance to have your say on what you like about your course and what you feel could be improved.

WHAT IF I’M DISSATISFIED WITH AN ASPECT OF MY COURSE?

If you feel you have a concern or issue that you would like to raise, we encourage you to speak to your Personal Academic Tutor and Student Representative. In most cases, an issue can be resolved swiftly If you don’t feel it has been resolved, there are formal complaints and appeals procedures that you can use.

The Student Complaints Procedure provides students (either individually or as a group) with an opportunity to express dissatisfaction about the action or omission of the University’s teaching-related or service-related provision. They can do this without worrying about any repercussions and knowing that privacy and confidentiality will be respected.

An Academic Appeal is defined as a request for a review of an academic body’s decision-making process. Academic bodies are responsible for making academic decisions on progression, assessment, academic conduct or awards. Please note you cannot appeal against an academic judgment, for example, if you are unhappy with a mark you receive. 

The University has a range of policies and procedures in place to help ensure all students are treated fairly and you are clear about what is expected of you.

One of the key webpages you need to familiarise yourself with is the Student Terms and Conditions. It introduces several essential documents, including the Student Conditions of Registration, that together define the basis of the contractual agreement between you as the student, and us, as the University.

Some of the key policies are listed below and cover academic misconduct, student conduct  and social media. These and many other University policies are available to view online at the Student Policy Zone.

As a student, you are responsible for ensuring the payment of your tuition fees for each year of your course, regardless of how you are funding and paying for your tuition fees.

You can find out more about your Tuition Fees and other key finance policies online here.

If you’ve entered into a licence agreement to stay in University accommodation or a Homestay arrangement, you are also responsible for the payment of your accommodation fees under the terms of your agreement. It is therefore essential that you read the terms and conditions of your accommodation licence agreement carefully.

You should also note that if you interrupt your studies and then return later, you will also need to pay tuition fees for the academic year in which you return. Depending on the length of your interruption, the annual tuition fee due on your return to the University may be at a higher level than when you interrupted your studies. The proportion of the annual fee due will depend on your return date and the stage of your course to which you return. For more information, you should contact the Fess team in the Finance department or email fees@canterbury.ac.uk.

Christ Church Students’ Union is student-led and the independent representative body for students at the University. Upon joining the University you automatically become a member of the Christ Church Students’ Union.

The University Governing Body approves the Students’ Union constitution (called the Articles of Association) and the Students’ Union Code of Practice.

The Students’ Union is led by a student council made up of full-time officers, known as Sabbatical Officers (Sabbs), and part-time officers. It is backed up by a Board of Trustees and over 600 elected Student Representatives whose job it is to represent you through the various committees and working groups that shape your academic and wider student experience.

You can get free, independent and impartial advice from your Students’ Union to help you with academic issues and University life in general. There’s a lot to do outside of your studies that will help you meet new people and get connected. The Union offers extra-curricular activities, with around 80 clubs and societies to try as well as trips, experiences, volunteering and fundraising to get involved with, helping you to have fun, meet people, develop employability skills and succeed in your time at Christ Church.

Find out how you can benefit, and get involved at www.ccsu.co.uk.

The Student and University Partnership Agreement

The Student and University Partnership Agreement is part of our overall vision and developed in equal partnership between Canterbury Christ Church University and Christ Church Students’ Union.

Our shared mission is to pursue excellence in higher education; transforming individuals, creating knowledge, enriching communities and building a sustainable future.

Data protection agreement

The University will pass certain personal information to the Christ Church Students’ Union. We do this under a data protection agreement. The reason is to enable you to use the Students’ Union’s facilities and services. You can ask us not to pass the information to the Students’ Union by emailing i-zone.