Tag Archives: advice

Postgraduate support at BU featured in The i newspaper

Posted on by

The wide variety of help and support available to postgraduate students at BU was featured in The i newspaper.

The feature, which appeared in the newspaper’s postgraduate supplement, looked at how postgraduate students can get support if they feel they are struggling with their studies or are under a lot of pressure.

It listed the wide-ranging services on offer at Bournemouth University – including study skills workshops, counselling and financial advice.

Mandi Barron, Head of Student Support Services at BU, was quoted in the article.

“We can provide practical advice and signpost more specialist services depending on the students’ need,” she said, adding that students should also look to their friends and family for support.

“Some students find that joining a club or society and meeting others with similar interests really helps.”

The article also featured advice from Kyle Michael Williamson, an MSc Enterprise Information Systems student at BU.

He suggested breaking tasks up and using technology to make work more manageable.

He said: “Having access to specialist software off campus helps the ability to work from anywhere and fit your studies around the rest of your life.”

The most important thing for any student who is struggling, Mandi added, was to remember that you are not alone.

“Talk to someone,” she said. “Your problems might seem insurmountable, but universities have a lot of experience and can offer a huge range of support.”

 

Students from the Ukraine, China (Kunming) & Venezuela

Posted on by

bu-logoWhilst the world’s attention is focussing on a number of political events across the globe, BU is obviously concerned for how this is affecting students studying here who come from these regions.

If you would like to speak to someone about any worries or concerns you may have, you can contact your course leader, askBU, the University Chaplaincy and/or Counselling Service or the SUBU Advice team. Contact details for all university services are available on the Student portal under Help & Advice and Health & Wellbeing, or myBU for your tutors.

Guide created by BU with government advises on interns’ rights

Featured

Posted on by

The guide, called ‘Making internships work: an intern’s guide’, offers advice on what interns should expect to receive and the rights they have when they take up positions in organisations.

It also offers prompts to companies and businesses that hire interns and work experience staff and act as a warning that all staff should be treated, and paid, properly.

As well as giving guidance on pay, the guide seeks to promote the value of internships and provides prospective interns with information about what they should look for in a good placement and how to make the most of it.

Linda Ladle, Placements and Careers Manager at Bournemouth University, helped to produce the guide and said: “It is time for employers to be more accountable with the internships they offer. Interns provide a valuable service for companies and should be paid, and respected, accordingly.”

She added: “Similarly, interns should know their rights and understand how to get the most out of their time with the organisation.

“They deserve to be paid for a good day’s work and this guide should help them to understand what taking an internship really means.”

The guide links to the Common Best Practice Code for High Quality Internships, relaunched in November. and follows recent stories about zero hour contracts and  companies who offer internships on a regular basis with no promise of payment or wage in exchange for work carried out.

Linda added: “At Bournemouth University, we are very proud of the way we prepare our students for the workplace.

“It is important that all students know that they will be valued members of the workforce, and that they are respected accordingly.

“Internships are vital for giving valuable experience to young professionals and we want to ensure that people do not feel that they are just making up the numbers but that they bring value to the companies they are working in.”

View the guide and code

House Hunting – BU Letting Service Advice

Posted on by

Calling all students! If you are looking for housing for 2014/15 then we’d recommend you wait until the new year to start your search. Properties will be advertised from November onwards but there is usually more to choose from in the new year. Please don’t believe the rumours that all the best houses go first!
We do however recommend that you start doing your research now though. You will be better prepared and have all the info you need when you do begin your search. It’s worth looking at what fees you will be charged by each of the agents as the fees do vary quite considerably.

Did you also know that the University has its own letting agency? As we are part of the University we can offer you the lowest admin costs in Bournemouth that we are aware of and which also includes a personal possessions insurance policy with that fee. Over the last 6 years we have built up an excellent reputation and can now offer a number of varied properties for your continuing years of study. We are now the sole recommended letting agent of SUBU which is something that we are proud of.

The BU Letting Service will be happy to answer any questions you may have about renting accommodation in the private sector. When the time is right we can book you viewings for the houses that you have an interest in. We will take you to see these properties and when you find a house you like we will go through all of the paperwork with you. A University staff member has seen all of the houses that we are advertising and therefore you can be assured that if we know of any continued issues with them we wouldn’t be advertising them! And remember, the fees we charge are the lowest we would expect you to find when compared to our competition.

We have an office based in Melbury House on Lansdowne Campus so you are free to come in and see us or you can check out our website.

We wish you luck with your studies this year and look forward to helping you find next year’s Accommodation when you are ready to start looking.

Student Queries

Posted on by

As this is a particularly busy time of year for the university and all our staff are working hard to answer queries as quickly as they can, you may find the following information helps answer your queries:
New students starting in September 2013

Arrivals weekend

  • If you’re moving into your BU accommodation this weekend or next week – here is the link to all the information you need
  • For details about getting to Bournemouth, including maps, click here
  • To speak to someone on the day about moving in, here are the contact details:
Accommodation Number to call
Lyme Regis House 01202 319247
Purbeck House 01202 589581
Corfe House 01202 649670
Okeford House 01202 519252
Dorchester House 01202 941020
Chesil House 01202 319618
Cranborne House 01202 210000
Unilet Shared Houses Speak to the askBU Student Services Team – details below
Student Village

 

Query regarding Award Ceremonies? 
Click here:  studentportal.bournemouth.ac.uk/help/award-ceremony/index.html

Forgotten your password or account locked?
Click here:  http://studentportal.bournemouth.ac.uk/learning/it-support/getting-help/account-information.html

Accommodation query?
Click here:  http://studentportal.bournemouth.ac.uk/services/accommodation/

Timetable query? 
Click here:  http://studentportal.bournemouth.ac.uk/help/arriving-students/timetable.html

Social Media
Check out our Facebook Blog which will give you up to date information on the most common enquiries we are currently receiving:  http://microsites.bournemouth.ac.uk/apply-2013/2013/08/02/askbu-current-students-team/

Exam query?
Requesting transcripts of results (including syllabus requests),
Click here: www.studentportal.bournemouth.ac.uk/help/replacement-documents/transcripts-syllabus.html
For overseas exams:
Click here: www.studentportal.bournemouth.ac.uk/learning/exams/timetable.html
General enquiries for external exams:
Please email Avril Cooper direct on acooper@bournemouth.ac.uk

For help and advice
Our askBU Students Services Team, will be on hand to support new and returning students with information, advice and guidance. 

Email us at: askbu@bournemouth.ac.uk
Telephone:  +44 (0) 1202 969696 (press option 1)
Website:      www.bournemouth.ac.uk/student/askbu 

or visit us at TALBOT CAMPUS at the Base, Poole House, or LANSDOWNE CAMPUS at the Library Helpzone, First Floor, Bournemouth House during the following term-time opening hours
Monday 14 October onwards 08.30 – 18.00 Monday – Thursday and 08.30 – 16.30 pm Friday.

To keep up to date with what’s going on:

Student wardens to bridge gap with community in Winton

Featured

Posted on by

A new scheme will aim to bridge the gap between residents and the large student population in Winton.

The student community warden scheme has been set up by Bournemouth University and Bournemouth Borough Council to improve relations in the local community and ensure newcomers know essential information about living in the area.

Teams of student wardens will regularly visit roads with a large student population, knocking on doors to chat with both permanent residents and students.

They will give advice and guidance on everything from when to put bins out to dealing with noisy neighbours, and support students with moving into private housing for the first time.

David Stock, advice manager for the Students’ Union at Bournemouth University (SUBU), is overseeing the scheme.

He said: “The aim is to try and bridge the gap between the students and the permanent residents and try to make each of the groups aware of the benefits that the others bring.

“It’s about signposting services in a lot of instances, making sure people have the right information and contact details.”

There are currently two pairs of student wardens – with one team covering Cardigan Road and the surrounding area, and the other focusing on the streets around Frederica Road.

James Wilde, a fourth year Business and Marketing student, is one of the wardens.

He said he wanted to get involved to help improve the image of students in the area.

“A lot of residents have a negative perception as soon as they hear students are going to be moving in, so I wanted to help change that,” he said.

“We’ve had a really positive response so far, a lot of residents have said they are really happy we are doing it.”

Two student wardens from the Arts University Bournemouth are also being recruited for the year-long pilot scheme.

Pat Oakley, chairman of Winton Community Forum, said the forum had helped work on a number of initiatives in the area, including the student community warden scheme.

“There can be a clash between lifestyles of students and those living here permanently – being at university is meant to be fun, but students can have fun and at the same time be considerate to their neighbours,” he said.

“Something like leaving the bin on the pavements is not a big deal in itself, but if you are a young mum pushing a double buggy along, it can cause issues.

“We’ve recognised that there is a problem, but we are all working in collaboration to help solve it.”

Councillor David Smith, cabinet member for planning and environment for Bournemouth Borough Council, said the wardens were there to help and listen to the concerns of all local residents.

He added: “The introduction of student wardens in roads with high concentrations of student houses is very encouraging.

“It presents the council and the universities with the chance to deliver the right messages to young people who have just moved into a residential area for the first time and help with the transition.

“Relationships with neighbours will be helped and any problems with management of the rented houses can also be reported through these enthusiastic individuals.”

The student community warden team can also be contacted through emailing communitywardens@bournemouth.ac.uk and students and residents can report any concerns through the Winton Community Line on 01202 451491.

BU Makes Clearing Clearer

Featured

Posted on by

If you are one of the thousands of students nervously waiting to receive your A-level results tomorrow, we wish you the best of luck.

If your results aren’t what you expected – or you haven’t applied for uni but decide that you want to attend in September after all – then it’s important to remember there are still options available.

Bournemouth University will have a team of expert advisers on hand to talk you through what to do next.

Clearing

Clearing is the point in the admissions cycle where students can apply for a course which still has vacancies for September 2013.

To find out which courses still have places available at Bournemouth University, you can visit our Clearing web pages, download our toolkit or speak to an adviser on our Clearing helpdesk – 01202 966777 – which is open from 8am until 8pm on results day, 8am until 6pm on Friday 16 August and from 10am to 4pm over the weekend.

“Don’t panic and make a hasty decision,” advises Karen Pichlmann, Head of Admissions at BU.

“You will be studying for your degree for at least the next three years, so make sure the university and course are right for you.”

This includes asking questions about important things like course content, placement opportunities and how degrees are assessed.

When you call the university, you will be asked questions about why you want to do that the course, so make a few notes before you ring.

Karen adds: “It’s a really big decision, so make sure you do your research before calling a Clearing hotline.

“Check UCAS, university websites and newspaper supplements to see what courses are available, and then look into them in more detail – universities and courses you may have initially disregarded because their entry requirements were too high may be more flexible at this time of the year.”

It’s also important that you call for yourself, and don’t get parents or teachers to do it for you, as universities can only make offers to prospective students themselves. Have your UCAS number, GCSE results and A Level/BTEC results to hand when you call as you will be asked for this information.

BU Events and Leisure Marketing student Emma Craig found her course through Clearing after missing out on her firm and conditional choices by 20 UCAS points.

Emma, who is about to enter her final year, said: “Anyone who finds themselves in Clearing should go into it with an open mind.

“Initially, I thought I wanted to do sports management, but when the person on the phone told me about this course, it was perfect. Now I want to work in events and my dream job would be running festivals in Australia.

“Clearing was a second chance really – I mucked up in my exams at college, but now I’m on course for a 2.1 in a degree I love, and getting better grades than people who did well in their A Levels.”

Adjustment

If you exceed the conditions of your first choice university offer, you can choose to reconsider what and where you want to study through a UCAS process called Adjustment.

Your original uni place will be held for you (for a limited period) while you find out about other options.

If you are eligible for Adjustment, you can find out more about options available at BU by visiting the Adjustment pages on our website, downloading our Adjustment toolkit or by calling the helpdesk on 01202 966777.

BU also has an unlimited number of Academic Excellence Scholarships available for students who have achieved ABB or above at A-Level, or equivalent – worth up to £2,000.

Open Days

A lot of universities hold post-Clearing open days, so see if you can visit them and get a feel for the place.

We have Open Days on Friday 16 August and Saturday 17 August, running between 11am and 3pm, where you can tour the campus, find out more about life at BU and see some of our accommodation.

There are also Campus Tours running on Wednesday 21 August, and you are welcome to visit and do a self-guided tour during working hours any day – just pick up a guide from reception or download one from our website.

Find out more and register for upcoming Open Days

If you have any questions about your place at BU or the Clearing process, please call the helpdesk on 01202 966777