Undergraduate Guide For New Students
Welcome to the University of Tawara.  We are delighted you have chosen to study here and hope that you enjoy your time with us.  You are joining an outstanding university with a community of staff and students from all round the world, who are all committed to the very highest standards of academic excellence.  Take this opportunity to meet people, make new friends, enjoy new activities and make the best use of this vibrant and exciting community.
International Community
We are proud to say that we are an international university.  You are joining a culturally diverse community which offers all of our students the opportunity to learn more about the world.  Today we have students from more than 140 different nations studying here.  Out of a total student population of 31,000, almost 40 per cent are from other countries and we have in excess of 11,000 international students studying with us.
Welcome Week
Your first week is known as Welcome Week and includes important meetings and induction events.  Some of these events, such as your first meeting with your Programme Director and Personal Tutor are essential.  Other events are optional but very much recommended as they are designed to help you settle into university life, meet new friends and prepare for the year ahead.  Welcome Week will start on Monday 18 September 2017 and no teaching takes place so you will have time to:
attend welcome and induction events
complete administrative tasks
take part in social events
visit the welcome fair 
join student clubs and societies
find your way around the university campus.

University Card
One of the most important items you will receive during your first few days is your University Card.  This serves as your student ID, your library card and door access control card.  The card is also recognised by many businesses around the world and production of this card may entitle you to discounts or additional privileges.
We have extensive computing facilities.  Desktop PCs are available for students to use in study spaces and you can borrow a wireless laptop for up to 24 hours to connect anywhere on campus.  WiFi is freely available throughout the campus and in student bedrooms, and is very easy to connect.  Our network provides you with access to a wide range of software applications and collaboration tools to support study and research.
Personal Tutor
When you arrive at the university you will be assigned a Personal Tutor who has both an academic and pastoral role.  This is a named member of academic staff from within your faculty.  Personal tutors are very important in your transition to university and will help you get the most out of your studies as you progress through your university career.  They provide crucial support and it is therefore vital that you get to know them and use them for support and advice.
Teaching Methods
We are proud that 80 per cent of our graduates leave the university with a 1st or 2:1 award in their degree.  This is testament to the quality of teaching here.  Teaching styles in university are different to other educational environments.  The teaching environment will vary in different degree programmes but is likely to include lectures, seminars, tutorials, practical sessions and electronic learning.
Lectures are designed to convey ideas or information to a large group and are one of the main ways that you will be taught.  There can be anything from 50 to more than 200 students in a lecture hall and a typical lecture lasts 50 minutes to an hour.  As the lecturer has to deliver a lot of information to such a large audience in a short space of time there are not normally opportunities to ask questions during the lecture.  To ensure that you can follow what is being covered in lectures you should check whether slides/handouts are available for download beforehand.  Lectures provide an introduction to a topic, covering the key ideas and areas of importance from which you will be expected to conduct further reading and research.
Seminars are smaller and less formal than lectures, typically with groups of 5 to 30 students.  They provide an opportunity to ask detailed questions and debate themes and ideas.  In seminars you have the chance to develop a wide range of personal and key skills such as how best to communicate and present your views, and to build your confidence in speaking in front of others.
Tutorials will usually be an individual meeting with a unit or personal tutor.  They are often used to give feedback on your work and to discuss your general progress.  It is important that you make the most of this opportunity for personal attention.  Prepare in advance any questions you wish to raise or particular study problems that you would like advice on.
Practical sessions enable you to learn by doing.  These sessions provide an opportunity to apply the knowledge learnt, thereby promoting a better understanding of academic material taught on the course.  They help develop practical skills and a wider range of personal and transferable skills such as problem solving and team working.
Libraries
There are five university libraries which you can use with your university card.  Our team of librarians will help you make the best use of the resources available.  They will help you find relevant information from reliable sources for your assignments and will teach you how to identify, navigate, interpret and use information resources successfully.  You will be invited to attend a library induction session and details can be found at the bottom of your personalised Student Induction Checklist.
Leisure Activities
We provide plenty of opportunities to enjoy activities outside of your studies.  We have more than 100 societies covering everything from culture, music and dance, to politics, business and enterprise.  There is no limit to how many societies you can join, so continue with an existing hobby or try something new.  We also have more than 60 sports clubs so there are plenty of opportunities to play sport at competitive level or purely to keep fit and meet new people.  Visit the sports centre to see our outstanding facilities.
Computing Services
On enrolment you will be provided with a computer account and a university email address.  You should activate your computer account before arriving to get a head start in the registration process and to be able to access the Internet and university online services as soon as you arrive on campus.  Your computer account enables you to access online resources and services including email and networked file storage.
Your university email account is web-based so you can access your email from anywhere at any time.  Throughout your time of study the university will contact you through your university email account so it is important that you check it regularly to ensure you receive important messages.
Our online learning environment can be accessed 24/7 from anywhere in the world with internet access.  You can access learning resources, course materials, interact with your tutor and other studdents, and you can also submit work electronically.  Our mobile app enables you to access these facilities from your phone or tablet.  It will even notify you when new coure materials are made available.  All our online services can be accessed from home or off campus easily and instantly using our VPN service.
Everyone at the university is fiercely committed to doing everything possible to provide the very best educational experience for you.  We hope you enjoy your time here and wish you every success in your studies this year.