Welcome to Worcester

What is teaching like?

Face-to-face teaching will be the norm at University and you should plan to attend campus for teaching activities such as lectures, seminars, tutorials, group discussions and other activities, as they will form an essential and significant part of your student experience and success. 

Study skills

Our Study Skills webpages cover everything you might need to know about learning at university, writing your assignments, managing your workload and so much more.

If you're wondering what to expect in a typical week of study our 'Study Well' webpages can give you a helpful overview.

Referencing

If you're new to referencing our Library Services team our here to help! Our referencing webpages cover different styles and tools which can help you.

Throughout the Welcome Festival period study skills workshops, including referencing will take place. Keep an eye out for emails regarding sessions that might help you.

You can also request help from the Academic Liaison Librarians, who are assigned to the following academic areas:

• Psychology, Sport and Exercise Science, Worcester Business School
• Art, Education, Humanities and Law
• Allied Health and Community, Nursing, Midwifery and Paramedic Science, Science and the Environment

To contact an Academic Liaison Librarian email askalibrarian@worc.ac.uk

What if I need to leave a lecture for personal reasons?

University is different to High School in that you can leave lectures without raising your hand and making the lecturer aware.

If you need to leave a lecture temporarily for a personal reason, you can quietly make your way to the door and return to the lecture when you are ready. 

How do I address my lecturers?

You should address your lecturers by their first name. They will introduce themselves to you in your first lecture with them.

It is always best to ask someone's name if you are unsure.

Accommodation

At this stage, it’s likely that you have already applied for accommodation and you’ve recently received information about where you’ll be living. You’ll now be thinking about what to bring with you when you move in. 

If you didn’t apply for accommodation, and need to discuss this with someone, please get in touch with us on 01905 855300 or email accommodation@worc.ac.uk. Take a look at our Accommodation pages for more information, including photos of all of our halls.

 

What if I'm a care leaver or estranged from my family?

Being independent of your family may mean that you will have additional considerations during your study, and although this may be the case, these should not be seen as a barrier to entering or progressing during your time with us.

We have a range of support available for care leavers which is discussed on our dedicate webpages for 'Students who are estranged from their families or have care experience.'

Where can I eat and drink?

Our full range on on-site catering facilities are listed on our Worcester Uni Food pages including our canteen, coffee shops, the Campus Shop and cafés.

If you would like to bring your own food into the University we have microwaves in the canteen that are free for everyone to use.

Water fountains are available across our campuses and it is best to bring a refillable bottle to keep yourself hydrated throughout the day. 

Where can I buy food?

Worcester has many supermarkets and stores in order for you to purchase food. There are also international supermarkets available which stock a variety of specialist foods. Download our app for maps and directions to local supermarkets.

Do I need to bring pots, pans and a kettle?

It is a good idea to wait until you get here to decide whether to purchase certain larger kitchen items. If everyone in your flat brings a toaster, you will have five toasters! Our accommodation comes already equipped with certain items and you can find a full list of what is included in your accommodation here. Basic smaller items such as cutlery or tea towels should be bought with you.

Campus Services

• Residential Life team

Our Residential Life team are here to support you and can act as mentors on a 1-1 basis.

You can get in touch with the team by emailing ResidentialLife@worc.ac.uk or Instagram @rlt_worc and Facebook @RLTUoW

You can find out more about our Residential Life Team from their introduction video.

• Cleaning team

During semester time, our cleaning team will clean and sanitise your communal areas once a week. Cleaners won’t take out your rubbish or recycling, so it’s a good idea to make a rota between you to keep up-to-date with this.

Cleaning rotas are available from your Residential Life team

• Security team

Our Security team are available 24/7 and can be contacted via Main Reception at both campuses (St John’s 01905 855000 and City Campus 01905 542444), or on 07977 973956.

Which means you’ll always have someone to speak to if you’re worried about something.

• Maintenance

If something is broken or not working in your Halls of Residence, you can log a job on our Maintenance Portal.

You can access the portal by logging onto your Student Portal.

• Laundry 

There are several coin-operated launderettes on the campus equipped with washers and dryers.

You can download the Laundry View App to monitor your washing (Android and iPhone) (Select ‘City Campus’ as your university, and then you will be able to select the various launderettes from the drop-down menu.)

• Wifi and IT

If you are living on campus, you will want to know how to connect your laptop, PC or other device to the University network. You can find out how on the connecting to WiFi page.

We’ll also have lots of members of our Information Technology (IT) team available throughout Welcome period, who will be able to help you.

You can find out more about facilities on different campuses on our dedicated campus facilities webpages.

Preparing your finances

During registration, we’ll ask you how you’re paying your tuition fees. It’s important to sort out your fees payments as soon as possible.

Many students arrange for their fees to be financed by Student Finance. If you haven't already arranged your student finance, you can find out details about course fees, as well as information on student loans, in our Figure out Finance section.

There is also a lot of useful information available on our Money Advice pages. If you have any questions or concerns about paying your fees, you can contact or book an appointment with Firstpoint.

Money advice and budgeting

Whilst you are at University, you will need to learn how to budget to ensure that you have enough income to cover all your outgoings including Rent, Food, Bills, Travel etc

Our Money Advice webpages can give you advice on:

• How to earn extra money before and during University
• Ways to boost your income
• How to save money on food, study costs, travel, healthcare etc
• How to plan your budget
• Money saving tips 
• Things to avoid  
• How to earn money before and during University with a part-time job

Top tip: You can save money whilst living sustainably by reducing your food waste. Apps like Too good to go can help you find deals in your area.

Things to organise

There are a few things you can help your student with before they move to University. It's worth chatting through these subjects with them:

Getting a student bank account

There’s a lot of banks to choose from and many have different deals and incentives, help your student make informed choices about bank accounts. With student finance and accommodation costs, a student bank account is an essential aspect of University life. 

Laundry

Launderettes, equipped with washers and dryers are located at both St John’s and City Campus. You can use the machines 24-hours a day and current prices are available in the launderettes. Your student will need to download the Circuit Laundry App from Google Play or the Apple App Store. First time users will need to register with an email address and add funds. Help your student set this up and purchase some washing detergent during your first big shop.

TV License

Help your student organise a TV license if necessary. Only the ensuite extra halls of residence have a Licence covering the communal area. All other halls will require a Licence to watch in the communal areas and your student will need a separate TV Licence to watch in their room. Find more information on the TV Licencing website.

Registering with a GP

Please encourage your student to register with a local GP if they are moving to Worcester. 

My Student has a class today but isn’t well enough to come in. What should they do?

If they are feeling too unwell to come to class students need to contact the tutors of the classes that they will miss, and either their Personal Academic Tutor or the Academic Support Unit. If they do not already have contact details, they can get them from the Staff Directory tab on SOLE. 

My Student is finding their course difficult is there someone who can help?

There are a number of people who can help. If your student is struggling with the course content, advise them to speak to their Personal Academic Tutor. If they need help with more generic study skills, such as referencing or academic writing, the study skills website offers a range of materials that your student may find useful and also has contact details for other staff and services that can help. These include Writers in Residence who provide tutorials on any aspect of academic writing and the The Centre for Academic English and Skills, which offers one-to-one support sessions on Academic English.

Using the library and learning how to reference work are all study skills that students new to university can struggle with. If your student needs help with finding books, journals and online resources, any of the staff at The Hive library will be able to assist. If they have questions about referencing or more complex library enquiries they can contact their subject librarian at askalibrarian@worc.ac.uk or visit the helpdesk on level 3 at The Hive, where staff will be happy to help.

Where can I find my registration login details?

You confirmation email will include your login ID and password for accessing our Student Portal.

When logging in to the Student Portal for the first time you’ll be prompted to register for multi-factor authentication.

When you have logged onto the Student Portal, select SOLE (Student On Line Environment) and then click or tap 'Register Now'. More information regarding registration can be found on our dedicated registration webpages. You will need to upload a photograph of yourself for your student ID card. 

If you are having technical problems with the online registration form please contact our Student Records Office on 01905 855 333.

For guidance with module selection contact firstpoint on 01905 542551 or firstpoint@worc.ac.uk

For queries about the fees section please contact the relevant finance team:

• Fee payments - Student Loan queries
  Telephone: 01905 542891
  Email: feesstudentloan@worc.ac.uk 
• Fee payments - Self funding queries
  Telephone: 01905 542891
  Email: feesselffunding@worc.ac.uk 
• Fee Payments - Accommodation queries
  Telephone: 01905 542892
  Email: feesaccommodation@worc.ac.uk 

I am an international student travelling from overseas to study at the university. What support is there for international students?

International students are invited to attend an international induction on 7, 8, 9, September during which you will complete your Right to Study (RTS checks), collect your Biometric Residence Permit (if necessary), have an opportunity to get over jet lag and begin to address any culture shock you may be experiencing as well as meeting other international students and getting to know Worcester and the UK.  Experience has shown that attending this induction is very valuable and an indicator of future success.  During this time, you will meet the International Experience team and learn about the support they can offer during your time at UW.  N.B. International BSc Nursing students are expected to arrive on 31^st August and will have their international Induction on 1^st and 2^nd September. 

As an international student you are a member of the university family from the start and have access to all the same excellent academic, emotional and practical support as home students.  However, we recognise that while moving to the UK to study is exciting, getting settled into a new country with different languages, food and currency can also feel daunting. The International Experience team is here to help you settle in with a carefully planned International Induction and year long opportunities for social events and trips. We look forward to meeting you!

Where's my timetable?

Once you’ve completed your module selection our timetabling team are able to create your semester one timetable.  This needs to be coordinated across the whole University so please bear with us.

You’ll be able to access your academic timetable on SOLE (via the Student Portal) before your course starts.

Through SOLE you’ll also be able to see the welcome and induction schedule for your course.

How long is a lecture?

Your timetable will have all of the information you need about how long your lectures are. If you are concerned about the length of a lecture, you should talk to your Personal Academic Tutor to find a solution.

How do I get my student ID card?

Once you're registered you’ll receive an email from us inviting you to collect your ID card. The suggested date to collect your card will vary depending on your course, and whether you’re commuting or living in University accommodation.

. To collect your card you will need to show us some identification, so please bring with you on the day:

• Original photo ID, such as your passport or photocard driving licence
• Your certificate of registration - this is provided when you have fully completed your online registration. You can either bring a printed version, or show this to us on your mobile device
• DBS Certificate - if you need one for your course

If you can’t attend at your allocated collection time, you'll have other opportunities to collect your ID card from firstpoint (in the Peirson Study and Guidance Centre) throughout the first few weeks of term.

Getting online

 Our IT Team have created a website to help new students with their queries.

Our IT webpages include information on:

• Connecting to WiFi
• Internet access in Halls
• Booking a PC
• Laptop and Macbook loans
• Student software
• Printing

Is there WiFi on Campus?

Yes we use Eduroam Wifi.

To link your device to the eduroam WiFi and open up a browser. You should be prompted to enter your University username followed by your password. Please note the username takes the format of your username followed by @uni.worc.ac.uk. If you have issues logging in, you can use the eduroam Configuration Assistant Tool (CAT) to help automatically setup your Wi-Fi connection. You can access our IT pages for more information.

Can I borrow a laptop?

We have a number of laptops and MacBooks that you can borrow for up to two weeks. To access the IT Resources Booking system go to this link: https://itresources.getconnect2.com/

You will need to collect your device from the IT Desk on the 1st floor at the Peirson Study and Guidance Centre.

For more information please see our IT services webpages.

What if I need to buy a laptop?

Our IT team have webpages dedicated to purchasing your own equipment and software.

Multi-Factor Authentication

The first time you login with your University of Worcester student account, you’ll be prompted to register for Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA). This provides an extra layer of security on your account.

You’ll need to register for MFA before you complete your online registration. Please see our Multi-Factor Authentication set-up video for help registering for this service. We recommend setting up two separate methods of authentication, the most secure being app authentication.

I’m struggling to set up MFA what should I do?

If you’re having trouble with Multi-Factor Authentication (MFA) registration please try the following:

• Restart your PC
• Clear your browser cache
• Change your browser language settings to English
  
• Go direct to aka.ms/mfasetup to start the MFA process

If you are still experiencing difficulty please contact the IT Service:

• Call us Monday – Friday 08:30 to 17:00 on 01905 85 7500
• Log a request or problem via the self-service portal