How different is the teaching style from sixth-form/college to University?	Depending on your chosen course, you may have a combination of lectures, seminars, practicals/ lab work and fieldwork. Lectures can be described as a session where content and information is given by the lecturer, whereas a seminar is a smaller, group discussion to provoke your critical thinking skills once you have listened to the lecture.
What if I need help strengthening my study skills?	The Academic Skills Centre runs several skills workshops throughout the year. It also contains a wealth of online guides, which you can find here: https://libguides.bham.ac.uk/asg/ You also have the opportunity to book 1:1 appointments with an advisor at the Academic Skills Centre, who can advise you further on referencing and writing in an academic style; the advisors are there to support your study skills including revision techniques.
I’ve never referenced before, how will I ensure I learn the correct method of referencing?	The Academic Skills Centre has many resources to help you grasp an understanding of how to correctly reference your work. Although Harvard referencing is commonly used in GEES, this may vary between different courses, so be sure to check what type of referencing is required; you will often be notified of the type of referencing once you have started your course (e.g. in your personal tutorials). Once you become confident on how to reference correctly, there are many forms of software that can help you with this, such as Zotero, Endnote, RefWorks. The software allows you to reference more conveniently, however, it is important to always double-check whether the references are in the correct format.
Does first year count towards my overall degree mark?	This varies on the course you have chosen to undertake. For the majority of courses in GEES although first year may not count towards your degree classification, we highly advise you to treat it as if it does count. This is so that you have a good base and have acquired the necessary academic skills before you begin completing assignments that truly count towards your overall degree grade.
When will I receive my timetable?	You should receive your timetable at least a week in advance of your semester start date.
Can I see my lecturer for some 1:1 academic advice?	Lecturers have ‘drop-in hours’ available for you to attend. This is when lecturers dedicate a set time for a drop-in session, where you can seek further help on your work or to answer any queries you may have, without making an appointment. You can also E-Mail your module lecturer for advice if you have a smaller or more specific query. You will be provided with a Canvas (e-learning site) page showing drop-in hours; these are also displayed on each member of staff’s office door. Do also remember that you aren’t penalised for asking for extra help.
What should I call my lecturer?	Unlike school or College, academics don’t use ‘Mister’, ‘Mrs’, ‘Sir’ or ‘Miss’ (in fact, these terms are problematic since using them can be to wrongly assume someone’s gender identity). Academia is also more informal – most lecturers will be happy for you to use their first names, and will probably tell you this when they meet you. Otherwise, please use academic titles (e.g. ‘Dr’ or Professor’) – or ask if you are unsure.
How do I pass modules?	Your learning will be assessed via fieldwork, exams and coursework. A module may have a mixture of assessments. Usually, you must achieve 40% to pass a module, and must pass a certain number of credits to pass a year. Please note that this is a very brief summary of requirements – full details are here: https://intranet.birmingham.ac.uk/as/registry/legislation/regulations/index.aspx
What is the University grading system like?	The university uses a numerical grading scale system, which ranges from 0 – 100 and is shown as a percentage. A minimum of 40% is required to pass any assignment/exam/module. The percentage threshold for achieving grades in different classifications are listed below. Please note that for some kinds of assessment (like essays) it is rare that grades over 80% are awarded and grades over 90% are exceptional! Greater than 70% equates to a 1^st class honours classification. 60 – 69.9% equates to a 2:1 classification. 50 – 59.9% equates to a 2:2 classification. 40 – 49.9% equate to a 3^rd classification. Less than 40% equates to a fail. Further information can be accessed at the registry link above, as well as support from the Guild of Students: https://www.guildofstudents.com/support/academic/academic-support/