Student Support and Services

Faculty Student Support Officer - Frequently asked questions

I'm not sure who I need to speak to – can I ask you?

Yes you can. If I'm not the person to answer your query I'll point you in the right direction. You can also contact the Student Information Point on 0161 247 1779 or sipnorth@mmu.ac.uk to ask for help or advice.

'I want some advice about some really basic study skills stuff ... ?

Don't worry about this; no query is too small and there's no such thing as a silly question. However, if you're stuck and you need help quickly you might be able to find what you're looking for in the new Skills Online resource on Moodle. This resource includes sections on writing essays and reports, time management, referencing, presentations and much more.
Log into Moodle and select 'Skills Online '...

Will you proof read my work?

No, I don't proof read your work, but I will look at it with you and advise you on how to edit it.

I'm getting high 2:2 grades and really want a 2:1. Can you help?

Yes, definitely. A fresh pair of eyes may be able to highlight areas for improvement, and help you see what your subject tutors are looking for.

I'm a postgraduate student... Is it OK to come?

Of course. There is a lot to take on board in postgraduate study, especially if you come from a working background and it is a long while since you studied.

Will you talk to my unit leader or personal tutor?

Not unless you want me to. The service is confidential. It is often useful to talk to unit leaders to make sure I am not giving conflicting advice, but I can do this without identifying you personally. I collect information about users of my service in the form of statistics and generalised patterns and trends, but you cannot be identified individually.

I am an International Student, can I use the service?

Yes of course, I'm here for any student of the University who wants advice on study issues. However, I do not offer tuition in English as a Foreign Language. If it is your
English language that is causing problems you should contact ELSIS (See English Language for International Students)

I'm struggling with maths, can you help?

Unfortunately not. For help with maths contact the maths support centre on mathsupport@mmu.ac.uk. You should also speak to your tutor about additional help with maths.

Can you help with personal problems?

The service is completely confidential and non-judgemental, so if you just need to get something off your chest that's absolutely fine. I can provide information and contact details for various services, both within the university and the local area, which may be useful to you. However, it is not a counselling service, and if you would like to speak to a counsellor please contact the university counsellors on 0161 247 3493.

Do I need to bring anything with me to an appointment?

If you want to discuss a piece of work it's also useful to bring your work, assignment brief and unit Handbook with you. If you want to focus on improving your work it is useful to bring any feedback you have received from your tutors.

I'm not enjoying my course, can you help?

Yes. If you have doubts about your course you are welcome to discuss them in confidence. There are a number of options available to you which I am happy to discuss.