SELCS

Personal tutoring

The School assigns all undergraduate and taught postgraduate (MA) students a personal tutor. Normally, you will keep the same personal tutor throughout your degree. If your tutor is on leave for the whole year or one term, you will be assigned to another tutor. Please check your personal tutor's name on the list which is available from the SELCS Undergraduate Moodle site.

You will be able to meet your personal tutor during Induction Week. Please check the Start of Term page for more information.

Your contact details

It is important that your personal tutor can contact you at any time. Make sure that your contact details on PORTICO are up-to-date. This applies equally to Year Abroad students; while abroad they must enter their contact details and address(es) into PORTICO. We shall assume that these details are current and use them as need be.

Role of the personal tutor

Your personal tutors supports you in general academic matters and provide pastoral care. He or she can advise you on, for instance, essay writing technique, learning facilities and career opportunities; or write you letters of reference for prospective employers. If you encounter personal, financial or academic difficulties, you should see your tutor as soon as possible. Problems that are left to fester become more difficult by the day. Your tutor will be able to refer you to the appropriate UCL facilities or services if he or she is unable to resolve a problem. Should you wish to speak to someone other than your personal tutor, see in the first instance the Head of your Department or the convenor of your programme. 

If you would like advice on the content of a course or programme, please consult the appropriate course tutor or convenor during their office hours or make an appointment to see them at a convenient time.

If you need a letter commenting on your academic progress or credentials, for example, a letter to the British Council in support of an application for language assistantship or a reference for place on an MA programme, you should approach the member of staff whom you feel is best able to write on your behalf.

You and your tutor have access to the UCL webpage Personal Tutors' Support Pack, which includes advice about careers. You should feel free to discuss matters relating to careers with your tutor. For detailed advice, you should consult the UCL Careers Service.

Keeping in touch with your personal tutor

You should see your personal tutor at least five times during the academic year if you are a first-year undergraduate student, an affiliate or an MA student. At least three of these meetings must be one-to-one meetings. Second- and final-year undergraduates should see their tutors at least three times during the academic year. Part-time students should see their tutors at least three times during their first year and at least twice in each of the following years. 

All students, undergraduate, affiliate and postgraduate, must see their personal tutors during the first week (Induction Week) of the academic year. In their Induction Week meeting, Personal Tutors and Tutees should discuss, among other matters, course options, study plans for the coming year and personal tutoring arrangements. It is your responsibility to attend these scheduled meetings. Personal tutors will record your absence but are not required to make arrangements for alternative times for scheduled meetings. Personal tutors are happy to see tutees in office hours or by appointment throughout the year.

You may bring a Personal Tutoring Meeting form, downloadable here, completed with your names and details, to each meeting with your tutor, if you wish.  This form will record anything discussed, and will be kept confidentially by your tutor.

Further information

Personal Tutors should consult the UCL online Personal Tutors' Handbook.