Answers to Frequently Asked Questions
I have a question about my studies – whom do I ask?
There are several people in the Psychology Department who can help you if you have a question: the Year-1 Tutor, the Year-1 Administrator, the module co-ordinators, the lecturers who teach you, or your personal tutor (whom you will meet on the Departmental Welcome Day for New Students). If it is unclear who is the best person to speak to regarding your particular question, we recommend that you contact Jo Page (Year-1 Administrator, jopage@essex.ac.uk) who will be able to point you in the right direction.
How will University study be different from my previous study?
As you would expect, the concepts and ideas that you study at University will be harder than those you have previously encountered. The teaching staff will work hard to help you master the skills and concepts that you need to succeed in a psychology degree – but you will find that there is an emphasis on independent learning at university. In other words, to get the most out of your university experience you will need to show initiative in your approach to learning and be organized in managing your own study time. We will give you lots of advice on making the transition to degree-level study and have introduced a new module (PS116 Preparing for University Psychology), which has been designed to help you develop the skills that will help you to succeed.
How many hours will I be expected to work?
During term time, you will have approximately 12 hours of timetabled “contact time” per week (lectures, classes, tutorials and workshops). A useful guideline is that you should expect to do two hours of personal study for every hour of contact time. You should also allow time for study out of term time (e.g., for revision, working on assignments, etc.).
When and how will I be assessed?
Three of your psychology modules (PS111, PS114 & PS115) are assessed by coursework through the year and an end-of-year examination in May or June 2014. Coursework assessments have a variety of formats, including essays, research reports and in-class tests (sat under exam conditions). The Psychology Undergraduate Students’ Handbook, which you will find on the Departmental Website, includes guidance on completing assignments and details of the assessment criteria. All of the relevant dates are published at the start of the academic year. Your PS116 and PS117 modules are assessed by attendance and participation in class activities.
When and how will I find out about my timetable?
The timetable is now published on-line. You can use your Essex login to access the timetable at:
http://www2.essex.ac.uk/academic/offices/tt/Colchester%20Campus%20Timetables.html
Please be aware that your psychology modules have lectures that all students on the module attend at the same time, and other sessions (tutorials, classes, workshops) where you are taught in smaller groups. For these sessions there are different times for different students (depending on your group allocation). This specific information does appear on your on-line timetable.
How do I find my way around campus?
The University of Essex campus at Colchester is quite compact – so it does not take more than a few minutes to move between lectures, classes, the library and other facilities such as the Sports Centre. One tip is to take a walk around campus during Welcome Week, and find all of the rooms where you have lectures and classes the following week. Also there will be a campus and departmental tour during the Departmental Welcome Day for New Students
How much should I budget for buying textbooks for my psychology studies?
The University Library is well stocked with psychology books, including multiple copies of any of the more frequently recommended texts. The psychology modules PS111, PS114 and PS115 have a module textbook, which you will be expected to read each week. Follow the “more information” links (above) for each module to see details of these module texts. If you want to buy new copies of the module texts, it will cost you approximately £100 from the University Bookshop for all three books. These prices are discounted by approximately 20% from the publishers’ recommended prices, so you will probably find it best to wait until you arrive if you plan to buy new copies of these books.
How should I choose my outside module?
We don’t have strong opinions about which of the modules in other departments psychology students should or should not take. We think it is a good idea that you have the opportunity to study another subject in your first year at university, and are happy for you to choose any module that interests you or teaches you some skills that you would like to develop. The departmental web pages (http://www.essex.ac.uk/psychology/department/undergraduates/first_year.html) and the on-line Module Directory on the University web pages (http://www.essex.ac.uk/modules/) are good places to find out more about the modules that you might be considering. You should be aware that for some modules in other departments there is a limit to the number of students who can take the module. Therefore, it is a good idea to start looking at which modules might interest you now. The personalized Module Enrolment system called eNROL is currently open (http://www.essex.ac.uk/enrol/home/home_phase1.asp) therefore you can enrol on your outside module on-line before arriving at University if you wish.
