This handbook is intended to be a quick and practical reference guide for all students within the School of Creative Arts and will provide answers to many frequently asked questions. Further advice and guidance will always be available to you from staff within the School, but if you refer to this handbook in the first instance you may find the answers to many of your questions.

Please note that information is available to students at 3 levels:

1. Information for all students studying at the University of Hertfordshire;
2. General information for all students within the School of Creative Arts;
3. Specific information for students on a particular course;

Whilst this handbook particularly focuses on the second of these (ie. the majority of the information presented will be relevant to all Students within the School of Creative Arts regardless of your course), it also provides many useful links for those seeking further information at either course or University level too and as such should be seen as your first ‘port of call’ for information and guidance concerning your time here at the University of Hertfordshire.

Information for ALL students studying at the University of Hertfordshire.

An Academic Calendar, including Term/Semester dates, Public/University Holidays, and Examination Dates can be accessed at the following link:
http://www.herts.ac.uk/apply/term-and-semester-dates

Ask Herts is new and easy way for students to find answers to their questions about all aspects of University life. It is updated frequently and has a user-friendly search facility.
https://ask.herts.ac.uk

The University publishes a Student Charter which has been endorsed by the Student Union and outlines your commitments as a UH student, the University’s commitments to you, and our shared commitments. The Student Charter can be viewed at the following link:
http://www.herts.ac.uk/about-us/student-charter

The University also publishes a Statement of Responsibilities and Commitments concerning the student and staff community here at the University, and a Student Code of Conduct, which you can read at the following link:
http://sitem.herts.ac.uk/secreg/upr/SA01.htm

The University has a commitment to promote and support equal opportunities. For information, guidance and support on all equal opportunities at the University you can visit our Equality Office (http://www.herts.ac.uk/about-us/equality-and-diversity), and the ‘Equality and Diversity Policy’ for the University can be accessed at this link:
http://sitem.herts.ac.uk/secreg/upr/EQ03.htm

Our aspiration here at the University is that our graduates will have the knowledge, skills and attributes to equip them for life in a complex and rapidly changing world. In addition to developing the subject expertise within your area of study, our course will provide opportunities to develop wider knowledge and skills. The University has developed a set of statements (titled the ‘Graduate Attributes’) that define what these additional areas are. The Graduate Attributes are organised under the following headings:

• Professionalism, employability and enterprise;
• Learning and research skills;
• Intellectual depth, breadth and adaptability;
• Respect for others;
• Social responsibility;
• Global awareness

Course tutors will highlight to you the ways in which your course will enable you to develop in these additional areas. You can read more about the Graduate Attributes at the following links:
http://www.herts.ac.uk/about-us/student-charter/graduate-attributes
http://sitem.herts.ac.uk/secreg/upr/TL03.htm

And finally, a complete and very detailed A-Z list of the University’s Policies & Regulations (UPRs) can be found here (on campus access only):
http://sitem.herts.ac.uk/secreg/upr_azlist_info.htm *

*As a condition of your registration, you are required as are all students, to comply with the University’s rules, regulations and procedures. These are published as part of a series of documents called the ‘University Policies and Regulations’ (UPRs). The University requires that all students consult these documents (via the link above) or they can be made available on request from the Students Centre, Students Union office, or via the Secretariat (Telephone: (01707) 285126).

The UPRs are designed to provide information on all aspects of the University and how it functions, as a consequence they are necessarily exhaustive and numerous. They are divided into several chapters/sections, but Sections AS12 (Assessment Regulations for Candidates) and AS14 (Structure and Assessment Regulations) are often seen as the most consulted sections.

AS12 provides the regulations concerning (for example):

• Marking and Moderation of Coursework;
• Assessment Offences;
• Publication of Results;
• The Procedure for Academic Appeals;

AS14 provides the regulations concerning (for example):

• Boards of Examiners / External Examiners;;
• Referrals, Deferrals;
• Awards;
• Serious Adverse Circumstances;

The School of Creative Arts (as with all Schools within the University), adhere strictly to the University’s Policies & Regulations in every aspect, this ensures fairness and parity for all students and staff.

General information for all students within the School of Creative Arts.

The majority of the information within this handbook will be relevant to all students in the School of Creative Arts, regardless of your course, and is supported further by other handbooks. For example, for information on general Study Skills, please refer to our Skills Handbook.

The Study Skills Guide contains a wealth of information, all tailored to the Creative Arts student and designed to help you with your learning. For example it will provide information on:

• StudyNet
• Essay & Report Writing
• Managing Workloads
• Learning how to Learn
• Lectures vs. Tutorials
• Studio Practice
• Ethics

As a higher education student in the School of Creative Arts, the Skills Handbook should be considered essential reading, it is available in PDF form on the School of Creative Arts pages of StudyNet here, or accessible via the homepage of this website.

Additionally, at the same link above you will find further information, current news, additional handbooks (a copy of this Student Handbook, the Accredited Work Experience handbook, etc) and various forms you may need during your study with us.

Specific information for students on a particular course.

Specific information related to your course (referred to as a ‘Programme of Study’, or just ‘Programme’) can be found within a ‘Programme Specification’ document. Programme Specifications are very important because they outlines:

• The Rationale, Structure and Features of your Programme;
• Your Programme’s Aims and Intended Learning Outcomes;
• The Teaching, Learning, Assessment methods / strategies that are employed on your Programme;
• A list of all Modules, their Credit Value, and the Level & Semester in which they will be introduced;
• Opportunities for Work Experience and Study Abroad within your Programme (if applicable);
• Progression Requirements and any Programme-Specific Requirements or Regulations;
• All the available Awards and Exit Awards within your Programme;
• Information concerning dedicated Student Support within your Programme;
• Any approved programme specific regulations for assessment, progression, and  award;
• Where appropriate, the regulations for achieving professional accreditation, registration or certification;

…plus other information relevant to your Programme only.

You can find the relevant Programme Specification for your course below. (You are advised to download and retain a copy of this important document).

Furthermore, detailed information regarding all the modules that you are registered upon this year can be found on the relevant StudyNet pages that will have been assigned to you when you registered with us. StudyNet can be accessed both on and off campus at this link:

http://www.studynet.herts.ac.uk