A pdf [28.4kb] version of the policy is also available.
For the last two years the University has been working on the development and implementation of a centralised common timetabling system. Once fully implemented the process and management will likely be owned by the Academic Registry. In due course detailed guidance and policy will be issued in relation to timetabling and room booking, but this document serves to provide clarity of when teaching should be timetabled, in an educational/academic sense as well as for space management purposes.
This policy aims to formalise when teaching should ideally be timetabled so to address the needs of the student population in general as well as the specific needs of particular groups of students. The policy applies to all taught programmes and to scheduled teaching activities but not to self-study or the setting of assessments, which is covered by the Code of Practice for the Assessment of Students on Taught Programmes.
The principles in this policy should be considered as best practice and should be followed wherever possible. However, it is acknowledged that there may need to be exceptions because of the precise nature of the subject. Departures from the best practice will need to be approved by the relevant Faculty Education Director and be in accordance with faculty policy (examples of exceptions that would require approval by the Undergraduate or Graduate Education Director are highlighted). University and faculty committees should aim for as much consistency of practice University-wide as is practicable, making decisions that take account of the spirit of the agreed policy.
Approved by Senate 22.02.10
The School of Law contacts all current students prior to the timetable being drafted, inviting them to highlight any special timetable needs that they would have in the next academic year. If they have any specific needs –e.g. child care, travel problems, disabilities, work or sports commitments such as playing for the University first team - which means they are unable to attend the University at particular times, the School will aim to allocate the student to suitable tutorial/seminar groups, although this would not apply to lectures.
The School also specifically contacts all incoming mature students as soon as they are confirmed inviting them to immediately inform the School of any constraints which may make particular times of day or particular days difficult to attend. Again the School will consider the allocation of students to different slots where there are smaller group classes. Furthermore requests by any incoming new students are considered.
The School aims to send timetables (with at least the mandatory elements included) to the students who may have particular needs in early/mid-September so they have good time to make any necessary arrangements, such as for child-care.
The Veterinary School sends all prospective students a copy of the following Faculty workload statement so they are aware of their teaching commitments.
Success at undergraduate levels depends on your being able to make the transition to self-motivated, independent learning. The programmes offered in the Faculty are designed to assist you in this development, in many cases by starting with units in which timetabled teaching, such as lectures and practical classes, provides the foundations of knowledge and skills in a subject, moving on to individual clinical or research based work. Over time you will be expected to take increasing responsibility for your own learning guided by the feedback on your work that you will receive from staff. But at the heart of your studies at every level there must be regular and disciplined individual reading, reflection and writing, whether in the library or at home. It is this skill of independent study, above all others, that will serve you best when you leave the University.
Student workloads in the Faculty of Medical and Veterinary Science are calculated on the assumption that you will work at least an average of 40 hours per week over the 29 weeks of the academic year. (In year five of the BVSc programme, clinical training commitments raise this to 35 weeks). This workload includes all types of activity related to the delivery and assessment of taught units.
A major component of this workload in the early years of your programme is the time that you spend in class, in contact with the teaching staff, which includes lectures, laboratories, tutorials, practical classes and clinical instruction. Outside classes you will need to undertake two types of academic activity. One type is that directed by your unit (such as practical class reports, project work). The other type requires you to pursue self-motivated independent learning in order to build your knowledge and understanding of the subjects you are studying. Such independent activities include reviewing lecture material, reading textbooks and the scientific literature, and revising for examinations. In later years of your programme, timetabled teaching will make up a smaller proportion of your overall workload and you will spend much of your time pursuing independent study. Teaching is normally delivered during weeks 1-24 with weeks 25-29 being for private study and exams, except in the final year of most BSc programmes when teaching finishes in week 20.
Wednesday afternoon is set aside for students to engage in extracurricular activities, such as sporting activities. Students in the final year of the BVSc programme should note that they will not normally be able to continue with such activities due to clinical commitments. Note also that formal teaching is undertaken on Wednesday mornings (9am – 1pm), which in some programmes may preclude absences for travelling to sporting events.
You will be expected to work during most University vacations. Veterinary students will have commitments to extramural rotations during many vacations. All students are expected to use the Christmas and Easter holidays to revise for the mid-sessional examinations held in January, and for the end of year examinations held in May/June. Should you be unsuccessful in the summer examinations, you should expect to set aside sufficient time over the summer vacation firstly to consolidate your understanding and then to revise intensively for the resit examinations held in September (resit examinations are not available in the final year of BSc programmes).
Certain components of the teaching and assessment are mandatory - for details see individual programme regulations. On the veterinary programme this is related to the need to demonstrate certain knowledge, skills and competencies required by professional, statutory or regulatory bodies. These may require students to undertake study and assessments at times outside normal university hours of work, including on days associated with religious observance.
The medical science BSc programmes conform to the University modular framework where 10 credits represent about 100 hours of student work. (Please note that the BVSc Programme is not modular and therefore does not award credit points).
We recognise that many students have to take paid employment to fund their studies. In order to achieve a sensible balance between work and study, you are advised to undertake paid work for no more than 15 hours per week in term-time.
Typical values for average weekly student workloads for programmes in the Faculty of Medical and Veterinary Sciences
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|
Medical Science Programmes
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BVSc (Veterinary) Programme
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Year of programme |
Staff contact (hours/ week1) |
Other directed (hours/ week2) |
Independent study (hours/ week2) |
Staff contact (hours/ week1) |
Other directed (hours/ weeks2) |
Independent study (hours/ week2) |
Extra-mural studies (total wks3) |
|
1 |
20 |
10 |
10 |
20 |
10 |
10 |
12 |
|
2 |
20 |
10 |
10 |
20 |
10 |
10 |
|
|
34 |
5 |
20 |
15 |
20 |
10 |
10 |
26 |
|
4 |
|
|
|
22 |
8 |
10 |
|
|
5 |
|
|
|
1 |
295 |
10 |
|
1 These figures are nominal hours and represent the average and in practice will vary from programme to programme and week to week. In addition staff contact and directed study time is significantly higher in term 1 and 2 but reduces in term 3.
2 Again these figures are nominal hours representing a minimum figure. The exact figures will depend on variables such as the type of work undertaken, deadlines for particular tasks and the individual’s background and learning styles.
3 Extramural studies are undertaken during University vacation time.
4 Some Medical Science programmes exist with a variant (BSc or MSci) involving a year spent in industry. During that year students become employees of the relevant company and are therefore subject to their standard employment conditions, which will include working hours.
5 In the final year of the Veterinary programme students on “clerking” are, in addition to the 29 hours given in the table, required to do out of hours cover of clinical cases allocated to them. This is highly variable but can be up to an extra 20 hours per week.