School of English

Welcome to the School of English. Here you’ll find everything you need to know about starting (or returning to) your studies.

Make sure you read the ‘all students’ information first – this covers things like tasks you need to complete before the start of term, safety procedures on your course and where to go for more information or support.

Then scroll to the section that applies to you – new student or returning student. We’ve also included some helpful links at the bottom to direct you to anything else you might need.

If you’re a postgraduate researcher, find your faculty welcome and induction information to help you get started.

All students

What do I need to do before I arrive?

If you’re a new student please log into our Portal and Virtual Learning Environment (VLE), Minerva with your IT credentials which you should get shortly after accepting your place. Once in Minerva, we suggest that you navigate through the resources in the English Organisation (which can be found under ‘Learn’ > Organisations) to familiarise yourself with information relating to the School of English. Take a look at the School Handbook (available under UG key information, handbooks and forms in the content menu on the left side of the screen in the English Organisation) – this covers most of the basic information you’ll need to know about studying in the School.

Where can I go for support?

Help and support are always available – please get in touch if you are unsure about anything relating to your course, support, or general university life.

The first port of call for most students is the Student Information Service. You can email the Student Information Service at studentinfo@leeds.ac.uk, or telephone the Student Information Service on 0800 915 0402. If you are outside of the UK, you can telephone the Student Information Service on +44 (0)113 343 7000. You can also visit a Student Information Point at various locations across the campus.

For queries specific to your degree programme the School of English, email the Student Education Service via ugenglish@leeds.ac.uk

Programme Leaders

BA English Literature: Dr Sam Durrant (Email Dr Sam Durrant at s.r.durrant@leeds.ac.uk)

BA English Language and Literature: Dr Alison May (Email Dr Alison May at A.J.May1@leeds.ac.uk)

BA English Literature with Creative Writing: Dr Caitlin Stobie (Email Dr Caitlin Stobie at c.e.stobie@leeds.ac.uk)

BA English Literature and Theatre Studies: Dr Mark Taylor-Batty (Email Dr Mark Taylor-Batty at m.j.taylorbatty@leeds.ac.uk)

BA Joint Honours with English: Dr Brett Greatley-Hirsch (Email Dr Brett Greatley-Hirsch at b.d.greatleyhirsch@leeds.ac.uk)

Wellbeing and support

Student Support is accessible and bookable through AHC Student Support (find english on the booking page, either in person or online).

The School has a dedicated Student Support officer, Elizaveta Vasserman (EnglishStudentSupport@leeds.ac.uk).

Join the School of English TEAMS Support & Wellbeing for information and updates.

Other sources of support are also available across the University.

How will I have a say on my programme and School?

We welcome your comments at any time – our Student Education Service Manager holds a weekly ‘Student Voice’ drop-in session during term time (Fridays 12-1 online via Microsoft TEAMs), where you can share any feedback, concerns or questions. We also collect feedback in the following ways:

Module surveys - conducted for each individual module usually via a questionnaire.
Programme surveys – an annual student survey on each programme of study.
National Student Survey - students in the final year of their degree programme will be asked to fill out the National Student Survey.
Student Staff Partnership Forum – students can raise items for discussion at the Forum through the student representative for their programme/level.

The feedback collected from students is analysed and feeds into the School or Faculty’s annual Student Education Action Plan on teaching.

I'm a new student

How will I meet my academic personal tutor? How will academic personal tutoring work?

Every student is assigned to a personal tutor to provide academic support and guidance. Your personal tutor may not be someone who teaches you but will be a tutor in your parent School. The following summary gives insight into how you will engage with your academic personal tutor throughout the year. You will have one-to-one meetings and will also have group sessions and email contact.

Additionally, each tutor has a weekly consultation hour during term time, so you can arrange a meeting with them if there is something you want to discuss. You will have access to a LeedsforLife reflective workbook in PebblePad and this is where you will be able to create your own agenda for your meetings with your academic personal tutor and record your thoughts and actions.

Introductory week: A ‘getting to know the group’ welcome meeting with your academic personal tutor and fellow tutees.

Week 2/3: An individual meeting with your academic personal tutor to get know you and discuss your goals for the first semester and beyond.

Week 7/8: A ‘checking-in’ meeting with your academic personal tutor. This individual meeting is an opportunity to discuss your progression through semester one, and for a recap on the support and advice that’s available.

Week 18/19: A group meeting with your academic personal tutor and fellow tutees to discuss ‘Challenges and Opportunities’ and explore strategies for approaching the assessment period.

How will I find out more about my programme?

You can access an outline of your programme, listing all compulsory and optional modules and giving a breakdown of programme requirements, using the online Programme Catalogue.

You can also raise any programme-specific queries with your programme leader who will be convening a meeting in Introductory Week.

How will I get to know other students?

There will be plenty of social events organised by the peer mentoring scheme, school reps and interns, and the English Society, as well as weekly peer sessions for each of your modules.

The AHC Wellbeing Project works with students to enhance student wellbeing in the Faculty of Arts, Humanities and Culture by helping students to expand their knowledge about wellbeing approaches. The project is co-run with student representatives to provide resources, a weekly newsletter, regular social media posts, and a series of taster events.

There are also a number of different buddy schemes that you can sign up to at the university. These can connect you with other students and can be a great way to meet people and make friends or other useful connections (like study buddies). The University Buddy Scheme is open to all students across the university and the Faculty of AHC has its own Buddy Scheme which is exclusively for students of Arts, Humanities and Cultures.

What activities have you got planned to welcome me to the School of English?

There will be a welcome talk from your programme leader, and a welcome meeting with your personal tutor and tutor group. There will be other activities organised by the English Society.

What opportunities are there to be involved in the School community?

Over the semester we will offer a wide range of co-curricular activity, and we will hold as much of this on campus as we can within the safety guidance.

Are there any specialist systems or software I need for my programme and how do I find out about them?

Many modules and programmes in the School do not require specialist software or systems. There are limitations with Chromebooks which cause particular problems for students studying BA(Hons) English Language and Literature and BA(Hons) English Language and Linguistics. For students on these programmes, PCs work best for the software, some of which will not run on Apple MACs.

What is the role of course representatives and how do I volunteer?

Course representatives take responsibility for gathering the ideas, opinions and concerns of other students and reporting them to the School of English for consideration (via Student Staff Partnership Forum, or in collaboration with key members of academic and support staff).

Course Reps are usually recruited in October for students with September starts, and January/February for students with January starts. If you are interested in becoming a course rep, please look out for emails about how you can express your interest at the beginning of each semester. Successful course representatives sit on the Student Staff Partnership Forum, which is organised by the Deputy Director of Student Education and the School Representative.

Are there any societies / networks I can join linked to my programme?

Yes! You will be introduced to members of the English Society during induction week, but we suggest that you look them up on Facebook or on the Leeds University Union website to get to know them before you arrive.

Joint honours students may also be interested in joining the subject societies for their second subject, if there is one.

Search all student societies at the LUU website.

How does assessment work on my programme and what support can I get with academic skills?

Assessment is tailored to the level of study, the subject material, the method of delivery and the learning outcomes. You can check the approved forms of assessment for each module in the module catalogue, and module tutors will introduce and discuss them with you.

Support for academic skills is available through module tutors, writing mentors and your academic personal tutor. Module tutors offer weekly consultation hours during semester to discuss assignments, your work or ask any questions. Writing mentors are usually current doctoral students, who offer guidance on all aspects of academic writing and how to improve your work on work that has already been marked (they do not provide comments on work-in-progress). You can sign up for a mentor and make an appointment online via Minerva once you start. Your academic personal tutor can advise and support you on academic matters with weekly consultation hours during the teaching semester.

The English Organisation in Minerva also has a section on assessment and feedback plus an optional course, Studying and Researching English.

You’ll can also develop academic skills online and in person with Skills@Library.

I'm a returning student

How will my programme be delivered this year?

Your programme with be delivered through a series of on campus, face-to-face lectures, seminars and workshops. There may be a small number of online classes for some modules.