Course or study issues

An extension to deadline can help if circumstances beyond your control are affecting your ability to complete an assessed piece of work in time. Your circumstances could be taken into consideration and extra time could be allowed for you to complete the assignment, without any negative effect on your marks. A late submission of work without an extension to deadline carries an automatic penalty of a grade cap at 40 percent.

If you need to apply for an extension to deadline, try not to worry or panic. The system exists to support students who need it and there is lots of help available to you.

You should make your application for an extension to deadline in advance of the deadline, as your application will need to be approved by your course leader.  The earlier you apply, the sooner you can get the support you need. Hopefully you will also gain some peace of mind and relieve any stress or anxiety you might have been experiencing.

You will need to make an application via your school office. They will be able to advise you on the process, including how to fill in an application and give you information about how and when decisions are made.

The Students' Union support service offers online guidance on the types of issues that might be considered in extensions and mitigating circumstances. You can also contact an advisor for help to fill forms and advice on the evidence that will support your application.

The University website has links to all student regulations and policies - this includes the Student Handbook which details the regulations regarding extensions, mitigating circumstances and academic misconduct.

Students with Dyslexia or Disabilities

You may be entitled to a Variation of Assessment Method (VOAM), if you have declared a disability or dyslexia. A VOAM could allow for special arrangements to assist you in examinations or assessments, such as extra time to complete coursework or an exam or the use of a computer.

If you have or think you might have a disability or dyslexia that you have not declared, the disability and dyslexia team to help you to access support, including VOAM's, for your studies.

If you have a disability and have not disclosed this to the University there is a limit to the amount of academic support available to you - in terms of extenstions or VOAMS.  You may declare at any time though the sooner the better so that support can be put in place.  Contact the Disability and Dyslexia Team in Student Services

 

You can make a claim for mitigating circumstances if your personal circumstances (which are beyond your control and which you could not foresee) are having an impact on your ability to study, to complete coursework or to perform well in exams.  Your  circumstances could be taken into consideration when your work is marked.

If you need to apply for mitigating circumstances, don't panic. The system exists to support students who need it and there is lots of help available to you.

The earlier you seek help, the sooner you can get the support you need and it is more likely that your application can be processed in the time set by the examination board. Hopefully this will also help you gain some peace of mind and relieve any stress or anxiety you might have been experiencing.

You will need to make an application to claim mitigating circumstances. Your course leader or school office can help you to do this. They will be able to advise you on the process, including how to fill in an application, what evidence they will need and give you information about how and when decisions are made.

The Students' Union support service offers online guidance on the types of issues that might be considered as mitigating circumstances in extensions and mitigating circumstances. You can also contact an advisor for help to fill forms and advice on the evidence that will support your application.

The University website has links to all student regulations and policies - this includes the Student Handbook which details the regulations regarding extensions, mitigating circumstances and academic misconduct.

Students with Dyslexia or Disabilities

 

You may be entitled to a Variation of Assessment Method (VOAM), if you have declared a disability or dyslexia. A VOAM could allow for special arrangements to assist you in examinations or assessments, such as extra time to complete coursework or an exam or the use of a computer.

If you have or think you might have a disability or dyslexia that you have not declared, the disability and dyslexia team to help you to access support, including VOAM's, for your studies.

If you have a disability and have not disclosed this to the University there is a limit to the amount of academic support available to you - in terms of extenstions or VOAMS.  You may declare at any time though the sooner the better so that support can be put in place.  Contact the Disability and Dyslexia Team in Student Services

If you are unhappy with a grade that has been awarded to you or a decision that has been made against you, you can make an appeal. Try not to worry or panic. You should make use of the experience that your school office and the Students' Union support service can offer you.

In order to appeal you will need to be able to demonstrate why the mark awarded by the examination boardis either unfair or is not a true representation of your ability.

 

The Students' Union support service offers impartial guidance on the academic appeals procedure. Information is available online and you can contact an advisor who can support you through the process of considering or making an appeal.

You can find full details of the academic appeals system in the handbook General Examination & Assessment Regulations (GEAR) Section H.

 

If you have failed some or all of a year, you may not have to leave the university. Instead you may be able to repeat a period of study.

This could be necessary if you

• fail part of the academic year of study (modules/exams)

• fail an academic year of study.

Repeat study opportunities are offered at the discretion of the examination board. You will need to discuss your individual situation with your personal tutor or course leader. Section C, progression regulations of the General Examination and  Assessment Regulations (GEAR)  handbook contains full details of this process.

Student finance during repeat study

Repeat study funding, including bursaries, is a complex issue and we recommend you see a student advisor to ensure that you will be able to successfully fund your repeated year.

 

If you experience issues while you are on a placement, contact your placement officer. You can also contact your personal tutor, course leader or SSGT if your school has one.

If you find yourself without the contact details you need, call the main switchboard +44(0)1273 600900 and request to be put through to a member of staff from your area.

Changing your mode of study means changing from full-time to part-time study, or part time to full time study. The option of changing mode is only available on some courses and can depend on timing of modules or individual circumstances.

If you find yourself needing to think about changing mode, please contact us. We understand that making changes to the way you study is a big decision and support is available to you so that you can consider your options and manage your study, whatever your decision.

Reasons for changing mode

Students change modes of study for many reasons, common reasons include to reduce work loads or to free up more time to manage family or other commitments.  If you are experiencing financial difficulties that are making it difficult for you to continue studying in your current mode, please contact us. A student advisor will be able to help you check whether you qualify for any further funding support and offer tips on managing on a budget. For more details see our advice on financial issues.

How to change mode

• Find out from your course leader whether it is possible to study your course in a different mode.

• Make sure that you carefully consider any effects that changing mode could have upon your student finance, we recommend speaking to a student advisor before making any changes. 

• If it is possible to change mode and if this is agreed by your course leader, you will need to ensure that the school office and Registry are informed. Your course leader can help you with this.

How changing mode affects your student finance

If you started your course before 2012, changing your mode of study will mean that you are liable for the higher fees that were introduced by the government in 2012.

If you started your course in 2012, changing mode will mean that your tuition fees will vary depending on how many modules you take in a given year.

There is more information about money fees and funding. We recommend that you speak to a student advisor for further advice about your personal situation. 

If you plan to study on the same course but change your mode of study to part-time, you are eligible to apply for full funding from Student Finance England, as long as the change is agreed by your academic school. However, unless you have compelling personal reasons you will only be entitled to the standard number of years of tuition fee loan and maintenance grant or special support grant for your course. This equates to the standard length of your course plus one year.

If you change course, you will be classed as a new student and your fees and funding will be at the current level.

If you decide to change your mode of study you will not be eligible to receive a University of Brighton bursary unless you are liable to pay the full tuition fee.

International students

International students with a student or Tier 4 visa must study full-time courses and are not permitted to change their mode of study to part-time. There are two exceptions.

International students can study on a part-time basis to re-take modules or re-sit exams. 

Postgraduate research students (MPhil/PhD) who are writing up a thesis may also be permitted to study part time.

We recommend speaking to an international student advisor about your individual situation.

If you feel that you are on the wrong course or at the wrong university, please contact us. We understand that if something isn't right with your course or life at Brighton, it can make you worry or panic.  We also know that making changes to what and where you study is a big decision, that's why support is available to you at every stage from a variety of sources.

You don't need to put up with a situation that isn't right for you, we can help you work out how to make improvements or changes to your study.

Get the answers you need

By talking to someone, you can get access to the information you need to know, so that you can make an informed decision, including:

• Find out more about the remainder of your current course. For example, there could be module options or other opportunities as the course develops which will suit your needs.

• You might be interested in changing course or university - find out more about the courses you are interested in studying, whether they are related to your current course or in a different subject area.

• Get support with study skills. The ASK study guide offers online information and details of group study and study support sessions held on all campuses during term time.

• Find out if there are problems with the course that are also affecting other students, talk to your Course Rep about the situation. To find out who your Course Rep is contact the SU Support Service.

• Get careers advice, find out about the skills you need for the industry you want to enter, what career options your course could provide you with and much more by contacting the careers service.

Who can I ask for help?

• Approach any member of staff you feel comfortable talking to, this could be your personal tutor, course leader or other member of course staff. Our list of useful contacts includes details of how to contact a student advisor and for many courses, student support and guidance tutors.

• Talking through your ideas and concerns with family or friends is a good idea too.

• Ask students final year students from your course about how it progresses and speak to current students on the other courses that interest you.

• The chaplaincy and the counselling and wellbeing service are also available to all students.
  
  
• If you are an international student with a Tier 4 or Student visa you should consider the effect changing your course will have on your visa. For example, will your new course finish after your current visa expires? If so, will you be able to successfully apply to the UK Border Agency (UKBA) for permission to stay in the UK for more time? Do you know the requirements of this application? For help with these questions you should contact the International Student Adviser in the Student Advice Service

How will my student finance be affected by changing course?

How your student finance is affected by changing your course depends on several factors including when you started studying, what you are studying and for how long.

Content on this site outlines the effects that transferring to another course or transferring university might have on your student finance and contact details for student advisors who can advise you on your personal situation. 

How do I change course/university ?

Our changing course and changing university pages explains the process of how to transfer to another course or to another university.

If you are feeling stressed or anxious about exams, deadlines or your workload, there is a range of support available to you. What is most appropriate depends on your circumstances, it maybe that a combination of these approaches work best. Most importantly, don't suffer in silence and don't panic.  The varied timing of exams, coursework deadlines and placements mean that stress and anxiety can be an issue at different times depending on the demands of your course. Many students experience similar worries, you are not alone. The sooner you seek out the information or support you need, the quicker the situation can be improved. There is support available to you and we encourage you to access it.

Where can I get help?

• Talk through concerns about your study with a member of staff from your course, perhaps your course leader or personal tutor. This can be an effective way to plan how to move forward with your study, which can help to relieve anxiety.

• Don't forget that talking to course mates, family and friends can help. By sharing your thoughts, you will often find they feel, or have at some point, felt the same. Admitting this can be a postive step from which point you can share methods of coping and encourage each other when you need it.

• For support to manage your study effectively, a range of online study support tools are avaliable in the ASK study guide. It covers subjects including essay planning, note taking, revision and meeting deadlines. The ASK team also offer study support sessions during term time across campuses in ASK workshops.

• If you are interested in studying in groups, find out if the PASS scheme is running on your course.

• If you are struggling to meet a deadline, you might need to apply for an extension to deadline, which can give you extra time to complete your work, without a grade penalty.

• If you feel that your performance in an assessment has been adversely affected by circumstances beyond your control, you might need to apply for mitigating circumstances. 

• The counselling and wellbeing team offer wellbeing workshops throughout the academic year, on a range of issues including stress and anxiety. 

• If you want to talk to someone confidentially about your situation, the counselling service has counsellors available at all sites. You can also speak to one of the University Chaplains.

• Look after yourself. Achieving a work life balance and looking after your own wellbeing, through daily activities that often get pushed aside in times of stress, can really help you keep a balance and study more effectively. By getting enough sleep, taking breaks, eating properly and avoiding stimulants, you can give yourself a better chance of coping.
  
  
• The counselling and wellbeing team have a range of self help resources on their website - these include managing stress and anxiety.

 

If you are having difficulty keeping up with your course workload or meeting deadlines, there are a number of options open to you. What is most appropriate depends on your circumstances, it may well be that a combination of these approaches work best. Most importantly, don't suffer in silence and don't panic. The sooner you seek out the information or support you need, the quicker the situation can be improved. There is support available to you and we encourage you to access it.

Sources of help

• Talking through your concerns with a member of staff from your course, perhaps your course leader or personal tutor , or SSGT if your school has one, can be an effective time to plan ways forward.

• Don't forget that talking to course mates and friends can help. By sharing your thoughts, you will often find they feel, or have at some point, felt the same. Admitting this can be a postive step from which point you can share methods of coping and encourage each other when you need it.

• A range of online study support tools are avaliable in the ASK study guide. It covers subjects including essay planning, note taking, revision and meeting deadlines. The ASK team also offer study skills sessions during term time across campuses in ASK workshops.
• If you are interested in studying in groups, find out if the PASS scheme is running on your course.

• If you are struggling to meet a deadline, you might need applying for an extension to deadline, which can give you extra time without a grade penalty.
  
  
• There are situations when a short break can help you to de-stress and return to your studies refreshed and ready to continue, eg an afternoon off or a weekend away. If you think you might need a longer break see our information on time off from university.

• If you think that you need to reduce your study hours, we recommend discussing this with a member of staff from your course and a student advisor, as changes can affect your student funding. See the content on this page on changing your mode of study.
  
  
• If you have dyslexia or a specific learning difficulty, but are not receiving support from the University, contact the Disability and Dyslexia team. Even if you have have not been formally assessed or diagnosed for Dyslexia or a SpLD, but think you need to be, get in touch to find out about the types of support that are available.
  
  
• If you feel that your performance in an assessment has been adversely affected by circumstances beyond your control, you may wish to apply for mitigating circumstances. See the content on this page.

If English is not your first language, there is free support available to you during your first year of study through our English language support programme.

The English language support programme is a series of lectures, classes, tutorials and online essay feedback for students whose first language is not English.

The programme is free of charge and is designed to develop your existing academic language skills to help you complete your day-to-day academic tasks.

If you are finding aspects of your course difficult, make sure that you also talk to your personal tutor or course leader. They may be able to offer you advice and support on how to manage any difficulties you may be experiencing.

 

If you have been received a letter accusing you of academic misconduct, it can be confusing and upsetting. Different types of Academic Misconduct include:

• Plagiarism and collusion 
• Duplication
• Cheating in Exams 
• Personation (impersonating a student to get them better results), 
• Ghosting (passing someone else’s work off as your own or yours as some else’s intentionally)
• Unethical conduct

Academic misconduct is taken seriously by the university and it can lead to disciplinary procedures. This could lead to failing part of your course or in some cases, exclusion. The full rules about academic misconduct can be found in General Examination and Assessment Regulations (GEAR) Section F. 

The letter you receive will indicate whether this is considered to be a major or a minor case and will give you a date a meeting with the Head of School (minor case) or Investigating Panel (major case).  You have the right to see your work prior to the meeting or panel.

We advise you to contact the Students' Union support service for advice and support with the process as soon as possible. The Students' Union is there to make sure you are treated fairly throughout the process and to advise you on your options.

Some information on avoiding plariarism is available on the ASK website.

The University website has links to all student regulations and policies - this includes the Student Handbook which details the regulations regarding extensions, mitigating circumstances and academic misconduct.

 

If you are experiencing issues related to your course, with a member of staff or with another student, there is support available to resolve it. We want you to have the best experience possible at Brighton and whatever the issue our professional and experienced staff and Student Union are here to help.  There are a number of routes you can take and which you choose will depend on your individual situation.

It is a positive step to take action, you don’t need to put up with an issue. Try not to worry about approaching someone, we are here to help and once you do you will be able to access any support you may need.

Who can help?

• Often, talking to a member of staff from your course can be a quick and effective way to clarify or solve an issue.Talk to your personal tutor or course leader about the problem.

• Talk to your course Rep about it, they will be able to raise an issue on your individual behalf or on behalf of the course with staff. To find out who your Course Rep is contact the Students' Union support service.

• The Student’s Union are an impartial service run for students. The Student's Union support service are available for support and advice.

Where can I find information?

• University complaints procedure outlines the formal routes for making a complaint against the university or departments within it.

• The Students' Union support service can provide impartial advice and guidance on many different issues that may affect you during your time studying at Brighton, including complaints.

• If the issue concerns a member of staff or student, you may find the student guide to bullying and harassment useful. It includes sources for support and guidance, as well as an explanation of how to raise your concerns and feel empowered to take appropriate action.