Some students sail through University, others run into problems. We’re talking about more serious stuff than, say, confusion about a symbol in a formula, because most students manage to get things like that sorted out fairly easily. Here we’re looking at problems like total inability to understand a subject, or serious personal things like a family blow-up just before exams (which seems to be when these things always happen!).

For any problem:

• Make sure someone in the Department, Faculty or University knows about your problem.
• Start asking for help as soon as possible.

There is a wide range of help available, but if nobody knows you’re in trouble, no-one will offer to help.

General Problems

For most problems, the place to start is with your Course Director. They know the University rules, and the procedures available to ease burdens where possible. More important, if the problem is not one they are equipped to handle, they can direct you to someone who can help you.

If you don’t want to approach someone in the Faculty directly, you can go to the Student Services office, on Level 6 of the Tower Building. They can approach the Faculty or other parts of the University for you (without spelling out all your problems to the whole university), and they offer counselling services to help you understand your problems and cope with them.

For financial problems, there is a student loan system, and Student Services can arrange financial counselling.

For language problems, you should visit ELSSA (English Language Study Skills Assistance), on level 18 of the Tower Building. Many students do poorly because they have to spend so much time understanding notes, textbooks, assignment sheets, and so on. Many say they don’t have time to improve their language skills, but most find that time spent working on those skills will pay off many times over. ELSSA is not only for students whose first language is not English. ELSSA courses and assistance can be equally valuable for native English speakers who need some extra help with report writing or seminar presentation, for example.

People with disabilities, permanent or temporary, should see the Faculty Academic Liaison Officer (ALO), who can arrange some types of assistance.

Examination Problems

The University appreciates that exams are stressful, and that students may be entitled to help so they can perform at their best. If you have problems at exam time, help is available. University rules recognise three distinct cases:

1. Misadventure: This is where you cannot sit an exam because of some external event. For example, a major rail system failure makes you three hours late for an exam. As soon as possible, notify the University through the Student Centre, and arrangements will be made for you to sit an alternative exam. Note that for most problems, the University will require some proof that the claimed events happened. Unfortunately, you cannot claim “I thought the exam was tomorrow” under this heading.
2. Special Conditions: This is for people who need help doing an exam. Many people are entitled to extra examination time because they have difficulty with English, or have permanent disabilities or temporary ones like an injured hand. Please apply for special conditions at least three weeks before the exams for language cases, and for other problems if at all possible
3. Special Consideration: This is where something (such as a stomach upset) happens during the exam so you don’t do as well as you should. As soon as possible after the examination, get a medical certificate from the University’s doctor and apply for special consideration at the Student Centre.

The rules about examinations are complicated, as there are so many different ways things can go wrong. But in all cases, the sooner you advise us, the better. You should read the rules and understand them. If you are not sure whether you qualify for help because of a problem, you should discuss it first with the Student Centre.

Some Starting Points for Help

General Enquiries – Student Centres (Building1, Building 6, Building 10)

The Student Centre can help with any administrative enquiries about your enrolment, and this is where you will usually hand in enrolment-related forms (e.g. if you change your address or mobile phone number, or need to change the subjects you are enrolled in).

Academic Matters

When you need to change the subjects you are enrolled in, often your Course Director or an academic advisor will need to approve your enrolment, and can discuss subject choices with you.

Study difficulties: If problems arise during your study and you need to withdraw from subjects, or perhaps even take a semester off from studying, or some other problems or unforeseen circumstances arise during the semester, you should contact your Course Director as soon as possible to discuss what your study options are. There are ways we can deal with most problems, but you need to let us know. Each semester, Course Directors will have set consulting times. Please approach them during their consulting times, but if this is not possible, phone or email to make an appointment. Consulting times are also usually posted on their office doors or walls.

University Support Services

The University includes a wide variety of support services, including Careers Advisors, Financial Assistance, Health Service, Housing Service, Disabilities and Special Needs services, Counselling Service and more. Most of the University’s support services are co-ordinated by the Student Services Unit, located on Level 6 of the Tower Building. General enquiries about what services are available and who to contact can be made in person or by phoning 9514-1177.

Click here for some useful URLs for help

The main UTS website has links to all sorts of useful web pages within the University about study, administrative matters, support services and University life.