Information for students arriving in September 2011

Welcome to the School of History!

We're excited to meet you when you arrive here in September. This section of the website contains information you might find helpful when you are preparing to come here and when you first arrive. It should answer some of the questions you may have about how things will work and what will happen when you arrive here. 

You might also want to check out the School's Undergraduate Calendar, which has information on all the induction events we are laying on to help you get settled in. If you need answers to any other questions, feel free to contact one of the student support team team - Charlotte Davies - our Student Support Assistant, Jon Clifford - Admissions and Student Support Officer, or Matthew Latham - Student Support Manager.

Frequently Asked Questions

Before you arrive
What reading and preperation will I need to do before I arrive at Queen Mary?
Do I have to buy books? Where do I buy them?
What is Pre-enrolment? How do I pre-enrol?
What is Module Registration? How do I do it?
When does the course begin?

Once you are here
When do I get my course pack and what's in it?
How am I assessed?
What and when is reading week?

Some useful online systems
What is Blackboard?
What is mySIS?

Before you arrive

What reading and preperation will I need to do before I arrive at Queen Mary?
In your first year there are no mandatory courses - you get to choose all of the modules you take as options. Because of this we can't provide you with reading lists until the modules you are taking are confirmed at the start of the semester. So don't worry - there is no mandatory reading or preparation work that you need to do before you arrive.

Do I have to buy books? Where do I buy them?
Because there are no mandatory first year courses and your options aren't confirmed until the beginning of the semester, we can't tell you which books to buy until you arrive. All books will be available through the QM library but there are certain key works for each module that are worth investing in. Your module tutor will tell you what these are, either in class or in the module handbook(what's a module handbook?).

You can buy the books through websites like Amazon or on campus from the John Smith's Bookshop.

What is pre-enrolment? How do I pre-enrol?
Before you come to Queen Mary you will need to pre-enrol with the University. Information on how to do this can be found at here. 

What is Module Registration? How do I do it?
Before you arrive for the induction week you will also need to register for the modules you wish to take in your first year. You will do this on-line through the student information system, called MySIS which will be open to you as soon as you have pre-enrolled.  Further information on this process can be found at here. 

When does the course begin?
You will be emailed with information about your Welcome Week, which starts on Monday 19 September. All of the events in the School of History can be found on our Undergraduate Calendar, but there will be other events put on by the Faculty, the Students Union, your other department if you are doing a joint-degree, and so on. Teaching begins in the week commencing Monday 26th September, directly after Welcome Week. You will receive your timetable with all of your lectures and seminars on it by email by Friday 23rd September.

Once you are here

When do I get my course pack and what's in it?
When you start you we will give you various information packs. These will be:

  • Undergraduate Handbook. This will give you all the information you need to know about the School and its procedures. Once you have arrived you will also be able to download an online version from the student intranet.
  • Module Handbooks. There will be one of these for each module you are taking and you will receive if from your module tutor. It will contain all the information about that individual module, including what specific subjects you will be studying each week, essay submission deadlines, contact details for the tutor, reading lists etc. You will also be able to download an electronic copy of the module handbook from Blackboard (what is this?)
  • Reading packs. Some modules will provide photocopied reading materials for the seminar discussions. There is a fee of £3 per pack to cover copying costs and they can be purchased from Copy Shop in College. You will be able to order the packs online before you pick them up. You will be given information on how to do this during your induction week. If a module you are taking has such a pack, you will be informed by your tutor.

Course materials are now available to order from the Copy Shop. 

All available course materials for semester 1 are currently listed. If your course is not listed on the site, then please see the lecturer or seminar teacher to arrange collection of materials.

Please allow 48 hours after ordering before collecting the materials from the Copy Shop.

How am I assessed?
Some modules are assessed only by coursework, others are a mixture of coursework and other types of assessment.
Coursework
These are written assignments set throughout the year. Examples of coursework include essays, gobbets (sources on which you are expected to write commentaries) and literature reviews. The module handbook will explain what coursework is required for that particular module, the length of the coursework and the due date for each piece.
Examination
The written examination contributes to a percentage of the final grade for the course – normally 75%. There is a three-hour written paper for a 30 credit module, a two-hour written paper for a 15 credit module and these are all sat in May and June, even those for modules taken in Semester 1.
Other types of assessments
Some modules, for example those dealing with art or film history, have slide tests where you have to comment on pictures or film clips. Others have assessment based on oral presentations and seminar participation. Further information can be found in the module handbooks.

What and when is reading week?
Reading week takes place in week 7 of semesters 1 and 2. During this week there will be no lectures or seminars and your time should be devoted to consolidation of the material you have read in Weeks 1–6 and reading ahead for the second half of the semester. This year the reading weeks will be as follows:
Semester 1: 7 November – 11 November 2011
Semester 2: 20 February – 24 February 2012

Some useful online systems

What is Blackboard?
Blackboard is the university's online learning environment. On it you will find information about your courses, including Module Handbooks, any extra course readings, messages relating to your modules. You will also use it to submit your essays. You will be shown how to use it when you arrive at your induction sessions.

What is mySIS?
mySIS is the University's student information system. You will use it to choose your modules and to keep the university's record of your personal details up to date amongst other things. You can find it here.

Useful Links

Undergraduate Calendar - you will find all the dates and important events relating to undergraduates here.

Module List - Information on all the different modules you can take. You will also find this information on mySIS and in the module registration booklet.

mySIS - The student information system. You will need this for many things during your time at Queen Mary, including keeping your personal details up to date, choosing your modules and checking your results. You will have access to it as soon as you have pre-enrolled (what's pre-enrolment?).