Study Spaces, Support & Resources

Alternatively, undergraduate students can contact the Registry Officer for your specific programme of study by telephoning 01224 273505 or emailing the Registry Officer for the School of:

• Biological Sciences: biologicalsciencesregistryofficer@abdn.ac.uk
• Business: businessregistryofficer@abdn.ac.uk
• Divinity, History, Philosophy and History of Art: dhparegistryofficer@abdn.ac.uk
• Education: educationregistryofficer@abdn.ac.uk
• Engineering; engineeringregistryofficer@abdn.ac.uk
• Geosciences: geosciencesregistryofficer@abdn.ac.uk
• Joint Institute students: scnujointinstituteregistryofficer@abdn.ac.uk
• Law: lawregistryofficer@abdn.ac.uk
• Language, Literature and Visual Culture: llvcregistryofficer@abdn.ac.uk
• Medical Sciences: medicalsciencesregistryofficer@abdn.ac.uk
• Medicine: medicineregistryofficer@abdn.ac.uk
• Music: musicregistryofficer@abdn.ac.uk
• Natural and Computing Sciences: ncsregistryofficer@abdn.ac.uk
• Psychology: psychologyregistryofficer@abdn.ac.uk
• Qatar students: qatarregistryofficer@abdn.ac.uk
• Social Sciences: socialscienceregistryofficer@abdn.ac.uk

All undergraduate  students are assigned a Personal Tutor when they join the University. For the majority of students they are known as a Personal Tutor, but in the School of Medicine and Dentistry they are known as Regents.

A Personal Tutor is able to help with personal issues and to help support you throughout your studies at University, signposting support available. Your Personal Tutor does not advise on academic matters, but with be able to direct you to the help you need. You can find more information here: Personal Tutors

The role of the Personal Tutor is:

• To provide opportunities for students to reflect on how their learning within and outwith the formal curriculum can help them in pursuing their longer-term future development.
• To help foster in all students a sense of belonging to a community of learners.

Where else can I get help and advice?

• If you have concerns about your programme you can contact your Registry Officer.
• For advice and support on finance, disabilities, and counselling amongst other services, please visit Student Advice & Support Office on the second floor of the Students' Union Building.
• For advice on course related matters, please contact your degree programme co-ordinator, or the course co-ordinator in your school.
• For advice and support on study skills visit the Student Learning Service.
• You can also get advice on your future from the Careers and Employability Service.

Programme Coordinator

The Programme Coordinator is your academic advisor, overseeing your programme. Contact them in the first place with any academic questions or issues. Even if they can’t provide you with immediate advice, they will point you in the right direction.

You will meet with your Programme Coordinator during advising and induction. They will give you information on how to contact them and let you know about their set office hours. If you want to speak to your Programme Coordinator, but you can’t reach them, contact your School Office to make an appointment.

Responsibilities of a Programme Coordinator include:

• Providing information on lecture and tutorial arrangements, course work requirements and assessment methods, information on avoiding plagiarism;
• Ensuring that the programme and the relevant courses are delivered appropriately and effectively;
• Assisting you in your learning progression and addressing any academic issues that arise;

Dissertation Supervisor

In addition to the Programme Coordinator, you will also have a Dissertation Supervisor, who will provide guidance and advice during your dissertation, project or work placement. The Programme Coordinator usually allocates students to supervisors shortly before the project is due to start.

More information on your Programme Coordinator and Supervisor can be found in Section 11 of the Code of Practice: Postgraduate Taught Students.

Supervisory team

Postgraduate research students work with a supervisory team who provide guidance on their research during their programme. A supervisory team consists of at least two supervisors working in co-supervision, with one supervisor acting as the lead. At least one supervisor must be a professor, reader or lecturer of the University.

Research students receive details of their supervisors in their offer of admission to University. Supervisors usually contact their students before the start of their programme in email to set up an initial meeting at the beginning of the programme.

If you are unsure who your supervisors are, please contact your School Office

Supervisory practice depends on what discipline you are studying. The Code of Practice: Postgraduate Research Students sets out the general policy matters such as the level of contact between supervisors and students, issues to be discussed during the first meeting, and the responsibilities of supervisors and assistant supervisors.

Registry staff can be a good first contact for students with concerns about their studies. Though they cannot provide academic advice, they can advise on what to do if, for example, you have failed exams, want to switch courses, are unsure if you are qualified to progress to the next year of study, and so on. They can also help you to interpret the regulations for your programme of study.

Your School Office is also a good first point of contact for advice.

If you feel you are struggling with your course or falling behind in your studies it is important to talk to someone. For course-specific issues, you should contact the Course Coordinator(s) in the first instance.

If you are unsure who your Course Coordinator is, please refer to

• your Course Handbook
• the Undergraduate Catalogue of Courses 
• or Postgraduate Catalogue of Courses. 

The Language Centre offers a range of courses focusing on Academic English Study Skills (writing & communication).

If you are worried about your studies more generally, or feel that you are not progressing as you would like, contact your Regent (UG Medicine students), Supervisor (Postgraduate students) or your Registry Officer (all other Undergraduate students) in the first instance.

The Support for Study Policy is a supportive way of assisting the small number of students whose behaviour gives cause for concern. It offers an alternative to disciplinary action when a student’s behaviour may be affected by a health condition or disability.