Introduction to Postgraduate Taught Programmes in the School of Mathematics

1. Introduction to Postgraduate Taught Programmes in the School of Mathematics Wednesday 11 September 2019

2. Welcome!

3. This Talk will introduce you to: • Year Structure & Workload • University & Academic Culture • IT & Facilities • Help & Support available to you • Later you will have a Programme Specific Talk Overview

4. Year Structure You can see the important dates of the Academic Year here: https://www.ed.ac.uk/semester-dates/201920

5. Workload • Full time study means 40 hours per week of work – why? • Each programme is 180 credits: • 120 credits of taught courses (Sept-May) • 60 credits of dissertation project (May-August) • Each credit is considered to be 10 hours of student load: 1800 hours over 49 weeks • Subtract 4 weeks “break” • 1800/45 = 40 hours per week • Consequence: You should not do more than 16 hours per week of paid work at any time during the teaching, examination or dissertation periods

6. University & Academic Culture • Not all university systems are the same • Academic culture varies • Interact with staff – Don’t be afraid to ask questions, we will not be insulted.

7. Assessment Structure • Important information regarding the Assessment guidelines can be found here: • https://teaching.maths.ed.ac.uk/main/postgraduate-taught/programmes/operational-research/assessment/information Academic Misconduct - Plagiarism • Definition “... the action of including or copying, without adequate acknowledgement, the work of another in one’s own work.” If (significant) plagiarism is detected, it will be referred to the College. Penalties for plagiarism range from loss of marks to exclusion from the Programme. • More information: https://teaching.maths.ed.ac.uk/main/postgraduate-taught/programmes/operational-research/assessment/academic-misconduct

8. IT • Primary source of information about your programme is the PGT Website: https://teaching.maths.ed.ac.uk/main/postgraduate-taught • Timetable information is on your Office 365 personal timetable • Materials for individual courses are available via Learn:https://www.learn.ed.ac.uk • You can access Learn via MyEd: https://www.myed.ed.ac.uk • Course information is also available on Pathhttps://path.is.ed.ac.uk/

9. IT • Your University of Edinburgh Email is the formal means of communication – you are required to read email regularly and use this for all university correspondence. • Top Hat is used for attendance monitoring • You must a create a TophatAccount

10. Facilities - JCMB • JCMB is open: • 08.30-18.00 Monday–Friday: No restriction • 18.00-21.00 Monday–Friday: Swipe your student card to gain access • 09.00-17.00 Saturday–Sunday: Swipe your student card to gain access • You must not: • Stay in JCMB after “closing time” • Sleep overnight in JCMB • Try to get into JCMB when it is closed

11. Facilities - Libraries • Murray Library (at KB) for books, study space and the “reserve collection” • Main Library (in George Square) as study space in town (open 24hrs)

12. Support to help you succeed Personal Tutor • For technical queries and problems with a particular course, contact the lecturer • Other programme-related and personal issues should be raised with your Personal Tutor, e.g. • Advice on choosing courses • Advice on future studies (references)

13. Teaching Organisation • Administrative oversight of PGT Programmes and courses • Based in JCMB 5211 • Monday-Friday 09.00-17.00 • Annabelle MacInnes, Deputy Manager PGT & Gemma Aitchison, Programmes Administrator • Tier 4 Students – Jill Timmins, School Tier 4 contact officer & Sarah McDonald, School Tier 4 Administrator

14. Student Learning Advisor • Support during the whole process of the MSc • Additional support (complementary skills) • Social Activities (weekly - times TBC) • Employability Activities (weekly - times TBC) Maria Tovar Gallardo JCMB: 6315 Maria.tovar@ed.ac.uk

15. Adjustment Schedule • You should inform your PT or SLA if you have a condition which affects your learning, for example: • Dyslexia • Anxiety • Depression • You may need to be assessed and may be given a study “Learning Profile”

16. Special Circumstances • You should advise your PT or SLA as soon as possible if your studies are affected by exceptional circumstances such as: • Personal illness / injury • Bereavement • Victim of a crime • Such ‘Special Circumstances’ can lead to adjustments being made by the Boards of Examiners • Your PT / SLA will make a submission, with supporting documentation, on your behalf.

17. Support to help you succeed Accommodation Services Student Counselling Careers Service Edinburgh Global Student Disability Service Personal Tutor and School Support Staff Chaplaincy Library Me Peer Support: Base, MathSoc My tutors and lecturers Information Services Helpdesk Institute for Academic Development English Language Teaching Centre Student Information Point Edinburgh University Students' Association

18. Statistics students > JCMB Lecture Theatre B Operational Research students > JCMB Lecture Theatre C Computational Applied Mathematics students > JCMB 6201 Financial Mathematics Students > JCMB 4325c Thank You!