UCL FACULTY OF BRAIN SCIENCES
SCHOOL OF LIFE AND MEDICAL SCIENCES
JOB DESCRIPTION
Faculty Graduate Tutor (Taught)
The Faculty Graduate Tutor is appointed by the Dean, after consultation with the Faculty Tutor.
Purpose of the Role and Responsibilities
The Faculty Graduate Tutor (Taught) reports to the Faculty Tutor and has access to administrative
support from the Faculty Education Officer in relation to faculty teaching committees, quality
management and enhancement processes and student related matters.
The Faculty Tutor has the overall responsibility for the general academic and pastoral oversight of
students in the Faculty and assists the Dean in all matters relating to Quality Management and
Enhancement. The Faculty Graduate Tutor (Taught) is expected to communicate regularly and
liaise with the Faculty Tutor on all issues affecting taught graduate students. The Faculty Graduate
Tutor (Taught) has particular responsibility for postgraduate taught students, their programmes of
study and supervision, and funding arrangements. Regular liaison with Departmental/Divisional
Graduate Tutors and Admissions Tutors and keeping them informed of issues relating to the
taught graduate community is also a key function of the Faculty Graduate Tutor (Taught).
The Faculty Graduate Tutor (Taught) works with the Faculty Graduate Tutor (Research) who is
responsible for graduate research students and has similar responsibilities, and with the Faculty
Tutor and Vice Dean for Education to deliver the Faculty’s educational strategy (including
approving new PGT programmes and modules and amendments to the current provision).
Roles and Responsibilities
From the UCL Academic
graduate-tutors
Manual:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/academic-manual/part-5/faculty-
1. To exercise the general academic and pastoral oversight of all taught graduate students in
the Faculty in liaison with the Faculty Tutor, Vice-Provost (Education & Student Affairs) and
Student and Registry Services as appropriate.
2. To agree all Departmental/Divisional Graduate Tutor appointments with the Head of
Department or Division and the Faculty Graduate Tutor (Research) as appropriate.
3. To meet all new Departmental/Divisional Graduate Tutors individually and discuss roles
and responsibilities.
4. To be conversant with UCL policies and procedures relating to the recruitment, admission
and academic progress and pastoral well-being of the graduate student body.
5. To communicate with the Faculty Tutor regarding issues affecting taught graduate
students, and to be informed by the Faculty Tutor of such matters that may arise in key
UCL committees.
6. To liaise with the Dean, Faculty Tutor, Vice-Provost (Education & Student Affairs), the
Registrar and the UCL Access and Admissions Office, as appropriate, in the operation of
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UCL and Faculty admissions policies and to monitor the taught graduate admissions
procedure so as to meet Faculty quotas and targets and to conform with UCL policies, with
particular reference to statistical patterns.
7. To ensure that the UCL Disability Co-ordinator is consulted on all issues relating to the
admission and progress of taught graduate students with disabilities, and ensure that
Faculty and Departmental staff are aware of and comply with current legislation in this
area.
8. To liaise with and advise the Publications and Marketing Services Unit in the Department
of Communications and Marketing as to appropriate entries in the graduate prospectuses,
departmental handbooks and other publications, so as to ensure, in conjunction with the
Faculty Tutor and the Publications and Marketing Services Unit, consistent wording in
common publicity across departments in the Faculty.
9. To participate in graduate student recruitment activities and events (Open Days, Fairs,
Institutional Visits, webinars etc.) organised by the Faculty Tutor and Publications and
Marketing Unit, as required, and to ensure appropriate departmental representation at
such events.
10. To assist in the promotion and monitoring of Quality Management and Enhancement for
taught graduate students across the Faculty.
11. To assist in the implementation of the Code of Practice for Graduate Taught Degrees, and
to report to the Faculty accordingly.
12. To advise taught graduate students who are experiencing any difficulties (personal,
financial, medical or academic) affecting their studies.
13. To liaise with the Faculty Tutor, Student Support and Wellbeing and the Vice Provost
Education and Student Affairs or his/her Deputies on issues concerning the academic
welfare of students following graduate taught degree programmes within the Faculty.
14. In conjunction with the Dean and/or the Faculty Postgraduate (Taught) Teaching
Committee and/or Faculty Board of Examiners, to monitor:
(i) compliance with the Code of Practice for Graduate Taught Degrees;
(ii) numbers of registered taught graduate students in the Faculty;
(iii) taught graduate student progress and attainment.
15. To liaise regularly with Departmental/Divisional Graduate Tutors and Admissions Tutors
and to keep them informed of issues relating to the taught graduate community.
16. To chair the Faculty Postgraduate (Taught) Teaching Committee and to be an ex-officio
member of the Faculty Board of Examiners.
17. To serve as an ex officio member of the Student Complaints Panels, as necessary.
18. To attend, or to nominate a representative to attend, the final Boards of Examiners
meetings for taught graduate programmes (see Regulations for Boards of Examiners for
Taught Programmes).
19. In liaison with the Faculty Tutor, to advise students who are academically insufficient or
who have failed major examinations as to their future action, and in accordance with UCL’s
Academic Manual, suspend or exclude them from further registration at UCL, as
appropriate.
20. To advise taught graduate students, as appropriate, on the procedures for student
complaints as laid down in UCL's Academic Manual.
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General
The Faculty Graduate Tutor (Taught) is expected to communicate regularly with, and coordinate
the activities of, the Divisional Graduate Tutors in the Faculty on all issues affecting taught
graduate students and pastoral matters.
To work in accordance with UCL’s management competencies
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/hr/competencies/index.php
The Faculty Teaching Committee has oversight of teaching activities in the Faculty, reviews and
approves developments, sets postgraduate tuition fee levels and coordinates the Quality
Management and Enhancement (QME) framework. Terms of reference can be found at:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/academic-manual/part-8/ftcs
The role of the Faculty Tutor is mandated in the UCL Academic Manual and can be found at:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/academic-manual/part-5/faculty-tutors
The role of Faculty Graduate Tutors can be found at:
http://www.ucl.ac.uk/academic-manual/part-5/faculty-graduate-tutors
Other Duties
To undertake such other duties as the Dean or Faculty Tutor may from time to time prescribe.
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Person Specification
(UCL Internal Candidates)

An experienced member of academic staff with significant experience of MSc/MA programmes.

A good understanding of UCL processes, procedures and policies, including UCL taught degree
regulations.

It is essential for the person to have held the role of programme director at Masters level

A strong understanding of equality and diversity issues as they relate to students.

Knowledge of HEFCE quality assurance systems (and the UCL quality management and
enhancement framework).

Outstanding communication skills, including the ability to present to a wide and varied audience;
and strong written communication skills.

Experience of writing reports and drafting policies.

Ability to network and build relationships.

Strong IT skills and advanced level of understanding of excel.

Ability to handle challenging situations on a regular basis, and work with staff and students
towards a solution.

Strong customer care focus and able to demonstrate commitment to improving the student
experience.

In addition to the person specification criteria, the successful candidate will need to meet UCL’s
expectations of: Management competency as outlined in “Competency Expectations of post
holders with management responsibilities” (http://www.ucl.ac.uk/hr/competencies/index.php).
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