Annette McCone
Widening Access and Retention

• provide an overview of the academic year
• explore how you might be feeling
• banish myths and misconceptions
• provide first hand experience of life at
Birkbeck

Nervous Excitement
Meeting new people
Learning something new
Meeting new people
Learning something new
Coping with the demands of the course
Rising to the challenge of the course
Finding time to study
Not completing/defer/take a break
Enjoying time spent studying
Graduating

• Autumn (3 rd October – 16 th December)
• Spring (9 th January – 23 rd March)
• Summer (23 rd April until 6 th July)

• 12 weeks
• 1 st week induction; student handbook; getting to know staff and fellow students
• Teaching – lectures, seminars, labs
• Reading week half way through – catch up or get ahead
• Stay Ahead Programme – November
• Preparing for assessment – December
• Meeting first deadline – December/January

Mon Tues Wed Thurs Fri Sat Sun am
8-12 pm
12 - 6
Eve
6-9
Night
9 - 12
Gym/
Work
Work
BBK
TV
Work Gym/
Work
Work Work HW and errands
HW and errands
Work
BBK
Work
BBK
Library key reading
Work gym key reading
Work
Family/
Friends/
Fun
Family/
Friends/
Fun
Study Family/
Friends/
Fun
Study TV
Family/
Friends/
Fun
TV

• 12 weeks
• “January Blues”
• Using feedback from term one assessments to “feed forward”
• Revisit and review work from Autumn term
• Reading Week – catch up or get ahead
• Preparing for exams – identify a study buddy

• Consolidating knowledge from previous terms
• Exam revision – consider taking block of annual leave?
• Exams – always during the working day
• Preparing for next year
• Update your CV
• Enjoy the break!

• There is 24 hour access to the building – study rooms are always available – Room 536
• There are showers available – ask reception for the key
• There is a cash machine and prayer room at the School of Oriental and African Studies
• ULU has the largest swimming pool in central London – gym is £26.00 direct debit but can pay daily £4.50
• Buy one get one free at the BBK bar on a Friday …