• Introduction

    WELCOME to the Students' Hub for UWTSD Birmingham!

    Please make full use of this page before submitting your queries to the appropriate department.

  • Study Skills

  • Returning to Learning

    Returning to learning after a long break, or engaging with higher education for the first time, can be complicated. Here you will find some basic information on making the most of your time in higher education, while ensuring that both you and your tutors are getting the best from one another.

    Learning through experience is central to work-based learning, but it might be a new process for you. Check in with the experiential learning cycle occasionally, to ensure you're making the most of your process.

    Each of us learns in different ways, and while we sometimes need to step outside of our learning comfort zone in order to achieve, it can be very helpful to know what your own preferred learning styles are and how to use them to make the most of your studying. 

    Did you know that we actually learn differently as we get older? While each of us learns differently as an individual, we tend to share some common traits and characteristics as adult learners. Knowing how you might differ from 'traditional' students can help you get what you need from your tutors and make the most of your education. 

    • Using the Online Library Resources

      You can also use Sparkhill Library which is located opposite the campus. All the details can be found at http://www.libraryofbirmingham.com/article/sparkhilllibrary/sparkhilllibrary-details

    • How to use Turnitin

    • Understanding Plagiarism and Referencing

      • Harvard Referencing Guide URL

        The handbook provide you with the basic principles of referencing and plagiarism, how to get support and what additional resources you can make use of for more specific examples of the referencing style you’re using.

      • Essay writing - did you plagiarise work? File

        Image source: http://lifehacker.com/this-flowchart-explains-the-severity-of-different-types-1637797055?utm_campaign=socialflow_lifehacker_facebook&utm_source=lifehacker_facebook&utm_medium=socialflow

    • IT Support

      If you are experiencing any of the issues below, please contact IT services at itservicedesk@uwtsd.ac.uk or itsd@uwtsd.ac.uk. Alternatively you can visit IT services at Reception or the IT Service desk in the atrium:

      • Wireless
      • Password Reset
      • Email
      • Print, Copy and Scan

      IT&S Provide a number of services to staff and students. You can find out more about some of the services they provide by clicking here.
      For Online Guides, please click here.

    • Making the most of Microsoft Word

      As a work-based learner, you will likely be using Microsoft Word a great deal as you work through your assignments. Microsoft Word features many tools you can use to make you work look neater and smarter, and save you a lot of time. Please click on each link below to watch a short video tutorial. 

      • How to format the text in your work Page

        Formatting your text can help your papers to appear more professional and better organised. It can also help the reader to understand your writing more effectively. This short video will help you learn to format your text in order to produce a better-looking document. 

      • How to add page numbers, headers, and footers to your work

        With longer documents, you may want to include page numbers, or even headers/footers that appear on every page and give information such as the title of your paper or your own name. This short video will teach you to use these features and make your paper easier to read and better organised. 

      • How to create an automatic Table of Contents for your work Page

        For longer documents, a Table of Contents can help keep you and your reader well-organised. Using an automatic Table of Contents through Microsoft Word will also allow you and your reader to click on the section you would like to read/edit without having to scroll through the entire document. This short video will teach you how to create an automatic, clickable Table of Contents in your paper. 

      • How to create a Bibliography for your work Page

        When writing and submitting an academic paper, it is crucial that you include good citations, and list all of your cited references in a Bibliography at the end of your document. This short video will teach you how to use the 'References' tool to automatically insert citations into your work, and use those citations to build a Bibliography. 

        ** Don't forget that your work must be cited using the Harvard-Anglia style. **

        ** Don't forget to check all automatically-generated citations for grammar and accuracy. **

      • How to use the 'Track Changes' feature to edit a document Page

        The 'track changes' and 'comments' tools allow you (or a friend, colleague, or tutor) to make edits and changes to a document and share information. This short video will help you learn how to use these features on your own document, and also how to accept, reject, or delete changes and comments made by another editor. 

      • Making a Bibliography Using Word File

        This handy guide provides a step-by-step way to include references in your written work using Word. 

    • UWTSD Central Support Teams

      • Student Services URL

        The Student Services office is here to support you as a valued learner of the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. Follow the link to access our support teams, contact a member of staff, or just find out more about the services available to you. 

      • Student Well-being URL

        We understand that, while learning is exciting and engaging, it can also be stressful. The Student Well-being team are here to help support you through those difficult or stressful times, to ensure that you make the most of your education and continue to enjoy your experience studying with the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. Please follow the link to access support or contact the Student Well-being Office. 

      • The Academic Office URL

        The Academic Office manages and oversees all of the regulations that govern students and lecturers here at the University of Wales Trinity Saint David. To read more about academic policies, find a form you may need, or read the Academic Quality Handbook, please follow the link. 

      • Services for Students with Disabilities URL

        The University of Wales Trinity Saint David provides support and guidance to those students who need help learning with a disability. Please follow the link to speak to a member of the team or learn more about the services we can provide. 

      • Services for Mature Students URL

        The University of Wales Trinity Saint David recognises that mature students face different barriers and challenges in pursuing education, and we have a special team here to help you make the most of your studies, no matter your age or life situation. Please follow the link to learn more or contact a member of the team. 

      • Mental Health Services URL

        Students at the University of Wales Saint David can access free, confidential mental health services. Please follow the link to find out more about the services we can provide for you, or to contact a member of the Mental Health team. 

      • How to Search URL

        Not sure how to get the best results from your searches? Click the above link to see how to carry out a search that will get you good quality, relevant information.

      • How to Search URL

        Not sure how to get the best results from your searches? Click the above link to see how to carry out a search that will get you good quality, relevant information.

    • External Resources

      Here you will find links to some of the WIWBL team's favourite external resources that can help you expand your knowledge, understand complex topics, or develop your skills!

      • The Academic Word List URL

        Do you ever feel like you're using the same word over and over again in your academic writing? Have you ever struggled to change the tense or usage of a word in order to make it fit the sentence you want to write? The Academic Word List is a wonderful tool that can help you to find the word you're looking for, get the best academic definition of words to make sure you've chosen one that's just right, and even change the tense or part of speech. 

      • Grammar Girl URL

        Getting back into the swing of academic writing isn't easy! If you've ever wondered about the difference between writing in the 'passive' and 'active' voices, been unsure whether you should use 'which' or 'that', or questioned whether you should be using a comma or a semicolon, then Grammar Girl has got you covered. This website is full of short, easy-to-understand advice on grammar, usage, and writing for publication/academia. 

      • The Guardian: Adult Learning URL

        Making the decision to get into Higher Education can be a lot of things - stressful, exciting, interesting, time-consuming - and The Guardian has a page full of fantastic online resources. Here you can find everything from articles written by adults who have made the decision to get back into learning and what it has meant to them to research studies that show how pursuing an education at any age or stage of life can benefit your health and your career. 

      • Businessballs URL

        Sometimes you want a well-researched, in-depth study of a subject, and sometimes you just want a quick, easy-to-read overview that can introduce you to a topic and help you organise your thoughts. If you're looking for the quick version, Businessballs is a great resource, and can provide basic information on everything from project management techniques to writing an effective complaint letter.

        *Remember that Businessballs is meant as a support resource only, and would never serve as an appropriate cited source for your academic work.*

      • Mind Tools URL

        Mind Tools can provide you with information, resources, and even templates drawn from a wide variety of management fields, including problem solving, stress management, and leadership skills. This site is a fantastic tool that you can use to enhance your study and your professional practice. 

        *Remember that Mind Tools is meant as a support resource only, and would never serve as an appropriate cited source for your academic work.*