Support for student learning

Student services

The Student Services Unit provides a range of professional services to support different aspects of student life and learning at UTS.

Orientation

UTS offers a free program of activities and a series of integrated study success lectures before semester begins to help new students manage the transition to university study. There are specially tailored components for part-time, postgraduate and international students, and recent school leavers.

Peer network

The peer network program enlists the aid of existing students to assist with the orientation of new students. Both undergraduate and postgraduate students can get involved.

Careers

The careers service at City campus offers career guidance and assists with job placement for students seeking permanent, casual or vacation work.

Chaplaincy

Visiting chaplains and multi-faith centre rooms are available to students. Chaplains come from a number of different faith traditions including different Christian denominations, Buddhism, Judaism and Islam.

Counselling

Counsellors are available at both City and Kuring-gai campuses. The service is free of charge and confidential.

City campus
telephone +61 2 9514 1177

Kuring-gai campus
telephone +61 2 9514 5342

English language and academic literacy

Higher education language and presentation support staff assist students with workshops, one-on-one and group consultations, and drop-in support for developing English language, academic writing, academic presentation and conversation skills. These services are free of charge. In between teaching periods, they provide workshop programs on academic writing, tutorial presentation and pronunciation at a nominal cost.

Financial assistance

Financial assistance staff assist students with personal financial matters, student loans, Youth Allowance, Austudy and other Centrelink benefits. Students on low incomes may be eligible for grants and assistance in relation to computer access.

Health

Experienced male and female doctors from diverse backgrounds and clinical interests are available at City campus.

Housing

University housing offers four residences to students, all within easy access to City campus. The housing service also provides assistance to students in locating short-term and long-term accommodation in the private rental and share accommodation market.

Special needs

The University has a range of services and procedures to improve access for students with special needs. The special needs service is the central point of contact for students with disabilities and ongoing illnesses or conditions that affect their studies. Consultations with special needs staff about the physical environment, course requirements and the services available can be made well ahead of enrolment, or at any time during enrolment.

Many UTS courses require students to successfully undertake fieldwork, internships and work-integrated learning. UTS is committed to making education accessible and endeavours to accommodate the needs of students with disabilities and illnesses to the greatest extent possible.

Students who have a disability that may affect their participation in work-integrated learning components of their course should discuss this with special needs service staff prior to enrolment. The academic liaison officer within the student's faculty should be contacted for advice as necessary.

Peer-assisted learning

UTS: Peer Assisted Study Success (U:PASS) is a peer-based learning program designed to assist students undertaking difficult subjects. U:PASS is offered in selected subjects across several faculties. Students meet in small study groups facilitated by peer leaders who have recently completed the subject and achieved high grades. U:PASS sessions are free, informal and responsive to students' different abilities and needs.

Computing facilities at UTS

UTS provides computer facilities for students at City and Kuring-gai campuses. There are over 1300 computers in computer lab and open spaces. There are also group pods for group work activities.

Open spaces have audio visual equipment, desk spaces for setting up a laptop, Wi-Fi connectivity and networked computers.

Student printing

Students can print and scan using the computer labs. There is also printing available from open space computers. As well as printing from a general access computer, students can print from any device by using the MyPrint facility. Details on how to use MyPrint can be found on the service desk knowledge base.

IT Support Centres

Students can get IT help from an IT Support Centre by phone, in person or online.

By phone

telephone +61 2 9514 2222
8am–9.30pm Monday to Friday and 9am–5pm Saturday and Sunday

In person

City campus, Broadway
CB02.04.12
9am–9.30pm Monday to Friday and 9am–5pm Saturday and Sunday

City campus, Haymarket
CM05C.01.41
9am–9.30pm Monday to Friday only

Online

Students can submit requests for assistance or search the IT knowledge base using the UTS Service Desk:

https://servicedesk.uts.edu.au

IT services and facilities on campus

Specific information about the full breadth of services, facilities, locations, contacts, IT use policies and email system is available at:

www.itd.uts.edu.au

Computer training

In general, where computer training is a necessary part of a Commonwealth-supported place course, it is provided as part of that course. Students can also consult the Mathematics and ICT Study Centre.

IT policies and guidelines

The University's electronic mail services are a part of the University's facilities and are intended for teaching, learning, research and administration in support of the University's mission.

The UTS Email Policy outlines appropriate use of, and access to, UTS email accounts:

The Guidelines for the Use of Email complement the UTS Email Policy, and should be read in conjunction with this policy:

The Acceptable Use of Information Technology Facilities Policy applies to all UTS IT facilities, including email accounts:

Copyright at UTS

Downloading and/or copying copyright-protected material is illegal. Information about copyright laws is available at:

www.lib.uts.edu.au/about-us/policies-guidelines/copyright-and-uts

Bridging courses

Chemistry bridging course

For first-year chemistry subjects, it is strongly recommended that students have either performed well in HSC chemistry (i.e. band 5 or 6) or have some other suitable prior knowledge. UTS Bridging Chemistry is a bridging course designed to prepare students without such prior knowledge for the study of chemistry at tertiary level. The course includes lectures and demonstrations, tutorial and problem-solving sessions, self-paced learning and laboratory experiences.

Mathematics bridging subjects

The Mathematics and ICT Study Centre provides bridging subjects for students who need mathematics, statistics and basic computing skills for their studies at UTS. If groups of students have particular needs, centre staff can design a bridging subject specifically to meet these needs.

Bridging Mathematics: Day and evening classes are available.

• The Algebra and Functions course is a one-week course designed mainly for students who have not studied Year 11 or 12 Mathematics (2 unit). It is suitable for students who studied General Mathematics at the HSC and are enrolling in courses in business, biological sciences, building and architecture. It is an introduction to basic topics. It is suggested that students also take Introduction to Calculus.
• The Introduction to Calculus course is a one-week course designed mainly for students who have not studied Year 11 or 12 Mathematics (2 unit). It is suitable for students who studied General Mathematics at the HSC and are enrolling in courses in business, biological sciences, building and architecture. It is strongly suggested that students take Algebra and Functions before taking this course.
• The Maths Extension 1 course is a two-week course designed for students who studied Mathematics (2 unit) at the HSC. It is not suitable for students who studied General Mathematics at the HSC.

These courses offered are free for UTS students and carry no equivalent full-time student load (EFTSL) value.

Mathematics Preparation for Nursing: This subject is run during the evening in February. It gives a general introduction to mathematics and science for students entering nursing courses. This subject is free of student contribution amounts and carries no EFTSL value. If there is demand for it, the subject may also be run in July.

Mathematics Bridging for Education: This subject is run in February to assist students entering primary education courses. It is free of student contribution amounts and carries no EFTSL value. If there is demand for it, the subject may also be run in July.

Foundation Mathematics: This subject runs in both Autumn and Spring semesters. It covers much of the content of the Mathematics (2 unit) HSC course and some elements of the Mathematics Extension 1 HSC course, and prepares students for entry into courses that require mathematical skills, such as business; design, architecture and building; engineering; information technology; and science. Students who wish to enrol at the University in the following year are encouraged to take the subject as a non-award subject.

Physics bridging course

This course is a short introduction to studying physics, designed primarily for students enrolling in engineering or physical sciences (applied chemistry, applied physics, forensic science, nanotechnology) degrees at UTS who have limited background in physics. The course does not attempt to cover HSC physics, but it provides useful advice and background knowledge to assist with tertiary study at UTS.

This course benefits students who are:

• recent school leavers who did not complete HSC physics
• mature-age students returning to study after an extended period
• not strong at mathematics (band 4 or below in HSC mathematics).

Students who have done HSC physics and have reasonable mathematical ability are advised not to do the bridging course as they will have sufficient background for first-year physics subjects.

This course is not suitable for students intending to take an entry examination where physics forms part of the examination, for example the GAMSAT examination.

Academic liaison officers

Each faculty has at least one academic liaison officer (ALO) who is a member of academic staff. ALOs can approve requests for adjustments to assessment arrangements for students with disabilities or ongoing illnesses. ALOs are also contacts for students who experience difficulties because of carer responsibilities.

Students are encouraged to see the special needs service before contacting an ALO.

Further information is available from the relevant faculty or at: