Frequently asked questions for new students

Induction is 19 & 20 January 2023 (except for Adult Nursing). Teaching starts on Monday 23 January 2023.

The events that take place during Induction Week will set you up to achieve your best during your studies. The events will help you to meet other students on your course and understand the support on offer to make the most from your experience.

Postgraduate taught student events can be found in your timetable and on the Welcome Week app. Postgraduate research students can find out more information here.

To become a registered Roehampton student you must first complete your online enrolment.

Once your place to study here is confirmed you'll receive an email from our Registry team with simple instructions on how to do this.

You can also find detailed instructions on our website. This includes guidance for overseas and EU students.

We advise that you enrol as soon as possible. You can do this online from the moment you receive an e-mail from our Enrolment team. If you wish to join us later, or have any concerns about missing enrolment, please contact registry@roehampton.ac.uk.  

Teaching begins on Monday 23 January 2023.

We realise that there is a large amount of information to digest, but we will guide you through everything you need pre-arrival. Please look out for any communications sent to you by the University. These communications will be sent to you via email, and will require you to complete a number of steps before you arrive on campus. Please make sure you check your inbox regularly, so you don't miss out.

At minimum, you should receive:

• An email confirming your place (once you have your results)
• An email with your username and password which allows you to access online enrolment

If you have applied for accommodation:

• You will receive an email from accommodation with your offer or, if you have not secured on campus accommodation, an email detailing other options
• You will then receive an email confirmation with details of your moving in date

All room offers will be sent out after your place at the University of Roehampton is confirmed. For more information on Accommodation and to see a full list of Accommodation FAQs, please click here.

The University of Roehampton is collegiate because it is made up of four Colleges. The Colleges serve as the focal points for the University's vibrant social scene. On-campus accommodation is centred on the Colleges and there are healthy intercollegiate rivalries in sport and other traditional celebrations - think Harry Potter. The College Cup runs through the year with Colleges competing in sport, fundraising, Quidditch and other extra-curricular activities, supported by their respective College mascots, to lift the trophy at the end of the final term. Studying at a collegiate university gives you a sense of community; you are not only part of the University, but will also have an instant identity within the smaller world of the College.

Your College is either where your accommodation is, or where your course is based. Please see our What College Am I In? explanatory page.

The Roehampton Students’ Union is a community of students who work together to improve the student experience, whether this means representing student issues, or just providing some personal advice and support. What’s more, the list of opportunities to get involved through sports clubs, societies, volunteering and many more areas is far too vast to mention here. So when you've got the time why not take the chance to explore the Students' Union Website?

Many students worry about this but often, after no time at all, you'll make good friends. From the first day you get here, you'll have plenty of chances to meet other new students. Roehampton Students' Union (RSU) offers many events for people to get to know each other, and remember, everyone is trying to make new friends, so you're not alone. Roehampton has a number of services that are here to support you if you experience any difficulties. We have dedicated Student Welfare Officers who are your first port of call for support.

In a word, great. Roehampton is lucky to have a close-knit community of students. We have some very active and diverse sports teams and societies, some of which hold regular events and trips away, and are engaged in campaigns on local, national and international issues. You could go from an intense kickboxing session to imagining yourself as a Rogue, using your new martial arts skills, with the Gaming and Role-play Society; or you might see yourself finishing a musical theatre performance with the Roehampton Players, and heading to a 'potions class' with the Hogwarts Society. There is definitely something for everyone (in most cases many things for everyone); take a look at our students' blogs to get an idea of what they get up to.

The Students' Union events programme is made up of varied events, such as the variously-themed Bop at the Union Bar, as well as bigger events staged on an annual or termly basis.

Each College also has a social space where students can participate in smaller social activities such as karaoke, quiz nights and themed nights, which will be organised by their relevant College President and Social Secretary. If you are living in halls, your Flat Rep will show you where to go and what you can do in the local area, as well as how to get to popular places in central London.

All Roehampton's societies can be joined through the Students' Union. If there's not one that suits your interest, you can start your own with guidance from the RSU. A list of all the societies we currently have can be found here.

Tip from a current student: "Join at least two clubs or societies – one for something you know already and one completely different or new."

The 6 faculties / schools are responsible for delivering and teaching your course and will be your academic 'home' during your time at Roehampton.  

They are spread out over the four Colleges -  

Froebel is home to the School of Education and nursing and dance programmes.  

Digby Stuart has the School of Arts and the School of Humanities and Social Sciences.  

The Faculty of Business and Law is based at Southlands.  

Whitelands is home to the School of Life and Health Sciences and the School of Psychology.  

The Faculty/School offices are staffed by professional administrative teams who are there to help and guide you throughout your time at Roehampton. Faculties and Schools will also often arrange special events and conferences with outside speakers for students and other academics.  

Studying at University gives you much more control over your studies than ever before in your academic life. You can choose more of what you want to study, but also how and when you study. Working out how you manage this best is something every student has to go through at one point or another. A crucial starting point, as many current students and alumni testify, is to plan your time in advance. This may take some getting used to, but if you do struggle, there are plenty of people who can help, such as Academic Learning Support staff or your Personal Tutor. Universities generally expect around 30–35 hours of work a week, so base your plans around this. Information on academic support can be found here.

There are many students who have come to study at Roehampton who are returning to education. The best advice if you are anxious about something is to ask someone - your tutor should be your first port of call. Most students find that when they get help they find the transition much easier, but often it's getting the help in the first place which is the biggest step. We make every effort to ensure there are people available who can answer any questions you may have. Information on academic support can be found here.

University study generally differs from studies at school or college as the emphasis is on what you are interested in learning. Teaching at Roehampton will generally consist of the following:

• Lectures are usually large teaching environments with many students. A lecturer will present information to you and you can choose how you want to record that information. You can take notes but don’t get too bogged down writing every word that is said. Usually lecturers provide handouts with key information.
• Seminars are smaller discussions groups, led by a lecturer. There’s usually lots of student interaction and, on occasion, you may carry out short presentations. It is important to be prepared for seminars as discussion will involve knowledge of the subject. Check your module handbook if you aren’t sure what’s being covered.
• Tutorials are usually 1:1 sessions with your lecturer. Their purpose is so you can get feedback on your work and academic progress. Your lecturer will also listen to how you think the course is going. If and when these are offered to you, we advise you go along as they are a great learning opportunity. You can also ask your lecturer for a tutorial.

The way you are assessed will vary from course to course. The following methods are common at Roehampton:

• Coursework is written work that you will be expected to hand in by a certain time and date. This type of work will be expected to be well researched with references to secondary reading. It will also be expected to be proofread thoroughly and word processed. It should also contain a bibliography citing what you have researched.
• Exams/tests are carried out under exam conditions at a time, date and location that you will be informed of by your Programme Convener. Check your module handbook to see if any of your modules will require you to sit an exam.
• Presentations are highly valued in the working world so it is important that university prepares you for this. In some modules you will be required to give a presentation on one of the topics you will be studying. This is arranged in advance with the course tutor and you will be given lots of time to prepare.

An Academic Guidance Tutor is a member of academic staff who is available for you to speak to about your course or anything else you want. Your Academic Guidance Tutor is there to make sure you are OK and to be available when you have a query. He or she will be able to advise you when making academic choices and also help find solutions to other difficulties. Your Academic Guidance Tutor will generally contact you but it is also advisable for you to contact them by email, phone, or dropping into their office when they are available if you’d like to speak to them.

Independent study can be scary for some students, which is perfectly understandable. There is an expectation that you find things out for yourself, but there are plenty of people who can help you, including Academic Learning Advisors, Student Welfare Officers and the English Language Unit. See our Library and Learning pages for lots of information about studying support.

Visit the Welcome Week app to find sessions on developing your English language skills.

Attendance at lectures is very important and there is an expectation that you should attend all lectures, seminars and practicals. Attendance is monitored at teaching activities via a card swipe system so you MUST swipe your Student ID card every time you enter a room for teaching activities. If you do not swipe your card you will be marked ABSENT. If we notice a drop in your attendance without any record of the reason, we will send you an email to see if there are any problems you might be experiencing. Attendance is checked at regular intervals during each term and absences are recorded. If your attendance does not improve we will send you a further letter raising a cause for concern. Therefore, it is important you scan your ID card for each of your classes on your timetable.

If you have been away from the University for any reason or perhaps you may have missed a lecture due to sickness, then you should always report your absence. You must complete an Absence Form via the Attendance Monitoring System if you have missed any sessions for any reason.

Your timetable is available on the Student Portal on the right hand side, click ‘Teaching Timetable’ and follow the next steps. Your timetable may not be fully accessible until you have completed enrolment and will depend on if you have any optional modules to select. Don’t worry, you will have your full timetable ahead of teaching beginning and if you have any questions please ask your Programme Convenor during your Programme Welcome.

Roehampton tries to provide computer access for all students with suites available across campus. In the rare case that there is a specific requirement for you to have a computer, this will be in the entry requirements on your course page. If you are not sure where you can access a computer in a certain building then ask at a reception point or your Department Office.

For many of you, this will be the first time you will be living away from your parents, and perhaps the first time you will have to share your living space with more than a few people. You and your flatmates will come from all over the country (and the world), from different backgrounds and with different ideas about how to live; it's a great opportunity to meet new friends and also be close to everything you need at university. Every hall has a Flat Rep, a 2nd or 3rd year student, who is there to guide you in your first few weeks and make sure you are ok throughout the year. They will hold regular meetings, set out ground rules and report maintenance issues.

No. Everyone who is not living on campus in their first year will still be assigned a college, based on where most of their teaching takes place, and so you will be immediately involved in all the social activities like everyone else. There is a wide range of support available from Accommodation Services, who also run a site called Studentpad, where you can find other students who want to live off-campus near the University, or in central London. 

Yes, there are many religious and secular places around campus which can be used by all students for quiet reflection. The University has Catholic, Anglican, Methodist and Atheist foundations through its four colleges, the history of which inform our ethos of community and partnership. We provide for a wide range of faiths with our prayer rooms and Chaplaincy.

There are several places to eat and drink across the campus if you really don't want to attempt cooking. Otherwise why not be brave and give it a go? There are hundreds of student cookbooks on the market and even more websites showing you easy and simple recipes. Everyone's got to eat, so why not share the cooking with a flat mate – it's a great way of making friends and splitting the washing up duties.

There is a Co-Op, where you can buy basics, a short walk from Whitelands College. A large Asda is located a 10-minute bus ride from the campus (on the 265 towards Tolworth).

Barnes mainline train station is a 10-minute walk away (or two minutes by bus) from the main campus, and gets you to central London (Waterloo) in about 20 minutes. There are several buses that stop very near or directly outside the University which go to Putney, Hammersmith, Victoria etc. For full details of transport links, see How to find us.

Just remember TFL now no longer accepts cash on buses, so you'll need to get an Oyster card or pay with your contactless bank card. If you are a UK resident you can order an Oyster card and have it delivered to your home address prior to arriving at University. There is a refundable £5 charge for this, and you can get this back if you decide to get a special Student Oyster once you've arrived.

We are one of the only London universities that can provide free on-campus student car parking! Take a look at our car parking FAQs for more information.

Roehampton and its grounds have been judged the safest in inner London by the Complete University Guide in 2014. 

If an emergency takes place on campus you should call the emergency telephone line on 020 8392 3333. It's a good idea to put this emergency number into your mobile directory.  If you need to call security but it's not an emergency, call 020 8392 3140.

Going to university provides you with the some of the most rewarding experiences you will have. But we know there may be times that you may need support, the following services are available to you:

• Welfare and emotional support
• Learning and study support
• Financial support and guidance
• Careers support
• Chaplaincy

Everyone at Roehampton, whether studying, working, or visiting, has the right to feel safe. Harassment of any kind is completely unacceptable, and our community is an environment where prejudice and socially unacceptable behaviour are never tolerated.

Our Report + Support tool will allow you to report unacceptable behaviour, and access the support you need. Click here to find out more. 

If you are living on campus or in the local area, we strongly recommend you register with the on-site Student Medical Centre based in Old Court, Froebel College, which is linked to the Putneymead practice. You can register online via the Campus Doctor website.

The Student Medical Centre (SMC) offers all the usual GP services weekdays from 9am to 4.30pm including a daily walk in service. We have three doctors and a number of highly trained nurses who offer a friendly, supportive and confidential service. The main Putneymead surgery can also support you outside Medical Centre opening hours (and outside term time).

If you are staying at home we recommend you stay with your current GP, but in emergencies you can see our on-site nurses. You can also go to the Minor Injuries clinic at Queen Mary's Hospital across the road from the main campus.

There are dental practices in the local areas of Richmond, Putney and Roehampton village. It is recommended that you research and register at one of these surgeries as soon as possible since places are limited. Please also read our important notices about health and safety including our advice about Meningitis prevention.

• Wandsworth
• Richmond

If you have a registered disability, Roehampton's Disability Services can help you. Please ensure you read the information about our Disability Services carefully before coming to university; we strongly recommend that you arrange the support before you begin university.

If you are unsure about whether you have a disability but you think you might need additional support, please contact us 020 8392 3636 or disabilities@roehampton.ac.uk.