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Welcome to Sheffield!
During Intro Week you may feel swamped with
information about different aspects of student life,
but we hope that you’ll take the time to read through
this short guide to studying History at Sheffield. It
won’t tell you everything you need to know in your first
year and you’ll find more detailed information on our
Department website (www.sheffield.ac.uk/history). This
booklet is just a starting point. It will give you a sense of
what you can expect as a Sheffield History student, and
also what’s expected of you.
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What to expect in the first few weeks
Intro Week is normally very busy and you will have a lot to
think about. Here is a check-list of the things you need to
do in these first few days:
1. Confirm your pre-selected
modules and sign up for
seminars in the Department.
2.Where appropriate attend
meetings with your dual
department.
3.Attend Module Enrolment, if you wish to take modules
from outside of History, and where appropriate your
dual department.
4. Complete your University registration.
5. Register with the University Health Service.
6. Meet your personal tutor.
What are MUSE and MOLE?
MUSE (My University of Sheffield Environment) is a customisable web
portal that provides you with personalised access to all of the University’s
online resources. Through it you can log on to ‘MOLE’ (My Online Learning
Environment), which is just one of the many useful things you can find on
MUSE. There are MOLE sites dedicated to each of your modules and these
provide learning materials such as lecture programmes, instructions for
seminar preparation, essay questions, and reading lists.
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How is university study different from
school or college?
Many students find that studying History at degree level is
rather different from their experience at school or college.
Here are some key differences:
• Greater freedom to explore the topics and questions
that interest you.
• New kinds of teaching styles and methods, including
lectures and seminars.
• Fewer classes scheduled on your timetable - and more
independent reading and research.
• More emphasis on you to take responsibility for your
own work and ask for help when you need it.
You will need to manage your time effectively and to get a good balance
between relaxation and study. A diary, wall-planner, or smartphone calendar
can be useful ways to approach this. Look at your timetable and think about
when you are going to complete the seminar preparation required. As a rule of
thumb, we expect you to devote 200 hours of study to each 20-credit module
you take.
Also think about the semester as a whole. When are your essays due, and when
do you need to start work on them? If you have two essays due at the same
time, remember you can submit one of them ahead of time. Having more than
one essay due at the same time is not a valid reason to request an extension.
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What is a lecture?
What is a seminar?
Lectures are used to provide an
introductory overview, to draw
together the main ideas about a
subject, and to raise questions
for you to consider. Sometimes a
lecturer might ask you to discuss an
idea with a neighbour or reflect on a
particular image or text, but normally
you’ll be listening and taking notes.
Try to summarise key points and
remember that PowerPoint slides will
normally be available on MOLE after
the lecture, so don’t feel you need to
capture every detail. Focus instead on
understanding the key ideas.
Whilst a lecture may be delivered to
as many as three hundred students,
the seminar will be a rather different
experience. They are small group
meetings with participation and
discussion by the whole group. At
Level 1 we cap seminar groups at
twelve students in order to create a
supportive learning environment in
which we hope you feel comfortable.
In History, there is rarely a right or
a wrong answer, so use seminars to
try out your own ideas and follow
up on points which are unclear from
the lecture or your own reading. You
will get the most out of seminars if
you prepare thoroughly in advance.
You will be given a list of required or
recommended reading, sometimes
with a list of questions to consider;
some tutors might ask you to prepare
a short presentation.
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How to do well in your degree
We hope that you use your first year to build the skills and
confidence you need to flourish on your degree and to
get the best possible results you can. So what is the key
to success?
1. Ask when you need help.
Academic staff hold drop-in sessions (‘office hours’) each week and at these
times you do not need to make an appointment beforehand. Seminar tutors will
be happy to answer further questions you may have about material covered in the
seminars or discuss ways you might improve your oral or written work. Personal
tutors are also ready to discuss your general academic progress.
2. Learn your way around the library and electronic resources.
The reading lists for modules will include a mixture of books and journal articles.
If you are struggling to access reading materials, speak with your seminar tutor or
ask a member of library staff about further induction sessions.
3. Check what’s expected.
At the start of any module, look carefully at the materials provided on MOLE. Make
sure you know what kind of preparation is expected for each class, how you will be
assessed, and when the deadlines for assessed work are.
What is a journal article?
Journals are publications which
appear on a regular basis (frequently
several times a year) and contain
articles about academic topics.
They are an excellent way to find out
about current research in the area
you’re studying. In the past journals
were only available in paper copies
(held in the library) but now many
– though not all - can be accessed
electronically.
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4. Try to improve your essay-writing.
The Department website and MOLE provide guidance on study skills, marking
criteria, and a Style Guide explaining the conventions of academic writing you are
expected to follow.
5. Aim high.
You’ve all done well to get here and you should have high expectations of yourself.
We reward excellence and each year the Wellings Prize in Modern History is
awarded to a student who shows distinction and promise in their first-year exams.
There are similar prizes at Levels 2 and 3.
If your essay feedback suggests there
are problems with your writing you
might find it useful to book a session
at The Writing Advisory Service
(WAS). WAS provides one-to-one
sessions with a specialist writing
tutor. See: www.sheffield.ac.uk/eltc/
languagesupport/writingadvisory
Plagiarism and Collusion – Don’t get caught out!
All work must be your own. Copying a friend, cutting and pasting from the
internet, submitting the same essay for two different modules, or failing to
accurately reference where your ideas come from, are all considered forms of
cheating.
We use an electronic system called Turnitin to check your essays and penalties
often result in a student failing a module. Offenders are sometimes referred to
the University Discipline Committee.
Detailed guidance is available on the Department website and we recommend
all students complete the online tutorial available from the ‘Information Skills
Tutorials’ section of the Library website.
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Top tips from our students
‘Even though first year marks don’t count to your
degree, university essays are quite different to A-Level
ones so I would strongly advise you approach your
essays as if they do count, both to find out what essaywriting style suits you best and as good practice for the
all-important second and third years.’
- Chris Polechonski, History.
‘Don’t be shy or frightened to contribute to seminars.
Everyone’s interpretation is welcome.’
- Chris Baker, History.
‘Take advantage of tutors’ office hours, 5 minutes
alone can be all the difference in whether the penny
drops with regard to essay writing techniques at
university level.’
- Pete Hutcheon, History.
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‘My main advice for first years would be to make sure
they do their seminar work as thoroughly as possible.
If you annotate journal articles with the key points as
you go along it will save you so much time when
it comes to exams!’
- Lauren Newman, History and Sociology.
‘Make the most of all the opportunities you have.
Seek out help, extra information and anything else that
you need. Tutors are here to help you’
- Amy Fedeski History and Politics.
‘Having to achieve a minimum of 2.1 in first year
to go abroad helped me motivate myself to try harder
in first year. Level 1 may not count towards your overall
mark, but I have used scholars I found through first
year reading in second and third year work.
Set your own targets in first year and build your
end result from day one.’
- Jon Montgomery, History.
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What to do if things go wrong
The History Reception is often a good first port of call.
If you want to change a module, submit an Extenuating
Circumstances form, or simply need help with any general
queries, our friendly support staff can help.
Personal tutors are always ready to talk about your academic progress or personal
problems which are affecting your studies. If you have doubts about whether you
have taken the right module/degree course, are struggling with the workload,
anxious about money, or worried about your academic progress, come and speak
with your personal tutor. Sometimes students feel the need to break from their
studies for medical or personal reasons (called a Leave of Absence) and your
personal tutor can discuss this.
‘I’m having financial difficulties.
Your personal tutor may not always
Is there any help?’
be able to help personally, but s/he
will help you find more specialised
In addition to the bursaries you may
sources of support if needed. You
have applied for prior to arrival there
may be advised to speak with the
are additional sources of financial
Level 1 Tutor or the Senior Tutor,
support available once you’re here.
or you might be directed towards
To find out more, see www.sheffield.
one the of University’s specialist
ac.uk/ssid/finance or visit the Student
services.
Advice Centre in the Students’
Union building.
Emailing Etiquette
Email is one of the key ways we communicate with students so please check
your University account on a regular basis. Academic and support staff also
check email accounts regularly, in working hours, and during term-time we will
usually respond to your messages within 2-3 working days, but do consider
whether your message is really necessary first – the information may be
available already on the website! Please make sure that you address all staff
courteously, both on email and in person.
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Free sources of support available at the
University of Sheffield:
301: Student Skills and Development Centre. 301 supports your student
journey by ensuring you have the skills to develop into a well-rounded graduate,
through a variety of workshops, tutorials and other support.
www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/301/services.
Careers Service. Information, advice and guidance is available to all students and
graduates on a range of careers-related issues. www.sheffield.ac.uk/careers.
Counselling Services. The University offers confidential counselling services,
free of charge to any student. www.sheffield.ac.uk/counselling.
Disability and Dyslexia Support Services. If you have a disability, or become
aware of an issue during the course of your studies, you should contact DDSS.
www.sheffield.ac.uk/disability.
Sheffield University Nightline. Nightline is the University’s confidential listening
and information telephone service. Run by trained student volunteers, it operates
from 8pm till 8am every night during term time. Listening line: 0114 222 8787;
info line: 0114 222 8788.
SSiD. If you have a query or need some information SSiD is often a great place
to start. They have extensive knowledge of University processes and can also
signpost or redirect you to specialist staff in other departments.
www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid.
Student Advice Centre. The Student Advice Centre is a free, friendly Students’
Union service, providing advice and information on various matters including
money, housing, academic, consumer and immigration issues.
www.sheffield.ac.uk/union/student-advice-centre.
University Health Service. All students are encouraged to register for the
University Health Service at the start of the academic year.
www.sheffield.ac.uk/health.
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What should I do if I’m unable to attend
University?
During your time at University it is almost inevitable that
illness will affect your studies at some point. You might
also experience personal circumstances which affect your
work. Don’t panic, here are some tips on what to do:
- If you miss a seminar please make sure you send an email to your seminar
tutor explaining why you are unable come to class. Absence from University
for less than one week (for medical or personal reasons) should be explained
in a Student Self-Certification form, which you should submit to the History
Reception.
- If you are absent for more than a week, or if you are experiencing problems
(medical or personal) that are having an ongoing affect on your studies, you
should submit an Extenuating Circumstances form.
- If these circumstances are due to illness you should visit the University
Health Service and complete the Online Extenuating Circumstances form, to
receive medical evidence.
- If the circumstances are non medical the form should be submitted to the
History Reception.
- If there are health or serious personal difficulties which mean you are
struggling to meet an essay deadline, make sure you ask for an extension
in good time – we are sympathetic if there are genuine problems. For
extensions, you should complete an electronic EXTENSIONS FORM, which
is available on the Department website at: www.sheffield.ac.uk/history/
current_students/undergraduate/extensions/level1. The Level 1 Tutor will
consider your request and respond to you.
- Students who are unable to attend an exam because of illness should
contact the Level 1 Tutor BEFOREHAND (wherever possible). Exam Boards
will require medical evidence.
- Your personal tutor will be happy to meet and discuss any concerns of an
academic or personal nature.
To download these forms and for more advice please visit:
www.sheffield.ac.uk/history/current_students/undergraduate/absences
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‘I only need to get 40 at Level 1 don’t I?’
Some students see the first year as a time to have fun,
rather than concentrating on their academic work. It is
true that the marks gained at Level 1 don’t count towards
your final degree classification. And we certainly hope you
enjoy your first year. But – and this is a big BUT – students
who don’t put the work in sometimes come unstuck. No
one wants to be back in an exam hall in August, paying to
resit exams, so it’s worth thinking about the following:
- In order to pass a module, you need to submit every piece of work and attend
every exam. A missed or failed essay/exam may result in a resit fee.
- If an essay is late, marks will be deducted and this can result in an essay failing.
Even a few minutes delay will incur a penalty.
- The University expects attendance throughout the whole of each semester and
we record absence from seminars. Repeated absences without good reason
will affect your oral mark and you will be asked to meet with the
Level 1 Tutor.
- Remember you need to pass all of your Level 1 modules in order to
automatically progress to Level 2.
More important than all of the above is this: your first year is your opportunity
to develop as an historian. First-year marks do not affect your final degree result
because we feel you need the time to find your feet. Use this year well and you
will go into Level 2 confident that you know how to carry out research effectively,
write coherent and persuasive essays, and discuss your ideas effectively in class.
Make sure that you regularly make
back-up copies of your essays as
computer problems are not grounds
for an extension.
Remember that both the electronic
and paper copy must be submitted
on time. For up-to-date information
about essay submission, check the
website.
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History outside the lecture hall
There are lots of activities, sports, jobs, and volunteering
opportunities available to you as a Sheffield student. They
are a great way to meet new people, expand your interests,
and gain useful experience for the future. Applying for a
job might seem a long way off now, but in three (or four)
years’ time you’ll find that being able to speak about
the organisational and personal skills you acquired as a
member of a society or team is very valuable.
Here are some of the History activities you might like to participate in:
- History Society: run by History students, the society organises socials, an
annual trip abroad, guest lectures, sports events, and careers talks.
- History Student-Staff Forum: a twice-semester meeting which gives
students a chance to have their say.
- Witness: a project in which students get the chance to interview Sheffielders
about their part in the city’s history.
- History in the City: a student-led project which sends volunteers out into
local schools to mentor A Level students.
- New Histories: a free online History-themed magazine brought to you by
students from the University of Sheffield.
You will hear more about all of these over the next few weeks, but you can find
more information on the Department website. We also have an online noticeboard
on MOLE to advertise upcoming events, conferences and jobs targeting History
students.
It’s never too early to think about life after University. Departmental events will
be announced, but you should also take advantage of the support offered by
the Careers Service. See www.sheffield.ac.uk/careers.
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We hope that this booklet has been useful in letting you
know about some of the opportunities, resources, and
support which are on offer, as well as giving you a sense
of what is expected of you. The key message is to keep in
contact and to ask for help as and when you need it. And
we hope that the next few weeks – indeed the next three
years – are both enjoyable and stimulating for all of you.
Contact Details
History Reception – you’ll find the History Reception on
the first floor, green wing of Jessop West.
Opening Hours - weekdays 10:00-12:30 and 13:30-16:00
Jessop West
1 Upper Hanover Street
Sheffield, S3 7RA
Tel: 0114 222 2555
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.sheffield.ac.uk/history
HistorySheffield
UniShefHistory
IT Support in History
Tel: 0114 222 2613 or 0114 222 2590
Email: [email protected]
Level 1 Tutor for Single Honours Students:
Dr Esme Cleall, [email protected]
Level 1 Tutor for Dual Honours Students:
Dr Sarah Miller-Davenport, [email protected]
Senior Tutor:
Dr Simon Middleton, [email protected]