This guide provides essential information relating to your academic studies that will help you on every stage of your journey through Cardiff Met.
Choose an area you want to learn more about:
Academic skills are key skills you will need to develop to be successful in your studies here. They include:
- Citation and referencing
- Criticality
- Academic writing
- Studying at University
- Assessment
- Dealing with exams
- Presentations
- Research skills.
Luckily, our library and information service provide a range of workshops and tutorials, both online and in person, to help you enhance these skills.
Workshops
Workshops focusing on developing these skills are available regularly throughout the year and can be booked via
MetHub.
Online support
You can also access extensive support online 24/7 from the
Academic skills web pages. Here you can find easy to follow guides focusing on all of the above academic skills. Or why not have a go at
StudySmart, our interactive e-module available through Moodle which cover skills such as:
- Studying at University
- Academic groundwork
- Finding information
- Citation and referencing
- Constructing assignments
- Summary and reflection
- Dealing with exams.
You can also submit a sample of your writing and we will provide you with feedback on your writing style, the clarity of your expression, and any recurring grammatical mistakes.
Submit a sample of writing
Reading lists
Reading lists for your specific course can be accessed online 24/7. There you’ll be able to find direct links to online resources as well as information regarding the number of physical copies available. They can be accessed directly from the module page on Moodle or on
leganto.cardiffmet.ac.uk
The library will become an extremely useful tool during your studies at Cardiff Met.
Below we’ll tell you how to get the most out of
MetSearch, the resources which are available for you to access and how our professional librarians on campus can help you.
Librarians
Within each of our learning centres on campus you’ll find a dedicated team of academic librarians.
They’ll be your first port of call for advice and support on areas including:
- Using the library
- Searching for and finding good quality academic journals and resources
- Key resources for specific subjects
- Individual subject guides
- Reading lists
- Copyright.
They can assist you in face to face enquires, by phone, email, and through the
WebChat service
The team also provide
library training workshops throughout the year to help you get the most out of our resources. These workshops can be booked on
Eventbrite.
The library service have also produced a range of
subject specific guides. These contain information on how to find the best academic journals and resources specific to your subject.
Library collections, find what you’re looking for
Throughout our libraries, we have over 170,000 physical books, 188,000 ebooks and 101,000 print and digital titles. While physical books can be accessed from learning centres during opening hours, our ebooks and digital titles can be accessed whenever and wherever you want.
With over 400,000 titles to choose from, finding what you’re looking for can be daunting task. Luckily,
MetSearch makes it easy to find what you’re looking for.
MetSearch
MetSearch is our library discovery service – a platform which lets you search the print and electronic collections available to you to support your studies and manage your library account.
Using
MetSearch you can:
- Search and discover library collections
- Access the full text of digital content
- Request items that are not currently available
- Request items from another library
- Manage your library account
- Save favourite items, save searches and set alerts.
Every student will have a personal tutor allocated to them during the induction period of your studies at Cardiff Met. Your personal Tutor will usually be an academic member of staff from your course.
Once you have been allocated a Personal Tutor, it’s their responsibility to support you through your time here at Cardiff Met. They will support you through scheduled tutorial meetings which occur once per term, as a minimum.
This support can include discussing your academic achievements, areas which need improvement, or any personal issues you may be experiencing. No matter the query, your personal tutor will be able to signpost you to the most appropriate person or support within the university or beyond.
You can book personal tutor appointments through the
Personal tutor portal.
Digital skills relate to your ability to be able to use a computer and the various software packages available to you.
These skills are important as computer literacy is quickly becoming a skill which many employers look for in prospective candidates. Developing these skills will also make your study at Cardiff Met easier and more efficient.
Luckily, we have a variety of flash guides, workshops and training courses that will help you to develop the digital skills which are relevant to your studies and will prepare you for your life after uni.
Flash guides
Online guides that can provide you with quick and easy IT help. They cover a range of topics, including how to use:
- Email
- OneDrive
- Laptop loans
- WiFi
- Microsoft Office
- University software
- Printing
- Security.
Visit IT Flash Guides
Training courses
For those looking to further develop their skills, we also provide a range of training courses
All our IT training courses and qualifications are free to Cardiff Met students and upon successful completion, will lead to recognised qualifications or digital badges that can be added to your digital CVs (e.g. LinkedIn) to prove your skills to employers.
Our training courses include:
- Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)
- Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)
- Preparing images with Photoshop
- Designing surveys with Qualtrics.
More information about Training Courses.
AppsAnywhere is an online platform which does exactly what it says on the tin. It allows you to access all university software wherever and whenever you need it.
It can be accessed directly from any Cardiff Met PC on campus via the desktop shortcut.
AppsAnywhere also allows access to software from your own personal devices whether you’re on or off campus, making it easy to access specialist programs for your course.
Find out more about AppsAnywhere
How to access AppsAnywhere on personal devices
International Academic Advice is a specialist service which helps International students develop the skills needed for academic success. This includes help with writing essays, understanding assignments or English language skills but can cover a range of support depending on your individual need.
Find out more about International Academic Advice
Services include:
Individual tutorials
1 to 1 session where you can get help with any academic challenges you may be facing.
Academic writing seminars
Friendly interactive seminars which cover a range of academic skills like essay writing and critical thinking.
Book on MetHub
English practise classes
These classes are great for anyone who wants to practise their speaking and listening skills in a friendly and relaxed environment.
Mitigating circumstances are
unforeseen or unpreventable events which have a serious impact on your academic performance.
This could mean something has prevented you from being able to submit an assignment or sit an exam, or something which means you need extra time to complete a piece of work. You might also feel that you weren't able to do your best on an assignment or exam because of something that happened in the run up to it, or on the day itself.
You must provide evidence, and your School will consider your application. There is no guarantee it will be accepted.
You can apply for Mitigating Circumstances up to 20 working days before your assessment deadline, or 20 days after. You must provide evidence, and your School will consider your application. There is no guarantee it will be accepted.
Find out more about the Mitigating Circumstances Procedure
After your application
If you apply for Mitigating Circumstances, and they are upheld, you will either be given another, uncapped, attempt at the assignment or exam at an appropriate time or be given a longer extension to complete the original piece of work if you did not submit at all.
The Mitigating Circumstances policy does not give academic compensation on individual assignments.
Get help with your application
To help you understand the process and how to apply appropriately for your circumstances you can find step by step guides and FAQs under the academic section of the
support page on the Students’ Union website.
For further help you can also access the ‘Advice and Support’ service at the Student’s Union or email
suadvice@cardiffmet.ac.uk.
You can also speak to your personal tutor or module leader if you are struggling or feel you will need to apply to Mit Circs. They can offer advice and support and will welcome you asking for help.
Short extensions
If you just need a few more days to complete a piece of work, you can self-certify for an extension of 5 working days. You don’t need to provide any evidence or give a reason, but you can only do this twice per academic year. Self-certification is through the same portal on Moodle as Mit Circs.
DSA stands for disabled student allowance and is a Government funded grant which will allows you to have access to further support while you study.
Available support
If you have an ongoing health condition, specific learning disability or other disability which is declared to the university, you will be eligible for specialist support during your time at Cardiff Met.
This support can include a variety of services including study skills tutors to help you plan, organise and understand what is required of you during study and assistive technology packages that can make learning easier for you.
Access DSA funded support
If you have, or think you might have, a specific learning disability (e.g. dyslexia, ADHD or ASD), disability or other ongoing health condition, and would like to learn more about the support on offer for you through DSA funded support, you can get in touch with the Learning Support team at
wellbeingsupport@cardiffmet.ac.uk
The university has a whole range of supportive software available across its network to aid you during your studies. If you struggle to plan or organise your work, software can make the process a lot easier and more creative for you.
There is also an opportunity for you to borrow physical equipment such as laptops and more specialist equipment to ensure that you can achieve the best results possible.
Accessing assistive technology
You can explore our range of assistive software by logging on to any networked PC in the learning centres. If you need to borrow a laptop, laptop loans are available in our learning centres.
To access more specialist equipment you can contact Student Services to discuss your needs and how we can assist you by emailing us on
wellbeingsupport@cardiffmet.ac.uk.