Checklist for fresher graduate studens

Dr. Lester’s tutorial checklist for new graduate students
1. Office hours and contacting me: Unlike the other tutors, I am predominantly based in the
Cavendish Laboratory. To make it easier for tutees to visit me, I will try to be in my college
room (in 25 Fitzwilliam Street) at least twice per week, available for visits without
appointment. Times may vary throughout the year, so please see my tutor web-page
http://www.hep.phy.cam.ac.uk/~lester/tutor/ for current times, locations and contact details.
Outside these hours, I may be contacted by email (CGL20@cam.ac.uk) and separate
appointments may be arranged if necessary. On most days, I am able to come in to college
around 12:45.
If you want to see a Tutor urgently, it’s best to contact the porters in the first instance.
For future reference, other potential sources of support, welfare & health advice include:
- the College Nurse, Mrs Williams: http://www.pet.cam.ac.uk/current-students/tutorial-office#health
- the MCR Welfare Officer: MCR-Welf@pet.cam.ac.uk
- the Dean: http://www.pet.cam.ac.uk/chapel/whos-who
- the University Counselling Service: http://www.counselling.cam.ac.uk/
- the University Student Advice Service: http://www.studentadvice.cam.ac.uk/
- University welfare website: http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/students/gateway/welfare/
- CUSU welfare website: http://www.cusu.cam.ac.uk/welfare/support/
- Cambridge Student Health website: http://www.camstudenthealth.co.uk/
- your GP, or NHS Direct: http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/
2. Please register with a GP (General Practitioner, primary healthcare doctor) in Cambridge as
soon as possible. (Most Peterhouse students register at the Trumpington Street practice, just
down the road: the porters will advise you.) A usetul website for student health (including
information on the English healthcare system for international students) is:
http://www.camstudenthealth.co.uk/ Out of hours GP service: tel. 0330 123 9131.
3. Are there any problems with your room? Maintenance problems: fixit@pet.cam.ac.uk
4. If you are a Tier 4 visa holder, it is a condition of your visa that you register in person within
7 working days of the start of every Full Term (see 2012/13 term dates below), with the
Tutors’ Secretary or her deputy in the Tutorial Office. You must present yourself at the
Tutorial Office with an ID card (initially your passport). You will be sent email reminders about
this but it is your responsibility to make the required contact each term. Full Term dates for
this year are as follows (also see http://www.cam.ac.uk/univ/termdates.html):
Michaelmas 2012:
Lent 2013:
Easter 2013:
Full Term: Tue 2 Oct – Fri 30 Nov (Term = 1 Oct-19 Dec)
Full Term: Tue 15 Jan – Fri 15 Mar (Term = 5 Jan-25 Mar)
Full Term: Tue 23 Apr – Fri 14 Jun (Term = 17 Apr-25 Jun)
5. Please make use of the MCR (Middle Combination Room, i.e., the graduate student society
in Peterhouse). See the MCR webpages at: http://www.srcf.ucam.org/peterhousemcr/
Also see the MCR guide to Peterhouse for new graduate students:
https://www.srcf.ucam.org/peterhousemcr/?page_id=17
6. The Graduate Union has a list of useful links: http://www.gradunion.cam.ac.uk/info/
7. The Student Registry has useful information for current graduate students here:
http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/students/studentregistry/current/graduate/
8. College graduate Study Grants are available for study-related travel costs (conferences,
fieldwork, research in libraries abroad, etc.). You are expected to apply to other sources of
funding as well, but Peterhouse will usually be able to make a contribution. The application
form is available for download from the Tutorial Office website
(http://www.pet.cam.ac.uk/current-students/tutorial-office#grants); completed forms should
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Dr. Lester’s tutorial checklist for new graduate students
be sent to me (not the Senior Tutor). Please apply well in advance.
9. Science, engineering and mathematics PhD students are strongly recommended to apply
for membership of the Cambridge Philosophical Society. It costs £10/year and is a good
source of travel funds. It also awards grants for up to 3 months to enable completion of
a piece of research after the usual 3 years of the PhD. You must have been an elected
member for at least a year before the closing date for applications for both travel and
research grants in order to be eligible to apply. The application form can be downloaded from
the following webpage; I can sign as “Proposer”:
http://www.cambridgephilosophicalsociety.org/membership.shtml
I also strongly recommend that you join the relevant professional UK society for your
field of research, particularly if this society offers travel grants. Just like the Cambridge
Philosophical Society, some societies (e.g. the British Society for Cell Biology) require you to
have been a member for at least a year before you can apply for travel grants.
Some useful websites
General info. for new students: http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/students/gateway/new/
Computing information for new students: http://www.ucs.cam.ac.uk/linkpages/newcomers
Glossary of Cambridge terminology: http://www.cam.ac.uk/univ/works/appendix1.html
Info. for Cambridge students: http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/students/gateway/
Peterhouse MCR (Graduate Student Society) website: http://www.srcf.ucam.org/peterhousemcr/
Peterhouse Tutorial Office webpage: http://www.pet.cam.ac.uk/current-students/tutorial-office
Cambridge University Skills portal: http://www.skills.cam.ac.uk/postgrads/index.html
Financial hardship support: please see me in the first instance, but some information is here:
http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/students/studentregistry/fees/funding/hardship/index.html
Help with common problems: http://www.counselling.cam.ac.uk/leaflets.html
Students Against Depression website: http://www.studentdepression.org/
Other potential sources of support, welfare & health advice include:
- the College Nurse, Mrs Williams: http://www.pet.cam.ac.uk/current-students/tutorial-office#health
- the MCR Welfare Officer: MCR-Welf@pet.cam.ac.uk
- the Dean: http://www.pet.cam.ac.uk/chapel/whos-who
- the University Counselling Service: http://www.counselling.cam.ac.uk/
- the University Student Advice Service: http://www.studentadvice.cam.ac.uk/
- University welfare website: http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/students/gateway/welfare/
- CUSU welfare website: http://www.cusu.cam.ac.uk/welfare/support/
- Cambridge Student Health website: http://www.camstudenthealth.co.uk/
- your GP, or NHS Direct: http://www.nhsdirect.nhs.uk/
Out of hours GP service: tel. 0330 123 9131.
For international students:
CUSU International freshers’ guide for international students: download at:
http://www.international.cusu.cam.ac.uk/
http://www.international.cusu.cam.ac.uk/freshersweek/
Cambridge International Education Office’s “A-Z for International Students”: download at:
http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/offices/internationalstudents/orientation/
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Dr. Lester's tutorial checklist for new graduate students
The Tutor
From: http://www.admin.cam.ac.uk/committee/seniortutors/guidance/tutor.html
Tutorial support implies general oversight of student welfare, in the widest sense. A
Tutor has a wide variety of responsibilities which may be grouped together under the
three headings below. Clearly some of these functions entail strict confidentiality.
1. Pastoral
Induction
* Introducing and welcoming freshers to Cambridge and College life
* Ongoing social contact for College-based talks, workshops and/or parties
* Personal contact/support - a friendly face
Personal wellbeing
* Personal Development
* Contact for all health matters and problems
* Link with GP, hospitals, counsellors
* Assistance with special needs and disabilities (advice, practical support)
* Help in developing transferable skills
Accommodation
* Provision of advice and support with accommodation issues
2. Administrative/Financial
* Provision of advice on identifying and obtaining financial assistance
Liaison with other bodies
* External: e.g. Local Education Authorities, Student Loans Company, graduate
funding bodies etc
* Internal e.g. Departments, Central Administration, Board of Graduate Studies,
sources of funding and applications
Examinations
* Registration
* Special Conditions
* Complaints/appeals
* Change of course
* Degrading/Intermission
3. Academic
* Participation in admissions process
* Regular oversight and review of progress
* Advice on study methods, and support in the event of difficulties with courses or
teachers
* Initial careers advice and provision of references
* Liaison between student and supervisor / Director of Studies / Department
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