2. Part 1 - the student view Presented by:
Tommy Gilchrist – Vice President Education

3. What is a Part 1 student? Perceived to be:
typical first-time undergraduate
full-time student
more likely to be a home student
living in Halls
academically capable (at least at Reading!)
here to get as drunk as possible for little cost

4. In reality... Part 1 students are: starting at any age
either full-time or part-time
not necessarily of UK/European origins
living in a variety of accommodation
all academically capable; some receive more support than others during their first year
here for a multitude of reasons including, but not always foremost, getting a degree
from as many backgrounds as they are populous

5. There is no such thing as an average student!

6. Student Experience Who did we ask?
contacted around 175 Part 1 students over the vacation
54 responded, with 51 responses usable (29% overall)
responses from all five (three?) Faculties, although heavily biased towards the Faculty of Science and the Faculty of Arts and Humanities
low volume of data will detract from a quantified analysis, so few significant relationships can be drawn
look instead at qualitative comments for a selection
of questions

7. Why did you choose your course at Reading?
I liked the look of the prospectus – shiny
Reading had the best course for me
My department’s research record
It looked lovely! Really pretty campus, new buildings, and the course I wanted to do 
Didn’t know where to apply to... not my first choice
My boyfriend was doing History; doesn’t matter now coz we broke up
Local Uni

8. Two things to note:
locality of the University was mentioned by 3 people; nearly 6% of the total. Increasing cost of a degree responsible?
not one person mentioned Reading’s position in the University League Table

9. How did you... feel on arrival? engage in your first year? nervous
exhilarated
excited
home-sick
terrified
want to meet everyone
worried
snowsports was biggest sport response; usual suspects also there
joined a society
handed in my essays
worked in 3sixty
went out a lot!!

10. Your department and you
How did your department support you?
reading lists before arrival
could change pre-selected modules on arrival
friendly faces when going there for the first time
really good Personal Tutor (in some departments!)
lecturers know their stuff (two mentioned by name, but not here today so I won’t embarrass them by singing their praises)
if they didn’t know the answer, they knew who did
different to school; call lecturers by their first names
guided on how to work independently

11. Student Academic Reps (StARs) were mentioned 7 times (14% of answers) as having really helped
Fully 41% (21 respondents) of the sample thought that their department had done nothing at all to help them

12. Your degree

13. Questions