Most departments have a structured approach to arranging tutorials for students, including the number of times to meet in an academic year and the activities to complete in each tutorial. The department will normally allocate slots in a student’s academic timetable.

For conversational meetings with students, topics will likely be driven by student’s stage at university. From settling in, to becoming an Imperial alumnus, below are some of the touchpoints throughout an undergraduate student’s time at university.

 

Touchpoints in the student lifecycle

Year 1

The first year of university is all about settling in, establishing a healthy study routine, meeting new people and planning for the years ahead. Some topics which students may be interested in exploring include:

  • What to expect from personal tutoring
  • Where to get additional support with academic studies, study skills, and navigating life at university
  • Settling in and building networks and friendships
  • Academic progress and understanding academic feedback
  • Setting realistic goals and managing expectations of themselves
  • Skills development and career exploration to support personal growth. Ideas can be found on the Undergraduate Career Journey planner from The Careers Service
  • Extracurricular activities, maintaining a work-life balance and having fun 
Year 2

The second year of university will likely be focused on developing key skills, personal and professional development and students may begin looking ahead beyond graduation. Topics to touch on during tutorials could include:

  • Reflecting on first year and the lessons learnt
  • Academic progress and implementing academic feedback
  • Looking to their goals in the year ahead and reviewing their goals
  • Improving academic and research skills, and tracking their development
  • Planning their career, including introducing a range of experiences to build knowledge including work experience, UROPs, StudentShapers, enterprise activities, volunteering and competitions. Ideas can be found on the Undergraduate Career Journey planner from The Careers Service
  • Extracurricular activities and the developmental opportunities they can bring 
Year 3 onwards

The final years of university can be challenging with final year assessments and research projects, whilst looking ahead and preparing for life beyond Imperial. Students may wish to discuss:

  • Reflections from the past years
  • Research and project interests
  • Measuring progress
  • Career options and employment or further study applications

 

Students on the MBBS programme in the School of Medicine progress to an NHS-based Academic Tutor from Year 4 who provides academic, and wellbeing support tailored to the integrated BSc and clinical training, including transition to foundation training.  They can also access the MedLearn Careers webpage and the Medical Careers Consultant.
 
A taught postgraduate degree can be an intense period of time for these students, but conversation topics which are valuable include:

  • How to navigate the ups and downs of demanding postgraduate study and where to get additional support
  • Settling into Imperial and building new networks and friendships
  • Academic progress and acting on academic feedback
  • Extracurricular activities and the developmental opportunities they can bring
  • Research and project interests
  • Career options and employment or further study applications. Ideas can be found on the Masters Career Journey planner from The Careers Service
  • Dissertations and vivas
  • Funding for PhD study
  • The application process for competitive work or study opportunities 
Becoming an Imperial alumnus

As students close out their studies, focus will turn to what is next. This may be graduate schemes and jobs, continuing onto further studies and becoming a part of the Imperial alumni community. Topics to explore include:

  • Career support, including signposting to the Careers Service
  • Further study
  • Alumni benefits
  • Staying in touch 
Other processes

There are other processes a student may engage with that they need to discuss with their personal tutor. These include mitigating circumstances, taking an interruption of studies, submitting a complaint, applying for an appeal, and undergoing disciplinary action. Likely these processes will also involve the department’s Senior Tutor and in complex cases, the Faculty Senior Tutor.