School of Physics & Astronomy

Who can advise or help me?

If you need advice, then you should feel free to contact any member of academic or secretarial staff in the School; they may be able to help you directly or should be able to tell you who to contact for particular advice. Please feel free to ask questions of your lecturers, tutors, lab demonstrators, or advisers of studies. We provide online a list of staff with particular responsibilities within the School.

If you wish to speak with someone with no direct connection to the School, then Student Services can provide professional support. They are accessed via the Student Services desk at the ASC (Advice and Support Centre) in the "Old Union Building" on North Street. They are also particularly well placed to help with any problems affecting your studies or personal life, including problems with your course work, money, accommodation, health and disability, relationships, stress or anxiety. They also offer special help for international students. In any one year, around half of the students in the University seek advice from Student Services through a visit there.

The Chaplaincy can offer a range of services associated with faith, caring, and personal issues, and is a home for groups associated with various major faiths.

The Careers Centre is the source of all sorts of advice on things post-graduation, and, importantly, what you might choose to do while at St Andrews to help you reach your career goals.

The University's Learning and Teaching Support Unit SALTIRE runs various services useful for students, including assistance with study skills and mathematics.

Computer-support issues are dealt with centrally by IT Services Helpdesk, with things specific to physics and astronomy by contacting Dr Aly Gillies in the School.

The School's librarian can offer assistance with a wide range of paper-based and electronic resources.

Staff at the Advice and Support Centre can assist with all sorts of things associated with your interaction with the administration of the University, such as paying residence fees or obtaining academic transcripts.

Depending on the issue, family and friends may also be of assistance.

 

We list below some sorts of queries that might arise, and who might be the best placed person or group to deal with them, but this is not meant to suggest that other members of staff or students should not be contacted.

Question or Issue	Who may be best placed to guide you .
What modules should I take?	Adviser of Studies, online guides
I want to change modules.	Adviser of Studies
I don't know if I should enter at level one or level two.	Adviser of Studies, fellow students, the School's Admissions Officer (10-11 Dr Kenny Wood) or the School's Director of Teaching Dr Bruce Sinclair.
I don't know what I am meant to be doing in this module.	Sub-honours or honours handbook, given out on paper and also on the School web site. The module handbook online or on paper. The module or year coordinator. The staff teaching on the module.
I'm struggling with a question on the tutorial sheet.	Your tutor and tutorial group members, the course lecturer.
I don't know what that lecture was about.	Lecturer, tutor, fellow students. If more general, then Student Services or Saltire can assist with study skills.
I need to change my lab group	For physics labs Dr Cameron Rae, for astrophysics labs the year head.
I don't know where to find the room I need for a teaching activity.	Janitors at the front desk, students, any staff member, building plan accessed via touch-screen panels inside main entrance.
I'd like to comment on the quality (good or not so good) of the teaching	Student-Staff Council representative, Year Coordinator, the School's Director of Teaching.
I'm interested in a research placement in the School over the summer	The staff member(s) who you would be interested in working with.
Which universities would be good to apply to do a PhD in a particular subject area?	Any member of teaching staff, but particularly those working in related areas.
I'd like to volunteer to help with the visits of potential students	Undergraduate Recruitment Coordinator, Bruce Sinclair
I'd like to find out more about that interesting topic that we were covering in lectures.	Textbooks, journals, online resources, course lecturer, tutor, School librarian
I need a letter to prove I am a student for a bank or Council or letting agent, etc.	Registry via the Advice and Support Centre on North Street.
Where do I find a short loan book?	School librarian.
I need referees for a job application or accommodation.	Members of staff who knows you
I have a problem with my studies.	Adviser of Studies, Director of Teaching, Student Services.
I wish to request a change of deadline for a piece of work to be handed in.	The member of staff who asked for the work to be handed in.
I've suffered problems this semester and want this to be taken into account in the assessment.	Formal request to (and informal advice from) the School's Director of Teaching. Year co-ordinator. Student Services.
That doesn' t look safe.	The staff member involved in the activity. The School's Safety Officer Reg Gavine.
I am feeling upset, low in mood, anxious, or worried.	Student Services, your doctor.
I am worried about money, and don't seem to be able to make ends meet.	Student Services
I feel lonely or homesick	Student Services
I am feeling ill	Your doctor's practice in the St Andrews Health Centre, possibly contact NHS24. Residence staff and Student Services may also be able to help. In a serious emergency dial 999 for an ambulance.
I have a disability or illness that is affecting my work.	The School's disabilties officer Bruce Sinclair, and Student Services
What can I be doing here to enhance my career prospects?	Careers Centre
I am struggling with the maths that is needed in my course.	Course lecturer, tutor, fellow students, Maths Support Service in SALTIRE.
The computer in the PC Classroom is doing odd things.	IT Services helpdesk
My room mate is annoying me.	Staff in the Hall of Residence. Student Services.
It's the middle of the night, and I need help or someone to talk to.	Nightline, the anonymous listening and information service run by students and for students every night of term time. Wardenial staff if you are in a University residence. The University out-of-hours service on 476161 for serious situations and emergencies.
I need an academic transcript.	Available from the Academic Registry, application forms are available here.

Last updated BDS 5.9.10