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  • Welcome from the Head of School

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    • Announcements Forum

    • Dear Students,

       Welcome (back ) to the School of Politics and International Relations at Queen Mary, University of London! I'm Professor Martin Coward, the new Head of School, and I'm delighted to have you join us in SPIR. 

       We can’t wait to meet you all in person in the coming weeks and for you to get started on the exciting range of modules we offer at SPIR. Please do come and meet us at welcome week events where you will learn more about what the year ahead holds.

       This QMPlus site is a useful guide to help you through the welcome week with us and to help you get a start on this academic year, and to make the most of your time with us. 

      Professor Martin Coward





    • Announcements Forum

  • Welcome to SPIR Y1 Undergraduate Students

    We look forward to welcoming you to Queen Mary University of London and the School of Politics and International relations (SPIR)

    Welcome Week begins on 16th September and you will attend a number of school based events and have the opportunity to get involved in lots of activities across campus.

    We want to ensure you  have some important information about your Welcome Week timetable, key dates to be aware of and information you will receive about the help and support available within SPIR and across the university. Please take a few minutes to read this information carefully. 

    You can also find a wide range of information about joining Queen Mary on the new students’ website and the Welcome area of QMplus.

    Welcome Week

    Welcome Week takes place from Monday 16th September 2024, and is your first opportunity to explore life as part of the School of Politics and International Relations and Queen Mary.

    Throughout Welcome Week, you’ll get involved in a wide range of activities and events introducing you to your course and fellow students, get an overview of the services available to support you during your time at here, and discover the many ways you can get involved in University life.

    You can find your Welcome Week timetable here, please note that you must login to your Qmplus account to view the information - Welcome area of QMplus.

    Please see the schedule at the above link for where you should be and what we are running. You are expected to attend all of the sessions relevant to your degree programme, as they will give you essential information for making the most of your time at Queen Mary.

    Induction talks will take place on Monday 16th September, 10.00-11.00am- Group A and 11.00am-12.00pm - Group B  in Mason Lecture Theatre during Welcome Week, and it’s essential that you attend. If you are a Joint Honours student please check the schedule on Qmplus for any additional events.

    *Group A and Group B will be added shortly.

    This is when you will learn about your course, who will be teaching you, and how your programme works.

    We will have an exciting opportunity for all students to meet each other in a Quiz with your adviser groups on Wednesday 20st September, at 2 pm in Mason Lecture Theatre (in Bancroft Building).

    Your Advisor

    Every first year  student will be assigned a member of academic staff who will act as your advisor. Your advisor is responsible for supervising your academic progress, as well as providing pastoral support. We will send you details of your advisor before teaching begins. The Advisor sessions will take place on Monday 16th September 2024 from 1.00-2.00pm and 2.00-3.00pm depending who your Advisor is. 

    Key term dates

    Teaching begins week commencing 23rd September 2024. Reading week for Semester A will be week commencing 4th November 2024.  You can find the QMUL academic calendar here:

    Calendar - Queen Mary University of London (qmul.ac.uk)

    We’re very much looking forward to welcoming you to the School! 



  • Schedule of face-to-face re-induction events




    • Tuesday, 17th September

      11.00am-1.00pm

      Arts Two, Lecture Theatre  (304) 


      Year 2 Undergraduate Re-Induction

      This session is for all Year 2 undergraduates and is an introduction to the second year of study. You will receive updates on new SPIR staff and will have the opportunity to ask questions.



      Location- Staff Offices


      Advisor meetings - to be confirmed

      SPIR will send you details of your advisor by the end of Welcome Week  and you will be invited to schedule a one to one meeting with your advisor.


      Events for all students 

      Students’ Union Welcome Fair  

      • WCH: Wednesday 18th 1pm - 4pm 

      • ME: Thursday 19th 10am – 6pm and Friday 20th 10am - 4pm 

      • Students will pre-book free timed entry tickets as much as possible 

      Wellbeing Fair 

      • SU Hub / Geography Square: Tuesday 17th 10am - 4pm 

      • Stalls and activities with a focus on wellbeing (internal services and external organisations) 

      • Incl intro sessions aimed at care experienced students, and students who are carers 

      • Drop-in and open to all students 

      • More details to follow 


      Thursday, 19 September


      Welcome Week 2024: Everything you need to know about the 'Year of Elections'

       

      Date: Thursday 19 September, 14:00-15:30 (reception to follow from 15:30 in the Graduate Centre foyer)

      Venue: Peston LT, Graduate Centre

      Tickets: Eventbrite

       

      In 2024, almost half of the world’s population will head to the polls as at least 64 countries hold national elections. In this Welcome Week event to mark the start of the 2024/25 academic year, we bring together a panel of experts from across Queen Mary to dive into the twists and turns of the elections in Bangladesh, Pakistan and India, South Africa, Britain, France and the United States of America.

       

      What do these elections tell us about the resilience of democracy around the world? How have the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, the rise in the cost of living, the Climate Emergency and rising support for the far-right affected global politics? How has social media, AI and the spread of disinformation affected political discourse? Above all, we will ask what these elections can tell us about those yet to come including the presidential election in the United States in November.

       

      Join us on Thursday 19 September at 2pm to meet some of the Queen Mary academics who will be teaching you over the next three years and your fellow freshers!

       

      Our panel will include:

       

      • Innocent Batsani-Ncube is Lecturer in African Politics and an expert in how African countries’ relationship with China and other emerging powers from the Global South impact African domestic politics. In May 2024, he acted as an official observer at the landmark elections in South Africa.
      • Françoise Boucek is Visiting Research Fellow and taught European and comparative politics at Queen Mary between 2003 and 2018. Her research focuses on French politics and elections, representative democracy in Europe and the governance and economics of the European Union.
      • Philip Cowley is Professor of Politics and a respected broadcaster and political commentator. He has co-authored books on the 2010, 2015 and 2017 General Elections and is the author of Sex, Lies and the Ballot Box: 50 Things You Need to Know about British Elections. He is the voice of election night on BBC Radio 4 and broadcast through the night as Labour defeated the Conservative Party and ended 14 years in Opposition.
      • Chris Moffat is Senior Lecturer in South Asian History and an expert in violence, modernity and revolutionary politics in India and the importance of ‘the past’ in Pakistan’s politics and public life.

       

      The panel will be chaired by:

       

      • Madeleine Davis is Reader in Politics and an expert in the history of the left in Britain and the development of socialist political thought in the twentieth century. Her current research focuses on the development of the ‘New Left’ from the 1960s, including its relationship with the Labour Party in Britain, its grassroots mobilisation and agitation and the contribution that New Left thinkers made to British political thought.

       

      Important Information:

       

      This event will start at 2pm in the Peston Lecture Theatre in the Graduate Centre, which is number 18 on this map of Queen Mary’s Mile End campus. You can find it on What3Words at: https://w3w.co/fixed.reader.apples. This event will be followed by a reception with food and drink which all attendees are welcome to attend.




    • SPIR 2nd Year Academic Re-Induction File
      15.1 MB

  • Schedule of Face to Face Events




    • Monday 16th SEPTEMBER

      Year 1 Undergraduate Induction (Group A)

      Time: 10:00-11:00 am 

      Location: Bancroft- Mason Lecture Theatre 

      This session is for all Year 1 SPIR undergraduates and is an induction to your academic studies in the School of Politics and International Relations. 



      Year 1 Undergraduate Induction (Group B)

      Time - 11.00am-12.00pm 

      Location - Mason Lecture Theatre 

      Year 1 Undergraduate Induction

      This session is for all Year 1 SPIR undergraduates and is an induction to your academic studies in the School of Politics and International Relations. 

      *The Mason lecture theatre can not accommodate the entire SPIR year 1 group which is why we are running 2 sessions and we ask you to attend the session group A or B which are based on surnames in alphabetical order. (add to QMplus) 


      Joint Degree Talk- Economics and Politics with Professor Christopher Tyson 

      (this is for Joint Economics and Politics  students only).

      Time- 12:00pm-1:00pm

      Location- Bancroft, 1.13


      Advisor Sessions

      Time-1:00pm-2:00pm

      Location- List of advisors and venues will be updated shortly 


      Advisor Sessions

      Time 2:00pm-3:00pm

      Location- List of advisors and venues will be updated shortly 


      Staff and Student Quiz

      Time- 3:00pm-5:00pm

      Location- Skeel Lecture Theatre


      Reception After Quiz

      Time- 5:00pm- 6:00pm

      Location- Graduate Centre Foyer café Eventbrite



      Tuesday 17th September

      Joint Honors History and Politics introduction lead by Dr Rowena Raczak 
      Time: 10.00-11.00am 
      Location: Arts 2, 3.20 
      This session is only for first year History and Politics students. Find out more about this joint programme.



      Wednesday 18th September
      SPIR Year 1 Student Support

      Time: 11:00 -12:00 pm

      Location: People’s Palace: Skeel Lecture theatre

      This session is for Year 1 Undergraduate students and will provide information about what student support options are available. The session is organized by SPIR. You will be given a chance to ask any questions you may have about the programme and a recording is available. 
      This session is different from Monday's  session and will provide a wealth of practical and necessary information that you will need to know about basic and day to day activities at SPIR.


      Collect ID cards
      Time 15:00pm-16:00pm
      Location:       The Octagon, Queens' Building, Mile End Campus  
      See website for further details -https://www.qmul.ac.uk/newstudents/enrolment/student-id/ ;




      Thursday 19th September
      Joint Honors Law and Politics introduction lead by Professor Mario Mendez and SPIR Lead
      Time : 11.00am-12.00pm
      Location: Laws 100 
      This session is only for first year Law and Politics students. Find out more about this joint programme.






      Welcome Week 2024: Everything you need to know about the 'Year of Elections'

       

      Date: Thursday 19 September, 14:00-15:30 (reception to follow from 15:30 in the Graduate Centre foyer)

      Venue: Peston LT, Graduate Centre

      Tickets: Eventbrite

       

      In 2024, almost half of the world’s population will head to the polls as at least 64 countries hold national elections. In this Welcome Week event to mark the start of the 2024/25 academic year, we bring together a panel of experts from across Queen Mary to dive into the twists and turns of the elections in Bangladesh, Pakistan and India, South Africa, Britain, France and the United States of America.

       

      What do these elections tell us about the resilience of democracy around the world? How have the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, the rise in the cost of living, the Climate Emergency and rising support for the far-right affected global politics? How has social media, AI and the spread of disinformation affected political discourse? Above all, we will ask what these elections can tell us about those yet to come including the presidential election in the United States in November.

       

      Join us on Thursday 19 September at 2pm to meet some of the Queen Mary academics who will be teaching you over the next three years and your fellow freshers!

       

      Our panel will include:

       

      • Innocent Batsani-Ncube is Lecturer in African Politics and an expert in how African countries’ relationship with China and other emerging powers from the Global South impact African domestic politics. In May 2024, he acted as an official observer at the landmark elections in South Africa.
      • Françoise Boucek is Visiting Research Fellow and taught European and comparative politics at Queen Mary between 2003 and 2018. Her research focuses on French politics and elections, representative democracy in Europe and the governance and economics of the European Union.
      • Philip Cowley is Professor of Politics and a respected broadcaster and political commentator. He has co-authored books on the 2010, 2015 and 2017 General Elections and is the author of Sex, Lies and the Ballot Box: 50 Things You Need to Know about British Elections. He is the voice of election night on BBC Radio 4 and broadcast through the night as Labour defeated the Conservative Party and ended 14 years in Opposition.
      • Chris Moffat is Senior Lecturer in South Asian History and an expert in violence, modernity and revolutionary politics in India and the importance of ‘the past’ in Pakistan’s politics and public life.

       

      The panel will be chaired by:

       

      • Madeleine Davis is Reader in Politics and an expert in the history of the left in Britain and the development of socialist political thought in the twentieth century. Her current research focuses on the development of the ‘New Left’ from the 1960s, including its relationship with the Labour Party in Britain, its grassroots mobilisation and agitation and the contribution that New Left thinkers made to British political thought.

       

      Important Information:

       

      This event will start at 2pm in the Peston Lecture Theatre in the Graduate Centre, which is number 18 on this map of Queen Mary’s Mile End campus. You can find it on What3Words at: https://w3w.co/fixed.reader.apples. This event will be followed by a reception with food and drink which all attendees are welcome to attend.



    • Events for all students

      Students’ Union Welcome Fair  

      • ME: Thursday 19th 10am – 6pm and Friday 20th 10am - 4pm 

      • Students will pre-book free timed entry tickets as much as possible 



      Wellbeing Fair 

      • SU Hub / Geography Square: Tuesday 17th 10am - 4pm 

      • Stalls and activities with a focus on wellbeing (internal services and external organisations) 

      • Incl intro sessions aimed at care experienced students, and students who are carers 

      • Drop-in and open to all students 

      • More details to follow 



      International Student Welcome 

      • Weds 18th 10am – 3pm drop in 

      • 12pm-1pm essential info for international students session, Peston theatre 

      • Queens Lawn / Graduate Centre  

      • including social activities as well as information sessions 

      • Drop-in aimed specifically at international students 

      • Thursday 11am-12pm international students careers session, Peston theatre 



      Campus Tours (Mile End) 

      Monday 16th September- Friday 20th September   

      Campus Tours will take place every hour (10am start – last tour leaving at 4pm), leaving from the welcome desk in library square. Students do not need to book, multiple tours will be leaving at the same time. Please do not allocate a time to your students as this creates a mass of students wanting tours at the same time. Please just make it clear that students can join anytime during the week. 



      Library Tours  

      If student would like a staff introduction here is the link: https://qmul.libcal.com/ 

      Mile End Library Self-Tour - They don't need to book if they are doing the self-tour by themselves, just turn up any time. 

      TELT (copy to be added!!)

  • Meet Your Advisor - 16th September - 1:00-2:00 pm & 2.00-3.00pm


  • Schedule of Face to Face Events





    • Welcome Back talk to final year UG students
      Time: 11am-1pm
      Location: Arts 2 Lecture Theatre





      Welcome Week 2024: Everything you need to know about the 'Year of Elections'

       

      Date: Thursday 19 September, 14:00-15:30 (reception to follow from 15:30 in the Graduate Centre foyer)

      Venue: Peston LT, Graduate Centre

      Tickets: Eventbrite

       

      In 2024, almost half of the world’s population will head to the polls as at least 64 countries hold national elections. In this Welcome Week event to mark the start of the 2024/25 academic year, we bring together a panel of experts from across Queen Mary to dive into the twists and turns of the elections in Bangladesh, Pakistan and India, South Africa, Britain, France and the United States of America.

       

      What do these elections tell us about the resilience of democracy around the world? How have the wars in Ukraine and the Middle East, the rise in the cost of living, the Climate Emergency and rising support for the far-right affected global politics? How has social media, AI and the spread of disinformation affected political discourse? Above all, we will ask what these elections can tell us about those yet to come including the presidential election in the United States in November.

       

      Join us on Thursday 19 September at 2pm to meet some of the Queen Mary academics who will be teaching you over the next three years and your fellow freshers!

       

      Our panel will include:

       

      • Innocent Batsani-Ncube is Lecturer in African Politics and an expert in how African countries’ relationship with China and other emerging powers from the Global South impact African domestic politics. In May 2024, he acted as an official observer at the landmark elections in South Africa.
      • Françoise Boucek is Visiting Research Fellow and taught European and comparative politics at Queen Mary between 2003 and 2018. Her research focuses on French politics and elections, representative democracy in Europe and the governance and economics of the European Union.
      • Philip Cowley is Professor of Politics and a respected broadcaster and political commentator. He has co-authored books on the 2010, 2015 and 2017 General Elections and is the author of Sex, Lies and the Ballot Box: 50 Things You Need to Know about British Elections. He is the voice of election night on BBC Radio 4 and broadcast through the night as Labour defeated the Conservative Party and ended 14 years in Opposition.
      • Chris Moffat is Senior Lecturer in South Asian History and an expert in violence, modernity and revolutionary politics in India and the importance of ‘the past’ in Pakistan’s politics and public life.

       

      The panel will be chaired by:

       

      • Madeleine Davis is Reader in Politics and an expert in the history of the left in Britain and the development of socialist political thought in the twentieth century. Her current research focuses on the development of the ‘New Left’ from the 1960s, including its relationship with the Labour Party in Britain, its grassroots mobilisation and agitation and the contribution that New Left thinkers made to British political thought.

       

      Important Information:

       

      This event will start at 2pm in the Peston Lecture Theatre in the Graduate Centre, which is number 18 on this map of Queen Mary’s Mile End campus. You can find it on What3Words at: https://w3w.co/fixed.reader.apples. This event will be followed by a reception with food and drink which all attendees are welcome to attend.



  • Student Support Induction Information and Videos



    • In this section you'll find resources outlining the way that the School of Politics and International Relations supports students, academically and pastorally, and the support services available within the wider university: Academic Kills; the Library; Student Well-being, IT Services, and the Careers Service.

    • Library Induction

       

    • Student Well-Being

       

    • Careers and Enterprise

      • A short video explaining what is available.
      • You can book an appointment with a careers advisor, get advice on your CV, find out about what sorts of jobs are out there and all sorts of other useful information on the website of Careers and Enterprise.
       

    • IT Services

      • A short video explaining what is available.
      • You can book chat with an IT specialist and find out more information about technology services available to you on the website of QMUL IT Services.
       

    • Academic Skills Induction

      Academic Skills Enhancement (ASE) supports students in developing the skills they need to excel at university. They do this by delivering one-to-one tutorials, workshops and online resources for students at all levels. They also work with peer mentors and collaborate with academic staff to embed our support into the curriculum.  

      This year they are offering a range of different resources that can be of use to you. First, please check out their website which has a wealth of information about the tutorials and workshops they offer: 
      https://www.qmul.ac.uk/library/academic-skills/

      Additionally, the Student Union, Academic Skills and the Library have produced a number of podcasts that incorporate the experiences from your fellow students, members of staff or recent graduates. In these student-curated podcasts you will hear interesting and varied perspectives on a range of key topics. You can access the podcasts here:  https://www.qmul.ac.uk/library/get-ahead/ ;

  • Academic Skills

    • Academic Skills – Get Ahead workshops

      The Academic Skills Centre are running two drop-in sessions where students will get the chance to meet the team and learn about the offers available to get support with academic skills 

      Get Ahead with Your Academic Studies, hosted by the Academic Skills Centre 

      Starting university is an exciting and wonderful experience but it can feel overwhelming especially when learning in a different way than you have done before. Join us to find out about what is expected of you in lectures, labs, seminars, and assignments and where you can find support to do your best while navigating university life. 



      Tuesday 17th Sept, 14.00-15.00, Ground Floor Quiet Study Space, Mile End Library 



      Wednesday 18th Sept, 11.00-12.00, Ground Floor Quiet Study Space, Mile End Library 


  • Schedule of Face to Face Events


    • WEDNESDAY 18  SEPTEMBER

      SPIR PG Induction

      Time: 12:00 - 13:00 pm

      Location: GO Jones Lecture Theatre


      This session is for all SPIR postgraduates and is an induction to your academic studies in the School of Politics and International Relations. The session will be recorded and available a few hours after the session.

      The programme includes

      Welcome by Prof Martin Coward Head of School 

      Welcome by Prof Chris Phillips Director of Taught Graduate Programmes 

      Matthew Halfin - Careers

      Richard Evans - Library

      Matt Potter - Academic Skills


      Induction lunch


      Time: 1.00 - 2.00pm pm

      Location: Arts One foyer


      Programme Talks - 2.00-3.00pm

      MA & MRes International Relations

      Professor Chris Phillips will speak to students signed up for the above postgraduate programme.

      Location: Graduate Centre 101


      MSc International Business and Politics 

      Dr Emilia Simison and Dr Isadora Cruxen will speak to students who have signed up to the above postgraduate programme.

      Location: Graduate Centre 204



      MSc International Public Policy/MSc & MRes Public Policy 

      Dr Karl Pike will speak to students who have signed up to one of the above postgraduate programmes.

      Location: Graduate Centre GC601 Montague Lecture Theatre

  • E-Learning QMPlus Training

    • Image of QMPlus log in page


      QMplus is the "virtual learning environment" at Queen Mary University of London.  
      T      his event hosted by the dedicated Technology Enhanced Learning Team, will equip you with the skills and knowledge to make the most of some of the technologies that you will engage with during your educational journey.

      During this induction, you'll have the opportunity to explore various tools and platforms that will be an integral part of your studies, including QMPlus and Turnitin.  Our expert team will guide you through the essential applications, software and resources.

      By registering for this Welcome Week induction, you're taking the first step towards harnessing the power of technology for enhanced learning. Don't miss this invaluable opportunity to get ahead.

      Secure your spot now and we look forward to welcoming you to our induction session. Please bring your student identification for verification purposes.

      Please bring your student identification for verification purposes.

      Book Your Session Here

      TELT Welcome Week Student Induction Sessions.


      You can also explore the TELT online course available on QMPLus.

      Take the course




  • Library Induction

  • Student Support Induction Information and Videos



    • In this section you'll find resources outlining the way that the School of Politics and International Relations supports students, academically and pastorally, and the support services available within the wider university: Academic Kills; the Library; Student Well-being, IT Services, and the Careers Service.

    • Library Induction

       

    • Student Well-Being

       

    • Careers and Enterprise

      • A short video explaining what is available.
      • You can book an appointment with a careers advisor, get advice on your CV, find out about what sorts of jobs are out there and all sorts of other useful information on the website of Careers and Enterprise.
       

    • IT Services

      • A short video explaining what is available.
      • You can book chat with an IT specialist and find out more information about technology services available to you on the website of QMUL IT Services.
       

    • Academic Skills Induction

      Academic Skills Enhancement (ASE) supports students in developing the skills they need to excel at university. They do this by delivering one-to-one tutorials, workshops and online resources for students at all levels. They also work with peer mentors and collaborate with academic staff to embed our support into the curriculum.  

      This year they are offering a range of different resources that can be of use to you. First, please check out their website which has a wealth of information about the tutorials and workshops they offer: 
      https://www.qmul.ac.uk/library/academic-skills/

      Additionally, the Student Union, Academic Skills and the Library have produced a number of podcasts that incorporate the experiences from your fellow students, members of staff or recent graduates. In these student-curated podcasts you will hear interesting and varied perspectives on a range of key topics. You can access the podcasts here:  https://www.qmul.ac.uk/library/get-ahead/ ;

  • Transitioning to and Succeeding at University


    • This section contains two recorded talks by Dr Lee Jones, which explain in more detail what a university education involves, how it differs from secondary education (schools), what that means for your experience as a student, and how you can perform to the very best of your ability at Queen Mary.

      You can watch these talks and access the links at any time. We strongly recommend that you set aside some time to do this during Welcome Week. The talks are divided up into short chunks but will take about an hour in total to watch each in full.

      You can also enroll on a course on transitioning to university offered by QMUL's Academic Skills Enhancement (ASE) unit - click here to book. ASE also provides a brief online module on learning online.




    • From School to University: Understanding What Higher Education Involves


      This talk:

      • Explains the key differences between school and university
      • Explains what a university is, what “higher education” means and involves, and what your tutors are doing all day when they're not teaching you;
      • Is important for everyone but especially useful to students who are the first in their families to attend university.


    • From School to University Page

      Click here to access videos

    • Thriving in Higher Education: How to Succeed in the School of Politics and International Relations


      This talk:

      • Explains how the differences between school and university require you to work differently;
      • Gives practical advice on how many hours you need to work per week, how best to approach your studies, and how to succeed on university-level assignments.


    • Thriving in Higher Education - handout File

      Contains: Lee's Top 10 Tips for Success in SPIR; resources and support services to improve your academic performance; the evidence around the use of electronic devices and student learning; and Lee's guide to producing excellent coursework. This content is all referenced (and further explained) in this talk.

      33.4 KB
    • Thriving in Higher Education Page

      Click here to access videos

    • We asked our Y3 students: “If you could go back in time and speak to yourself when you first joined SPIR, what advice would you give?”

      "definitely go see your tutors. I know that I only started to meet with them in the second half of the first year but I thought I could do everything by myself, which was a huge mistake “

      "probably not to be afraid to say things in seminars, just because, like i'm scared of getting things wrong like just go for it, and I can learn from my mistakes and stuff like that”

      "being more organized, making sure that I time things properly and know when my tutors are available and not leave it last minute”

      "all the tutors are really approachable and everyone's really helpful and you get a lot of support”

      "the style of how University is set out is very different from A levels, so I was kind of expecting it to be a bit more similar than like, A-Levels is very, you have your textbook, you revise that and then you do your exams and whatnot, but it's very different”

      "one thing I really just recommend to anyone is using office hours a lot. Like I used them a lot and I just saw my grades going up”

      "I was really surprised by how great the campus is, how many facilities there are”

      "what I did find surprising was the amount of independent learning there is. So going from eight hours in a day to eight hours in a week was was quite a big shock”

      "I think the best thing about it was probably that when it came to interacting with tutors, it was no longer like a hierarchy thing. Whereas in secondary school, sixth form, it was more so you had to refer to the teachers as ‘Sir’ or ‘Miss’ or ‘Miss Something’. Here you could have a more level interaction”

      "I was very worried. Am I going to find anyone? Getting lost, so like, just things like that…I think that was challenging, but I think within a week or so I was fine. So, you know, I adapted quick”

      "I was more scared about like making friends and stuff like that, but that stuff was really easy”

      "don't be afraid to like talk to your friends about it and see your tutors like actually go seek help if you need it”

      "it was really helpful to be able to go through it with friends a lot more”

      "the introduction and conclusion literally summarizes what the essay says and people just didn't really think about that”

      "first year you don't have to stay at the library 24/7 like go out, see some friends, yes, when deadlines are around maybe you know change that a little bit, but But otherwise kind of, join societies, meet people and just enjoy the campus because I feel like I definitely regret not like doing more on campus and it actually provides way more than I even knew about”

      "remembering back to first year, I remember how How much I enjoyed coffee and politics, like the discussion thing, like everyone comes along, I do think that those were actually beneficial to like academic success, a little bit because you'd go along and meet people, a you’d feel a lot more comfortable with the professors so you'd feel like you’ve broken down the barrier”

      "there are lots of support services and 100 people you can e-mail for whatever your problem is"


  • QMPlus

    • QMplus is the "virtual learning environment" at Queen Mary University of London.  
      T      his event hosted by the dedicated Technology Enhanced Learning Team, will equip you with the skills and knowledge to make the most of some of the technologies that you will engage with during your educational journey.

      During this induction, you'll have the opportunity to explore various tools and platforms that will be an integral part of your studies, including QMPlus and Turnitin.  Our expert team will guide you through the essential applications, software and resources.

      By registering for this Welcome Week induction, you're taking the first step towards harnessing the power of technology for enhanced learning. Don't miss this invaluable opportunity to get ahead.

      Secure your spot now and we look forward to welcoming you to our induction session. Please bring your student identification for verification purposes.

      Please bring your student identification for verification purposes.

      Book Your Session Here

      TELT Welcome Week Student Induction Sessions.



      Image of QMPlus log in page

      You can also explore the TELT online course available on QMPLus.

      Take the course


  • Session Recordings

  • Student Support Induction Information and Videos


    • Image of a group of students walking to class

      In this section you'll find resources outlining the way that the School of Politics and International Relations supports students, academically and pastorally, and the support services available within the wider university: Academic Kills; the Library; Student Well-being, IT Services, and the Careers Service.

    • Library Induction

       

    • Student Well-Being

       

    • Careers and Enterprise

      • A short video explaining what is available.
      • You can book an appointment with a careers advisor, get advice on your CV, find out about what sorts of jobs are out there and all sorts of other useful information on the website of Careers and Enterprise.
       

    • IT Services

      • A short video explaining what is available.
      • You can book chat with an IT specialist and find out more information about technology services available to you on the website of QMUL IT Services.
       

    • Academic Skills Induction

      Academic Skills Enhancement (ASE) supports students in developing the skills they need to excel at university. They do this by delivering one-to-one tutorials, workshops and online resources for students at all levels. They also work with peer mentors and collaborate with academic staff to embed our support into the curriculum.  

      This year they are offering a range of different resources that can be of use to you. First, please check out their website which has a wealth of information about the tutorials and workshops they offer: 
      https://www.qmul.ac.uk/library/academic-skills/

      Additionally, the Student Union, Academic Skills and the Library have produced a number of podcasts that incorporate the experiences from your fellow students, members of staff or recent graduates. In these student-curated podcasts you will hear interesting and varied perspectives on a range of key topics. You can access the podcasts here:  https://www.qmul.ac.uk/library/get-ahead/ ;

  • Understanding and Thriving at University


    • Image of graduating students celebrating

      This section contains two recorded talks by Dr Lee Jones, which explain in more detail what a university education involves, how it differs from secondary education (schools), what that means for your experience as a student, and how you can perform to the very best of your ability at Queen Mary.

      These are aimed primarily at new students, but many returning students will benefit from watching them. You can do so at any time, but we strongly recommend that you set aside some time to do this during Welcome Week. The talks are divided up into short chunks but will take about an hour in total to watch each in full.


    • From School to University: Understanding What Higher Education Involves


      This talk:

      • Explains the key differences between school and university
      • Explains what a university is, what “higher education” means and involves, and what your tutors are doing all day when they're not teaching you;
      • Is important for everyone but especially useful to students who are the first in their families to attend university.


    • From School to University Page

      Click here to access videos

    • Thriving in Higher Education: How to Succeed in the School of Politics and International Relations


      This talk:

      • Explains how the differences between school and university require you to work differently;
      • Gives practical advice on how many hours you need to work per week, how best to approach your studies, and how to succeed on university-level assignments.


    • Thriving in Higher Education - handout File

      Contains: Lee's Top 10 Tips for Success in SPIR; resources and support services to improve your academic performance; the evidence around the use of electronic devices and student learning; and Lee's guide to producing excellent coursework. This content is all referenced (and further explained) in this talk.

      33.4 KB
    • Thriving in Higher Education Page

      Click here to access videos

  • How to Get Help


    • Image of Queen's Building with banner "How To Get Help"

      The first few weeks back at university are always confusing. Don't worry - there is lots of help and support available!


    • University-level Support

      IT Services

      Can help you get set up on QMUL's IT systems and fix problems with the computer you are using to access blended learning.


      FINANCE

      It’s important to apply for student finance as soon as possible, as applications can take several weeks to be approved. The funding you may be eligible for varies depending on your level of study and nationality, so take a look at our money pages to check you’re getting all of the income you’re eligible for. https://www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/money/




      Student and Academic Services

      Provides a host of different support services, including:

      Student Enquiry Centre: This team deal with enquiries regarding student documentation, ID cards, Bursaries, Exams and more. Their details are here. If you would like to book an appointment to speak to a Student Enquiry Centre staff member either in person or remotely you can do this through SEC Online in your MySIS portal.


      Advice and Counselling: practical advice on things like money, housing, visas, transitioning to university, and so on; and counselling services to support students experiencing psychological distress.

      Disability and Dyslexia Service: provides advice and support to students with disabilities; can diagnose learning difficulties/ differences, or provide assistance to those with pre-diagnosed conditions, including discounts on computing equipment and coursework coversheets to guide academics when marking your work.

      Careers and Enterprise: can help you plan for your career and gain work experience and paid employment from day one at Queen Mary.

      Library Services: can help you gain access to library resources and provide practical support with your research. The Library also has a comprehensive welcome/induction sub-site prepared for 2020, covering all the available support, plus how the Library is operating under pandemic conditions.

      Learning Development (aka Academic Skills Enhancement): provides a course on transitioning to university, a short online course on learning online, and extensive support to students in developing their academic skills - research, writing, arguing, and so on.

      Language Centre: provides free in-sessional courses on improving your academic English, both spoken and written. Extremely useful for all students, whether native English speakers or not.

    • Queen Mary Student Union (QMSU)

      QMSU hosts a wealth of student societies covering all sorts of sporting, intellectual and social interests and activities - a great way to meet new people.

      It also has an independent Academic Advice service that can be useful if you are experiencing significant difficulties at Queen Mary.

      QMSU will also have a raft of events for Freshers 2021 Welcome. You can see these events and register for them here.

    • FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS


      I am a continuing undergraduate student and I would like to discuss my module choices?

      You can check the modules you’re registered on in the MySIS module registration area. https://mysis.qmul.ac.uk/urd/sits.urd/run/siw_lgn

      Module Add/Drop requests should be emailed to spir.modules@qmul.ac.uk Please do NOT request the module change via MySIS.

      Please review the relevant module availability document sent to you in an email before submitting your request. Even modules which currently have space may be full at the time you send your request, we will respond to your request as soon as possible.

      If you are already on a waiting list for a module we will notify you if space becomes available for that module.

      To add an Outside Module, you must contact the outside school directly for permission and forward that permission once received to spir.modules@qmul.ac.uk

      The online QMUL module directory 21-22, will provide you with information on modules within and outside of SPIR, including assessment information of the module - https://www.qmul.ac.uk/modules/

      The deadline to request a module change is Sunday 10 October 2021 (Sunday of teaching week 2). Students can only change optional modules, not compulsory modules.

      For assistance with Module Registration students should email – spir.modules@qmul.ac.uk



      If I change modules how will this affect my timetable?

      New module timetable - If you are added to a new module we will email you with your timetable details, your personal timetable may take a few days to update. If you are added to an outside module you must contact the outside school for the timetable.

      We have provided a brief overview of each module’s timetable structure so that you can check if a session is missing from your timetable for any given SPIR module. See module structure document for the relevant year group.

      Please note that the timetable may be subject to changes, Students must check for updates before teaching begins. Announcements will be made if any changes are made to a student’s timetable after Term-A has begun.

      If a student wants to change their timetable due to an urgent issue SPIR will try to accommodate their request. We cannot guarantee we can change a student’s timetable to resolve clashes with outside activities such as work commitments.

      For assistance with a SPIR timetable issue, to report a timetable clash and/or to request a timetable change students should email – spir.timetable@qmul.ac.uk




  • Associate Students Induction - 19 September, 12:00-1:00 pm

    • Associate students will meet with Dr Ksenia Northmore-Ball for an induction into their time at Queen Mary. The event will be held in Mason Lecture Theatre in Bancroft.

      Recording of the material will be available later. For the rest of the schedule, please see the relevant year tab for your time in London!

      We have created a special QMPlus page for you as an Associate Student in SPIR. The page gives you quick answers to the questions Associate Students often ask of us. We will also use the page as a place for announcements relevant for you as an associate student. You can sign up to it here.



  • Understanding and Thriving at University



    • This section contains two recorded talks by Dr Lee Jones, which explain in more detail what a university education involves, how it differs from secondary education (schools), what that means for your experience as a student, and how you can perform to the very best of your ability at Queen Mary.

      These are aimed primarily at new students, but many returning students will benefit from watching them. You can do so at any time, but we strongly recommend that you set aside some time to do this during Welcome Week. The talks are divided up into short chunks but will take about an hour in total to watch each in full.


    • From School to University: Understanding What Higher Education Involves


      This talk:

      • Explains the key differences between school and university
      • Explains what a university is, what “higher education” means and involves, and what your tutors are doing all day when they're not teaching you;
      • Is important for everyone but especially useful to students who are the first in their families to attend university.


    • From School to University Page

      Click here to access videos

    • Thriving in Higher Education: How to Succeed in the School of Politics and International Relations


      This talk:

      • Explains how the differences between school and university require you to work differently;
      • Gives practical advice on how many hours you need to work per week, how best to approach your studies, and how to succeed on university-level assignments.


    • Thriving in Higher Education - handout File

      Contains: Lee's Top 10 Tips for Success in SPIR; resources and support services to improve your academic performance; the evidence around the use of electronic devices and student learning; and Lee's guide to producing excellent coursework. This content is all referenced (and further explained) in this talk.

      33.4 KB
    • Thriving in Higher Education Page

      Click here to access videos

  • How to Get Help



    • The first few weeks back at university are always confusing. Don't worry - there is lots of help and support available!

    • School-Level Support

      The SPIR Undergraduate Info Zone contains a huge wealth of information about your studies. If you have a question, it might be answered there.

      If your query is not covered elsewhere in this guide and you need to speak to a specialist support officer, we have scheduled some live 1-1 drop in sessions. These drop in sessions will be held using Microsoft Teams. You should be able to connect by clicking on the relevant link but if not, please find download, installation and usage instructions here. 


      Timetable enquiries: spir.timetable@qmul.ac.uk

      Module Registration enquiries: spir.modules@qmul.ac.uk



      Visting the School Office

      We will have a small team available at the school reception on the second floor of the Arts One building to take brief queries from students who are unable to find the answer to their query in the SPIR Undergraduate Info Zone. Their role will be to assist you with: 

      • Answering your queries, where possible, or direct you to the most appropriate source of advice 
      • Recommend other University support services that can help 


      The reception will be open from 10:00 – 16:00 Monday to Friday. 





    • University-level Support

      IT Services

      Can help you get set up on QMUL's IT systems and fix problems with the computer you are using to access blended learning.


      Finance

      It’s important to apply for student finance as soon as possible, as applications can take several weeks to be approved. The funding you may be eligible for varies depending on your level of study and nationality, so take a look at our money pages to check you’re getting all of the income you’re eligible for. https://www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/money/




      Student and Academic Services

      Provides a host of different support services, including:

      Student Enquiry Centre: This team deal with enquiries regarding student documentation, ID cards, Bursaries, Exams and more. Their details are here. If you would like to book an appointment to speak to a Student Enquiry Centre staff member either in person or remotely you can do this through SEC Online in your MySIS portal.


      Advice and Counselling: practical advice on things like money, housing, visas, transitioning to university, and so on; and counselling services to support students experiencing psychological distress.

      Disability and Dyslexia Service: provides advice and support to students with disabilities; can diagnose learning difficulties/ differences, or provide assistance to those with pre-diagnosed conditions, including discounts on computing equipment and coursework coversheets to guide academics when marking your work.

      Careers and Enterprise: can help you plan for your career and gain work experience and paid employment from day one at Queen Mary.

      Library Services: can help you gain access to library resources and provide practical support with your research. The Library also has a comprehensive welcome/induction sub-site prepared for 2020, covering all the available support, plus how the Library is operating under pandemic conditions.

      Learning Development (aka Academic Skills Enhancement): provides a course on transitioning to university, a short online course on learning online, and extensive support to students in developing their academic skills - research, writing, arguing, and so on.

      Language Centre: provides free in-sessional courses on improving your academic English, both spoken and written. Extremely useful for all students, whether native English speakers or not.

    • Queen Mary Student Union (QMSU)

      QMSU hosts a wealth of student societies covering all sorts of sporting, intellectual and social interests and activities - a great way to meet new people.

      It also has an independent Academic Advice service that can be useful if you are experiencing significant difficulties at Queen Mary.

      And their Freshers 2021 Welcome events can be found here.