Welcome to Warwick - Information for New Undergraduates 2023/24

This information is relevant for students joining the ECLS in September 2023. We look forward to welcoming you to the department!

English at Warwick

You have been accepted to the English Department to read one of the following degrees -
Q300 English Literature, or QW34 English and Theatre StudiesLink opens in a new window or VQ32 English and HistoryLink opens in a new window.

The Induction Handouts to the right (or bottom of screen on some mobile devices) will help with identifying the first-year modules for your degree and how to sign up for them.

The Department also participates in several joint degrees administered in other departments: English and Creative Writing, English and French; English and Hispanic Studies; English and German; English and Italian; English and Classics; Film and Literature; Philosophy and Literature; Philosophy, Literature and Classics; and modules as part of the Liberal Arts English Pathway, or Centre for Lifelong Learning. If any of these apply to you, please click on the "Joint honours" tab above for further information.

If you are a Visiting Student from another University AND your home department is the English Department, the information below mostly pertains to you but you should also visit this pageLink opens in a new window.

For Q300, QW34, and VQ32 students, you can familiarise yourself with the structure of your chosen degree programme by following the links above. Whilst the core degrees have much in common, they are individually conceived and structured, and you need to be aware of the degree requirements attached to each of them, if only to avoid confusing your timetable with a fellow student who may be reading a different degree.

Please see here Link opens in a new windowto see an overview of the modules you will study in the first year, along with details of texts to study. How to sign up for any options is detailed in your induction handout.

Surviving the First Weeks (for Q300, VQ32, QW34)

First off, you need to survive your first weeks at Warwick. Some students from the Arts Faculty have put together a 'Pre-Arrival Module' which is designed to help you get your bearings; take a lookLink opens in a new window.

There will be a number of Welcome Week events, including induction meetings from the department to all sorts of social events and activities! Just remember that every first-year is feeling as lost and disoriented as you are, and there are plenty of people around in the department to answer questions – not just the academic staff and administrators, but first-year survivors (we call them second- and third-years). Don't be bashful. Ask!

Here's a summary checklist of things to do in the first week:

1. Enrol

2. Attend the 3 English Department Induction Meetings in Welcome Week
(all ECLS students and Visiting Students)
[Induction 1] Tuesday 26th Sept 2023 - 10am-12pm in FAB0.03 Lecture Theatre 2 (Lower) (Faculty of Arts, G)
[Induction 2] Wednesday 27th Sept 9.30-11am in FAB0.03 Lecture Theatre 2 (Lower) (Faculty of Arts, G)
[Induction 3] Thursday 28th Sept 9.30-11am in L3, Chemistry building 2nd floor

3. Attend a course specific meeting for your chosen degree.

(This only applies to QW34 English Literature & Theatre Studies and VQ32 English & History students)

4. Attend the Welcome Social
Q300, VQ32, QW34 and ECLS visiting students are invited to the English Department's Welcome Staff-Student Social on Wednesday 27th September 2022 between 5-7pm in FAB5.01-5.03

5. Register for your modules via eVision

6. Get your books. See here for details of core textbooks that we will provide and see your induction handouts for more details about obtaining them.

7. Attend the Active Bystander Workshop online on Thursday 28th, 2-3pm. Click here to join the meetingLink opens in a new window. More information is available here: https://warwick.ac.uk/services/dean-of-students-office/community-values-education/.

After that:

8. Attend the "Hidden Curriculum" talks in week 1
Q300, VQ32, QW34 meet Monday morning (see Tabula for time and location)

9. Meet your personal tutor individually (during the first 3 weeks of term)

10. Find the Library

11. Look after your Wellbeing

Finally, if you need help in the first week please contact your personal tutor in the first instance - if they are not available - contact the Undergraduate OfficeLink opens in a new window or contact the Director of Undergraduate Studies for first years, Dr Sarah WoodLink opens in a new window.

Mandatory Induction Meetings

All Q300, QW34, and VQ32 students based in the English department are required to attend all Induction meetings which are part of the Welcome Programme (event details found on the University central Welcome Programme and your personalised timetableLink opens in a new window). Visiting Students are also welcome to attend these; other Joint Hons students based in/administered by separate departments get their own induction (see tab above):

[Induction 1] Tuesday 26th Sept 2023 - 10am-12pm in FAB0.03 Lecture Theatre 2 (Lower) (Faculty of Arts, G)
[Induction 2] Wednesday 27th Sept 9.30-11am in FAB0.03 Lecture Theatre 2 (Lower) (Faculty of Arts, G)
[Induction 3] Thursday 28th Sept 9.30-11am in L3, Chemistry building 2nd floor

Enrol

The Autumn term officially begins on Monday 2nd October 2023 (week 1). You should already have enrolled on-line before this date, but if not, please make sure that you do so as soon as possible.

If you have been unable to enrol from home or elsewhere before arrival at the University, you can get access to the internet to enrol from the suite of PCs in the Student Computer Centre. Please see University enrolment information for full details.

Q300 students can exchange Modern World Literature for a Language module. See your induction handouts for information about the outside modules in the Language Centre and SMLC. Someone from those departments will give an overview of this and be available for Q&A in Induction 1.

For QW34 a language module is an alternative to your optional cores. You can hear about language modules in Induction 1 and can discuss the various options at your course-specific meetings.

VQ32 do not have the language module option this year. You can discuss the various options at your course-specific meetings.

All three degree courses will be undertaking the Academic Enrichment programme which teaches specific writing and research skills, as well as considering employability skills.

Course Specific Meetings

QW34 English & Theatre Studies students should attend the following:

The three ECLS Induction Meetings (Tues 10am, Weds 9.30, Thurs 9.30) and our English social 5-7pm on Wednesday.
Your own QW34 specific course meeting with the English and Theatre convenor Dr Jen Edwards Wed 27th September, 12pm - 1pm (FAB5.03)
You also have an introduction to the Theatre department in the "Our Staff, Our Research" session on Thursday 3-4 (FAB 0.20), followed by a "Meet Your Mentor" session 4-5pm (FAB 0.20) and then Welcome Drinks and Pizza with Theatre 5-7pm (FAB 0.16-18).

You are also invited to a 'Societies Roundtable' on Wednesday 1-2pm in FAB 0.20.

VQ32 English & History students should attend the following:

The three ECLS Induction Meetings (Tues 10am, Weds 9.30, Thurs 9.30) and our English social 5-7pm on Wednesday.
Your own specific course meeting with the English and History convenor Dr Alice Kelly on Thurs 28th September, 3-4pm in FAB5.01.
You also have an induction meeting with the History department at 12-1pm on Thursday 28th in FAB2.43.

Accessing Books

All course book lists should be available by the beginning of term but you don't need to purchase them all at the same time and you may find specific editions and price comparisons here. Pay attention to whether modules specify certain editions. Please see HERE for details of books we will provide for you.

Some courses have set up bundles on the Blackwell's book site and students can look up their university on the Blackwell's site and see any bundles that have been set up for their course; they can then order online but with a discount and with the ability to add the whole bundle to their shopping basket as a single item. https://blackwells.co.uk/bookshop/Students

There is also a collection of free pre-owned booksLink opens in a new window and journals donated by staff and former students who were keen to pass these on to current undergraduates - especially those who find it challenging to purchase all the required texts. We have a range of books from first and honours years modules, as well as texts that may support your wider reading.

You should check the module reading list by typing in the module code or module name on Talis AspireLink opens in a new window to see if the library has hard/e-copies available.

If you have trouble locating a text, inform your module tutor and convenor immediately.

Social Announcements

Look out for notices inviting you to join the huge range of the university's social clubs – including the Lit.Soc, Freshblood, and Warwick University Drama Society.

Q300, VQ32, QW34 and ECLS visiting students are invited to the English Department's Welcome Staff-Student Social on Wednesday 27th September 2023 between 5-7pm in FAB5.01-503

Hidden Curriculum Talks

These talks are part of the Academic Enrichment programme and take place on Monday 2nd October 2023 - 9:00 - 11:00.

In this session we will cover aspects such as what an Academic does and how to use them; what a lecture is and how to use them effectively for class and for essays; what a seminar is and how to prepare for it and what to do when you get there; using Office Hours, using your Personal Tutor effectively. In the second half, this session will provide an introduction and overview to various online systems we use: such as Tabula/Moodle/sitebuilder/Teams/TalisAspire/Stream/outlook and how to use them effectively. We will also cover aspects such as finding staff profiles, a reminder of the UG handbook and what is in it, tips for protecting your work, managing your Time(table) effectively, and the UG English Office will be on hand to help with any enrolment or administrative queries.

Wellbeing

Your wellbeing is supported by the university and the department throughout your time at Warwick. You should communicate with your Personal Tutor if your mental health is adversely affecting your studies and discuss what support is available. See HERE for more information.