Welcome Week Activities
Department Welcome Week activities from 19th September-23rd September
Introduction
The first week starting on Monday 19th September is known as Welcome Week (used to be called Fresher's Week).
Welcome 2022 will commence on Monday 19th September where there will be a range of sessions so you can meet the academic and support staff in the Department, find out more about your course and get to know your new course mates. There will also be sessions to help you discover the brilliant student societies and extra-curricular activities that go on in the Department, there is something for everyone!
During Welcome Week there will be a number of activities (introductory laboratories, induction sessions) scheduled so that you can learn something about the various aspects of life whilst you are studying in the Department. It is important that you attend all these sessions.
The 1st Year Information Guide summarises key information from the handbook.
You will find information on Welcome Week via the UG Community Pages on BlackBoard.
Formal teaching starts on Monday 26th September. Your teaching timetable depends upon your degree programme and laboratory/tutorial group. To print a copy of your timetable, make sure you click the "Printable Timetable" button in the top to open of printer-friendly version suitable for printing.
There are a range of activities and events run by the University, the Students' Union, and societies before and during Welcome Weeks, further details can be found at the Manchester Welcome website. In particular, campus tours and city bus tours.
Join us on the Department Undergraduate Facebook Group.
Settling in to University
We know that coming to University is an exciting time, but is also a time of great change. This can mean it's sometimes difficult to settle in. The University Student Support team have provided some resources on settling in that may be helpful.
Welcome Week Checklist
Run through the following checklist to make sure you've prepared for the start of your studies:
- Have you completed the university online registration? (see the advice for new students for help and advice)
- Have you picked up your student ID card? (see the advice for new students for help and advice)
- Do you have your Welcome Week timetable?
- Have you completed the online department registration via BlackBoard? (one of the Department Welcome Week activities)
- Do you have your teaching timetable?
- Do you know who your personal tutor is? (you will find out during Welcome Week 2)
- Do you have a copy of the undergraduate handbook?
- Have you selected any optional course units? (see the advice for new students for help and advice)
- Have you tried to log in to a Department lab machine using your University id/password?
- Have you tried to log in to Blackboard?
Welcome Week Timetable commencing 20th September
Your activities during Welcome Week depend on your degree program.
- View the welcome week timetable for details.
The degree programmes we offer are as follows:
- Computer Science {+MEng and +wIE} (CS)
- Artificial Intelligence {+MEng and +wIE} (AI)
- Software Engineering {+MEng and +wIE} (SE)
- Computer Science & Mathematics {+wIE} (CM)
- Computer Systems Engineering {+MEng and +wIE} (CSE)
- Computer Science (Human Computer Interaction) {+wIE} (HCI)
(+MEng - 4 year MEng programme, +wIE - 4 year with industrial experience programme)
All the activities listed highlight who should attend that particular activity — attendance at these sessions is mandatory.
- All students must attend the activities identified by “All Students”
- Computer Science and Maths students have additional activities arranged by the Department of Mathematics identified as “CM Students”
- On the Wednesday of Welcome Week the laboratory and tutorial groups will be announced - you will remain in these groups throughout your first year. Activities on Thursday and Friday will be arranged by tutorial group (Y1, M2, Z4, W3, X5 etc).
Welcome Week Activities
Some of the Welcome Week activities include:
Bootup Laboratory
During this session you will log in to a Department computer for the first time. It is important that you attend this session so that we know you are here and that your accounts are set up correctly. Lab scripts will be shared during the scheduled labs.
Department Registration
The Department registration process is separate from the online University registration.
If you have successfully completed the University registration process then you can collect you library swipecard or recieve it in your University Hall of Residence (details can be found in the advice for new students).
Meet your Tutor
You and your tutorial group will meet your tutor in an informal chat
COMP10120 Group Activity
Throughout the year a proportion of your work will be performed in small tutorial groups (7 or 8 students), this will be the first time you get together as a group.
Introductory Laboratory 1
You will use linux (our preferred operating system), maybe for the first time. Lab scripts will be handed out during the scheduled labs.
Laboratory/Tutorial Groups
You will be split into laboratory groups depending upon your degree programme, these are identified by a letter:
- CS, SE, AI, CSE, HCI: W, X, Y and Z
- CM: M
You will also be assigned a tutor and tutorial group, which is identified by your laboratory group and a number based on your lab group, i.e. X3, M3 etc (HCI students will be assigned a tutorial group in Z). Tutorials are held weekly in groups of approximately six students in your tutors office. For the majority of your time, the tutorials will concentrate on the group project (COMP10120).
You will meet the rest of your tutorial group in the COMP10120 group activity sessions later in Welcome Week. The tutorial group list will be made available on the Wednesday of Welcome Week.
Where to find your teaching timetable
You can find your teaching timetable on the Department timetable pages. In order to access the correct timetable you will need to know your lab group (which depends on your degree programme). You will find out your lab group on Wednesday the 30th of September. Once you know your group, look for it in the Year 1 list and select [Sem1], this will open your timetable for the first semester. The timetables themselves are self explanatory, [A] refers to Week A only, [B] refers to Week B only and [wk2+] means from Week 2 onwards. In order to print a copy of your timetable select the "Printable Timetable" button in the top left hand side of the timetable, this should open a printer friendly version of your timetable. Then simply print the window.
General Help during Welcome Week
General help is available throughout Welcome week.
Help Desk
General Help
If you are having any problems then please talk to someone. For contacts please see the Help and Support page.
The University has a number of support mechanisms in place to help you with most problems including budgeting, accommodation, medical advice, counselling etc.
More to do during Welcome Week
During the week commencing the 12th September there are a number of activities that have been arranged by the University.
Please note:if you would like to take part in any of these activities then you will have to book onto them. They will not appear on your timetable. The Department Welcome Week activities will take place in the week commencing the 19th September. Information on these activities can be found here:
- Sort out your finances - open a bank account if you do not already have one. It is important that your loans and fees are sorted out as soon as possible. The Student Services Centre are available to offer help to students with problems relating to student loan issues.
- If you need to find a part time job, the University Careers service can offer help and advice.
- Visit the Students Union where clubs and societies will be recruiting.
Book them via the University Welcome site.
Stay safe
It is important that you stay safe whilst at Manchester. Manchester suffers from incidents of crime just like any other large city. The University has a team of security staff on campus who can offer help and support when needed. If you have a bicycle make sure you lock it securely (the University runs a subsidised lock scheme where you can purchase a high quality 'D' lock for £15). Be careful when withdrawing money out of the bank and keep you mobile phone, laptop or any other valuable items secure.