Student Support and Representation

We know that studying at university can feel very different to school or college. It is useful to think of your first year at university as a year-long process of adapting, as you work out how best to study within your programme, what methods suit you, how to organise your time, and, importantly, where to go for advice.

The Effective Learning Service (ELS) offers guidance and support to all students who wish to develop their academic writing and study skills, whatever their level of study. The Service aims to help you become as self-reliant as possible as you progress through your degree programme here at QMU. You can arrange individual appointments with ELS to talk about academic skills queries, or for shorter queries you can come to one of the ELS drop-in sessions. The ELS also publishes a range of helpful resources at the website link above. The ELS is based in room 1153 in the LRC, and this is where on-campus appointments take place. The ELS also offer remote appointments and sessions.

The best way to book an appointment with the ELS is through Student Central

For other queries, you can use the following email addresses: els@qmu.ac.uk  or elsinternational@qmu.ac.uk.

PALS (Peer Assisted Learning) operates in several different subject areas at QMU.  Further information is available on the PALS website, including an up-to-date list of participating programmes.

PALS Sessions are student-led learning sessions. They offer a relaxed, fun and informal way to receive support for your learning at QMU. You can use a session either to help you understand something you were struggling with, or perhaps to consolidate and develop the learning you have already completed. We also run revision sessions so you can brush up on your knowledge in the run-up to your exams. The students who run PALS sessions are known as PALS Leaders and they have all been where you are now and want to support you by sharing their experience.

PALS sessions run on a regular basis throughout term, and you will be notified by email, CANVAS announcements and your lecturers about upcoming sessions. Some sessions are also advertised on Student Central. The sessions are not mandatory – some people just pop along to a session when they have a particular area of study they are struggling with, while others attend every session because they appreciate the extra support and the experience of the PALS Leaders. 

If you would like to attend a PALS session, or you are interested in becoming a PALS Leader, you can contact the PALS Team at pals@qmu.ac.uk

All QMU students have access to Studiosity. Studiosity is a 24/7 external online service which provides constructive feedback on key elements of academic writing. This service is additional to the support offered by our Effective Learning Service. Details of how to access Studiosity can be found at the Studiosity web page.

The Royal Literary Fund (RLF) supports a Fellow at Queen Margaret who is available to support students at both post-graduate and undergraduate levels to develop their academic, written English. The RLF Fellow offers students one-to-one help to develop their written work in a confidential setting allowing students to develop confidence and skill in this area. For details of the current Fellow(s) and how to make an appointment, please refer to the RLF web page

The University provides support for international students through the International Office, particularly in relation to immigration matters. As for all students, international students may contact Academic Administration or your Programme Leader or Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) who will be pleased to help you to settle comfortably into your new environment.

All students whose first language is not English will normally be permitted to use language-only dictionaries in examinations. Electronic dictionaries are not permitted (please refer to Exam Regulations section). No extra time will be allocated for students whose first language is not English (please see the Assessment Regulations for further detail).

The International Office offer drop-in sessions for international students with questions, especially concerning immigration matters.

Once at the University, you can meet with the International team, at their drop-in sessions. The meeting times are:

Monday 2.00pm-4.00pm

Wednesday 10.00am-12.00noon

Friday  10.00am - 12.00noon

These sessions will run face-to-face within our Student Services area on Level 1. Meetings outside of these times should be made by prior appointment. Please email International@qmu.ac.uk providing a list of dates, and times that you are available, as well as confirming if you wish to meet in person or online and they will do their best to accommodate you.

Student exchanges are possible for most Arts, Social Sciences and Management programmes, and a limited number of Health Sciences programmes. 

For further information, please visit the Exchanges and Study Abroad web pages, or contact StudyAbroad@qmu.ac.uk.

As a QMU student you are automatically a member of the Students' Union (SU). The Students’ Union (SU) is a registered charity and works to ensure that students have the best university experience while studying at QMU. A team of Officers is elected each year to lead the SU and make sure that students' views are represented to the University and beyond.

The SU offer a range of services and opportunities, including confidential advice and support through the HelpZone, representation in partnership with the University, and extra-curricular activities including sports and societies and volunteering opportunities. The SU office is just upstairs from Maggie's, the Students' Union bar and café.

There are a lot of different ways to be involved with the SU. For full details, please refer to the SU website. Information on how to contact the SU/book an appointment is available at this link.

The Class Representative has particular responsibility for their year of study within their own programme. The Class Representative has two main functions. The first is to consult with students on the programme to gather feedback about any aspect of their education at QMU, the second is to represent the ideas and the concerns of students on the programme at the appropriate forum. Usually this means through one of the following:

• Student-Staff Consultative Committees
• Programme Committee
• Academic Council

Programme Leaders are normally expected to open nominations for programme representatives within the first two weeks of Semester 1, but of course the programme will be able to change its representative at a later date if it so wishes.

Representatives must commit sufficient time to prepare for, and attend, at least two Student-Staff Consultative Committee meetings and two Programme Committees (or equivalent) each year.

They should also allow some time each week/fortnight to gather the views of students on the programme, and to feedback information to their cohort from other bodies. 

Class Rep training is provided by the Students’ Union.

The Division of Registry and Academic Administration has a key role in the administration of academic and student services within Queen Margaret University.

The Registry and Academic Administration department is led by the Assistant Secretary (Registry & Academic Administration).

The Registry and Academic Administration team aim to provide an efficient, effective and professional service to the various client groups to whom it provides information, advice and support.

Details of services provided by Registry & Academic Administration

Registry can be contacted at registry@qmu.ac.uk

The Academic Administration can be reached at academicadministration@qmu.ac.uk