Personal Tutoring

As an undergraduate or postgraduate taught student you will be given a Personal Tutor. This is a member of teaching staff in your Faculty or School who acts as your key point of contact while you are at Swansea University.

You should meet with your Personal Tutor one-to-one at least once every Semester. You may also be invited to group meetings or workshops with your Personal Tutor.

Your Personal Tutor will guide and support you with your academic, professional and personal development. They can help you with:

Guidance and support with personal, academic and professional development
Accessing academic and personal support e.g. with welfare issues
Answering any other questions you may have or recommend where to best seek advice
Reviewing your academic progress
Understanding the exam and assessment system
Academic references for placements / job applications
Answering any other questions you may have or recommend where to best seek advice

Tutors may also have ‘office hours’ when you can see them as well. You can email your Personal Tutor if there is something you want to discuss and/or to arrange a meeting.

Find out more by looking at the Frequently Asked Questions

What if I don't have a Personal Tutor?

Ask at your Faculty Student Experience and Information Team. They will tell you who your Tutor is.

Do I need to attend one-to-one Personal Tutor meetings?

Make the time to attend – the meetings are for your benefit. They are an opportunity for you to explore your academic, personal and professional development with someone who is experienced in studying in and navigating university. It is about helping you to make the most of your university experience. Your Personal Tutor will be able to give you suggestions and advice and work with you on your goals.

Do I need to prepare before the meeting?

Academic mentoring is a conversation between you and your mentor. Think about what you want to gain from the meeting before you go. There is a Personal Tutoring your meeting form you can use to think about what you will discuss at your one-to-one meetings. You can fill it in if that is helpful and take it with you to the meeting or email it to your Academic Mentor in advance. Your mentor may also have things they want to talk with you about such as feedback, results and placements.

Do I need to take notes at my Personal Tutor meeting?

If you and your Tutor agree that there are actions you could take which would help you, then it is a good idea for you to write these down. Share a copy if you can with your Tutor, e.g. by email. Next time you meet you can then discuss how you have progressed with the actions. Your Personal Tutor may also take notes.

Do I need to attend group Personal Tutor meetings?

Try to attend if you can. You will meet other students on your course. Often group meetings are there to share and discuss important information, for example, about assessment, placements or other course matters.

Can I change my Personal Tutor?

Your Faculty Student Experience and Information Team will help you if you would like to change your Personal Tutor. You can make one request without giving reasons, although it is helpful for us to know what isn’t working. If you want to change again, then the Head of School would have to give approval and you would need to explain your reasons.

How do I contact my Personal Tutor in between meetings?

You can email your Personal Tutor at any time; however, they will usually only reply to you during working hours and it could take a day or two to respond. If your enquiry is urgent and your Personal Tutor has an out of office message on, go to your Faculty Student Experience and Information Team for advice.

All Personal Tutors have weekly ‘office hours’ when you may just drop in if you have a question or want advice.

Can I have a Personal Tutor who is Welsh speaking?

If you have let us know that you want a Welsh speaking Personal Tutor, then your Faculty/School will do their best to arrange this. Where possible, this will be an academic in the subject you are studying. If no one is available in your subject, then you will be offered an additional Welsh speaking Personal Tutor.

All students studying through the medium of Welsh will automatically be allocated a Welsh speaking Personal Tutor.

What will happen if I don’t attend meetings with my Personal Tutor?

What happens will depend on your Faculty or School. Usually though you will be sent an email to encourage you to rearrange the meeting and offering support. In some Schools, credit is given for attending so if you don’t go to meetings you will miss out on gaining that credit.

Overseas students on Student Route (formerly Tier4) Visas are strongly encouraged to attend all Personal Tutor meetings in order to comply with UKVI requirements.