Welcome to the Sheffield Hallam Student Handbook.

We hope that your time as a student at the University is successful and enjoyable. This handbook explains key university information.

1. Introduction
2. Student charter
3. Student code of conduct
4. Support provided by the University
   
5. Learning resources and support at your library
6. The Students' Union and representation system
7. Student voice
8. Good academic practice
9. University policies and procedures
10. Health and safety
11. Technical operations, resources and services
12. University terms and conditions

1. Introduction

Your Sheffield Hallam student handbook gives you a formal announcement about the University’s codes, regulations, policies and procedures, and signposts relevant contact details and web links where you can find out more information.  It is essential, and your responsibility, to read it.  This handbook sits alongside your course induction and other guides available to you as part of your course.

2. Student charter

Our student charter was developed jointly by the University and Sheffield Hallam Students' Union.  It is an example of the working partnership which exists between our staff, students, and student representatives. 

3. Student code of conduct

On and off campus and during vacation you are a Sheffield Hallam Student.  You contribute to a safe and supportive environment by following the Student Code of Conduct.

The University has formal Student Disciplinary Regulations and Procedures.  These apply to individual students or to a specific group of students who fail to follow the Student Code of Conduct. 

Students and staff can raise a concern about the behaviour of a student by emailing the Student Policy and Compliance team at studentconduct@shu.ac.uk or via the online form at Report and Support.

4. Support provided by the University

MyHallam is your student portal and how you can access information to support your studies and wellbeing.  It has many helpful resources for studying at university.  To access Blackboard, email, My Student Record and timetables, you will need your Sheffield Hallam IT account username and password.

Hallam Help is your first point of contact when you need advice and support about your studies and life at university or help to understand Sheffield Hallam’s services and processes.  You can find the answers to frequently asked questions online or you can contact Hallam Help directly via live chat service, phone, email or in person at one of the campus help points.  You can also book and manage your appointments online.  When you may need specialist help, Hallam Help will signpost you to it.

All students are allocated a named Student Support Adviser (SSA) an Academic Adviser and an Employability Adviser to provide a seamless support offer.

Here at Hallam, we have a Sheffield Hallam at Risk Pathway (SHARP) in place which enables us to offer a holistic support offer to students in exceptional circumstances.  This includes students who are at risk to themselves and others, and who have complex support needs which cannot be managed through our standard student support model.  

5. Learning resources and support at your library

Your library offers a comprehensive range of resources and support for your study, assessments, and independent learning.

The two campus libraries are open 24/7 and offer you a choice of walk-up and bookable individual and group learning spaces.

Library online is your platform to access a huge collection of online resources, including ebooks, journals and databases. Reading Lists Online provides you with access to your directed course and module reading. The campus library bookshelves are open for browsing and borrowing is self-service. You can also make requests for books and other resources that we don't have available already.

Librarians and Skills Advisors are available to support the development of your study skills and information skills. The library’s Skills Centre provides access to essential self-help resources, one to one appointments and group sessions.

You can ask questions 24/7 via Library Chat.

6. The Students' Union and representation system

Sheffield Hallam Students' Union helps students to feel supported and represented during their time at University, all students are members.  Via groups and events, you can contribute to the local community through volunteering opportunities across the city and make lifelong friends by taking part in the many activities provided.  The Students’ Union Advice Centre offers free, confidential, and independent advice to all students. 

7. Student voice

Sheffield Hallam uses student feedback to improve your education and student experience. Ideas, comments, and requests are collected continually through a variety of channels including, surveys, focus groups and course and department reps.

The Students' Union and the University work together to ensure that your views are represented.  Any student can volunteer to be a Course Representative or apply to be a Department Representative, helping to ensure that your academic experience meets your expectations, and encouraging community and dialogue among students and University staff. 

8. Good academic practice

At Sheffield Hallam, we seek to uphold the fundamental values of honesty, trust, fairness, respect, responsibility, and courage outlined by the International Centre for Academic Integrity.  In practice, what this means, at the very least, is that:

• you ensure work is your own
• you acknowledge explicitly any material or ideas that you include from other sources or creators
• any collaboration is acknowledged
• all your findings, conclusions or data are produced through ethical practice
• you seek to verify the accuracy and reliability of any sources or data you use and share

You can find out more information at our Hallam Digital Skills pages or check out all the opportunities for personal development at The Skills Centre. One way of making sure you are well prepared for your academic work is to complete the exercises in Skills for Study.

Academic misconduct is any attempt to gain an unfair advantage over another student in the completion of an assessment and through an intentional attempt to mislead the examiners.

9. University policies and procedures

Academic appeals

Students can appeal a decision by a Departmental Assessment Board, an Extenuating Circumstances Panel, or an Academic Conduct Panel.  You can submit an appeal if you think:

• There has been an error or irregularity in the assessment process
• That the decision is not in accordance with the approved assessment regulations

You can speak to your Student Support Adviser about appeals. Independent advice is available from the Students Union Advice Centre. If you want to submit an appeal, please download an appeal form.

Assessment regulations

Assessment regulations ensure a consistent approach to assessment and awards across taught and postgraduate research programmes.  Regulations can change during the year. Here is the latest version. You can get familiar with assessment terms using this alphabetical list.

Assessment support policies

Sheffield Hallam aims to provide students with support, to help you to complete your studies as close to your normal course duration as possible.  If you know you will not be able to meet an assessment task submission date and you need extra time you can request to extend a submission deadline (RESD).  If you believe you have been affected by unexpected circumstances outside of your control that had or will have a negative impact on your studies and assessment you can request to repeat an assessment attempt (RRAA).  Here is some student guidance about assessment support.

Attendance and engagement

To ensure students benefit from their teaching and learning opportunities the University has an attendance policy.  This sets out clear expectations about how students will engage, how Sheffield Hallam monitors and supports engagement and what happens if levels of engagement are deemed unsatisfactory.

Audio recording of teaching

Most lectures should already be recorded by your lecturer.  Sheffield Hallam recognises that there may be occasions when any student may need to record other teaching sessions.   When making an audio recording please use the audio recording guidelines

If you need to record a teaching session for a disability-related reason, where other students may not be permitted to do so, you should have this recommendation as a reasonable adjustment in your learning contract.  When making an audio recording please use the audio recording guidelines in conjunction with the recording code of practice. 

Here you can find strategies and templates for taking effective notes.

Equality and diversity

Sheffield Hallam University is committed to advancing equality of opportunity, experience, and outcome, ensuring that students and staff realise their full potential. This is reflected through the University’s values of inclusion and supportiveness, with equality, diversity and inclusion acting as key enablers to the University Strategy. Here is some more information about student policies.

Exam regulations

In advance of taking an exam students should take time to read the University’s examination conduct policy.

Intellectual property

Intellectual property (IP) in universities refers to ideas, materials and data arising from research and innovation projects which can have commercial value, or the potential to attain commercial value. These are the regulations about student intellectual property.

IT

Here are the guidelines for using IT facilities and learning resources. The University provides a wide range of IT support and services. Here is some information about the support for developing your digital skills and the software available for study use.

Library

The Library Code of Conduct applies to all users of Hallam Library and exists to ensure equitable and inclusive access for all.  The code sets out what you can expect from the Library, what is required from you in return, and what happens if you breach the code.

Personal information and data protection

The University is committed to improving educational processes and providing better support to students. We use students’ personal data to enable University staff to identify and communicate with students and to monitor academic progress. As part of this we use digital information, for example access to our libraries and use of online learning resources, to help us offer support to individuals. Further information is available.

Student complaints

Sheffield Hallam has a formal complaints process. Early resolution is encouraged which means in the first instance you should raise issues at the time they arise.  Bring the situation to the attention of the member of staff most directly involved with the concern you have. This may be your Module Leader, Course Leader, Academic Adviser, or Student Support Adviser.

Further information about the policy and how to raise a complaint including the forms you need to submit are available in the Student Complaints Policy and Procedure.

Supporting your capacity to study

The Supporting your Capacity to Study (CTS) procedure is designed to support students with complex health issues, for whom engaging with University life appears to be a challenge. Here are some further details about the policy and the support process overseen by the Supporting your Capacity to Study team. 

10. Health and safety

You can read the University’s health and safety policy and guidance here.

11. Technical Operations, Resources and Services

Technical Operations, Resources and Services (TORS) is made up of highly qualified, specialist and experienced members of technical staff who deliver at elbow support to a vast range of activities across all teaching, research, and commercial activities. TORS are the first point of call for students to understand the practical part of a process or technique or to realise a design.  Specialist facilities include sector leading, state of the art, laboratories, health facilities, workshops, kitchens and restaurants, sports facilities, edit suites and studios.

12. University terms and conditions

The University’s Terms and Conditions and Student Regulations set out the legal relationship between you and the University, known as the Student Contract, including in relation to admissions, assessment, conduct, discipline, fitness to practise, fees, information technology, intellectual property, complaints and appeals, and personal information.  For a summary of the how the key terms in the University’s Terms and Conditions will affect you, download a copy of the Key Terms Summary

The Student Protection Plan sets out what students can expect should a Sheffield Hallam University course, campus or institution close. The purpose of the plan is to ensure that students can continue or complete their studies or can be compensated if this is not possible. The Student Protection Plan is a requirement of the Higher Education regulator, the Office for Students as part of their regulatory framework.