This handbook provides you with information that you will need on your course. You should find it helpful when you first start, when you are preparing for assessment and at any time that you need help or advice in connection with your studies here. You will also receive a Module Handbook for each module you study on your course. Whilst studying for the M.Sc. Information & Technology (IPOS or any of the four routes), you will be expected to persevere in your learning process, engage with all your modules and have fun in learning new technologies.

Masters courses are very challenging and require your fullest commitment because the end result is extremely rewarding. The course team is looking forward to working with you this year and we hope that your time studying with us at Leeds Beckett University is both enjoyable and successful.

On behalf of our University and the whole course team I would like to wish you well in your studies.

It gives me great pleasure to welcome you to the School of Built Environment, Engineering and Computing.

Whether you are joining us as a new student or returning to continue your studies, and whether your course is on-campus, distance learning, degree apprenticeships or you are on one of our UK and overseas collaborative and franchise courses, we hope you will enjoy your experience and find your studies interesting, challenging and relevant to your development and future career plans.

Our aim is to provide students with a research informed, innovative and relevant curriculum that is linked to current industry practices and standards. Our courses are highly valued by employers, professional bodies and other stakeholders. Our School has a strong tradition of delivering programmes that provide students with the opportunity for academic and practical experience. This approach, coupled with our close involvement with employers, produces graduates who are highly regarded in the workplace.

Through our approach to student support and to teaching and learning we aim to place you, our students and apprentices, at the heart of everything we do. You will experience a diverse range of teaching approaches. We also use a variety of different methods of assessment and attach considerable importance to providing you feedback on your assessments.

As a School we strive to be student-centred and value your opinions and feedback. We want to hear about the things you enjoy and that you think we do well, but also want to know when you think there are ways in which we can improve your experience. There are many ways in which you can provide feedback including through your student academic representatives, through written or on-line module evaluation feedback forms and through student open meetings, forums with staff and student representative meetings with me.

We maintain a strong commitment to our undergraduate and postgraduate programmes and our facilities are well equipped for each major area of our course provision. Our Built Environment, Planning, Geography and Civil and Building Services Engineering courses are situated in the heart of the City at Northern Terrace Building, with the Computing and Electrical and Electronic Engineering courses located in Leighton Building at our Headingley Campus.

If you are studying on campus, where possible, the majority of your teaching will take place at the School's buildings; however, some teaching sessions may be scheduled in other buildings on our City Campus and Headingley Campus. The City Campus library is located in the Leslie Silver Building, which is adjacent to Northern Terrace, while the James Graham Building houses the library at our Headingley Campus.

I wish you every success for this academic year.

Professor Akintola Akintoye, Dean of School

Leeds Beckett Students' Union (LBSU) is led by students for students! Their mission is to make your uni life better! Your Student Officer Team is elected by you to lead the Students' Union into the academic year. They represent all Leeds Beckett students and campaign for the changes you want to see in the university and beyond. They do this by representing your interests, giving you the chance to socialise and meet new people, hosting CV-boosting opportunities, and providing advice and support when you need it most. Shape your own experience by submitting your thoughts through your Course Rep, or if you'd like to influence the Students' Union's policy stance on particular issues or share ideas for improving the student experience across the University, submit your ideas on the Have Your Say platform, which is designed to make change happen! Below you'll find information on a few of their services but if you've any questions, please feel free to get in touch.

Silas Ozoya, your Academic Experience Officer, also wanted to say a few words to introduce himself: "Hey There! I'm Silas, your Academic Experience Officer. It's my job to ensure your academic experience at Leeds Beckett is the best it can be! We're a friendly and open-minded bunch at LBSU, so don't hesitate to get in touch with us! I'm looking forward to meeting you very soon!"

Contact LBSU at:

Email: lbsu-welcome@leedsbeckett.ac.uk

Phone: 0113 812 8400

Website: www.leedsbeckettsu.co.uk

1. Following the lifting of all pandemic restrictions and advice from the Department for Education, we currently anticipate that no social distancing measures will be in place on campus during the 2023/24 academic year, enabling a normal on-campus experience. Our aim is to ensure that our students experience Leeds Beckett University, our courses, campuses, facilities and services to the fullest extent possible, while maintaining an environment where students and staff feel safe.
2. In all cases, the health and safety of students and staff is our priority and we will continue to follow guidance from the UK Health Security Agency, the Department for Education and all other recognised government agencies (such as the Office for Students) in full and keep matters under close review at all times. The advice and restrictions may change before and/or during the academic year, either nationally or in response to local conditions and rates of infection and include the need for social distancing measures and other restrictions. Our flexible delivery model allows us to revert to a blended and/or remote delivery model if this becomes necessary. In a worst case scenario it is possible our campuses may need to close.
3. In the event that delivery is restricted as a consequence of pandemic restrictions, we will keep you informed of planned changes as they arise, to ensure you are provided with accurate information.

Dr Sanela Lazarevski

S.Lazarevski@leedsbeckett.ac.uk

0113 812 0000

Vanessa Melara
Course Administrator

T: 0113 8124789
E: V.Melara@leedsbeckett.ac.uk

Karen Fisher, Catherine Parkin, Maria Simoes, Jennie Winterburn

Email: beeclibrary@leedsbeckett.ac.uk

The contact details of other key services, such as Student Advice, Disability Advice, Student Wellbeing, the Library, Student Money, Careers, Students' Union Advice Service and Students' Union Student Voice Team can be found on the Students web page.

Academic and administrative staff at our University use your student email address to contact you. It is important that you check this account regularly. You can forward emails from your student email address to a preferred personal email address, however, quarantine and spam filters needed by our University mean that emails sent from external email addresses may be delayed, blocked or deleted. It is therefore important that your student email address is the only email address that you use to contact University staff. Information on how to access your student email address can be found on the Library Student IT Support page (http://libguides.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/it_support/office365/outlook)

MS Teams is part of the Office 365 suite used by staff and students for communication and collaboration:

• Access via MyBeckett on University devices as well as on personal mobiles via a free downloadable app.
• Participate in online meetings and video conferencing in groups or one-to-one.
• Work on shared content, ideas, projects and online learning.
• Utilise breakout rooms to create more dynamic sessions

Further information is available on the Library's MS Teams FAQ web page.

Your course team will advise how Skype for Business will be used on your course and make guidance available as required.

The University’s standard term dates are available on our Academic Calendars web page.

Taught sessions, both mandatory and optional, will be scheduled and included in your online timetable. Depending on your course, this may also include scheduled online teaching and learning sessions where student engagement is required at a specified time or tutor pre-recorded lectures.

Normally, timetables will be made available to continuing students on 31^st July and during induction week for new students via:

1. The Student Portal (MyBeckett)
2. The Leeds Beckett app

You should discuss any difficulties relating to your engagement with timetabled sessions with your Course Administrator.

The aims of the programme are to:

1.To facilitate the provision of an individual learning experience within the themes of Information and Technology for each student that fosters engagement, promotes and enhances independent study and life-long learning.

2.To maintain a high quality, comprehensive and coherent IT curriculum informed by research and practice which enhances each participant's career prospects.

3.To develop professionals with a sound understanding of the field under study and a critical awareness of current issues, who are able to adopt appropriate research strategies, and are informed of the wider contextual issues.

4.To enable the widest variety of people to benefit from engagement with postgraduate education in IT.

5.To provide postgraduate learning opportunities which are relevant and accessible to people and organisations regionally, nationally and internationally.

6.To enable students (by option) to undertake one of the specialist routes identified within the area of Information and Technology curriculum to advance their knowledge in that area.

On this course students will be assessed through a broadly even mix of coursework and examinations. There is a major independent study module which will require the production of a dissertation of 10,000 - 15,000 words for product based dissertations (15,000 - 20,000 words for empirical based dissertations). There is a mix of examinations, demonstrations, portfolio, viva and team-based assessments based on the modules studied.

Please note the exam/assessment periods in the academic calendar and make sure that you are available during those periods. Further details of your schedule of examinations can be found on your timetable once the examination schedule is released. Coursework submission deadlines can normally be found on MyBeckett, on course noticeboards or in individual Module Handbooks/other module guides.

Disabled students requiring adjustments to assessments/examinations should contact Disability Advice as soon as possible. We can only guarantee that adjustments can be put in place if students have contacted us by the following deadlines:

Semester 1 - 10th November 2023

Semester 2 - 8th March 2024

Contact us:

Email: disabilityadvice@leedsbeckett.ac.uk

Tel: 0113 812 5831

Website: https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/student-information/disability-advice/

It is important for your progression and achievement that you submit all work for all assignments in a timely manner. It is also important that you keep copies of all work submitted until after you have graduated. You should also keep any receipts confirming the submission of assignments. In the event of your submitted work being lost you may be required to produce a copy of the work and submission receipt. If you are unable to do so, your work will not be marked.

It is important to note that submitting all assignments is a requirement of your course. Should you experience extenuating circumstances which prevent you from submitting on time please make yourself aware of the Mitigation and Extenuating Circumstances process. Without any form of extenuating circumstances, standard penalties apply for late submission of assessed work. Full details of the penalties for late submission of course work are available in section 3 of the Academic Regulations at https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/our-university/public-information/academic-regulations/. Please check the penalties that apply to this course as some Professional, Statutory and Regulatory Body requirements may mean that different penalties apply.

If you have been recommended 'flexibility around deadlines' as a reasonable adjustment in a Reasonable Adjustment Plan, your Course Administrator will be able to advise you of the process.

You may be required to submit your written work via Turnitin; further information on Turnitin is available here: http://libguides.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/mybeckett/turnitin

Assessed work will normally be returned with appropriate feedback within four weeks of your submission. Each Module Handbook will provide you with specific guidelines on how and when you will receive feedback on your assessments. All modules provide plenty of feed feedback opportunities. The practical nature of some of the coursework allows demonstration of assessment work to be incorporated into the assessment e.g. presentations and demonstrations of products developed. This supports development of communication skills for the student and allows in depth questioning on the product and its development. It is also an opportunity for immediate feedback by the tutor.

Students are encouraged to obtain formative feedback of assessments from their tutors and some modules have a suggested submission date for formative submissions via the VLE for more extensive written feedback. This can particularly support the development of academic report writing skills although the level of support offered has to be balanced against the requirement for more self-direction in the later levels of the course.

Written feedback for summative assessments is given against the defined assessment criteria (available to the students via the VLE), feedback would usually be provided electronically although students are encouraged to discuss their feedback with the module tutors.

Results from module assessments are available on the Results Online system: www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/studenthub/results-online.htm.

Results will appear within Results Online five working days after the date of the Progression and Award Board meeting (the meeting where your end of level outcome will be decided) or the Module Board meeting (the meeting where modular outcomes are decided).

If you are unsure about when you might receive your results or have queries relating to your results, you should contact your Course Administrator.

The University recognises that, from time to time, students may encounter issues which may prevent them from being able to submit or take assessment. Where this is the case, students may be able to submit their 'extenuating circumstances' for consideration. Please see the Mitigation and Extenuating Circumstances web page for further information.

If you have not passed a module at the first attempt you will be eligible for re-assessment. See your Module Handbook for details of the relevant re-assessment process (e.g., whether it is coursework, an examination, a presentation or other form of assessment/when it will take place/what the deadline is). You will be advised via Results Online of your options for re-assessment. You are advised to contact your Course Director, Course Administrator or Academic Advisor for any necessary clarification.

Details about our Appeals process can be found on the appeals web page.

Academic integrity means intellectual honesty and is part of good academic practice. Further information can be found on our academic integrity web page.

Our teaching methods, curriculum and assessments impart students with sophistication in independent critical thinking, knowledge contextualisation and professionalism. Our assessments give students opportunities to engage in critical thinking and self-direction while addressing problems similar to the ones faced in industry. The 'hands-on' teaching approach in most modules allow students to select and apply specialist skills to various contexts. Students are supported within an inclusive learning environment, which recognise, accommodates and meets the learning needs of all our students.

For each module students will receive a tutorial or practical lab-based session(s). These are supplemented with a programme of guest speakers and industry led seminars. In addition, all staff provide weekly drop-in slots for students who need personalised learning support.

The module materials and support provided will encourage deep learning, the focus of which should support educational gain, as well as educational performance. Deep learning on this level includes reflecting upon, synthesising, applying, critically evaluating and analysing, all an integral part of the course and its assessments. There are also opportunities for considering research papers, articulating and critiquing different philosophies and research papers through- core and elective modules. Challenging and industry related tasks will stretch students' capabilities and actively engage them in applying skills and knowledge in their future employment.

The University expects you to attend and contribute fully to all mandatory sessions on your timetable as set out in your student contract. Engagement in your lectures, seminars and practicals is an important part of your learning - contributing both to the University community and the learning experience of your fellow students on the course. This includes engagement in scheduled virtual learning and activities and meetings in online environments related to your studies.

We monitor your engagement at the University as regular attendance and academic achievement are closely linked. Moreover, by monitoring your engagement and attendance we can identify students who may need our guidance or support at an early stage to help them progress in their studies. This is part of our commitment to ensuring an excellent education and experience and supporting your success at Leeds Beckett.

The University does understand that from time to time there is good reason why you cannot attend a class, and in this instance you must contact your School office to let them know. This may then be recorded as an 'authorised absence'.

Please note that any attendance reports can be shared with you and your Course team. You might be asked to contact your School office so that appropriate academic or pastoral support can be offered, should your attendance record give cause for concern.

Our most important aim is to support your studies, but we are also required to report attendance to various external bodies such as the Student Loan Company and the Home Office. There are measures in place for students who seek to falsely register either their own or fellow students' attendance.

Our Academic Engagement Policy is available under 'Student Contract' on the Student Regulations web page.

Please note that if your course carries professional accreditation or recognition, there may be additional course-specific attendance requirements detailed elsewhere in this handbook.

You must notify your Course Administrator if you are absent (for example for an interview, emergency unforeseen circumstances, or for compassionate leave). If you are going to apply for mitigation you will need to provide written evidence of the reason for your absence.

Please note that if your course carries professional accreditation or recognition, there may be additional course-specific absence reporting requirements detailed elsewhere in this handbook.

If you are unable to study due to Covid-19 (coronavirus) symptoms, please see the guidance available on our Covid-19 web page.

If you are unable to study because of another illness for more than 14 consecutive days (including weekends), you must provide us with a Fit Note.

You can send a digital copy of your Fit Note to your Course Administrator, and then send the original by post.

If you are absent through illness on the day of an examination or assignment deadline and you intend to apply for mitigation, you must also provide us with details as possible. Your submission for mitigation may be made online and the circumstances surrounding it may be self-certified unless your period of absence is prolonged. Generally, all absences of 2 weeks or more will require the submission of verifiable documentary evidence.

For more information on 'fit to sit' and mitigation please visit our Mitigation web page.

Please note that if your course carries professional accreditation or recognition, there may be additional course-specific absence reporting requirements detailed elsewhere in this handbook.

Any Leeds Beckett student who suspects they may have, or have been diagnosed as having a serious infectious disease such as coronavirus, Mumps, TB, measles, meningitis or chicken pox should not attend campus. For notifiable diseases, students should notify their Course Director or Course Administrator as soon as possible giving information regarding which groups of students (and/or colleagues and clients on placements) you have been in contact with and when. For some diseases, such as TB and meningitis, your doctor and our Student Wellbeing Team have a responsibility to notify the West Yorkshire Public Health Protection Team who may also wish to speak to you (or your family) to determine if others require screening or medication. You should follow advice given by the hospital or your GP about when it is safe to return to University. Further information is available on the Student Wellbeing web page.

For guidance on what to do if you have symptoms of Covid-19 (coronavirus), please visit our Covid-19 web page.

If you are thinking about changing course or withdrawing from your course, further information can be found on our Student web pages.

Please be aware that our University fully complies with United Kingdom Visas and Immigration (UKVI) policy at all times. There are legal reporting requirements for all students in the UK on a Student visa, and full attendance is mandatory for all students who have a Student visa. Failure to meet UKVI attendance and engagement requirements could lead to your academic sponsorship being withdrawn and your visa being revoked.Students who hold a Student visa need to be aware of their responsibilities whilst in the UK, please see www.ukcisa.org.uk or our Student Immigration Advice and Compliance web page for full information.

For up-to-date information about visas, immigration issues and other matters relating to international students, please visit the International Students' web pages on the Students website or email the Student Immigration Advice and Compliance Team on siac@leedsbeckett.ac.uk.

You should have been enrolled on the International Student's Academic Introduction module in MyBeckett when you began your studies - if you missed this you can self-enrol and explore the content which introduces you to making the academic transition to a UK university. Please refer to Library page supporting international students

British Computer Society (BCS)

The BCS (The Chartered Institute for IT) accreditation is an indicator of quality of curriculum, teaching and resources. Accredited courses have been independently recognised as having met high standards. BCS accreditation means that the course offers thorough grounding in the subject area and with emphasis on professional aspects to work in the field.

Leeds Beckett is dedicated to improving the employability of our students and one of the ways in which we do this is to support our students to gain valuable work experience through work based placements. Our placement teams have developed strong links with companies, many of whom repeatedly recruit our students into excellent placement roles. Our teams are dedicated to supporting students through every stage of the placement process. For further information, contact our placement teams via our Placement Information web page.

30 weeks, undertaken between taught curriculum and the Dissertation. For September starters only on MSCIT-IPOS route (not pathways).

Students are responsible for obtaining their own placement, with assistance from the University. The locations will vary, dependant on the opportunity.

Leeds Beckett is dedicated to improving the employability of our students and one of the ways in which we do this is to support our students to gain valuable work experience through work based placements. Our placement teams have developed strong links with companies, many of whom repeatedly recruit our students into excellent placement roles.

Students are responsible for obtaining their own placement, with assistance from the University. The locations will vary, dependent on the opportunity.

Our teaching methods, curriculum and assessments impart students with sophistication in independent critical thinking, knowledge contextualisation and professionalism. Our assessments give students opportunities to engage in critical thinking and self-direction while addressing problems similar to the ones faced in industry. Our 'Research Practice' module is core to embedding research ethos and encourages students to apply research skills within other modules and in particular with their dissertation. The 'hands-on' teaching approach in most modules allow students to select and apply specialist skills to various contexts. The course appreciates that Level 7 also needs to address student transition. Therefore, students are supported within an inclusive learning environment, which recognise, accommodates and meets the learning needs of all our students.

High levels of digital literacy will be developed across all modules to ensure confident and critical use of information and digital technologies to enhance academic, personal and professional development. Computer literacy is an integral part of the course developing not only the ability to identify, adopt and use digital devices, applications and services in the fulfilment of activities, but also the ability to develop computer systems to support users in their employment of these tasks and design and manage the networks which support the distribution of these systems, including across global enterprises.

Academic practice will be developed appropriate to the levels and include the ability to study and learn effectively in technology-rich environments.

Information and media literacy will be further developed through the dissertation which assess students on their academic report writing skills ensuring they can not only find, access, evaluate and use digitised resources but also to understand their authority, reliability, provenance and increasing think critically. Students will be equipped with creative and problem-solving skills which will mean they can take an enterprising and resourceful approach to their future careers and learning.

The dissertation will require the implementation of the university ethical process for projects which is an online system of the student classifying the ethical considerations and then gaining ethical approval in order to start their project once initial research has taken place.

You will have opportunities to gain recognition during your time at Leeds Beckett University for the extra activities you do in addition to your studies, including volunteering, student societies, playing in our University sports teams and being a Course Representative.

By joining a society with Leeds Beckett Students' Union, you can make new friends, have fun, try something new and enhance your CV - societies provide a great opportunity to learn new skills and improve your existing ones. It can be difficult to get to know new people at university but don't worry, everyone is in the same boat! Our Leeds Beckett Students' Union believe that joining a student-led society is the best way to meet new people and make lifelong friends. There are so many societies out there - from course-based to hobby-based to religious to political and campaigning. Whether you're just starting out at Leeds Beckett or working on your last year of study, it is never too late to find the right society for you - or start one yourself!

Course-based societies are a great way to meet people on your course, expand your networks and celebrate your achievements together such as end of year Society Balls. If you have a great idea for a society, we can help you get it up and running. There are resources and support available for all societies - including funding to help make your society goals a reality. For more information on starting your own society, visit: leedsbeckettsu.co.uk/societies/create.

If you have a question or a problem relating to your course, your Course Administrator is there to help you. Course Administrators work closely with academic staff and can make referrals to teaching staff or to specialist professional services as appropriate. They can give you a confirmation of attendance letter, and a transcript. You may also like to contact your Course Rep or the Students' Union Advice team for additional support with course-related questions.

Your Academic Advisor will be an academic member of staff who teaches you on your course. Your Course Director will make sure that you are given the contact details of your Academic Advisor at the beginning of each year, usually in your course induction. Further details on the role of your Academic Advisor are available on the Academic Advisor web page.

If you need support, but you're not sure where to go, your Student Advice Team are here to help. The team are an essential part of your Student Support Network and are dedicated to ensuring you can access the advice and support you need, when you need it most.

Student Advice can also help in the practical elements of university. The team will produce your first campus card and assist you in replacing your campus card if needed throughout your time at Leeds Beckett. They can provide Confirmation of Enrolment and Bank Letters for our current students and full or partial transcripts for our graduates and fully enrolled students.

If you need help with more complex queries or concerns, our trained Student Life Advisers offer 1-1 appointments, providing a safe, confidential, and non-judgemental space to talk about your circumstances and identify support that you can access both within and outside of the university.

To contact the team, or to arrange an appointment, visit The Student Advice webpage for full details.

The Student Voice & Insight team at LBSU works alongside the elected Academic Experience Officer to effectively represent students' academic interests.

We provide support, training and ongoing development to over 1,000 Course Representatives, Postgraduate Research Reps, Student Community Leaders and Global Majority Student Ambassadors who represent you whilst you study at Leeds Beckett; and facilitate the collection of student feedback on your academic experience.

Unsure who your Course Rep is? Maybe you're interested in becoming a Course Rep or have feedback about your academic experience? Get in touch at:

- Email: studentvoice@leedsbeckett.ac.uk
- Telephone: 0113 812 8400
- Website: leedsbeckettsu.co.uk/your-voice

You can find information and resources online through the Support and Opportunities tabs in MyBeckett. In the Support tab, you can find details of a range of services that provide academic and personal support. These include Student Advice, Library Services, the Students' Union, Student Money, Disability Advice, Student Wellbeing, Student Immigration Advice and Compliance and Accommodation. There is also an A-Z of Support Services, and access to online appointments/registration.

In the Opportunities tab, you can explore the options you have for jobs, work placements, volunteering, and a wide range of other opportunities. For example, you can find out here how to get help with your CV, prepare for an interview, get a part-time job or a voluntary role, take part in an international project, or join societies closer to home.

If you have a disability, long-term physical or mental health condition, or a specific learning difference, we believe this should never be a barrier to studying at our University.

Please get in touch with us as soon as possible so we can ensure everything is in place before your course starts.

What should I do next?

Register with us

• We will ask you to provide evidence of your disability, usually from a health professional or educational psychologist. Don't worry if you haven't got any, we can support you with this.
• Usually, we will arrange an appointment with your Disability Adviser to discuss any adjustments you might need and support you in applying for Disabled Students' Allowances (DSA).
• We will work with you to ensure any adjustments you need are available so you can fully participate on your course.

Please watch this short video about how the Disability Advice Team can work with you.

Disabled students can also access the Disability Resource Areas in each library and the support provided by the Library Learning Support Officer. More information is available on the Library website.

What is Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA)?

DSA is government funding to help with the cost of any additional support you might need while studying, such as: one-to-one support, specialist equipment (including useful software) and travel. For more information visit our website.

Contact Us:

Email: disabilityadvice@leedsbeckett.ac.uk

Tel: 0113 812 5831

Website: https://www.leedsbeckett.ac.uk/student-information/disability-advice/

The Library

The Library offers 24/7 support for your studies. You can access thousands of resources via MyBeckett or the Library website which also provides full details of all our services.

Library Academic Support

The Library Academic Support Team can help you develop your academic skills such as critical thinking, academic writing and analysing data, and research skills such as how to find, use and evaluate information for your studies. The team liaises with your lecturers to provide the information resources you need for your subject and to arrange academic skills sessions to support you in your studies.

The team maintains a number of websites and modules to support your learning:

• In your Subject guide, you'll find a variety of information resources which have been selected as a good starting point for research in that area. These are available on the Skills and Subject Support web page or via My Beckett.
• On the Skills for Learning website, you'll find online resources covering topics such as essay writing, research and time management, English Language and academic English plus information to help you reference and avoid plagiarism, alongside details of workshops that are designed to help you succeed in your assessments. The Skills for Learning website can be found on the Library website or via My Beckett.
• LBU Study Smart is a module in MyBeckett which introduces you to the key skills and services you'll need to study successfully at Leeds Beckett. There are also additional modules you can take as you move through your course to help you transition between study levels. The Academic Integrity Tutorial is a module in MyBeckett which introduces you to academic integrity at LBU and will help you develop the skills you need to attain good academic practice, including avoiding plagiarism and academic referencing.
• The Academic Integrity Tutorial is a module in MyBeckett which introduces you to academic integrity at LBU and will help you develop the skills you need to attain good academic practice, including avoiding plagiarism and academic referencing.

Library and Student IT Advice Service

The Library and Student IT Advice Service team can answer your queries on borrowing, finding information, passwords, multi-factor authentication (MFA) ,Office 365, online meetings, saving your work, MyBeckett and more:

• online (including 24/7 chat) via the Contact Us web page
• by phone - 0113 812 1000 (24/7 IT support)
• face-to-face in either of our Libraries, check Library opening times for details of when staff are available

They also have a wide range of short tutorials available on the Library's YouTube channel.

Wi-Fi

Wi-Fi on the University campus is provided by eduroam, a secure wireless network, which also allows you Wi-Fi access if you visit other universities. To connect:

1. Select eduroam from available Wi-Fi
2. Your login details are:

Username followed by @leedsbeckett: e.g. c1234567@leedsbeckett.ac.uk

Password: your normal university password

*Android Users: Select under Phase 2 Authentication - MS-CHAPv2

Help is available on the Library's Wi-Fi web page.

Microsoft Office 365

You are provided with free access to Office 365 and the latest version of Office can be downloaded from the IT tab in MyBeckett or from office.com. All students who are registered for a qualification at Leeds Beckett University are eligible and you can use the subscription for the duration of your course. For instructions and more information, please see the Office 365 support page.

OneDrive

OneDrive Leeds Beckett is your individual file storage with 1TB of storage space. With OneDrive you can access and share your files across your devices. This is accessible on University PCs and off-campus through Office 365 portal. See the Saving your Work pages on the Library website for more information.

Leeds Beckett RemoteApp

The Leeds Beckett RemoteApp gives you access to a range of specialist software for your course on your personal devices. See the RemoteApp page on the Library website for more information.

Media Equipment - free loans

You can borrow high-end Media Equipment for free. Browse, reserve and collect equipment ranging from GoPros to Remote Presenters from the ground floor of the Shelia Silver and Headingley Libraries. Further information is available on the Media Equipment web page.

University life can have its ups and downs, and occasionally you may find yourself in need of advice. That's where we come in. Here at the SU we have a free advice service that is here just for you, the students at Leeds Beckett University.

The Advice Service at LBSU is a confidential, non-judgmental service run by professional advisers.

The service is independent from the University, so if you are having any problems with your course you can talk confidentially with us - although we do work with the University to find the best solutions, we would only contact them with your permission. We can advise on a range of topics including all aspects of the University Regulations and Procedures, housing issues and finance issues. We can guide you through any processes or procedures.

We're here to help you with any questions or problems you might have while you are studying at Leeds Beckett.

Get more information at www.leedsbeckettsu.co.uk/advice.

MyBeckett, the portal and virtual learning environment provides:

• access to your modules and timetables;

• your reading lists and email account;

• your personal storage area on our University IT servers;

• information on where to look for academic or personal support (Support tab);

• information on opportunities such as jobs, careers, part-time work, placements and volunteering (Opportunities tab)

• access to Library and student IT advice

Further information and support for using MyBeckett can be found on the MyBeckett Support Pages.

The academic part of the faculty has its own dedicated IT support team developing and supporting its own Network servers, desktop PCs and software to provide a customised service that is needed to support a highly innovative, technical and changing IT infrastructure that is needed to support the academic needs. The computer labs are supported by technical staff in the Help Desk from 8:30 AM to 9:00 PM Mon to Thurs and 8:30 AM to 5:00 PM Fri and 10:00am to 5:00 PM on Sundays during term time.

Of particular relevance to the course are three labs with 25 PCs with dual login. This allows access to the standard applications used in the school with the other login connecting to a dedicated sandboxed network supporting the Computer Network, Operating Systems and Communications on the course. Other labs available for the students on this course are 8 x labs of 25 HP Compaq DC7800 Core 2 Processors 3Ghz, 3GB Memory, 250Gb SATA drive, DVD +/- rewriters. There are 3 x labs of 25 Apple I-macs with the following spec 24" screen, 2.8Ghz Intel Core 2 Duo, 320Gb SATA, 4gb Memory are also available.

Library Resources

The Library purchases a range of quality electronic and print resources to support the curriculum, numbering over almost 400,000 items for 2012-13. Academic Librarians are responsible for the identification and selection of materials to support courses and research in their subject area. Many information and learning resources are acquired in electronic format where available, enabling simultaneous multi-user access 24/7 from both on and off campus. The Library has access to many bibliographic and full text databases. The Resource Discovery Tool, "Discover" supplied by EBSCO, provides single search access for users to the whole range of information resources available through the University Library services. Other Information Databases in this subject area are web of Knowledge, JStor, ProQuest Technology, IEEE Xplore Digital Library etc..

The Library also works with other libraries to enable access for Leeds Beckett students and staff. For example, SCONUL Access provides access to resources in over 140 institutions across the country. An Interlibrary Loan service is available to staff, research students, taught masters students and undergraduates working on dissertations to facilitate access to information resources not held by The Library.

We are committed to working in partnership with you and the Students' Union to provide you with an inclusive, safe and engaging learning environment which is conducive to study for all our students and our staff. An important element of your time studying with us is your engagement in developing your learning. Your engagement and attendance on your course enables you to further your learning and supports your achievement, course completion and aspirations for the future. There is an expectation that students will attend, engage in their learning and submit on time for assessment. We provide support for you to maximise your time studying with us and to develop your learning, skills and abilities to support you in your chosen career path.

We seek active participation by all our students in the continuous enhancement of our courses and through our monitoring, annual review and enhancement processes. These are formal processes used by our University for assuring the academic standards and quality of your course and its continuous improvement. These processes utilise your feedback, External Examiners' reports, feedback from staff and others, data relating to student outcomes on the course and student surveys to reflect on areas of good practice and areas for further enhancement. We invite all students to participate in a range of opportunities to provide us with feedback on your course and modules. This may include discussions with staff, focus groups, and meetings (e.g. with Course Representatives or with staff) and formalised student surveys e.g. mid module reviews, end of module evaluations and specific course or other surveys such as the Student Barometer, National Student Survey and Graduate Outcomes Survey. We utilise the outcomes of these surveys to benchmark our courses nationally and to inform annual course enhancements.

Informal feedback is also welcome at any time either via your Academic Advisor or module tutor or via your Course Representative. Our partnership with you enables us together to make the most of your learning experience with us and to enhance the quality and reputation of your course. You can find out what actions have been taken in response to your feedback through your Course Representative, the Students' Union, your tutors or through the Library.

Course Representatives (Reps) at undergraduate and postgraduate taught levels are student volunteers who represent you in formal and informal meetings with the University, and follow up on actions that have occurred because of student feedback. You can become a Course Rep, volunteering to represent the views of your peers in order to improve students' academic experience.

In the first few weeks of your time at Leeds Beckett, your Course Director will facilitate an opportunity to appoint Course Reps on your course.

LBSU provides support, training and ongoing development for Course Reps and supports their engagement in enhancement activities throughout the academic year.

Being a Course Rep provides you with an opportunity to enhance your own learning and the development of relevant professional and employability skills alongside your studies. As a Course Rep you would play an important role in:

• Acting as a point of contact and advocate for students on your course and in supporting their active engagement.
• Gathering feedback from students on your course to inform enhancements to the quality of your course and the student experience.
• Facilitating good communication between students and staff on the course.
• Working with the Course Director, members of the course team and the Students' Union to enhance your course.
• Facilitating and engaging in meetings about your course; and
• Being an ambassador for your course.

Further information about being a Course Representative is available at:

• The Students web pages
• Leeds Beckett Students' Union
• The University Academic Regulations

We invite all students to participate in a range of opportunities to provide us with feedback on your course and modules. This may include discussions with staff, focus groups, and meetings (e.g. with Course Representatives or with staff) and formalised student surveys e.g. mid module reviews, end of module evaluations and specific course or other surveys such as the Student Barometer, National Student Survey and the Graduate Outcomes Survey.

We are committed to providing a high quality experience for all our students. We welcome comments and compliments from students, and find them valuable for on-going improvements to our provision. Comments and compliments about your course can be raised with your Course Representative or directly with your Course Director or Academic Advisor.

If you have a specific complaint about an act or omission of our University, you may be able to make a complaint under the Student Complaints Procedure. In the first instance, you should raise the matter as soon as possible with the member of staff most directly concerned, or with the person who can best resolve it. If this does not resolve the matter, or if the complaint is too serious to be addressed in this way, then you should make a formal complaint in writing. Information about how to make a complaint, including the student complaints procedure and a complaints form, is available on the Students web pages.

Leeds Beckett University

Part-time delivery is usually at half the intensity of the FT equivalent course, although there may be flexibility to increase your pace of study to shorten the overall course duration. Some modules may be delivered in a different sequence to that defined within this information set, but the modules offered within each level are consistent.

Course fees and additional course costs are confirmed in your offer letter. Course fees are presented to you annually through the online enrolment process. Please visit our Course and Tuition Fees Payment web pages for further information. Ongoing queries relating to additional course costs may be discussed with your Course Administrator.

Alternatively, you can contact any of the following teams:

For Student Finance related fee queries: studentfunding@leedsbeckett.ac.uk

Other fee related queries: fees@leedsbeckett.ac.uk

Payments: incomes@leedsbeckett.ac.uk

Key University regulations and policies can be accessed on the following web pages:

• Academic Regulations (including assessment regulations) are available on our Academic Regulations web page
• The Student Contract is available on our Student Regulations web page
• The Student Charter is available on our Academic Regulations web page (Section 20)

Other Student regulations and University policies, including Safety, Health and Wellbeing policies, are available on our Student Regulations web page

You should also familiarise yourself with Support Report Respect where students and colleagues who are victims of any form of bullying, harassment or sexual misconduct, can access support, advice and guidance.

For advice on University regulations and policies, students should contact the Students' Union Advice Service.

There are no additional or non-standard regulations which relate to your course.

The External Examiner assures that you are assessed fairly in relation to other students on the same course and also that the standard of your own award is comparable to similar courses taken by students in other higher education institutions within the UK. The External Examiner(s) provide an annual report for your course. External Examiner reports are available on our External Examiner Reports web page, which is accessible via the Course Information link on the Students home page.

Dr Tomasz Bosakowski
Senior Lecturer in Computer Networks and Security,
Staffordshire University