Making a one-to-one appointment

Please note

Our advisors are currently working remotely, so appointments for students are available remotely via Zoom or email. In order to make most efficient use of staff time and reduce the wait time for appointments, the ASC allocate one skills advisor to one primary skill need (i.e. writing skills or referencing or note taking). Appointments are available year round with the exception of University closed dates and bank holidays

We offer confidential individual appointments for undergraduates, postgraduate taught and MRes students (for writing skills). Book using the form at the bottom of the page, and see our guidelines for more information about your appointment.

If you are a Birmingham Scholar, please use the booking form on your Canvas course.

Appointments are available throughout the academic year from Monday to Friday 09:00 to 17:00 UK time, with a reduced service outside of term time. We can offer you four appointments per academic year. Please note that direct emails to ASC staff, especially if they involve lengthy queries such as detailed referencing or literature searching points, may count towards your four appointments.

Online drop-ins

We host a weekly online drop-in session on a Wednesday afternoon (14:00-15:00) during term time, resuming on Wednesday 12 October 2022. It is designed as a place to receive quick advice relating to academic skills. Enrol on our canvas course to access the Zoom link. Please note that this term we are alternating between offering advice on research and writing skills. Do check the schedule for what is being covered each week.

What we can help with

Study strategies
searching for high quality sources for your assignments
writing skills
referencing
understanding and building on feedback.

For more help with understanding and acting on feedback, see our Canvas course.

We can only read one paragraph of work that has not yet been submitted or assessed. We can look at an assignment plan, and discuss your general approach to the piece of work.

If you send us work that has already been assessed, with your tutor’s feedback, we can read the marked assignment and help you to reflect on the feedback you’ve received and how you can build on it in the future.

For help with Office, SPSS, Photoshop, etc. please contact the Digital Skills team.

What we can't help with

See guidelines before booking. This will help you understand what we can do, and helps us to identify the strategies that you need to develop.

We are here to develop your skills rather than check your work.

If you need help with finding information, we cannot provide a final, definitive literature search strategy.

Please note that we do not provide a proofreading service and are unable to read whole drafts before they have been handed in.

We are also unable to provide comments or support on work being submitted for online assessment. For support in preparing for online assessment, see our Canvas course.

English language support for international students can be accessed through the Birmingham International Academy.

How soon you will have an appointment

We get very busy during term-time, so we recommend booking advance, especially if you need help with a particular assignment.

Please provide at least three possible appointment times in the form below and choose one primary skill need eg. writing skills, referencing, or note-taking.

Any forms submitted after 16:00 on a Friday will not be looked at until the following Monday.

If you wish to submit more information in addition to your form, please email asc@contacts.bham.ac.uk

Students in Dubai

If you are a student in Dubai, please use the form on your Dubai Library pages. Appointments are available Monday to Friday 10.00-16.00 UK time (13:00 to 19:00 Dubai time) via Zoom. Please book five working days in advance wherever possible. Due to demand for the service it is important to plan appointments in advance.

Students in Singapore

Appointments are available Monday to Friday 09:00 to 12:00 UK time (17:00 to 21:00 Singapore time) via Zoom. Please book five working days in advance wherever possible. Due to demand for the service it is important to plan appointments in advance.

Postgraduate researchers

If you are a postgraduate research student (i.e. MRes or PhD), contact our Research Skills team, although we provide writing skills support for MRes students.

Booking form

Name

First name

Last name
Preferred name and/or pronoun
Student ID number
University email address
School/department and course
Are you currently studying on the Elizabeth Garrett Anderson programme?
YesNo

If yes, please send your query to hsmc-library@contacts.bham.ac.uk
Your year of study
Brief outline of primary skills support required e.g. writing skills, referencing, searching library resources, time management, revision and exams skills, reading and note taking, systematic/literature reviews
Essay/assignment title if applicable.
Please give at least three dates and times when you are available to attend. Please note that we require at least five working days' notice due to significant demand for the service.
Where did you find out about us?
Is there anything else you’d like us to know before we meet?

Privacy policy

The data collected on this form will be processed in accordance with our Data Protection Policy. Please contact Library Services if you have any queries or need to change or amend your details.