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STUDENTS' MANUAL AND FAQsDepartment of Electronic and Electrical EngineeringUniversity College LondonLast updated: March 2004
Every effort is made to keep the information in this manual correct, but the UCL Regulations and other information described here must always be checked with the UCL Registry. University College London cannot accept any responsibility for the consequences of errors that may be present.
Index1. Introduction
1.1. The UCL Registry links1.2. The UCL web site links1.3. The Departmental web site links
2. Departmental and UCL locations2.1. The Department2.2. The UCL site
3. Communications3.1. Communications in the E&E Engineering department3.2. FAQs about mail and e-mail
4. Degree programmes, course units and academic progression4.1. Overview and aims4.2. Extra-mural year and international year4.3. Programmes and courses4.4. Syllabuses4.5. Progression and degree regulations4.6. FAQs about degrees, courses and progression
5. Course delivery5.1. Lectures and problem classes5.2. Tutorials5.3. Laboratory and computing classes5.4. FAQs about lectures and tutorials, coursework and laboratories
6. Attendance7. Coursework
7.1. Coursework deadlines, submission and returns procedures7.2. Penalties for late submission 7.3. Incomplete coursework7.4. Plagiarism7.5. Mid-sessional tests
8. Projects8.1. Third and fourth year projects8.2. Procedures for dealing with problems
9. Examinations9.1. Examination procedures9.2. The examination grades9.3. Retaking examinations9.4. Examination mark capping9.5. Examination irregularities (cheating)9.6. FAQs about examinations
10. Careers and vacation work10.1. Useful links for vacation placements10.2. Useful links for careers
11. Problems and pitfalls11.1. Personal and financial problems11.2. Academic problems
12. Safety13. Student societies and professional institutions14. Useful UCL contacts15. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
15.1. FAQs general topics15.2. FAQs about mail and e-mail15.3. FAQs about degrees, courses and progression15.4. FAQs about lectures and tutorials, coursework and laboratories15.5. FAQs about examinations
1. IntroductionThis purpose of this manual is to give students in E&E Engineering definitive information about Departmental and University procedures. It also answers several of the most commonly asked questions.
It is recommended that students place a link to this page on the desktop of their personal PCs so that it is readily available when questions arise.
To create the link to the web page using Windows Explorer follow the following steps:
Step 1: Open the page in Windows ExplorerStep 2: In the File menu (top left) select Send >> Shortcut to Desktop
It is also possible to download and save the whole page. Open the page in Windows Explorer and from the File menu select Save As …. . The type of file selected for the Save should be Web Page, HTML Only.
1.1. The UCL Registry links
The definitive source of information and UCL regulations for students is UCL Registry There, it is possible to find the regulations for every aspect of academic life at UCL including:
Term Dates The dates when students are required to attendEnrolment and Student Record Administration e.g. how to notify changes of addressProgramme of Study Information e.g. absence, academic regulations, coursework, changing programmes of studyExaminations and Qualifications e.g. exam entry and re-entry, withdrawal from exams, past papers, exam dates, exam transcriptsTuition FeesFinancial Support and Prizes e.g. hardship funds, hardship loansFacilities, Services and EventsSupport and Welfare e.g. careers service, counselling service, rights and advice, Dean of Students’ officeHealth and SafetyPolicies, Rights and Responsibilities e.g. rules on part time employment, computer use and misuse, complaints procedure
Links to the summary version and the full text version of the Academic Regulations (“Blue Book”) are as follows. It is best to look in the summary first to find out which are the relevant section of the full text.
Blue Book summaryBlue Book full textThe Blue Book states the regulations on the following topics:
Length of study for a full-time undergraduate degree at UCL Minimum number of course-units for a degree Interruption of study Change of course-unit/programme of study Taking the same qualification again Entry to examinations Withdrawal from examinations Resits Illness Debt Appeal Notification of results
1.2. The UCL web site linksThe main UCL web site includes:
AccommodationContactsFacilities e.g. library, language centreInternational Students e.g. immigration, visas and working in the UKMapsRegistryStudy Abroad"Talkabout" - Discussion Forum Shared experiences and hints about finding accommodation, dealing with debtTerm DatesWelfare and SupportUCL Union
Quick Links to:Careers ServiceInformation SystemsLibrary ServicesPast Exam PapersRegistryUCL Union
1.3. The Departmental web site links
The E&E Engineering Departmental web site includes
Directories and people information Telephone ListStaff Email searchStaff telephone search
Discussion forum Minutes from student-staff meetings and responses from lecturers (requires EE password) Services
Computing support pages Electronic teaching laboratories Safety informationWeb Calendar Computer room availability, staff diaries, room bookings (requires EE password)
TimetablesTimetable - Term 1 Weeks 1 to 12Timetable - Term 2 Weeks 13 to 23
Undergraduate informationUndergraduate courses
First and second year Courses on offer, syllabusesThird and fourth year Courses on offer, allowed options, syllabuses
Project information Information on third year projectsThird year projects: Guidelines on third year projectsFourth year projects: Guidelines on fourth year projectsProject abstract submission: Printout standard project abstracts
Laboratory reports, Guidelines and advice in writing undergraduate laboratory class reportsFlemingo Society Information about the Departmental Student Society
2. Departmental and UCL locations
2.1. The DepartmentMap of E&E Engineering
Department of E&E Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London WC1E 7JE
Engineering building is in Torrington Place, the 66-72 Gower Street building annex is in Gower street.
Tutor’s office: Tutors’ and lecturers’ phone numbers and office locations can be found here
E&E Engineering Barlow Room: Engineering Building, 8th floorE&E Engineering Computing laboratory: Engineering Building, 7th floorE&E Engineering Departmental Office: Engineering Building, Room 705 (7th floor)E&E Engineering Marconi Room: Engineering Building, 11th floorE&E Engineering Undergraduate laboratory: Engineering Building, 6th floorE&E Engineering Undergraduate pigeonholes (mail boxes): Engineering Building, 6th floor
E&E Engineering first year lockers (first come-first served, ask in the Faculty Office): Engineering Building, 5th floorE&E Engineering second and third year lockers (first come-first served): Room 302, Gower street buildingE&E Engineering second year lecture room: Room 302, Gower Street BuildingE&E Engineering third year lecture room: Room G02, Gower Street Building
Engineering students’ common room: Engineering Building, 5th floorFaculty Office: Engineering Building, 1st floorFleming lecture theatre: Engineering Building, 1st floorUCL ISD computing cluster: Engineering Building, 5th floor
2.2 The UCL site
Map of Gower Street site
Anatomy Lecture Theatre: Anatomy building on Gower St, entrance marked "Biological Sciences"
AV Hill lecture theatre: First floor, Medical Sciences and Anatomy building. Approach from the Medical Science Arch entrance (near Foster Court), not from the Gower Street entrance.
Cruciform lecture theatre: Basement of Cruciform Building, Gower StreetHaldane Lecture Theatre: MRC Human Biochemical Genetics Unit, Wolfson
House, UCL, 4 Stephenson Way. It is best to cross Euston Road via Euston Square Tube Station, into North Gower Street which is a continuation of Gower Street. Turn first right into Stephenson Way.
Lankester lecture theatre: Ground floor, Medawar Building, next to Foster Court
Directions to rooms used for Computer Science lectures are given here.
3. Communications
3.1 Communications in the E&E Engineering departmentThe channels used for communication with undergraduate students are:
E-mail: E-mail must be checked every day. E-mail must not be abused; abuse will lead to the cancellation of a student’s E&E Engineering computer account.
Web calendar: Social events, coursework deadlines, dates of tests and mid-sessional exams and work target dates are posted in the Departmental web calendar under Services in the main EE web site. An E&E Engineering user name and password are needed.
Internal mail: Undergraduate pigeon holes (mail boxes) are in the 6th floor corridor in the Engineering Building. These pigeonholes are not secure and should not be used for valuable items or important mail.
Notice Board: 7th floor (outside room 705).In writing: Letters may be sent either to students’ home addresses or
to the term-time address; for example, exam results will be mailed by Registry. Students whose addresses have changed should inform Registry.
Discussion Forum: The student-staff Discussion Forum posts the reports, responses and discussions of the student-staff committee. It can be accessed at http://www.ee.ucl.ac.uk>>Discussion Forums. An E&E Engineering user name and password are needed for access.
3.2 FAQs about mail and e-mail
4. Degree programmes, course units and academic progression
4.1 Overview
The MEng programmes require four years of study and may include specialization in years 3 and 4 in either communications engineering or computer science. The MEng programmes on offer are:
Electronic Engineering with Communications EngineeringElectronic Engineering with Computer ScienceElectronic and Electrical EngineeringElectronic and Electrical Engineering (International Programme)
A three year BEng programme is also offered in Electronic and Electrical EngineeringThe first and second year are mandatory and common to all programmes. The programmes are therefore interchangeable until the end of the second year.
4.2 Extra-mural year and international year
Students may spend a year in industry under the Extramural Year scheme, which must be taken in the penultimate year. (A UCL ISD user name and password are need to view the Extramural year scheme page because it is in the UCL Intranet.). The guidelines indicate an extra-mural year on attachment to an organization or institution approved by the School as having a function relevant and suitable to the field of study. For instance, it allows students to take a year in industry in the UK or in another country with an approved company. The proposed programme of work must be approved by the Department and Faculty. One way of finding such opportunities is through the YinI scheme.
It is possible to spend a year as part of a four year programme studying in the USA, Australia or in continental Europe. Visit the Study Abroad web site for further information. The proposed programme of study must be approved by the Department and Faculty. Students taking an international year receive a degree called MEng in Electronic and Electrical Engineering (International Programme). It is not possible, however, to combine an international year with a specialization in communications engineering or computer science.
4.3 Programmes and courses
The MEng and BEng degree programmes and the course components are on-line in the Courses Information pages.
4.4 SyllabusesSyllabuses can be downloaded by right-clicking on the following links and selecting Save Target As ….
First year Second year Third and fourth year
4.5 Progression and degree regulations
Progression through the MEng or BEng programme is covered by the Scheme of Award document published by the E&E Engineering Board of Examiners. A copy is held in the Faculty Office. In outline, the requirements are:
Courses taken:First year – 8 courses each worth one half course unit (c.u.)Second year – 8 courses each worth one half c.uThird year – 6 courses each worth one half c.u. and a project worth one c.uFourth year – 5 courses each worth one half c.u. and a project worth 1.5 c.u
Progression:
To move from first to second year - 3 course units out of a possible total of 4To proceed to the MEng degree - Average of 50% and 7 units out of 8 at the end of second year
To continue with the BEng degree - 6 units out of 8 at the end of second yearTo move from third to fourth year (MEng only) - 10 course units out of a possible 12
Award of degree:At least 9 units out of 12 (for BEng courses)At least 14 units out of 16 (for MEng courses)
Classification of degreesThe degree is classified according to the weighted average of all exam results throughout the degree programme. The weighting of first, second, third and fourth year is 1:2:4:4 (MEng) and 1:2:4 (BEng)
Average is 70% or above – 1st classAverage is between 60% and 70% - Upper secondAverage is between 50% and 60% - Lower secondAverage is below 50% - Third classAverage is below 40% - PassToo few units (see above) - Fail
Field of study:If the third and/or fourth year projects are not passed on the first attempt the degree awarded will be in Engineering Studies, not an Electronic Engineering degree.
Transfer: All undergraduate courses offered by the Electronic and Electrical Engineering Department comply with the European Credit Transfer System. Most courses within the Electrical & Electronic Engineering Department are 0.5 UCL Course Units (7.5 ECTS Credits). The course load within a typical academic year is 4.0 UCL Course Units which equates to 60 ECTS Credits.
4.6 FAQs about degrees, courses and progression
5. Course delivery
5.1 Lectures and problem classes
The times, locations and lecturers of courses are shown in the on-line timetable in the E&E Engineering web page at http://www.ee.ucl.ac.uk and directions to lecture locations in buildings other than the Engineering Building can be found in section 2 of these notes.
Lectures typically last 45 minutes to one hour. The work required, besides attending all the lectures is:Two hours work on preparation and review for every one hour lecture;Working through every problem and exercise set by the lecturer;One hour of study per lecture when revising for the examination;Practicing on past papers in preparation for the examination.
It is not possible to get a good class of degree without putting in at least the above amount of work.
Problem classes are run from time to time, the lecturer will indicate the schedule.
5.2 Tutorials
First and second year students have a personal tutor. Tutors are members of academic staff and each tutor is responsible for about eight students who they see once or twice per week in timetabled tutorial periods. Tutorials are mandatory and attendance records are kept. One common use for these attendance records is when the tutor writes references because employers generally ask if a candidate is reliable and punctual (i.e. arrives on time).
Tutors can help with the following aspects of study and life at UCL:Monitoring students’ progress and performanceDiscussion of problem sheetsIntroducing students to useful skills such as report writing and giving presentationsDirecting students towards sources of help for personal, financial or academic problemsProviding references for job applications or postgraduate course applications.
Students should keep their tutor informed of anything that affects their studies such as personal or family problems, financial difficulties or illnesses. Alternatively, those things can be reported to the Undergraduate Tutor.
5.3 Laboratory and computing classes
Laboratory work is performed in groups of two or three students in timetabled sessions at which attendance is mandatory and is monitored. Students MUST arrive at the lab sessions on time and are required to sign a register at 10.00am and 2.00pm. The register will be available for 10 minutes after each of these times. Anyone arriving later than that will need to see a supervisor and a note of the arrival time will be made. Persistent lateness may incur mark penalties. Further detailed instructions will be provided by the academic laboratory manager.
The work required, in addition to attending all the labs is:Preparation for practical work, e.g. by working out what the circuits will be, reviewing and understanding relevant theoryPreparation of the laboratory log book, e.g. writing the aim of the experiment, by preparing tables in which to record resultsPresentation of the laboratory log book for assessment at the end of each laboratory sessionWriting of the laboratory reports specified by the academic laboratory managerPreparing presentations on the laboratory work specified by the academic laboratory manager
Computing classes in C and JAVA take place in timetabled, supervised sessions in the 7th floor computing laboratory. Attendance is mandatory and is monitored.
5.4 FAQs about lectures and tutorials, coursework and laboratories
6. AttendancePoor attendance inevitably leads to poor academic performance. It may also lead to students being prevented from sitting one or more examinations, see the attendance page of the UCL registry. Students must be available in college during term time during the term dates specified by UCL. Part time employment must be scheduled outside of university hours and should not interfere with full-time study.
Attendance at lectures has a major impact on the outcome of the end-of-year examination. An attendance monitoring exercise in 2002/3 for the first year course E660 showed that students who attended all the lectures mainly got A-grades and none of them failed. Students who attended two or fewer of the lectures thinking they could rely on the printed lecture notes mainly failed and not one of them achieved an A-grade.
Missing lectures on a regular basis means the chances of failing courses are high. Students who find themselves in the habit of not attending are encouraged to start to consider fall-back plans for the next academic year (e.g. look for a job or apply for an easier course in another university). Such plans can be discussed with tutors or with the Undergraduate tutor.
7. Coursework
7.1 Coursework deadlines, submission and returns proceduresDeadlines for handing in coursework are given either directly during lectures, or via e-mail, and are also posted in the E&E Engineering Web Calendar. The procedure for submission is:
Attach a Departmental first year or second year cover sheet statingNameTitle of coursework e.g. E711.2 Negative FeedbackE-number of the course e.g. E711, E660Year of courseTutor’s nameDate work is dueDeclaration of originality of the work
Place the work in the undergraduate coursework box on the 7th floor outside room 705.
The office procedures following submission are:
The box is emptied at the deadlineCoursework is date-stamped and its submission recordedThe work is sent to the relevant academic for marking
Marked coursework is returned to your tutor who should give it directly to you. Do not ask your tutor to send it to you via pigeonhole. Tutors are not allowed to put coursework in pigeonholes because of past incidents of theft by dishonest students who wanted to copy other people’s work.
7.2 Penalties for late submissionAll submitted work must be handed in by the specified deadline. Late submission of coursework normally results in the loss of marks unless there is a properly documented reason that was beyond the student’s control (e.g. with a medical certificate). It is better to ask in advance for an extension if you are ill or have another valid problem.
Extensions to deadlines will only be granted in the most exceptional of circumstances. Students are expected to keep a back-up of any work prepared or stored on a computer. A failed hard-disk or corrupted data will not be accepted as a reason for a deadline extension.
The penalties for late coursework, computing and laboratory reports are: Up to one week late: 20% loss of marks. The penalty is a
percentage of the total marks available, not of the mark awarded (e.g. a mark of 14 out of 20 (A) becomes 10 out of 20 (C))
More than one week late: 100% penalty, i.e. the mark awarded is zero
Coursework submitted more than one week late will not get any marks. It is still worth finishing and submitting late work because it will at least be “complete”. That is to say a 100% penalty leading to a zero mark is different from NC (not complete).
It is noted, however, that late work will NOT BE ACCEPTED after the exercise has been marked and returned to other students. In that situation the grade awarded is NC or uncomplete, which can mean no marks for the course regardless of performance in the end of year examination.
7.3 Incomplete courseworkFailure to submit enough coursework or to attend tests will result in a student being deemed uncomplete. The exam grade for an uncomplete course is U and the total mark awarded is zero regardless of the result of the written examination. Generally, more than half the coursework must be submitted and be of satisfactory quality.
Students who are away from UCL and re-sitting courses they have failed are not permitted to re-do coursework or tests. The previous coursework mark will be carried forward. Such students will therefore find that they are not ever in a position to recover from a U grade.
Students who are repeating a year, i.e. with full or part time attendance must re-do all the coursework and tests. Coursework and test marks are not carried
forward from previous years for students who have re-enrolled to repeat courses.
It is not necessary for students re-sitting a course from a different year to re-do the coursework and tests. The previous mark will be carried forward. If the coursework was uncomplete on the previous occasion then plans for its completion should be discussed and agreed with the Undergraduate Tutor and the course lecturer.
7.4 Plagiarism and collusionPlagiarism and collusion are both forms of cheating. Plagiarism means copying of someone else’s work and presenting it as one’s own. Plagiarism is an examination offence and the penalties applied by the college will have a severe impact on a student’s degree class. A particularly serious form is looking at and copying from another student’s work without his or her knowledge, for instance by copying from a neighbour in a test.
It is especially distressing both for the student and for staff when a student loses credit through plagiarism because of not really understanding just what plagiarism is. For instance, it is not allowed to use any material written by someone else from books, web sites or anywhere else, not even a sentence or two, without acknowledgement. Students are strongly advised to review and pay close attention to the definition of plagiarism at the Registry web site.
The general principle governing collusion is that work submitted for assessment must be in the student’s own words and have been prepared by the student independently. Students must not present identical work for assessment towards their degrees. Collusion is a collaboration that has gone too far. For instance, working together to prepare model answers for use in an open-book tests is collusion and so is using sharing text and figures in a laboratory report. In E&E Engineering, when collusion is detected between two students then both students are penalised and the marks of both students will be set to zero for the work in question.
7.5 Mid-session and mid-term testsAssessed tests are set in the following courses. The marks contribute to the final mark for each course:
First year (last week of term 1)E651: ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS IE653: CIRCUIT ANALYSIS AND SYNTHESIS IE655: DIGITAL CIRCUITSE661: MATHEMATICS IE719: COMMUNICATIONS SYSTEMS I
Second year (mid-term and last week of term 1, mid-term and last week of term 2)
E711: ELECTRONIC CIRCUITS IIE713: CIRCUIT ANALYSIS AND SYNTHESIS IIE720: OPTOELECTRONICS IE724: FIELDS AND WAVES IN ELECTRONIC SYSTEMSE727: SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICESE728: MATHEMATICS FOR ELECTRONIC ENGINEERS II
As from the 2003/4 academic year, first year students who obtain an average of less than 40% will be required to attend an interview with the Head of Department, Undergraduate Tutor or another senior academic to explain their plans for improving their academic performance and work habits.
First year students who fail the tests at the end of term 1 may find that it is in their long term interests to choose to leave UCL immediately and start again elsewhere. For instance, it occasionally happens that a student finds that the programme really does not suit them or meet their aims. The Undergraduate Tutor will discuss whether leaving might be the best way forward and can help a student in this position to reach a decision.
8. Projects
8.1 Third and fourth year projectsThe third and fourth year both include projects. A third year project is worth 1 course unit, and a fourth year project is worth 1.5 course units.
A project must be passed on the first attempt. Students who fail either project cannot be awarded a degree in Electronic Engineering. If the student has enough course units to graduate the degree will be MEng or BEng in Engineering Studies. This is a restriction placed by the Institution of Electrical Engineers because the BEng and MEng degrees form part of the basic training of a Chartered Electrical Engineer.
It is the responsibility of individual students to select a project and supervisor. For third year projects it is wise to start looking early in term 2 of the second year. Third year students should start selecting their fourth year projects during term 2 and no later than the start of term 3 in the third year. Detailed guidelines, instructions and deadlines for projects are given here.
8.2 Dealing with problemsThere are departmental procedures for students experiencing difficulties with their project:
For difficulties in progress:(i) The student should report a problem as early as possible to the Project
Coordinator (PC) and/or Head of Teaching (HT).(ii) The PC and/or HT will meet with the student to find out the nature of
the problem and to decide on a plan of action. Ideally this should involve the supervisor, but only with the consent of the student.
For difficulties with fourth year group working:The best way to avoid problems with group working is to address them quickly. That is why the procedure below is in place. In reality difficulties with group working rarely arise. When problems do arise (for instance if a student quits the course) then steps (i) and (ii) are normally sufficient if acted upon quickly.(i) The academic supervisor should inform the Project Coordinator (PC)
that a problem with group working is developing;
(ii) In the first instance the group will be asked to suggest and take action themselves;
(iii) If necessary, reconciliation of the group will be attempted through mediation with the help of the supervisor and PC - the group must document the actions agreed and promises made;
(iv) If the rift continues, the group and supervisor/course organizer together may determine and state formally the reason or the breakup, naming names if necessary. Whether this is done is at the discretion of the supervisor;
(v) If the breakup is not recoverable then arrangements will be made for the students to continue in an appropriate manner such as:(a) working as an individuals: Individual working will not be allowed
without high level permission e.g. from Chair of Examiners or Head of Department;
(b) stay with the team but the student(s) responsible for the problem get no credit for the team working.
9. Examinations
9.1 Examination proceduresThe regulations concerning examinations are in the Registry web site at the following locations:
Examinations - Answers to questions such as deferred assessment and withdrawalExamination regulations (the Pink Book) - All the detailed regulations
Examinations start at the end of the first week or start of the second week in Term 3 in late April and end in early June. Important deadlines are:
Start of Term 1: Register for exams using the yellow CREEF forms given out at registrationStart of Term 2: Confirm registration and make any necessary changes on the blue examination entry confirmation form.
Past papers are available from the UCL library web site. They can be accessed without a UCL ISD password from machines on the UCL site. For access via Internet from home a UCL ISD user name and password are needed.
End of year examinations are supervised by professional invigilators while coursework tests are supervised by lecturers. Students are expected to conduct themselves according to the UCL examination rules which are the same for mid-term and mid-session tests as for end of year examinations. For instance:
Only the authorized calculators are allowed (students can buy them from the college shop);There should be no unauthorized materials such as mobile phones on the desk;Students are not allowed to enter the exam room if they are more than 30 minutes late.
9.2 The examination grades
Examination results comprise a grade and, if the course is complete, a numerical percentage. Grades are:
Grades A - E : Pass grades for completed coursesGrade P: The course has been passed (i.e. received a grade from A
to E) Grade F : Fail grade for a completed courseGrade T : The examination component was uncomplete (usually
because the student was absent)Grade U : The coursework component was uncompleteGrade Abs: Everything was uncompleteGrade W : The student withdrew from the course (only allowed in
special circumstances)Grade I : There was an examination irregularity (cheating on
coursework or in the examination)
9.3 Retaking examinationsStudents who fail an examination (F grade), or had a U, T, Abs or W grade, may re-sit it again the following year. Students with examination irregularities (I grade) will be informed individually if and when they are permitted to re-sit the course.
Students who fail the first year examination may find that it is in their interest to choose to leave UCL immediately after their first attempt at their first year. The department’s records show that many students who do not progress from the first year at the first attempt also do not progress from the second year at the first attempt. The way the department handles this situation is explained below.
UCL Regulations state: "If a candidate, after due warning, continues to fail to meet UCL requirements and/or the required standard in part or all of a programme (e.g. by … poor academic performance … ), UCL may decide to terminate his/her programme on the grounds of academic insufficiency. Where a candidate's programme has been terminated on these grounds he/she may not be permitted to resit any failed examination."
The Department will be strictly enforcing this regulation for second year students who enrolled at UCL in 2003 or thereafter.
An official warning will be issued to any student who fails to progress from the first year at the first attempt. The effect of this warning will be that, if he/she fails to progress from the second year at the first attempt, his/her course will be terminated on the grounds of academic insufficiency on the basis of poor academic performance. Any student whose course is terminated on these grounds will not be permitted to continue his/her studies at UCL.
To summarise, a student who has received an official warning and who then fails to progress from second year to third year will not be allowed to re-sit failed courses and will be told to leave UCL. That student will never receive an academic qualification in electronic engineering from UCL.
9.4 Examination mark capping
In general, examinations taken for a second time are subject to a cap. There are several cases depending on the grade at the first attempt:
U , T , ABs, I grades : The maximum mark awarded for the retake at the next attempt will be 35%. This is a UCL regulation.
F grade : The maximum mark awarded for the retake at the next attempt will be 60%. This is a Departmental regulation which will start in 2004/5. In 2003/4 there will be no such cap and the full mark will be awarded.
W grade : W means the student withdrew from the course on medical or other permitted grounds. There is no cap to the mark if the previous grade was W.
9.5 Examination irregularities (cheating)Students who are found after an investigation by the UCL Examination Irregularities Panel to have breached the examination regulations will receive an I grade for the course in which the problem arose. An I grade means the mark is zero, it also means the student may not be allowed to retake the course. If the course is retaken then the mark awarded for the retake will be capped at 35%. Examples when such penalties are applied include major incidents of plagiarism such as copying another student’s laboratory report without their knowledge or cheating in an examination.
Lecturers are allowed to deal directly with some incidents. The lecturer will: (i) determine if he or she is authorized to deal with the offence;(ii) decide upon the penalty and discuss the proposed penalty with the student’s tutor;(iii) apply the penalty;(iv) fill out a form, give a copy to the student and a copy to the Chair of Undergraduate Examiners.
The normal penalty is that the piece of coursework in question is awarded a zero mark. Students have the right of appeal to a Departmental Panel which is normally chaired by the Head of Department.
Examples of cheating that, if detected, will lead to a zero mark for the assessment in question are:
(i) Collusion with another student e.g. preparing answers for open book tests together, doing coursework or laboratory reports together, talking or communicating during a test;
(iii) Copying material from the internet, books or published papers and presenting it as original work;(iii) Continuing to write in a coursework test after the supervisor has said “stop writing”.(iv) Having any unauthorized items on the desk during a coursework test, e.g. a graphics calculator or a mobile phone.
9.6 FAQs about examinations
10. Careers, vacation work and postgraduate study
10.1 Useful links for vacation placementsYear in Industry Scheme for one-year work placements taken as an extra-mural yearIAESTE International Association for the Exchange of Students for Technical ExperienceCIEE Council on International Educational ExchangeBUNAC British Universities North America ClubCCUSA/WEUSA Camp CounselorsEuropean Undergraduate Placement Organisation National Council for Work ExperienceHobson’s Guide to Placement & Vacation Work (Hobsons Casebooks) £9.99 from www.Amazon.co.uk Australia and New Zealand opportunities
10.2 Useful links for careersTargetedGRAD Register free to receive targeted messages about vacancies and other career-related informationULCS ALert University of London Careers Service targeted message service. Please sign up today, right away. UCL Careers Service e.g. Career interviews, practice interviews, practice aptitude tests, personality indicators.
10.3 Useful links for postgraduate study and fundingFunding and scholarships for Masters and Research courses at UCL and elsewhere
11. Problems and pitfalls
11.1 Personal and financial problemsThe College is well equipped to help students in a range of personal and financial problems. Tutors and/or the Departmental Tutor can suggest where to go for help in many cases. The following Registry pages also give contact details for sources of help:
Support and Welfare Counselling service, Dean of Students office, racial and sexual harassment
Rights and Advice UCL Union's trained advisers, access to a lawyer for legal advice
Financial Support Hardship funds, hardship loans
11.2 Academic problemsAt the end of the day, the only way to get a good degree is to take studying seriously, to be well organised and to work very, very hard. In our experience, these are the most common causes of academic problems:
Not doing enough homeworkPoor time management and poor personal organisationPoor attendance
Too much reliance on lecture notes and not enough reading around the subject in text booksToo much recall and not enough understanding
Tutors can help with advice on many of the above, but a good starting point is a self-appraisal by the student of what exactly is going wrong.
12. SafetyMany activities in the Department require sensible precautions. Practical project or laboratory work must be done under supervision. Computing work requires an academic member of staff to be nearby (e.g. working in an office on the same floor). Undergraduates are not allowed to be in the Department after 7pm or at weekends.
The Departmental Safety Regulations are available online. An important part of the third year project is the preparation of a Project Risk Assessment form. Students are not allowed to start work on the project until the risk assessment has been completed.
Qualified first aiders in the department are:Gerald McBrearty - 6th floor teaching labTony Kenyon - 11th floor office, room 1122
13. Student Societies and Professional InstitutionsUCL sporting clubs and societies are listed in the UCL Students Union web pages
The Flemingo Society which is run by the EE students.
Relevant professional associations include:The IEE (Institution of Electrical Engineers, UK). Students are encourages to join the IEE and to take advantage of its services. IEEE (Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers, based in the USA).
Both offer attractive student membership schemes and the IEE has several bursaries and grants for undergraduate students.
14. Useful UCL contactsTelephone numbers in UCL:
Internal: 3 - ext (e.g. 33971)From the UK: 020 7679 - ext (e.g. 020-7679-3971)International: +44 20 7679 - ext, where + is the local country’s
international dialup (e.g. from the USA and Canada 011-44-20-7679-33971)
Emergencies within UCL: Phone 222 on a college phone.
Tutors: Tutors may be approached for help in the following areas:Management of programmes of studyAdvice about choice of projects and optionsReferences for employers
Tutors are not trained or qualified to comment or advise on medical, financial or family problems. It is, however, useful and wise to explain any personal or financial difficulties to your tutor because he or she may be asked in the Exam Board Meeting to offer words of support for a student at a borderline.
Departmental Tutor: The Departmental Tutor advises on academic and personal issues and is familiar with the various sources of information and assistance within UCL. Contact Dr Paul Warburton, Room 915, 020-7679-3971 or internal extension 33971, e-mail [email protected]
Dean of Students: The Dean of Students co-ordinates student welfare at UCL and gives individual advice and help to students about personal, academic or social problems. It would be reasonable for students to have exhausted the resources of the E&E Engineering Department and of the Registry web site before approaching him. Contact the Dean of Students, 4 Taviton Street, tel 020 7679 4545
Other sources of help are:Support and Welfare Counselling service, Dean of Students office, racial
and sexual harassmentRights and Advice UCL Union's trained advisers, access to a lawyer for
legal adviceFinancial Support Hardship funds, hardship loans
Computing problems: email support (room 604, ext (3)3960)
Academic laboratory manager: Laboratory timetable and lab report assignments email Dr. T. Kenyon (room 1122, ext (3)3270)
Timetable problems or clashes: email Dr. T. Kenyon (room 1122, ext (3)3270)
Examination queries: The Departmental Tutor or Chair of Board of Examiners
15. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
15.1 FAQs General topics
Where can I find the term dates
The Term Dates are listed in the UCL web site
Where can I find graduation ceremony dates
Graduation ceremony information is in the Events pages of the UCL Registry. The E&E Engineering Department is not involved in the organization of graduation ceremonies.
What happens if I lose my ID card
It is necessary to get a new one. Relevant information is at: ID Cards (new/Lost).
Who can I approach for a reference for an employer
Your tutors from first and second year and your project supervisor should supply references for employment or admission into postgraduate courses. It is recommended that you ask your referee to e-mail you when he or she has done the reference to confirm it has been sent.
A word of advice: It is acceptable to remind tutors to do your references if you think they have forgotten or are being too slow.
Who can I approach for a letters to Education Authorities or for the Home Office
All Certificates of Registration for Local Education Authorities and other purposes such as Council Tax exemptions are issued by the Student Records Office of the Registry. The department is not involved in these matters.
Who can I approach for a letters to the Home Office
All Certificates of Registration for the Home Office, for instance for the purposes of getting visas, are issued by the Student Records Office of the Registry. The department is not involved in these matters.
15.2 FAQs about mail and e-mail
My mail is missing
Undergraduates are advised to check the postgraduate pigeonholes on the 8th floor periodically. The volume of mail into the department is large and letters to students may become misdirected to the wrong set of pigeonholes.
Pigeonholes are not secure. It is NOT RECOMMENDED to use them for important or valuable mail. Ask the sender to send these things to your home or term-time address.
If mail did not reach you at home then inform Registry of your correct address.
Can I use a hotmail e-mail account instead?
Academics will write only to your UCL E&E Engineering e-mail address. If you prefer to use a hotmail or yahoo account then it is necessary to set up a forwarding file from your UCL account to make sure messages are send on to hotmail.
How do I check my UCL e-mail from home?
If you already have an account with an Internet Service Provide (ISP) such as BlueYonder you can connect to the department’s POP server to download your mail. The POP server is pop1.ee.ucl.ac.uk If you want to be able to read that mail again once you come into the department then configure your e-mail application to leave a copy of the mail on the server (The method to achieve this will vary from application to application).
It is not possible to send email from your UCL account while at home because sending of email requires use of the E&E Engineering SMTP server. Access to the E&E SMTP server is restricted to machines within the department. To send e-mail from home, configure your e-mail application to use the ISP’s SMTP server.
How do I find an e-mail address for a friend/colleague/academic?
E-mail addresses for E&E Engineering academic staff and administrators can be found in the Departmental web page at http://www.ee.ucl.ac.uk >>people>>Staff/Postgrads Email search Undergraduate e-mail addresses are not listed for security reasons because of past incidents such as stalking. Generally, it is necessary to ask your undergraduate friends and colleagues to tell you their e-mail addresses.
What are the e-mail aliases for, and who can use them?
E-mail aliases such as [email protected], [email protected] or [email protected] are for academic and administrative staff use ONLY. Only the E&E Engineering Computer Support staff are supposed to use the alias [email protected]. Students who use these aliases for personal messages such as selling second-hand books can expect to be painfully dismembered by large numbers of angry recipients.
Can I have a UCL Information Services Division (ISD) computing account?
Yes. It is very useful to have a UCL ISD computing account because ISD passwords are needed to access some areas of the UCL intranet web. Visit the Information Services web site to find out how to get a UCL ISD user name and password. It is possible to forward mail from the ISD account to the E&E Engineering account (or the other way round) by means of a forwarding file. Note, however, that E&E Engineering academics will only write to your E&E Engineering e-mail address, not to the UCL ISD e-mail address.
What constitutes abuse of e-mail?
One example of abuse is harassment of other students via e-mail, for example sending of hate mail, unsolicited love letters or anonymous messages. These
are serious disciplinary offences. Any abuse of computing facilities such as using another student’s account is treated very seriously. The police will become involved in cases where criminal activity such as hacking has taken place.
To whom should I notify a change of address?
Students moving to a new home address or a new term-time address must inform UCL Registry, see Enrolment and Student Record Administration in the registry web site. The Departmental Office uses the on-line registry information so it is not necessary to inform the Department separately.
15.3 FAQs about degrees, courses and progression
What will happen if I do not have enough units to progress?
Students are entitled to re-sit their examinations in the next examination period (i.e. the next summer). Only one re-sit is permitted.
Students who took two attempts to progress from first year to second year and who have received an official warning about their academic progress are only allowed to have one attempt at the second year examinations.
Students are not automatically entitled to re-enroll to repeat the year (i.e. to register, attend classes and use computers and the library). Students who do not get enough units to progress are not normally invited to re-enroll to repeat the year. Students who are not re-enrolling to repeat the year should make other arrangements (e.g. get a job) and re-sit the exams the next summer.
A re-sitting student who is not enrolled at UCL should take the following steps: (a) Enter for the examinations in December (there is a fee) and (b) attend and re-sit the examinations the next May.
Why did I not receive my results?
Check that registry has your correct home address.
The most likely reason, apart from mail being lost in the post, is that you are in debt to the college. All outstanding bills such as hall fees, tuition fees and library fines have to be settled before results are formally released.
How often do courses change?
Degree programmes and the courses within them change from time to time in order to reflect the current state of the art. Another common reason for change is that the courses offered or the pre-requisites set by external departments such as Computer Science may change. There is no guarantee that courses on offer in one year will continue to be offered in subsequent years but the Teaching Committee does aim as far as possible to make sure that changes are phased in.
Can I take a combination of options that isn’t listed in the Programmes/Courses information
The Courses Information pages give the options for the approved degree programmes in E&E Engineering department. If a particular combinations of options is not shown then it is not approved. Students not following an approved programme (e.g. by taking non-approved combinations of options) may be awarded an Engineering Studies degree rather than the degree they were expecting. The Engineering Studies degree is not accredited by the Institution of Electrical Engineers.
15.4 FAQs about lectures and tutorials, coursework and laboratories
What can tutors help with and what is beyond their terms of reference?
The tutor’s role is primarily an academic one. They help students manage their programme of study, to choose projects and options and also supply references for employers. Tutors may be asked in the Exam Board Meeting to offer words of support for a student at a borderline, thus it is important for students to keep tutors informed of any issues affecting their studies. Tutors are not trained or qualified to comment or advise on medical, financial or family problems. Tutors do not help students find accommodation.
The Departmental Tutor can advise students about sources of help elsewhere in UCL for personal and financial problems. This manual also lists many such sources of help.
What happens if I miss a lecture?
It is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements to get a copy of any missing lecture notes for instance by photocopying the notes of a friend.
Students who do not get enough units to progress will not normally be invited to re-enroll to repeat the year. Therefore, in general, a missed lecture has been missed for ever.
What happens if I miss a mandatory coursework test or laboratory class?
If the work was missed because of reasons beyond a student’s control and the absence is documented by a third party (e.g. a doctor’s note), then either of the following may happen:
The student is excused from the work altogetherArrangements will be made for it to be done later
If there are no documented reasons for missing the work then a NC (not complete) mark is awarded. If half or more of the coursework components of a course are NC then the mark awarded for the course will be U (uncomplete) and
a zero mark will be awarded for the whole course regardless of the performance in the examination. The mark for any retake of the course will be capped at 35%.
Students who do not get enough units to progress will not normally be invited to re-enroll to repeat the year. In general, therefore, missed coursework has been missed for ever and it is not possible to convert a U grade into a pass grade.
What should be written in the laboratory report?
Guidelines for preparation of laboratory reports are available in the LAB GUIDES menu in the web page of the Electronics Teaching Laboratory.
Can I avoid the NC grade (Not complete) by submitting a blank paper with my name on it?
No. A blank paper or similarly feeble effort at coursework or a test is marked as Not Complete. The work has to represent a genuine attempt and will be marked NC if too little is written to judge the student’s work.
15.5 FAQs about examinations
What happens if I miss an examination?
The missed exam may be retaken as a re-sit in the next examination session (i.e. next year). The maximum mark awarded for the course will be capped at 35%.
What happens if I missed an examination because of illness?
Students who are ill and cannot attend an examination must get a valid medical certificate signed by a doctor. A self-certification note is not acceptable. Nothing can be done to help unless the medical certificate is in place. Students should then consult the Undergraduate Tutor as a matter of urgency to discuss the best way forward, for instance by means of a deferred assessment. Applications for deferred assessment have to be approved by the Registry, therefore it is in a student’s best interests to ensure the documentation about the illness is valid and as complete as possible.
What happens if I am late for an examination?
Students who are late for an examination will not be allowed into the examination room. If there are exceptional validated circumstances then arrangements may be made (if feasible at short notice) for the student to take the examination in the Department. The student will be invoiced for the administration and supervision costs which will be at least £50.
Can I resit an examination to improve the mark?
If the examination was failed at the first attempt then one further attempt is allowed the next summer. If the examination was passed at the first attempt then no re-sit is permitted.
Why are retakes of failed (F) courses capped at 60%?
In recent years the Visiting Examiners* have raised concerns that the E&E Engineering Board of Examiners does not cap marks for retakes of failed courses. Capping is common practice in other universities and in other UCL departments. Starting in the 2004/5 academic year, the E&E Engineering Board of examiners will cap retakes of failed courses at 60%. The Examiners noted there are many academic and non-academic reason why students fail, for example:
Working a fail-resit examination strategy to gain better marksNot being well preparedNot feeling wellFamily emergency
Students who pass exams are not allowed to retake to improve their grades, so students working a fail-resit strategy can gain an unfair advantage. Therefore there is a need to strike a balance between benefits to students who failed because of reasons beyond their control and benefits gained by students who think they will do better by trying again next year. The examiners have decided that 60%, the boundary between upper and lower second class honours, is a suitable level at which to place the cap.
* Visiting Examiners provide benchmarking and maintenance of the quality of degrees awarded from one UK university to another. The Visiting Examiners who recommended capping were from Cambridge University and Edinburgh University.
Can I avoid an T grade (uncomplete examination) by submitting a blank answer script with my name on it?
No. A blank script or similarly feeble effort is marked as an uncomplete examination. The work has to represent a genuine attempt and enough must be written to allow the examiner to judge the student’s work. Uncomplete examinations are graded T, not F, and therefore capped at 35% on re-sit.
How do I get a transcript?
Examination transcripts should be ordered from Registry. The Department does not provide transcripts.
What happens if I answer five questions not four?
In most exams students are instructed to attempt four questions. The examiners are required to mark only the first four questions attempted. Therefore if the instructions are to answer four questions it is essential that candidates should select their four best questions and cross out any material that they do not wish to be marked. A few examiners are kind enough to mark extra material and to select the four questions that optimise the mark, but most examiners DO NOT do this, and are not required to do so.
What irritates examiners and what makes them happy?
It is wise not to make the examiner hostile when he or she is marking your exam script. Bear in mind that examiners are faced with large piles of scripts and wish to get through them as fast as possible. Things that cause examiners most irritation are:
Not filling out the box with the questions attempted at the bottom of the front page. The examiner has to do it, which wastes time. Not writing the question number at the top of the page. The examiner has to do it. Illegible handwriting.Tippex in the script, because it covers up working which may have been correct.Not starting a new page for a new question. It makes it hard to locate the material which is to be marked.Writing bits and pieces of questions all over the place in the script. It makes it very hard and time consuming to locate the material which is to be marked and makes examiners angry rather than merely irritated.Answering extra questions without indicating which are to be marked.Not doing what the question said.Writing two pages of description when the question said “state ….” Tying together exam booklets in the wrong order.Writing messages to examiners in the script.Writing a name instead of the Exam ID number on the script (this is an examination offence and carries a penalty if reported).
What makes examiners happy are:
Properly laid out scripts with front page box filled in and questions numbers at the top of each pageClearly laid out answersClear handwritingAnswers that address the question
Author: Nina ThornhillLast Update: March 27th 2004
