Coursework includes laboratory reports, tutorial exercises, integrative assignments, design projects, essays, and other set and assessed work. An important function of cousework is to provide a feedback mechanism to give students guidance on their progress.

Group work may also be used to enhance your skills of communication and working with others. It is an example of an activity where it is not always easy to evaluate an individual's contribution, and under these circumstance peer assessment may be used to enable this to be achieved.

Examinations are time-limited assessments in which every student is tested by the same means under the same conditions. The University conducts examinations in such a way as to be reasonably sure that your examination performance is entirely your own.

This is in contrast to coursework, where the University has no means of knowing whether the work you submit is entirely your own or the result of collaboration, copying, or accomplished via privileged means.

In examinations you really are on your own - it is therefore vitally important that you prepare for them. Conscientious work on both assessed and unassessed assignments and tutorials throughout the year is the best way to prepare for examinations. Further advice on preparing for examinations will be given as part of your course.

Assessments of the degrees and HND are slightly different. The HND is a non-classified award; i.e. it is not awarded with classes of honours. However, individual modules are classified.

Your class of degree will take into account both your Stage 2 and Stage 3 results, weighted in the ratio of 30:70.

We also hope that you will not just limit yourself to assessed work. At University, as in life, there are many opportunities to go into things in depth - and to extend your knowledge - none of which will ever be assessed, but which you will benefit from as a person

Our BSc(Hons) course in Marine Sports Technology offers students the opportunity to develop skills and knowledge that are increasingly in demand in this rapidly growing field.

Past students have gone on into local industry, ministry of defence positions, computer aided engineering tasks, manufacture, design, production control and planning and also into areas which might at first glance be thought not to be connected with design or manufacture such as insurance, commercial enterprises, self-employment, electronics or communications.

In most careers there is a need for numerate people with a good understanding of modem design and manufacture techniques. The opportunities are just about as wide as your imagination. Do not think that a more traditional course limits you - quite the reverse - the choice is yours.

The University has a Careers Service, to advise students and almost all academic staff have industrial experience and tutors will be happy to discuss your career options with you.
The Careers Service provide talks and students should make every effort to attend.

Increasingly your study material is available on the internet, so if you miss a few lectures you can catch up. Incidentally it is not a good idea to miss lectures it is simply not possible to include all illustrative and anecdotal material on the internet - or rather it is, but its impact is largely lost.

Help with study skills generally is available form student services and media services. The Communication Skills module in year 1 of the BSc course will highlight areas of strength or weakness, and although there is not time to go into any one area in great depth you will be made aware of the areas in which you must put some effort if you are to succeed on the course as a whole and then go on to successful employment.

Teaching staff have an 'open door' policy at designated times of the week when you can seek individual help, however do not expect to be given individual tuition, especially if it is near to exam time and you have chosen not to attend classes or tutorials!

Although it is ultimately your responsibility to obtain supervised work expenence, we do all we can to assist.

The Industrial Training Manager will normally be able to provide names of compames and people who may be approached for training. You should also use family contacts especially if you wish to train near your home. An Industrial Training Notice Board is maintained to alert you to job opportunities.

If you arrange your own supervised work experience you must inform us where you are going so that we can arrange to visit you, and also ensure that you will obtain satisfactory expenence.

You will be provided with a training log book which you must complete during your training. It should record details of the areas you worked in, what you are actually did, what you got out of it, and finally what benefits you felt you actually obtained from your training. You can obtain a log book from the Industrial Training Manager. It will provide a lasting record which you can show to any potential future employer.

While we understand the need for most students to take some paid employment while they are studying, you should avoid taking on more than about 10 hours per week of employment as the evidence shows that doing so will adversely affect your studies.