Student Handbook - The School of Language, Linguistics and Film

• to enable students to develop as independent, reflective learners who accept
responsibility for the management of their own learning and intellectual development;
• to assist students in the acquisition of a range of cognitive and transferable skills
relevant to their intellectual, professional and personal development;
• to engage in a continuous process of curriculum innovation and development,
sensitive to changes within the disciplines and the non-academic world;
• to support student learning through provision of appropriate teaching materials,
including e-materials, through the delivery of the curriculum, and through appropriate
structures of pastoral care;
• to draw on the wide range of resources that our London context provides for all
disciplines taught in the School;
• to connect students, as appropriate, with our world-wide networks of research and
exchange programmes by offering a host of events and contacts with affiliates from
other (academic and non-academic) institutions, visiting academics, authors,
filmmakers etc..
The School is responsible for delivering degree programmes in Modern Languages,
Comparative Literature, Film Studies and Linguistics. You are first and foremost a student of
the School (as far as your study of these subjects is concerned), and only secondly of a
department or departments within it. The members of the teaching staff are divided into
various groups depending on the subjects they teach. In particular, there are a number of
departments corresponding to the languages taught in the School: French, German, Iberian
and Latin American Studies, and Russian; there are also the departments of Comparative
Literature and Culture, of Linguistics, and of Film Studies. But members of staff co-operate
across departments, so that members of the language departments, for example, contribute
to modules in Comparative Literature. Overall responsibility for the School rests with the
Head of School, who works in conjunction with the Chairs of the departments and other
senior officers of the School.
The School has an excellent record in research and teaching, as shown by its consistently
high performance in the RAE, with strong evidence of national, international and world-class
recognition in all its disciplines. In the RAE 2008, the School’s scores for 3* and 4* were:
French 55%, German 40%, Iberian and Latin American Studies 60%, Linguistics 80% and
Russian 40%. The department of Film Studies will make its own submissions to REF in
2013, when we expect to be graded equally highly. These independent assessments show,
we believe, that the School is well on the way to achieving its aims.
Contacting staff in the School
All academic staff set aside office hours during term-time when they are available without
appointment to see students. These hours are displayed on their office doors. You should,
where possible, use these hours to see Module Organisers with queries about your
modules, or your Adviser about any matter you wish to discuss. If you cannot see a member
of staff during his or her office hours, it is often easiest to contact staff by email to arrange
an alternative time. Email addresses, as well as telephone numbers and office locations for
all staff are listed at the back of this book, and on the website.
The School’s administrative office is room 1.08, on the first floor of the Arts One Building.
The office is open daily from 10 am to 4 pm during term-time.
There is a School postbox in the Gallery Area on the first floor of the Arts One Building
which is emptied at least once daily, the last time at 4 pm. You should use this to post any
messages for members of staff, as well as to submit any required or assessed coursework.
Do NOT put work or any other messages under office doors as they may go missing. The
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