Academic tutors support and FAQs | University of Reading

Accessing support

You can speak to your Academic Tutor about any academic or personal matter which may be impacting your ability to study.

Your Tutor will do their best to help you when you meet, but in some instances they may need to direct you to a specialist support service and can speak to the service on your behalf (if you give your permission to do so).

Listen to Dr Alastair Culham talk about the new School Directors of Academic Tutoring roles, put in place to help give you better support.

Academic Tutors work closely with University’s network of support and advice services, including the Student Welfare team, so they will be able to guide you to access a service that is best suited to your individual needs.

Frequently asked questions

Questions you may have about accessing support

Q: When do I find out who my Academic Tutor is?
A: You are assigned an Academic Tutor in Welcome Week when you first start at the University. In most cases, you will have the same Academic Tutor throughout your time at Reading.

Q: I’ve forgotten who my Academic Tutor is…how can I find out who they are?
A: You can see who your Academic Tutor is on the RISIS portal. Log into RISIS and select ‘Programme and Modules’, then ‘Programme Information’. Alternatively you can contact your Support Centre.

Q: How often should I meet my Academic Tutor?
A: You should meet with your Academic Tutor as least one every term. This can be in person, or over the phone/on Skype if it isn’t convenient for you to come to campus.

Q: What should I talk to my Academic Tutor about?
A: See a list of suggested topics on our Top tips page.

Q: What can/can’t my Academic Tutor help me with?
A: Your Academic Tutor can help you with anything relating to your academic, personal or professional development. If you have a particular issue or personal matter, they may not be able to help you resolve the issue personally, but they will be able to direct to you to an appropriate service.

Q: Will my Academic Tutor contact me to meet up?
A: Your Academic Tutor may email you to check on your progress or suggest a meeting, but you should be proactive and contact them to set up regular meetings.

Q: What happens if my Academic Tutor changes role or goes on research leave?
A: If your Academic Tutor leaves the University or changes role, your School will contact you to let you know who your new Academic Tutor is.

Q: What happened to the old Personal Tutor system?
A: The Academic Tutor system replaces the previous Personal Tutor system and has been designed following extensive consultation with students, staff, and Reading Students' Union, as well as research into similar systems at other UK universities.

Q: What if my Academic Tutor isn’t responding to my emails?
A: Remember, your Tutor will often be busy teaching, marking or conducting research so many not be able to respond to emails or meet at short notice. If you cannot get hold of your Academic Tutor, please contact your School Director of Academic Tutoring who will be able to assist.

Q: I don’t think I have anything to talk about, should I still meet my Academic Tutor?
A: If you’re struggling to think of what to say to your Academic Tutor in meetings, take a look at our suggested list of discussion topics on the Top tips page. It’s always useful to bring a recent assignment with you too, as your Tutor can help you to understand the feedback you’ve received and highlight things that you can do to improve your academic work.

Q: Can I change my Academic Tutor?
A: We believe that it is beneficial to continue with the same Academic Tutor throughout your time at the University, but if there is a genuine reason for wanting to change your Academic Tutor, you should discuss this with your School Director of Academic Tutoring.

Q: I’m not sure my Academic Tutor can help me. Are there other support services I can access?
A: The University and Students’ Union offer many different support and advice services, so if you know which one you need to access we encourage you to access this directly. If you’re not sure which service you need to access, your Academic Tutor can help to direct you to the most appropriate one depending on the issue. You can also contact your Support Centre with any queries about our services, what they offer and how to access them.

Q: What is the Student Welfare team?
A: The Student Welfare team is made up of 6 professional members of staff who are to help you with any personal difficulties you may experience. They are able to offer help and advice on topics such as homesickness, family or relationship issues, harassment and bullying, and drug and alcohol issues. Your Academic Tutor may refer you to the team if you are experiencing any personal or welfare issues.

Q: I'm a Study Abroad Programme student/visiting student from a partner institution. Do I also have access to an Academic Tutor?
A: Yes, all undergraduate and postgraduate taught students are assigned an Academic Tutor. This includes students who are visiting from abroad and studying part of their degree at Reading.

Q: What are School Directors of Academic Tutoring?
A: Each academic school has a School Director of Academic Tutoring, or multiple Departmental Directors of Academic Tutoring. These are senior members of academic staff who support the Academic Tutors within their school/department. You can see the list of School Directors of Academic Tutoring.

If you can’t find the answer to your question here, please contact your Support Centre.