University of Plymouth Partner Student Institution Handbook 2019-20 Masters in Osteopathy If you require any part of this Student Handbook in larger print, or an alternative format, please contact: Alice Hughes (BCOM Registrar & Head of Admissions) Tel: 020 7435 6464 E-mail: Registrar@bcom.uk Please note: All the information in this handbook is correct at the time of printing. BCOM is proud of its teaching and research and it undertakes all reasonable steps to provide educational services in the manner set out in this Handbook and in any documents referred to within it. It does not, however, guarantee the provision of such services. Should industrial action or circumstances beyond the control of the Institution interfere with its ability to provide educational services, the University undertakes all reasonable steps to minimise the resultant disruption to those services.
Academic Partnerships Student Handbook (UK) 2019-20 Page 2 of 51 Last Saved 21/08/2019 Contents Page WHO’S WHO 6 Welcome and Introduction 6 Staff / Student Communication 8 Programme Management 8 Personal Tutor 9 Module Leaders 9 Course Contact List 15 Registration, Term Dates including Exam weeks 15 Student Voice 16 Student Representatives and the Feedback loop 16 Student Perception Questionnaire (SPQ) and National Student Survey (NSS) 17 Your Virtual Learning Environment 18 Your Library - Learning Resources 18 IT Facilities & WIFI 18 Room Access 19 Students as Partners – University of Plymouth 19 Applying for your University of Plymouth Student Card 20 The Plymouth Online Study Guide 20 Forwarding your Plymouth Emails to your preferred account 21 Mobile with Plymouth 21 University Computing Helpdesk 21 How to Change or Reset your Password 21 ASSESSMENT 22 Formative and Summative Assessment 22 Indicative Programme Assessment Schedule, Assessment Flowchart and Hand In 23 Extenuating Circumstances 24 Academic Offences 25 Academic Dishonesty: How to stay straight and clean 26 How to reference using the Harvard Referencing System 27 Hand in Process 28 Submission of Assessed Work 29 Return of Assessment and Feedback 29 Academic Matters - Procedures for dealing with late submissions and extenuating circumstances 29 Late Work 29 Turnitin 29 Progression to Further Study & How Your Marks are Calculated 30 Exit awards 31 Exam Procedures 31 External Examiner Arrangements 31 COMPLAINT PROCEDURE FOR UNIVERSITY OF PLYMOUTH STUDENTS 31 STUDYING AT BCOM 32 Student Support 32 Self Help Inspiring E-Resources (SHINE) 33 Anytime advice line 33 Enhancement Activities 33 Sport and Leisure 33 Social Activities 34 Financial Information and Guidance on Funding 34 Institution Policies 34 TAKING YOUR LEARNING SERIOUSLY 35 Key Features of University Level Study 35 Attendance 35 Academic Partnerships Student Handbook (UK) 2019-20 Page 3 of 51 Last Saved 21/08/2019 Your Approach to Studying 35 Suggested Reading for New Students 36 Reading for your study 36 Private Study 37 Study Groups 37 Personal Development Planning 37 Factors Affecting Your Learning 38 Effective Learning 38 Time Management 38 Coping with Stress 38 Learning Skills 39 ENRICHMENT AND CO-CURRICULAR ACTIVITIES 40 Plymouth Compass 40 The Plymouth Award 40 The Higher Education Achievement Record (HEAR) 41 WHAT NEXT? 41 Employment and Progression Opportunities 41 Access MyCareer 42 Work-Based Learning (WBL) / Work Related Learning (WRL) and Employability 42 Graduation and Results Guidance 43 Alumni 43 UNITED KINGDOM VISAS AND IMMIGRATION (UKVI) 44 HARVARD REFERENCING GUIDE 45 Harvard Referencing Guide 45 ANYTHING ELSE? 49 Frequently Asked Questions: 49 What if I want to withdraw from, or suspend, my course? 49 What if I want to change my course? 50 Where do I get my Timetable? 51 How do I submit my coursework? 51 How do I raise an issue? 51 How do I find out who my personal tutor is? 51 Where can I find information about: 51 What should I do if I can’t make a deadline/sit an exam? 51 Who should I speak to regarding careers/employability? 51 When is graduation? 51 Academic Partnerships Student Handbook (UK) 2019-20 Page 4 of 51 Last Saved 21/08/2019 Dear Student, Important – please note The University will do its best to provide appropriate support for students with a disability. In the context of Higher Education study the term disability covers a range of impairments, medical conditions, mental health issues and specific learning difficulties. We have put in place a number of changes to procedures and to our campus to make our courses more accessible, and this is reflected in the diversity of students studying with us. However, it is important for us to consider any individual requirements sufficiently far in advance to enable us to advise you on the range of options available and to put in place appropriate arrangements.
So please ensure you have told us about any disability even if you do not think it will affect you while you are at the University If you have already told us about a disability we may ask you for further information or invite you for an information meeting with the Head of Osteopathy and the Registrar if necessary. We can then properly assess, in discussion with you, your individual requirements and ensure that we have the best possible chance of having any necessary adjustments in place at the start of your course. We can also advise you further about claiming for Disabled Students’ Allowance. If you have a disability but have not yet told us about it, please contact the BCOM Registrar at registry@bcom.
While we can make reasonable adjustments to our provision, we may not be able to meet your individual requirements if we do not have the opportunity to assess them in advance, and that could impact negatively on your experience of the course or even your ability to complete your course, or to take up your place. Please respond positively to any requests from us for information. We can then explore with you the support available such as assistive technologies, study skills sessions and personal enablers. We can also address any health and safety issues and relevant academic or professional expectations and if necessary advise you on alternative options.
Any information you give us will be dealt with in confidence and only shared within the College with your consent and on a ‘need to know’ basis. We want to give you the best possible chance to take up your place, to be ready for study and to be able successfully to complete your BCOM course. Academic Partnerships Student Handbook (UK) 2019-20 Page 5 of 51 Last Saved 21/08/2019 Who’s Who Welcome and Introduction Congratulations on your choice to study the Masters in Osteopathy at BCOM This Masters in Osteopathy, BCOM and University of Plymouth Student Handbook contains important information, including: The Institution Procedures, facilities and opportunities Programme Information Academic Regulations including Extenuating Circumstances Student Support including careers education, information and guidance Financial information and guidance on funding Learning Resources Study Skills Support including key resources on Referencing and Plagiarism Welcome to the British College of Osteopathic Medicine The British College of Osteopathic Medicine (BCOM) was founded in 1936 and has been training osteopaths in London ever since. It is among the premier UK osteopathic education institutions and was the first to achieve a validated honours degree in osteopathic medicine and “approval without conditions” RQ status from the General Osteopathic Council.
A holistic approach to osteopathy is central to the philosophy of the College. The purpose of BCOM’s courses is to guide student osteopaths through the acquisition of basic science and osteopathic technique skills towards an integrated clinical appraisal of patients. This allows the formulation of safe, effective, rational and caring treatment plans for as beneficial an outcome as is feasible in a given situation. This may be summarised by the following aims:- To ensure that graduates acquire adequate clinical competence via a self-critical approach to integrated, learned skills.
To promote an attitude of inquiry and the maintenance of this attitude into professional life to keep abreast of current knowledge. To instil a research ethos into practitioners of holistic Osteopathy. To increase access to osteopathic training to all those with a declared desire and appropriate academic qualifications. Osteopathy was founded on the principle that an intimate relationship exists between the structure and function of the human body.
There are considered to be three main elements central to this principle (see below), each of which is fundamentally related to the innate and acquired protective mechanisms of the body. The function of these mechanisms, particularly that of the immunological system, and their action in terms of stress is of particular importance to total health and is therefore of central importance in the teaching and philosophy of all BCOM courses. The three main elements are based upon the premise that: 1. The physical structure or anatomy of the body relates to its physiological function.
The biochemical or nutritional structure of the body relates to its physiological function. Academic Partnerships Student Handbook (UK) 2019-20 Page 6 of 51 Last Saved 21/08/2019 3. The emotional or mental structure of the individual relates to the psychosomatic function and therefore the physiological function of the individual. The central principle of a structural and functional relationship is woven into the academic and clinical fabric of these osteopathic courses.
Each element is interdependent upon the others and an individual cannot function healthily if any of the three is compromised. This philosophy forms the basis of osteopathic practice at BCOM. Although osteopathy is associated with physical medicine and specifically with the musculo- skeletal system, it has far wider applications to visceral and holistic practice. It maintains the fundamental premise of patient contact with "hands on" practice whilst including nutritional, dietetic and counselling support.
The patient-practitioner rapport is therefore close, with the practitioner utilising academic knowledge together with clinical skills for complete patient support. Note: The information in this handbook should be read in conjunction with the current edition of: Your Programme Quality Handbook o available at: https://www.uk/osteonet/document-type/regulations-and- handbooks/ Your Module Teaching, Learning and Assessment Guides o available at: https://www.uk/osteonet/document-type/regulations-and- handbooks/ University of Plymouth’s Student Handbook available at: https://www.uk/your-university/governance/student-handbook Academic Partnerships Student Handbook (UK) 2019-20 Page 7 of 51 Last Saved 21/08/2019 Staff / Student Communication Extension Contact for Name Email address number Dr Kerstin Programme lead, Rolfe Principal krolfe@bcom.uk 340 Study skills Practical class Manoj Mehta Head of Osteopathy mm@bcom.uk 333 issues Student issues, learning support, extenuating Alice Hughes Registrar ahughes@bcom.uk 330 circumstances Dr Caroline Library issues, study Green Librarian cgreen@bcom.uk 230 skills Jemma Sager Head of Clinic jsager@bcom.uk 234 Clinic issues Facilities & Estates Report IT problems, Paul Fayker Manager pfayker@bcom.uk 324 facilities problems BCOM staff will communicate with students in the following ways: Student BCOM Email address Institution extranet/ intranet / virtual learning environment (Osteonet - https://www.uk/osteonet/browse/). All module information is available on Osteonet under ‘Syllabus’, assessment schedule can be found under Registry and all coursework guidelines can be found under lecture handouts under the appropriate module name. Plymouth University Student Portal (see section below) Programme Notice-Board Front page of Osteonet Programme Management Dr Kerstin Rolfe – Principal and Head of Department RGN, BSc (Hons), PhD (Molecular Pathology), LLM (Medical Law and Ethics), MBA Modules: MOST4015 Gastro-intestinal system, nutrition and bio-chemistry MOST4017 Physiology MOST5013 Exercise Physiology MOST5014 Functional Nutrition MOST6014 Paediatrics MOST6015 Psychology MOST7009 Clinical Psychology Email: krolfe@bcom.uk Dr Kerstin Rolfe started her career as a nurse working on a busy gynaecological ward at the Royal Free Hospital.
Her interest in research grew when she was appointed as a MRC Clinical Research Nurse to project-manage a multi-centred surgical trial and a pharmaceutical trial. During this time she undertook a part-time BSc (Hons) in Biological Sciences from Birkbeck College. Her working career moved to running an ovarian scanning unit for women at high risk of developing ovarian cancer. Following attainment of her BSc (Hons) she was awarded a scholarship to undertake a PhD in molecular pathology in a gynaecological cancer unit which she did at the Royal Free Hospital whilst registered at UCL.