Although the courses last for one year, students are allowed a further two years to submit their dissertation. The Department and University should review the regulations for the submission of dissertations. The Department has an impressive student support system. Each student is assigned a personal or primary tutor. Tutorials have both an academic and a pastoral role and occur once a week in the first year, and fortnightly during the second year.
Attendance is mandatory so that both welfare and progress can be monitored.
Tutorials support lectures through a carefully integrated programme of coursework and serve to identify any personal problems. Students can be referred to the departmental Advice Centre, year tutors or Central Student Services. In the case of joint honours students, the pastoral role is assumed by a stream tutor who liaises with other departments if necessary. In the third and fourth years, the tutorial role is largely taken over by the project supervisor, although a student may continue to consult his or her personal tutor. A highly commendable feature in the Department is the confidential Student Advice Service which is manned by members of staff who are trained volunteer counsellors.