All new undergraduate students are allocated an advisor.
All new undergraduate students are allocated an advisor. Your advisor is a member of staff in your department who can help you make the most of your time at Queen Mary. They provide guidance for issues you may be experiencing (academic and non-academic).
They can also help you think about where your strengths lie and find out about the opportunities that you may benefit from while studying. You can find the name of your Advisor on MySIS.
Advising is a fundamental part of the role of academics within Schools and Institutes. Advisors can provide different types of support:
Their role is not to be an expert in all aspects of the student experience, but to listen and signpost effectively. Often your Advisor won’t be the best person to support you, but they will help you find the right people at Queen Mary depending on your needs.
Most Advisors will meet their advisees for the first time during Welcome Week often in small groups. This may well be your first meeting with an advisor, and it is ok if you have no idea as to what to expect, or what you are expected to say or do. Here are some ideas of the topics discussed in your first meeting with your advisor:
Your advisor will explain their role in the first meeting. They will help you to understand their role in relation to the other academic staff on your programme team (module convenors, programme lead) and support staff. Your advisor will let you know:
Their role is not one of a counsellor or social worker but one of supporter to provide advice or referral to help you address any difficulties students usually experience in life that may have an impact on your studies. Your advisor should also encourage you to identify for yourself what your goals and challenges are, which will help you take responsibility for your own wellbeing.
Your Advisor should set up meetings with you each Semester. If you would like to talk to them between meetings, please contact them.
Discussions will be handled sensitively, and your advisor will endeavour to respect your requests for confidentiality. However, they cannot guarantee complete confidentiality. There are circumstances in which confidentiality doesn't apply for example if you disclose a disability or a student or others may be at risk. Your advisor may also ask your permission to link your name with an issue that you have raised.
Yes. Your advisor can help you critically reflect on your academic progress and the feedback you receive and identify ways to use this feedback constructively in the future.
They can help you to determine actions for example, time management, objectives, priorities, goals and next steps. This supported process will help you take responsibility for your own learning. 
What other support is available for me?
In addition to your Advisor, there is a wide range of support available for you. Find details of our support services at Life on campus and Becoming a Queen Mary student.
Every School and Institute has a dedicated Student Support Officer who can provide advice on issues impacting your studies as well as details of your Advisor.