Next Steps: post-results help

‘Next Steps’ is a simple guide about what to do when you get your results from course assessments. You may be happy about your results, you may be disappointed, but either way, it is important to take some time to think about what to do next so you can be as successful as you can be in the coming semester.

'Next Steps' FAQs

1. Where can I find my results?

Student Self Service via the myHWU Student Portal

2. Who can I speak to about my results?

You can make an appointment with your personal tutor once you know your results, they are your first point of contact for issues you may have, especially if you are concerned with your results.

3. Where can I get feedback from?

Your School should decide what the most effective method of providing feedback will be. For example, examination feedback workshops, generic commentary (hosted on Canvas), individual student feedback sheets, one-to-one feedback from a personal tutor.

What if I haven't received any feedback?

Any issues around the provision of feedback can be raised with your class representative.

4. What should I do with the feedback I receive?

Learn from it: feedback is a vital guide on how to improve your work and do better in the future. 

Make sure you understand it: if you have any questions about the feedback, ask the lecturer or discuss this with your personal tutor.

Review and reflect: once you’ve received feedback make sure that you properly review it. Reflect on what you did well, and where you can improve in the future, and how you can use the feedback for your next assessments.  

Discuss: your school may organise feedback sessions where a lecturer will discuss the assessment/coursework. You can also talk to your fellow students about feedback you have received if you wish.

Refer back: it is useful to keep feedback that you receive throughout university, it can be good practice to refer back to it while you progress in your programme.  

Act on it: the feedback you receive is given to help you to improve in your studies. Make sure you act on it. For example, why not use some of the excellent academic resources available to you? These include the Skills Hub, or workshops organised through Wellbeing Activities.

5. Are there any resources or support available that are specific to my subject?

Check with your personal tutor for more information on what learning resources or support methods are available within your school.

6. What if I can't speak to my personal tutor?

If for any reason you cannot speak to your personal tutor, you can speak to your year coordinator, your programme director or one of the student success advisors.

7. Why would I speak to a student success advisor?

All student success advisors are recent Heriot-Watt University graduates who have the ability to draw from their own experiences as students.

They can help to identify obstacles to successful study and give advice and guidance on how to overcome them, for example they know what you might encounter in semester 2 of your course.

8. How else can I be more prepared for future semesters?

Here are some simple tips to help you in your learning:

Attending tutorials: tutorials are useful for several reasons; you may have questions about the material covered in lectures and would like to ask them in a smaller group, or you may want to check what you have previously learned. 

Checking your HW Email: your HW email is how the University will try and contact you.  Check it every day to make sure you don’t miss important information e.g. career fairs, group presentations, or course feedback sessions. Your University email can also be used as a calendar to log your timetable as well as other appointments to improve time management.

Skills development: the University is dedicated to providing students with the means of continually developing the skills required for academic success. Skills Hub Workshops are hosted across all Heriot-Watt campuses, as well as online, for students to hone and develop academic skills such as referencing.

You can also attend an academic study skills session to develop skills that are integral to success within your subject.

You can also book an appointment with a learning advisor to discuss study strategies. This is available for students at all campuses and also for distance learning students. More details can be found on the Academic Study Skills Guide page.

myHWU Student Portal: myHWU is a hub where you can locate all HW-affiliated online resources in one place. The portal is a valuable tool for accessing the numerous online resources Heriot-Watt has to offer students. It is available in both desktop form as well as on your phone, or tablet, via the myHWU app – downloadable for IPhone, and Android via the App Store, and Google Play Store, respectively.

9. Do I have grounds for an academic appeal?

An academic appeal is a formal request by a student for the review of a decision made by the University on the student’s progression, assessment or academic award. Appeals are a means for students to address an instance where the University may not have followed its own procedures or made a decision that is unfair or inappropriate in a student’s particular case. Read further details about academic appeals.

Consider the following before making an academic appeal:

• Find out which grounds are valid and which are invalid for making an academic appeal
• Know that appeals cannot be made on the basis of academic judgement (for example, thinking that your work deserves a higher grade)
• It is strongly advised that you seek advice before launching an appeal
• If there are grounds for an appeal then an effort to resolve the issue informally by talking to your personal tutor or course director is advised

What are the grounds for an academic appeal?

If you are thinking of making a formal academic appeal then check the valid and invalid grounds for making one. Also check the existing frequently asked question (FAQs) about the academic appeals process.

The Student Union Advice Hub offers independent advice, support, and assistance to students who would like to submit an academic appeal. You can send an email to advice.hub@hw.ac.uk to schedule an appointment with one of the advice hub advisors.