STUDENTS' MANUAL AND FAQs
Department of Electronic and Electrical Engineering
University College London
Last updated: March 2004
Every effort is made to keep the information in this manual correct, but the UCL Regulations and other information described here must always be checked with the UCL Registry.University College London cannot accept any responsibility for the consequences of errors that may be present.
Index
1. Introduction
1.1. The UCL Registry links
1.2. The UCL web site links
1.3. The Departmental web site links
2. Departmental and UCL locations
2.1. The Department
2.2. The UCL site
3. Communications
3.1. Communications in the E&E Engineering department
3.2. FAQs about mail and e-mail
4. Degree programmes, course units and academic progression
4.1. Overview and aims
4.2. Extra-mural year and international year
4.3. Programmes and courses
4.4. Syllabuses
4.5. Progression and degree regulations
4.6. FAQs about degrees, courses and progression
5. Course delivery
5.1. Lectures and problem classes
5.2. Tutorials
5.3. Laboratory and computing classes
5.4. FAQs about lectures and tutorials, coursework and laboratories
6. Attendance
7. Coursework
7.1. Coursework deadlines, submission and returns procedures
7.2. Penalties for late submission
7.3. Incomplete coursework
7.4. Plagiarism
7.5. Mid-sessional tests
8. Projects
8.1. Third and fourth year projects
8.2. Procedures for dealing with problems
9. Examinations
9.1. Examination procedures
9.2. The examination grades
9.3. Retaking examinations
9.4. Examination mark capping
9.5. Examination irregularities (cheating)
9.6. FAQs about examinations
10. Careers and vacation work
10.1. Useful links for vacation placements
10.2. Useful links for careers
11. Problems and pitfalls
11.1. Personal and financial problems
11.2. Academic problems
12. Safety
13. Student societies and professional institutions
14. Useful UCL contacts
15. Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
15.1. FAQs general topics
15.2. FAQs about mail and e-mail
15.3. FAQs about degrees, courses and progression
15.4. FAQs about lectures and tutorials, coursework and laboratories
15.5. FAQs about examinations
1. Introduction
This purpose of this manual is to give students in E&E Engineering definitive information about Departmental and University procedures. It also answers several of the most commonly asked questions.
It is recommended that students place a link to this page on the desktop of their personal PCs so that it is readily available when questions arise.
To create the link to the web page using Windows Explorer follow the following steps:
Step 1: Open the page in Windows Explorer
Step 2: In the File menu (top left) select SendShortcut to Desktop
It is also possible to download and save the whole page. Open the page in Windows Explorer and from the File menu select Save As …. . The type of file selected for the Save should be Web Page, HTML Only.
1.1. The UCL Registry links
The definitive source of information and UCL regulations for students isUCL Registry There, it is possible to find the regulations for every aspect of academic life at UCL including:
Term Dates The dates when students are required to attend
Enrolment and Student Record Administration e.g. how to notify changes of address
Programme of Study Information e.g. absence, academic regulations, coursework, changing programmes of study
Examinations and Qualifications e.g. exam entry and re-entry, withdrawal from exams, past papers, exam dates, exam transcripts
Tuition Fees
Financial Support and Prizes e.g. hardship funds, hardship loans
Facilities, Services and Events
Support and Welfare e.g. careers service, counselling service, rights and advice, Dean of Students’ office
Health and Safety
Policies, Rights and Responsibilities e.g. rules on part time employment, computer use and misuse, complaints procedure
Links to the summary version and the full text version of the Academic Regulations (“Blue Book”) are as follows. It is best to look in the summary first to find out which are the relevant section of the full text.
Blue Book summary
Blue Book full text
The Blue Book states the regulations on the following topics:
Length of study for a full-time undergraduate degree at UCL
Minimum number of course-units for a degree
Interruption of study
Change of course-unit/programme of study
Taking the same qualification again
Entry to examinations
Withdrawal from examinations
Resits
Illness
Debt
Appeal
Notification of results
1.2. The UCL web site links
The main UCL web site includes:
Accommodation
Contacts
Facilities e.g. library, language centre
International Students e.g. immigration, visas and working in the UK
Maps
Registry
Study Abroad
"Talkabout" - Discussion Forum Shared experiences and hints about finding accommodation, dealing with debt
Term Dates
Welfare and Support
UCL Union
Quick Links to:
Careers Service
Information Systems
Library Services
Past Exam Papers
Registry
UCL Union
1.3. The Departmental web site links
The E&E Engineering Departmental web site includes
Directories and people information
Telephone List
Staff Email search
Staff telephone search
Discussion forum Minutes from student-staff meetings and responses from lecturers (requires EE password)
Services
Computing support pages
Electronic teaching laboratories
Safety information
Web Calendar Computer room availability, staff diaries, room bookings (requires EE password)
Timetables
Timetable - Term 1 Weeks 1 to 12
Timetable - Term 2 Weeks 13 to 23
Undergraduate information
Undergraduate courses
First and second year Courses on offer, syllabuses
Third and fourth year Courses on offer, allowed options, syllabuses
Project informationInformation on third year projects
Third year projects: Guidelines on third year projects
Fourth year projects: Guidelines on fourth year projects
Project abstract submission: Printout standard project abstracts
Laboratory reports, Guidelines and advice in writing undergraduate laboratory class reports
Flemingo Society Information about the Departmental Student Society
2. Departmental and UCL locations
2.1. The Department
Map of E&E Engineering
Department of E&E Engineering, University College London, Torrington Place, London WC1E 7JE
Engineering building is in Torrington Place, the 66-72 Gower Street building annex is in Gower street.
Tutor’s office: Tutors’ and lecturers’ phone numbers and office locations can be found here
E&E Engineering Barlow Room: Engineering Building, 8th floor
E&E Engineering Computing laboratory: Engineering Building, 7th floor
E&E Engineering Departmental Office: Engineering Building, Room 705 (7th floor)
E&E Engineering Marconi Room: Engineering Building, 11th floor
E&E Engineering Undergraduate laboratory: Engineering Building, 6th floor
E&E Engineering Undergraduate pigeonholes (mail boxes): Engineering Building, 6th floor
E&E Engineering first year lockers (first come-first served, ask in the Faculty Office): Engineering Building, 5th floor
E&E Engineering second and third year lockers (first come-first served): Room 302, Gower street building
E&E Engineering second year lecture room: Room 302, Gower Street Building
E&E Engineering third year lecture room: Room G02, Gower Street Building
Engineering students’ common room: Engineering Building, 5th floor
Faculty Office: Engineering Building, 1st floor
Fleming lecture theatre: Engineering Building, 1st floor
UCL ISD computing cluster: Engineering Building, 5th floor
2.2 The UCL site
Map of Gower Street site
Anatomy Lecture Theatre: Anatomy building on Gower St, entrance marked "Biological Sciences"
AV Hill lecture theatre: First floor, Medical Sciences and Anatomy building. Approach from the Medical Science Arch entrance (near Foster Court), not from the Gower Street entrance.
Cruciform lecture theatre: Basement of Cruciform Building, Gower Street
Haldane Lecture Theatre:MRC Human Biochemical Genetics Unit, Wolfson House, UCL, 4 Stephenson Way. It is best to cross Euston Road via Euston Square Tube Station, into North Gower Street which is a continuation of Gower Street. Turn first right into Stephenson Way.
Lankester lecture theatre: Ground floor, Medawar Building, next to Foster Court
Directions to rooms used for Computer Science lectures are given here.
3. Communications
3.1 Communications in the E&E Engineering department
The channels used for communication with undergraduate students are:
E-mail:E-mail must be checked every day. E-mail must not be abused; abuse will lead to the cancellation of a student’s E&E Engineering computer account.
Web calendar:Social events, coursework deadlines, dates of tests and mid-sessional exams and work target dates are posted in the Departmental web calendar under Services in the main EE web site. An E&E Engineering user name and password are needed.
Internal mail:Undergraduate pigeon holes (mail boxes) are in the 6th floor corridor in the Engineering Building. These pigeonholes are not secure and should not be used for valuable items or important mail.
Notice Board:7th floor (outside room 705).
In writing:Letters may be sent either to students’ home addresses or to the term-time address; for example, exam results will be mailed by Registry. Students whose addresses have changed should inform Registry.
Discussion Forum:The student-staff Discussion Forum posts the reports, responses and discussions of the student-staff committee. It can be accessed at >Discussion Forums. An E&E Engineering user name and password are needed for access.
3.2 FAQs about mail and e-mail
4. Degree programmes, course units and academic progression
4.1 Overview
The MEng programmes require four years of study and may include specialization in years 3 and 4 in either communications engineering or computer science. The MEng programmes on offer are:
Electronic Engineering with Communications Engineering
Electronic Engineering with Computer Science
Electronic and Electrical Engineering
Electronic and Electrical Engineering (International Programme)
A three year BEng programme is also offered in Electronic and Electrical Engineering
The first and second year are mandatory and common to all programmes. The programmes are therefore interchangeable until the end of the second year.
4.2 Extra-mural year and international year
Students may spend a year in industry under the Extramural Year scheme, which must be taken in the penultimate year. (A UCL ISD user name and password are need to view the Extramural year scheme page because it is in the UCL Intranet.). The guidelines indicatean extra-mural year on attachment to an organization or institution approved by the School as having a function relevant and suitable to the field of study. For instance, it allows students to take a year in industry in the UK or in another country with an approved company. The proposed programme of work must be approved by the Department and Faculty. One way of finding such opportunities is through the YinI scheme.
It is possible to spend a year as part of a four year programme studying in the USA, Australia or in continental Europe. Visit the Study Abroad web site for further information. The proposed programme of study must be approved by the Department and Faculty. Students taking an international year receive a degree calledMEng in Electronic and Electrical Engineering (International Programme). It is not possible, however, to combine an international year with a specialization in communications engineering or computer science.
4.3 Programmes and courses
The MEng and BEng degree programmes and the course components are on-line in the Courses Information pages.
4.4 Syllabuses
Syllabuses can be downloaded by right-clicking on the following links and selecting Save Target As ….
First year
Second year
Third and fourth year
4.5 Progression and degree regulations
Progression through the MEng or BEng programme is covered by the Scheme of Award document published by the E&E Engineering Board of Examiners. A copy is held in the Faculty Office. In outline, the requirements are:
Courses taken:
First year – 8 courses each worth one half course unit (c.u.)
Second year – 8 courses each worth one half c.u
Third year – 6 courses each worth one half c.u. and a project worth one c.u
Fourth year – 5 courses each worth one half c.u. and a project worth 1.5 c.u
Progression:
To move from first to second year - 3 course units out of a possible total of 4
To proceed to the MEng degree - Average of 50% and 7 units out of 8 at the end of second year
To continue with the BEng degree - 6 units out of 8 at the end of second year
To move from third to fourth year (MEng only) - 10 course units out of a possible 12
Award of degree:
At least 9 units out of 12 (for BEng courses)
At least 14 units out of 16 (for MEng courses)
Classification of degrees
The degree is classified according to the weighted average of all exam results throughout the degree programme. The weighting of first, second, third and fourth year is 1:2:4:4 (MEng) and 1:2:4 (BEng)
Average is 70% or above – 1st class
Average is between 60% and 70% - Upper second
Average is between 50% and 60% - Lower second
Average is below 50% - Third class
Average is below 40% - Pass
Too few units (see above) - Fail
Field of study:
If the third and/or fourth year projects are not passed on the first attempt the degree awarded will be in Engineering Studies, not an Electronic Engineering degree.
Transfer:
All undergraduate courses offered by the Electronic and Electrical Engineering Department comply with the European Credit Transfer System. Most courses within the Electrical & Electronic Engineering Department are 0.5 UCL Course Units (7.5 ECTS Credits).The course load within a typical academic year is 4.0 UCL Course Units which equates to 60 ECTS Credits.
4.6FAQs about degrees, courses and progression
5. Course delivery
5.1 Lectures and problem classes
The times, locations and lecturers of courses are shown in the on-line timetable in the E&E Engineering web page at and directions to lecture locations in buildings other than the Engineering Building can be found in section 2 of these notes.
Lectures typically last 45 minutes to one hour. The work required, besides attending all the lectures is:
Two hours work on preparation and review for every one hour lecture;
Working through every problem and exercise set by the lecturer;
One hour of study per lecture when revising for the examination;
Practicing on past papers in preparation for the examination.
It is not possible to get a good class of degree without putting in at least the above amount of work.
Problem classes are run from time to time, the lecturer will indicate the schedule.
5.2 Tutorials
First and second year students have a personal tutor. Tutors are members of academic staff and each tutor is responsible for about eight students who they see once or twice per week in timetabled tutorial periods. Tutorials are mandatory and attendance records are kept. One common use for these attendance records is when the tutor writes references because employers generally ask if a candidate is reliable and punctual (i.e. arrives on time).
Tutors can help with the following aspects of study and life at UCL:
Monitoring students’ progress and performance
Discussion of problem sheets
Introducing students to useful skills such as report writing and giving presentations
Directing students towards sources of help for personal, financial or academic problems
Providing references for job applications or postgraduate course applications.
Students should keep their tutor informed of anything that affects their studies such as personal or family problems, financial difficulties or illnesses. Alternatively, those things can be reported to the Undergraduate Tutor.
5.3 Laboratory and computing classes
Laboratory work is performed in groups of two or three students in timetabled sessions at which attendance is mandatory and is monitored. Students MUST arrive at the lab sessions on time and are required to sign a register at 10.00am and 2.00pm. The register will be available for 10 minutes after each of these times. Anyone arriving later than that will need to see a supervisor and a note of the arrival time will be made. Persistent lateness may incur mark penalties. Further detailed instructions will be provided by the academic laboratory manager.
The work required, in addition to attending all the labs is:
Preparation for practical work, e.g. by working out what the circuits will be, reviewing and understanding relevant theory
Preparation of the laboratory log book, e.g. writing the aim of the experiment, by preparing tables in which to record results
Presentation of the laboratory log book for assessment at the end of each laboratory session
Writing of the laboratory reports specified by the academic laboratory manager
Preparing presentations on the laboratory work specified by the academic laboratory manager
Computing classes in C and JAVA take place in timetabled, supervised sessions in the 7th floor computing laboratory. Attendance is mandatory and is monitored.
5.4 FAQs about lectures and tutorials, coursework and laboratories
6. Attendance
Poor attendance inevitably leads to poor academic performance. It may also lead to students being prevented from sitting one or more examinations, see the attendance page of the UCL registry. Students must be available in college during term time during the term dates specified by UCL. Part time employment must be scheduled outside of university hours and should not interfere with full-time study.
Attendance at lectures has a major impact on the outcome of the end-of-year examination. An attendance monitoring exercise in 2002/3 for the first year course E660 showed that students who attended all the lectures mainly got A-grades and none of them failed. Students who attended two or fewer of the lectures thinking they could rely on the printed lecture notes mainly failed and not one of them achieved an A-grade.
Missing lectures on a regular basis means the chances of failing courses are high. Students who find themselves in the habit of not attending are encouraged to start to consider fall-back plans for the next academic year (e.g. look for a job or apply for an easier course in another university). Such plans can be discussed with tutors or with the Undergraduate tutor.
7. Coursework
7.1 Coursework deadlines, submission and returns procedures
Deadlines for handing in coursework are given either directly during lectures, or via e-mail, and are also posted in the E&E Engineering Web Calendar. The procedure for submission is:
Attach a Departmental first year or second yearcover sheet stating