Student FAQs
In the summer of 2012, the greatest sporting event on earth arrives on our doorstep. It’s an exciting time for the whole UK and for London in particular. Inevitably, such a massive event will cause considerable disruption across the capital and the University is no different. Staff and students of the University are looking forward to the Olympics and the opportunities and benefits they will bring but along with the rest of London it also raises practical issues and changes that we all need to think about.
We’ve consulted widely with students and staff and tried to think of everything. This FAQ has been specially prepared with input from students and staff across the university to make sure that you know exactly details about opportunities, benefits and special arrangements for the Games in order that you can get the most from the events and minimise any disruption to your studies and summer break.
University staff have been discussing the arrangements for the games with lecturers and students since 2010, but if you are not sure how the Games will affect you, or if you want to find out the latest information, please take a look at the questions below... We have tried to think of everything, but we won’t have thought of everything so if you have another question contact details are at the bottom of this webpage.
- The Olympic and Paralympic Games are coming to London – what does this mean?
- How is UEL involved in the London Olympics 2012?
- Being involved in the Games would be a great experience and helpful for my CV so how can I get involved in London 2012 preparations and support?
- What are the important dates I need to know?
- What's happening to the academic year?
- What are the benefits of hosting games-time partners?
- Who are UEL's Olympic Partners?
- Will students have access to UEL while partners are on campus?
- Will any parts of the campus be off limits?
- What are the library opening times?
- What dates will UEL's SportsDock be closed?
- How will Semester C students on Masters courses access resources and staff?
- Will students have access to the car parks?
- How can Student Services support be accessed during the summer?
- Will parents have access to nursery facilities?
- Who should students contact for further support and information?
- How can I keep track of developments and the latest news?
- If a UEL student wins a Gold medal live in front of 1 billion people will we have a big party?
- Contact details
The Olympic and Paralympic Games are coming to London – what does this mean?
It means daily disruption across London on a massive scale. During summer 2012 the world’s eyes will be on east London for the Olympic and Paralympic Games. An expected 8 million visitors will come to London and with the excitement comes many challenges, such as disruption to transport and heightened security arrangements. We know that pedestrian crossings will be affected, some stations will be closed and a large number of venues will be let for private hire making travel very difficult. , While businesses, local retailers, schools, colleges and universities such as UEL are doing everything they can to face these challenges, they are also embracing the opportunities the Games bring. UEL is no different. It is important to recognise that the Olympic Games will cause disruption on a huge scale across the whole of London, particularly east London. For example, the official estimate for just changing trains on the DLR is 90 minutes. This means that a journey from Stratford to Docklands that would normally take 20 minutes would take at least two hours.
How is UEL involved in the London Olympics 2012?
UEL is providing a host of opportunities for its students, including both paid and volunteer work in and around the Olympic Park. You may already have successfully applied for one of these roles or know someone who has. We’ll also be playing host to a number of Olympic and Paralympic partners. Because of our recent achievements in sport and our special sport scholarship and support programme, some of our current students are scheduled to be part of the Olympic trials in several top events. If they do make the UK team, you can be sure we will let you know when they are competing, and hopefully beating, the best athletes on the planet. If you want to be kept up to date on the participation of UEL students and graduates in the Olympics games follow us on twitter or facebook.
Being involved in the Games would be a great experience and helpful for my CV so how can I get involved in London 2012 preparations and support?
The University has arranged a variety of opportunities, in sport, retail, security, journalism, broadcasting, photography and media. Some work is voluntary, most is paid. For the latest opportunities, please visit https://www.uel.ac.uk/secure/eet/students/olympic/index.htm or emailvolunteering@uel.ac.uk. New opportunities might arise nearer the games time so please check regularly.
What are the important dates I need to know?
The actual Olympic Games take place between 27 July – 12 August and 29 August – 9 September (Paralympics). Across east London you will start to see significant disruption from around mid-July as final preparations are made to stadia, road routes, security, training events and increased media presence. From a student’s point of view the key dates are as follows:
- 7 May – Exams
- 2-6 July – Exam re-sits
- 2 July – First partners arrive. Access to some parts of the campuses, including SportsDock, will be restricted from 9 July.
- 27 July – Libraries physically closed (see www.uel.ac.uk/lls/libraryandolympics/) but all online and telephone services are fully available. All UEL student access to other London libraries are fully available (however please check in advance if you want to use libraries anywhere within five miles of central London).
- 27 July – 12 August – Olympic Games. Students are very strongly encouraged to make alternative arrangements to coming on to campus due to the travel disruption and limited staff on campus. If you need access to campus during this time, please notify your registrar in advance, as he/she will need to ensure there is sufficient cover and that the appropriate facilities are made available. Don’t forget to carry your student ID card at all times as there are heightened security measures on campus. Please check back with your school in May to check what arrangements have been made based on the requirements put forward by students in your school. Please be aware that journeys from outside east London to either Docklands or Stratford could take up to three hours during this period. This could be increased by up to a further hour if there is inclement weather.
- 13 August – Libraries re-open. Full on-site service and full continuation of online services.
- 29 August – 9 September – Paralympic Games - This period will involve lower levels of disruption than during the Olympic Games, but still a higher level of disruption than normal at this time of the year.
- 12 September – All partners vacated. Students have access to all parts of the campuses.
- 17 September – New student induction
What’s happening to the academic year?
As you already know, the University has put a lot of work in to making sure that none of this affects your ability to get to campus during exam time. We want to ensure that you don’t face the additional stress of games-time travel while sitting exams. To minimise disruption, the academic calendar has been revised for this year, but not shortened. Most significantly, the second semester has been brought forward slightly so exams can start on 7 May, with re-sit exams from 2 July.
What are the benefits of hosting games-time partners?
Agreements with each partner provide something that students, current and future, will get to enjoy during games-time and after the Games. Our partnerships will lead to new opportunities for students, staff and the local community. Benefits for students include:
- Volunteer games-time roles
- Paid games-time roles
- Scholarships and bursaries
- State-of-the-art equipment in SportsDock.
- Higher levels of publicity for UEL its students, its research and its participation in the Games.
Who are UEL’s Olympic Partners?
Given the University’s prime location for the London games (not just for the Olympic Park but for the Excel arenas) and given our considerable investment in sports infrastructure, UEL has been able to choose from a range of potential sporting partners. We have approved applications from partners who are world leaders, are prepared to work with our staff and students, and who are prepared to contribute to post-games development (‘legacy’).
- ASICS are a leading international sportswear company who will be setting up a centre in the Great Hall of the Stratford Campus. We selected ASICS due to their generous support for five years to provide scholarships and bursaries.
- British Swimming will take up residence at the Docklands campus. We selected British Swimming because we are keen to support our home country and because of the excellent working relationship we have had with them over the years, as a partner in their national online training programmes.
- The lead authority for the games, LOCOG, chaired by UEL Honorary Doctorate Lord Seb Coe will use on-site accommodation and work with student volunteers in the Olympic Park. We selected LOCOG (London Organising Committee of the Olympic Games) because they are the lead authority for the Games and approached UEL in 2004 when they were developing the bid for the Games.
- IOC (International Olympic Committee) accredited journalists. These are reporters from the world’s leading media agencies, newspapers and TV stations. We expect journalists from over 60 countries to be represented. We selected IOC journalists because of the opportunities to showcase UEL and provide opportunities for our journalism programme and other students.
- SSC (Team Singapore) will stage a recovery centre and athletes lounge at the Stratford campus, with medics lodging on site. We selected SSC for a number of reasons. As a smaller nation they are hoping to win their very first gold medal at these games and we are keen to help them do it.
- USOC (Team USA) will use both campuses for residence and logistics. US athletes will be training at SportsDock. We selected Team USA as they are, by almost any international sporting index, the world’s leading squad for Olympic sports. They have committed to a range of community related engagements and have agreed to equip our SportsDock with some of most advance state of the art training equipment available anywhere in the world after the games. Several members of Team USA have already visited UEL over the past two years promoting participation in sport and engagement in the Olympics.
These partnerships offer an array of exciting opportunities for students during games-time and after the Olympic and Paralympic Games (see benefits below). As a University with staff and students from over 120 countries worldwide it’s wholly appropriate for UEL to host athletes, coaches, officials and journalists from all around the world.
Will students have access to UEL while partners are on campus?
As a general rule students will not be able to come onto campus as normal. You must notify your registrars in advance so that they can make arrangements for you. However, due to transport issues that will affect students and staff, our services on campus will be limited during games-time. If you are an accredited volunteer or employed by an official Olympic body you will have accreditation to give you access.
Distance learning students will be granted access to Docklands campus to attend in person to sit exams between 14 and 17 August (after the Olympics but within the overall Games period). Please ensure that you allow enough travel time.
Due to the heightened security on campus during the Olympic Games, we strongly encourage students to make arrangements ahead of 27 July – 12 August. If you need access during the Olympics you will be able to make arrangements to do this by contacting your school registrar by the end of Semester B. If you need to make these arrangements after Semester B there will be a central helpdesk who will be answering student queries and supporting students to make these arrangements.
Will any parts of the campus be off limits?
Inevitably, access to the areas in use by partners will be subject to highly restricted security-controlled access throughout the summer break. This access will only be for officially accredited games-time users.
What are the library opening times?
All three libraries will be physically closed throughout the Olympic fortnight, 27 July – 12 August. Online services will remain open. We have measures in place to ensure minimal inconvenience to students.
Services available
- Ask a Librarian – our popular online chat and email service will be available throughout the whole closure period. Exact times to be confirmed.
- Access to e-books, online journals, databases and digital archives – all students and staff will have access to these resources 24/7 through Library Search. Make sure your Athens password is up-to-date as you will not be able to access all resources without it. See our Athens page for more information about your Athens account.
- Library loans – all students and staff will b e able to borrow an increased number of books and DVDs through the summer months. The extended summer load period will run from May until October.
- Inter-library loans/document delivery – We are aiming to provide an inter-library loan service with articles delivered electronically during this period. Further details will follow.
- Access to other libraries – through the Sconul Access Scheme all UEL students and staff can visit other libraries in London. Nearer the time, we’ll publish a list of libraries that are open and their specialisms.
- Fines – all fines on overdue books will be suspended from 9th July – 13th August
Services unavailable
Unfortunately, during the 2.5 weeks closure, we won’t be able to offer: loans; requests for books (from 5th July), DVDs or laptops; study space; printed journals; inter-library loan books; printing or photocopying. From Monday 9th July, only UEL students and staff will be allowed access to the library.
What dates will UEL’s SportsDock be closed?
SportsDock will be closed to students on 9 July and will reopen on 16 August.
How will Semester C students on Masters courses access resources and staff?
We’ve consulted widely with staff and students and tried to think of everything. Masters students during Semester C (summer semester) have not been overlooked. Every effort will be made to support Masters students during the summer. Individual discussions are ongoing with relevant schools, and Masters students will be informed as soon as possible. Students with specific concerns should please contact their school registrar in advance. This group is small enough to make it possible to set up bespoke arrangements. If you fall into this category please speak to your tutor as soon as possible.
Will students have access to the car parks?
This question is perhaps rather theoretical since students do not normally have access to the staff car parks and the journey times to anywhere in central or east London will be ridiculously long. Access for disabled drivers will be unaffected. However, we cannot emphasise enough that trying to drive to campuses during Games time may take up to TWO or THREE HOURS longer than would normal be the case. Please also be aware the the AA and the RAC have indicated that response time in the event of a breakdown may be up to FIVE times longer than might normally be the case.
How can Student Services support be accessed during the summer?
Given the expected severe problems with public transport, we aim to provide most support off-campus or online. Click here for more information.
Will parents have access to nursery facilities?
As per usual, nursery provision will be available in term-time only. The full nursery schedule can be found here
Who should students contact for further support and information?
Please email your questions to 2012studentenquiries@uel.ac.uk.
How can I keep track of developments and the latest news?
We will have special webpages in the run up to the Olympics which you can access via our home page www.uel.ac.uk
Regular updates will be featured in Your Universe. Also you can follow all the latest UEL Sports news on our Twitter feed and at our Facebook Page
If a UEL student wins a Gold medal live in front of 1 billion people will we have a big party?
Yes.
Contact details
School of Architecture, Computing and Engineering
020 8223 2041
ace@uel.ac.uk
School of Arts and Digital Industries
020 8223 6278
e.c.davis@uel.ac.uk
School of Combined Honours
020 8223 2575
combined.honours@uel.ac.uk
Royal Docks Business School
020 8223 2256
rdbshelpdesk@uel.ac.uk
Cass School of Education and Communities
020 8223 3112
e.helpdesk@uel.ac.uk
Graduate School
020 8223 6274
c.lake@uel.ac.uk
School of Health, Sport and Bioscience
020 8223 4066
D.M.Okelly@uel.ac.uk
School of Law and Social Sciences
020 8223 2114
p.berwick@uel.ac.uk
School of Psychology
020 8223 4418
psychology@uel.ac.uk
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