Help and advice
Studying
Paying your tuition fees
If you are unable to pay your tuition fees in one go, you can set up a Recurring Card Payment Plan (RCP) to split the fees into instalments. Get more details online.
If you are in financial difficulty and struggling to pay your tuition fees, please log a SID enquiry to the Accounts Receivable team.
Reading lists
The library should stock the materials you need for each module, so it’s worth checking there first, before you buy books on your reading list. If you can’t find something, do ask the staff to see if it’s something we can stock – they’re keen to help. Your reading list, or other guidance from your module lead/department, should specify if some reading is optional. Please contact your library team if there is something you need that is not available.
Warm study spaces
If you’re looking for somewhere on campus which is heated in the winter months, there are lots of study space options on our campuses to help you keep warm this winter.
Truro campus (The Knowledge Spa)
The common room is a great place for you to keep warm and study. There’s comfy seating, plus tables for eating or working and a kitchen area to prepare food and drinks, with free hot water.
You can plan ahead and book a study space at the Knowledge Spa library. They have study spaces where you can work individually or in groups, casual areas for reading or small group discussions, University networked PCs, and power sockets available for your own devices. You can also apply to have out of hours access to the Knowledge Spa library if you need, when you’re a registered user.
Penryn campus
The library is open for you 24/7 and you can walk in and grab a seat in the libraries, learning lounges and other social spaces, including the Stannary and Fox Courtyard on the Falmouth campus (you don't have to buy anything to use the cafe spaces). There are choices for groups, solo working, and silent study in the libraries on both the Penryn and Falmouth campuses.
You can plan ahead and book a Group Study Room or a Silent Study Desk in Penryn Library via the Planon App. Find out how here.
You are also welcome to use any seminar room on Penryn campus that is not being used for teaching – check the screen above the door to see if it’s free, or use the Free Space Checker to find a room.
Find Penryn campus study spaces and opening times.
If you’re studying on campus, or travelling to and from home, at night please stay safe. Avoid travelling alone, try to stay with a group of friends if possible, and stick to busier and well-lit areas. In an emergency, call 999 or contact Campus Safety and Support if you’re on Penryn campus, through the SafeZone app or their emergency line 01326 254444.
Check in with SafeZone
Make sure you’ve downloaded the SafeZone app to quickly contact Campus Safety and Support should you need them when you’re on Penryn campus. If you’re staying late, or working alone or in hazardous areas, you can use the check in feature so that the team know where you are or the check in timer that raises an alert automatically if you get into difficulties and can’t use your phone.
Find out more about checking in on SafeZone.
Warm up in local libraries
Your local libraries are great options if you want to save money and work in the warm when you’re not on campus. They’re free to use, have free WiFi and public computers if you need them, or just offer a comfy place to chill out and read a book.
Penryn Library, St Thomas Street.
Open Monday to Thursday 09:00 - 17:00, and Friday 09:00 to 16:30.
Penryn Library has free Wi-Fi and a hot desk area where you can charge your laptop or mobile, four public computers that are free to use and plenty of areas to sit.
You can bring refreshments into the library (as long as you clean up afterwards).
Falmouth Library, the Moor
Open 09:30 to 17:00 Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, 09:00 to 13:00 Wednesday and Saturday.
Falmouth Library is right in the centre of town and easily accessible. They have five public computers, free Wi-Fi and printing and copying services available. There are tables for working on a laptop, and also some soft seating. Plus jigsaws and board games, and of course plenty of books.
Truro Community Library, Union Place
Open Monday to Friday 09:00 to 17:00, and Saturday 10:00 to 16:00.
Truro Library has free WiFi, seating, 10 public computers and scanning, printing and copying facilities. They also have a cafe on site and a community garden where you can sit and read or just relax.
Extensions and deferrals of assessments and exams (Mitigation)
If you need to have an extension to an assignment, or delay taking an exam, you have to apply for what’s called mitigation. The reasons for mitigation usually cover things like illness or family emergency. We’re very conscious that for some students the Cost of Living situation will add extra pressure at this time. As a result, we’ve worked with the Students’ Guild and Students' Union to change our policies, so if financial circumstances are impacting directly on your ability to engage with teaching and learning activities, and/or complete your assessments, this is now included as a reason you can apply for mitigation, this year.