Study spaces

SALC has dedicated postgraduate study space in C Block, Ellen Wilkinson Building with a conference room, bookable meeting rooms and lockers.  The computer clusters operate on a hot-desking principle which means desks and computers are shared resources and should be available to everyone when needed. To ensure fair access for all, students are encouraged not to occupy a desk for longer than necessary or leave their belongings to reserve a spot.

Ellen Wilkinson Building

Computer Clusters

• CG.18 (40 spaces)
• C1.17 (30 spaces)
• C1.19 (9 spaces)
• C1.20 (19 spaces)

Bookable Meeting Spaces

• CG.59 – Up to 12 people
• C1.1 – Up to 6 people
• C1.4 – Up to 8 people

There is also a dining room with lounge and kitchen and an atrium for meeting and events.

If you are a DASS registered student with a support plan specifying requirements for working, please let us know at pgr-operations-SALC@manchester.ac.uk and we will do our best to accommodate these.

Faculty of Humanities Doctoral Academy and SALC PGR study spaces Ellen Wilkinson Building - C Block.

Martin Harris Centre for Music and Drama

• Room F32: Computer Suite
• Room F33: Postgraduate Common Room

SEED provides access to study space for all PGR students for the duration of their programme. The type of study space available is dependent on your year of study and level of need. 

• If you are a disabled PGR, you will be provided with the necessary study space to support you (see the section on DASS/DSE below)
• If you are a 1^st and 2^nd year PGR, you can access flexible study spaces, and can work in any of the spaces available, regardless of the department you are associated with.
• If you are in your 3^rd and 4^th year you can request a designated study space to support continuity in the final years of your degree. This request must be placed before the end of September each year and is subject to a minimum use agreement of three days per week during term time. To request a space, you should complete the form that is sent out in the summer before the start of that academic year. If you miss the chance to complete the form, please email SEEDestates@manchester.ac.uk to let them know so that they can look to allocate you a desk. Please note that those who have completed the form will be given preference when allocating desks.

PGRs with TA commitments are treated the same as other students for allocation purposes. Post-completion students who continue with TA work are not eligible for a PGR desk space.

Locations

Arthur Lewis Building

• Flexible study spaces
  These can be found clearly marked on the 1^st floor in quad B, near the Ganges meeting room.
• Designated study spaces
  Are spread throughout Arthur Lewis Building and are numbered. They are grouped by department.
• Social spaces
  • the Rhine common room (1st floor, Quad D)
  • the Rory and Elizabeth Brooks common room (1st floor, Quad B)
  • Storage

There are lockers available throughout the 1^st floor for all PGR students. To request a locker, please email SEEDestates@manchester.ac.uk.

Ellen Wilkinson Building

• Flexible study spaces
  Found in rooms: C3.28, C3.29, C3.33, C3.32. Codes for these rooms are available upon request from SEEDestates@manchester.ac.uk
• Designated study spaces
  Found in rooms: B2.2 and C3.32.
• Social spaces
  There are a number of common rooms on different floors and blocks. Please check with your supervisors and/or PGR representative.
• Storage
  There are lockers available outside room B2.2, to request access to a locker please email SEEDestates@manchester.ac.uk

Building access

The ‘standard’ access to the Arthur Lewis Building and Ellen Wilkinson Building is weekdays from 8am and the main door is locked at 6pm. It is possible to leave the building later than 6pm but you will need your swipe card to gain access after this time. All SEED postgraduate students will have out of hours access enabled for these buildings on their swipe cards.

Room bookings

If you need to book a room for the purposes of conducting your research, you should contact your PGR rep who will be able to make the booking for you. Please give at least five working days' notice. 

Other study spaces

In addition to the facilities provided by schools, other study spaces are available with advance booking. Please see websites below for more information:

• Library study spaces
• Alan Gilbert Learning Commons

DASS/DSE requirements

Any disabled PGR will be provided with the necessary study space to support them. This might require a designated study space to support certain needs and/or the provision of specialist equipment. Please register with the Disability Advisory and Support Service (DASS) to receive a bespoke plan. PGRs can also email SEEDestates@mancehster.ac.uk with any queries about additional support.

All PGRs should ensure they have an appropriate Display Screen Equipment (DSE) set up by undertaking a DSE assessment . The PGR should then contact the Operations team by emailing SEEDestates@manchester.ac.uk about administering appropriate DSE interventions. If any PGR has concerns about their set up, they should approach the SEED Operations team by emailing SEEDestates@manchester.ac.uk for support.

Your commitment

To support the management of space the following is expected of SEED PGRs:

• PGRs should keep the space clean and presentable. Under no circumstances should the space be used to store excessive amounts of personal belongings. Not only does this clutter the working environment, but also poses a safety hazard. 
• Noise should be kept to a minimum within the open plan areas. Please be respectful to other colleagues.
• Pedestals, office equipment or IT equipment should not be relocated between desks, to ensure every desk space is suitable for the next user.
• 3^rd and 4^th year PGRs must opt in for the use of designated study space and in doing so agree to the following terms:
• To be designated a study space, PGRs in years 3 and/or 4 must register their interest with the School Operations team before the end of September each year. A request form is emailed to PGRs each summer. If you have not submitted a form, but would like a desk space, please email SEEDestates@manchester.ac.uk as soon as possible. Those who have completed the form will be given preference when desks are allocated.  [KB7] 
• PGRs should use the study space on a full-time basis: at least 3 days per week during working periods. 
• PGRs who are away for fieldwork, or have a period of interruption, should inform the Operations team by emailing SEEDestates@manchester.ac.uk.[KB8]  You will likely be required to vacate the study space, on the understanding that a new study space will be reallocated upon return. 
• PGRs are to request changes to their desk allocation via their PGR rep [KB9] and await approval before re-locating. This enables clear records to be kept.
  • To maintain equity between 1^st and 2^nd year PGRs and maintain the principles of flexible study space, PGR reps will be asked to work together and with the SEED Operations team to ensure everyone has equal right to the flexible study spaces.
  • Leads in the PGR community (e.g. PGR reps) will support the SEED Operations team in maintaining records to enable the monitoring of PGRs designated spaces and assignment of designated study space to 3^rd and 4^th year PGR students. 

The School Operations team will monitor the use of study spaces. Designated spaces that are not being used in accordance with the terms above may be asked to be vacated to ensure fair use across the PGR community.

Support for study spaces

Printing issues

Paper and toner for printers can be obtained on request from the SEED School Office, SEEDSchoolOffice@manchester.ac.uk

IT problems should be reported by telephoning extension 65544, or via the IT Services website

Building issues

Urgent Estates problems (e.g. leaks, heating/cooling, lighting, etc.) should be reported to the Estates Helpdesk – 0161 275 2424 (8am – 4pm) or estates@manchester.ac.uk . Outside of these times, please ring security on 0161 306 9966 (back of you student card)

Download the SEED PGR Desk Policy.

Arthur Lewis Building and Humanities Bridgeford Street Building

Research students can use study space in the Arthur Lewis Building which is located in the open-plan areas near to where your supervisors are located. This space is organized by your Department on your arrival. Desk space is offered on a hot-desking arrangement but where we can, in years 1-3, you will be allocated your own desk space subject to resources. Please direct all room booking requests via email to sossresources@manchester.ac.uk

Williamson Building

All Law, BMJ and Criminology postgraduate research students are entitled to use of a desk and computer in one of the postgraduate research rooms in Williamson Building designated for this purpose.

However, there is only a limited number of spaces and therefore, those students who wish to take up this opportunity should email the School Operations Team on SoSS-PGR@manchester.ac.uk as early as possible and before they start to use the facilities.

The following notes will help you deal with any ‘housekeeping’ issues:

• You will be given a keypad code to the door when you are allocated to a PGR room. Do not give this code to anyone else
• Paper and toner for printers can be obtained on request (room 3.05 Williamson Building)
• IT problems should be reported by telephoning extension 65544, or via the IT Services website
• Please keep the room tidy
• Report any problems to the School Team (room 3.05)

PGR common room in Williamson Building

The School also has a common room for its postgraduate students – room 4.45, Williamson Building.

As well as providing a social space within the School, the common room also provides scanning facilities and full kitchen facilities for postgraduate students.

Please note that the kitchen facilities are the responsibility of students. If you use the kitchen facilities, please clean the area after yourself and ensure you do not leave items in the fridge past their sell-by date.

Access to Williamson Building

The ‘standard’ access to the Williamson building is from 8.30am and the main door is shut at 5.30pm. It is possible to leave the building later than 5.30pm but it is not possible to gain access after this time.

You should contact the Doctoral Academy at Hums.doctoralacademy@manchester.ac.uk with the following details if you would like 24-hour access to the Williamson building:

• Your name as it appears on your student ID card
• Your card ID number (which will be your student ID plus one digit)
• The expiry date on your student ID card

Booking a Room

Meeting rooms are available for meetings related to research by advanced booking.

For PGRs in Arthur Lewis Building, please direct all room booking requests via email to sossresources@manchester.ac.uk.

For PGRs in Williamson Building, please contact the Teaching Learning and Student Experience Office at tlseo.law@manchester.ac.uk. Please include the purpose for your booking, the size of room you require, time and date.

Each PGR at AMBS will be provided with hot desking facilities in rooms 3.112 and 3.115 in the AMBS Building.

PGR office spaces are provided for the sole purpose of facilitating your studies.  For the benefits of all PGRs and to ensure that the environment is conducive to study, it is expected that all PGRS adhere to the following:

• DO NOT leave your belongings on the desk overnight.
• Keep working area safe, clean, and clear of obstructions.
• Noise MUST be kept to a minimum.  Be considerate to your fellow colleagues.
• NO EATING in office spaces.  Please use the common room spaces provided or café areas.
• DO NOT disconnect, unplug, swap, or interfere with IT equipment or sockets.
• DO NOT plug any other devices into table sockets other than laptop chargers or mobile chargers.
• Under NO circumstances must offices be used for overnight lodgings.
• DO NOT permit unauthorised persons into the study space and report any suspicious persons or activities to University Security at 0161 306 9966.
• Fire Alarm Test is Friday at 08:30. All other times, respond appropriately and obey any instruction from security and fire marshals.
• Room Bookings: Alternative space to conduct interviews or private meetings, as well as large group meetings, can be done by contacting AMBSCONFERENCE@MANCHESTER.AC.UK

Contact PGR-OPERATIONS-AMBS@MANCHESTER.AC.UK for any of the following:

• You no longer require your allocated desk space.
• Any issue with the room such as lighting, heating, or door problems.
• If there is a problem with your chair, you require additional DSE Equipment/Support

If there is a fault with your laptop, contact IT Services at 0161 306 5544.

Display Screen Equipment (DSE)

Display Screen Equipment (DSE) refers to equipment used in the workplace such as laptops, screens and PCs. We want to ensure that you are working in a safe and comfortable environment which is why we require you to complete a DSE self-assessment.

You can find guidance on how to set up your workspace and a self-assessment form  here. You can also find further information on the HSE website.

Schools assess the risks associated with using DSE equipment by carrying out DSE surveys. For a DSE assessment or to report any issues you might have with your workstation set up please contact your School Safety Advisor on AMBS-Health-And-Safety@manchester.ac.uk