First Year Program
Welcome to the first year program
When you come to Richmond, you are choosing to enter a small community that will open up your world to a vast network of other global communities – all here in London. Your first year, especially your first few months, will be exciting and challenging, at times confusing and scary, but overall learning will occur at an incredible pace.
Richmond’s faculty and student affairs staff are here to help facilitate this learning and the transitional period students go through in their first year. Whether you have lived and studied in a number of different countries or this is the first time you have studied abroad, whether you come to us with many transfer credits or none, we recognize the importance of your “First Year Experience”. We have designed a program to help all new students adjust successfully to the academic, social and cultural demands of university life. You will work closely with faculty in the First Year Seminars and other students involved in our Student Leadership Program where you will gain knowledge and develop skills that will serve you well in your future.
Most new students live on or close to the beautiful Richmond campus in their first year. This enables our first year students to build networks easily, find their feet and enjoy the tranquil open spaces of the area while getting used to the new environment. Although students inevitably explore central London on their own, many activities are organized through the classes and the available clubs. In the Spring semester, students have the opportunity to get involved in various kinds of community service and experiential learning activities. London is a stimulating and diverse city that is a rich academic and cultural resource for whichever major degree program chosen. Students also have the opportunity to visit other parts of Britain and the European continent.
Richmond’s First Year Program has many integrated components aimed at easing the transition towards the successful completion of the degree:
New Student Orientation : This takes place the first week in September before classes begin. It is an important time for all new students to meet other students and the faculty, to get registered for classes and to get a good head start to life at Richmond - and to London in general.
First Year Seminars : All first year students must take one of the innovative new courses in the First Year Seminar (FYS) program. The 4 credit courses are taught by some of Richmond’s most dynamic faculty. These courses also provide a forum for students to engage in a series of activities aimed at developing transferable skills and ensuring academic success.
Academic Advising : Each new student is set up with a specially trained faculty member who serves as the academic adviser.
Spring Semester : In the Spring Semester students participate in special workshops related to their majors where they meet alumni and get Careers Advice. Opportunities for community service and experiential learning activities as well as planning for future internship placements are provided. Students are encouraged to make a difference and develop their leadership skills by applying for one of the various positions available in the Student Leadership Program.
Dr. Sara Chetin
Director, First Year Program
Web Bio: Sara Chetin
Email: chetins@richmond.ac.uk
