ECS Taster Course Handbook 

Note: this section only applies to those who have paid for an extra night's accommodation in order to arrive on Sunday 27th July.

Registration and Check-In will be at Chamberlain Halls, SO16 3RD (more precisely: at 50.941935, -1.402841), which is part of the Glen Eyre Halls complex. Registration and check-in is open from 1400-1800. On arrival, you will be given a name badge (which you should wear for the week), and you will be able to check into your room with your luggage. If you are going to be arriving late, please contact us in advance on the Taster Course telephone number, which has been emailed to you. 

Travel and Parking

If you are arriving by car, please use either the drop-off parking next to the check-in location, or the roadside parking nearby. If you are arriving by train, the U2B bus from Southampton Central will take you to Glen Eyre Halls directly. For further information about bus services in Southampton, visit https://www.unilinkbus.co.uk/. Please note that we are unable to offer any parking facilities to students, outside of blue badge holders and other exceptional circumstances.

Glen Eyre Halls are three miles from Southampton Central Railway Station and two miles from Southampton Airport Parkway Railway Station. You can continue your journey to the Highfield campus from the bus and train stations using our own Unilink bus service or by taxi (fares from the city centre are around £15). We would recommend to tell the driver that you want to go to Glen Eyre Halls, just to make sure you are on the right bus. You are able to pay using contactless card payment.

A useful map of the University and surrounding area can be found at https://maps.southampton.ac.uk/ - use the "Layers" menu (top-right) to show a range of useful locations.

All members of the course are required to follow the following Code of Conduct at all times:

1. Students must wear their ID Badges at all times.
2. The possession or use of alcohol, tobacco, or illegal substances is strictly forbidden.
3. Students must attend all timetabled activities (unless there is a valid reason for absence, such as illness in which case you need to notify a member of course staff).
4. Students are not allowed to leave the University sites without permission from a member of course staff.
5. Students are expected to actively listen, participate and engage in all activities.
6. Students are expected to be in their rooms at specified times (which will be indicated at the start of the course).
7. Students are expected to follow any emergency procedure such as fire drills as directed by University staff.
8. Students are expected to treat all members of the University community with respect, consideration and courtesy.
9. If students have any concerns or issues they should bring these up with the course staff.
10. You must not have other students in your room at any time, social areas are provided.

Safety and Independence: Students may only leave the University Sites (including student halls) and organised activities with the permission of a member of course staff, and provided that they are accompanied by at least one other person.

Failure to abide by this code of conduct may result in withdrawal of services and expulsion from the course without refund.

You will be staying in Chamberlain Halls, which is situated in the Glen Eyre Halls Complex.

When you register, you will be given a key to your room. You should keep your door locked at all times, and carry the key with you. As per the Code of Conduct, you must not have other students in your room at any time; each flat has a shared social area. An interactive tour is here of the type of accommodation you can expect: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XTn1_L1v8k8.

All rooms are en-suite with the following provided:

• Duvet
• Duvet Cover
• Fitted Sheet
• Pillows x 2
• Pillowcases x 2
• Bath towel
• Hand towel
• Bath mat
• Toilet roll

There is no dress code for the Taster Course, though you are expected to dress respectably. We recommend comfortable shoes and clothing as you will be walking between halls and the campus, and during various activities.

Clothing and Accessories

• Comfortable clothes and shoes for walking around Highfield Campus, and to/from Halls. Shoes must not be open-toe, for work in the laboratories.
• A set of smart clothing for the closing session on the final day, with formal shoes.
• A set of smart casual clothing, for the course meal.
• A coat and/or umbrella.
• Small bag or rucksack for use during the day.
• Toiletries (including shampoo and soap, as this is not provided in Halls), and a hairdryer if required.
• A set of gym clothes and shoes, if you wish to take part in an active social activity.
• Trousers or long skirts for laboratory work. 

Other Items

• An alarm clock to ensure you get up on time (if you use your mobile phone for this, then that’s fine too)!
• A notebook and pen will be supplied as part of the course, but you may wish to bring your own stationery.
• Any prescription medication you require and have made us aware of.
• Chargers for any electronic devices you plan to use.
• A water bottle.
• Sun cream, hand fan, and other items in the event of extremely warm weather.

Mobile Phones, Laptops, and other Online Devices

Attendees are welcome to bring mobile phones for use during the course, though they are not mandatory. We will share information on our course-specific, private, social media offerings closer to the start of the course. An introductory lecture on Monday will cover mobile phone etiquette, and we ask all attendees using mobile phones to do so respectfully during lectures and other activities. You may wish to bring a laptop, though again it is not mandatory. Wi-Fi access is available across the campus and halls of residence. Access details will be provided at registration.

Money

Food and drink is provided for the week. However, we find that attendees often wish to buy a few other things - whether it's a coffee from a shop on campus, or some snacks from the local shops. Highfield Campus is a cashless campus so although there shouldn’t be the need to spend anything, shops and vending machines will only accept card payments. Therefore, we suggest bringing a small amount of money (approx. £30) on card, though we would not expect you to use all of this.

Please note that the University of Southampton cannot take responsibility for any lost or stolen items. 

Breakfast, lunch and dinner will be provided during the course. On your registration form, you have had the opportunity to indicate any dietary requirements. If you need to amend this, or cannot remember what you wrote, then please contact us to confirm. It is your responsibility to mention your dietary requirements to the catering team at each meal, who will be able to advise you of what is suitable (or, in some cases, provide you with something that has been prepared specifically for you). Where food is not being served to you (for example in refreshment breaks where there may be drinks and biscuits available), it is your responsibility to review the listed ingredients (or ask a member of the Course staff).

Note from our catering staff: 

We are quite able to cater for thosen who are coeliac but we are not able to guarantee that any of our food is free from traces of nuts. We can provide details of which of our foods have no nuts in the ingredients, but we would advise that anyone who cannot come into contact with traces of nuts that we are unable to cater for them. Please also be aware that we are able to accommodate most dietary requirements, such as gluten free, vegetarian, halal etc, but we do not cater for dietary preferences e.g. do not like cheese. For more information on dietary requirements and preferences (e.g. regarding cross-contamination of allergens), please see https://catering.southampton.ac.uk/food-preferences.

If you with to record the ECS Taster Course as the residential activity for your Duke of Edinbugh Gold award, please remember to bring any paperwork that requires a signature. Our preference is to complete this electronically, which we do after the course. Please note that it is your responsibility to tell a member of Taster Course staff during the week that you need us to complete this for you.

Parents/guardians are invited to join us on the morning of the last day of the Taster Course, arriving between 1030 and 1100 on Friday 1st August. You will be able to attend our poster session, where attendees will be explaining their team's solution to a challenge set during the week, and attend a campus and facilities tour (please bring comfortable close-toe footwear if you wish to join one of these). The Taster Course will conclude with a session awarding prizes and certificates. The course officially ends at 1300 on Friday, but you are welcome to join us for a buffet lunch afterwards if you wish.

If you indicated that you will be joining us on Friday:

The Friday parent/guardian session starts at Building 40 (50.934906, -1.397164), refer to the map at https://maps.southampton.ac.uk/. Please note that we are renovating our parking infrastructure this year. There is no parking available at this building - please park at Avenue Campus at SO17 1ED (50.928563, -1.403828). Members of course staff will direct you to Building 40, which is fifteen minutes away on foot. If you are a Blue Badge Holder, please contact us by email if you would like an alternative parking option. There is a short-term pickup location and Pay and Display at (50.937008, -1.396053), to help with luggage collection. We advise you to park at Avenue Campus to join us at Building 40, then arrange with your child to return to this Pay and Display to collect them with their luggage.

If you are arriving by train, the U1A bus from Southampton Central will take you to Highfield Campus directly. For further information about bus services in Southampton, visit https://www.unilinkbus.co.uk/.