Lack of Support and Communication

It is with deep sadness and growing frustration that I write this.

I am currently enrolled in the BPhil Honours programme with IMM, and I have faced incredibly difficult circumstances during the first semester of 2025. Unfortunately, I feel that the systems in place have not provided the support I desperately needed ,particularly during moments where compassion and flexibility were most critical.

Earlier this year, I underwent major surgery and had to be hospitalised multiple times. In addition, both of my children were admitted to hospital. Throughout all of this, I followed the correct channels and submitted all the necessary documentation to request extensions. Despite this, my applications were denied.

I was left with no choice but to complete assignments and write exams while in severe physical pain and under immense emotional strain, simply out of fear of failing. It is truly heart breaking to think that my results may now reflect these circumstances, rather than my true academic ability or commitment.

Beyond that, I have struggled with the clarity and consistency of communication from IMM. On numerous occasions, vital information was either received late or was contradictory. A recent example involves the rule about dual screens during exams, I only found out after writing that they were not permitted, and this information came from fellow students, not from IMM. During training, we were explicitly told two screens would be allowed.

This lack of clear communication, combined with shifting guidelines and minimal support, leaves students feeling confused, unsupported, and increasingly anxious. I am committed to my studies, and I am doing everything I can to succeed under extremely challenging personal circumstances, but I feel completely alone in the process.

Other modules like ART had us getting contradicting information constantly, which felt highly unprofessional.

This whole experience has just been depressing and made me start questioning whether I should continue studying.

I am not writing this to complain without reason. I am writing because I care deeply about my education, and I want to see improvements that help students succeed.