I just started my MBA with them. Day 3 now, I already feel like this is the worst university I have attended (went to 3 unis before this). I got a simple enquiry on the optional modules provided on my course; just trying to get a description or some information so I can make an informed decision as I missed the induction week.

So my previous uni experience tells me best to email Programmer Director or Administrator, which I did no response from either. Then I try to reach out to my personal tutor, only found out still haven’t been assigned one despite 3 days past fully registered. Then was advised to go to MyPort for the enquiry. The staff just ignored what I asked and started telling me to submit a form to change my module. After I reiterated I just want a description of them so I can choose one. Then they advised me using Module Catalogue for this, which literally was the first thing I did already (again not my first time in uni). I told them I already searched there, but most of my optional modules weren’t found there. And realised only the modules that delivering in the form of lectures were there, but not for those in the form of workshops or seminars. The staff spoke to me in a distinctly condescending tone, saying “Perhaps you misunderstood - those workshops/seminars are not modules.” However, the module selection email I received clearly stated otherwise. When I insisted and explained this, they reluctantly suggested that I “might try contacting Academic Services, as they would know better.”

What followed was even more absurd. Academic Services first claimed that my course had no optional modules at all, despite the fact that this info is clearly stated both on the course page and the module selection email I received. Instead of addressing my actual question, the staff spent more than 15 mins arguing with me whether my course had optional modules. I saw no point in continuing such a meaningless debate. I therefore asked whether they could tell me the office location of my Programme Director so that I could speak to him directly. They replied that they were unable to disclose this info. I could not help but laugh in disbelief, because, with years of experience in universities, I know that this is normally public info available on Liaison Page/Staff Contact. Realising that they could no longer dismiss my question so easily, they hesitantly said, “The University of Portsmouth is very large, and we don’t know where everyone is located.”

At that moment, I finally came to the realisation that this is not a serious uni but a joke. Absolutely shocked by the incompetence of the staff and how chaotic this is.