Summary
Get Help Now is where you go when you are stuck. You say what you need help with, and skillSYMS finds an educator who teaches that exact module — your own lecturer first, then other educators at your institution. You can get someone now, book a time, or let educators offer you a time and price.
Find it in the top bar under Get help, or go to Get Help Now in All pages.
Because of your recent results
The top of the page may show modules where your latest result was below the pass line, with how many educators teach that module, how many are online right now, and the lowest price. If your institution runs a support programme, it says so — your institution may pay for some or all of the session.
Press Get help with this to start a request for that module.
Asking for help
- Type what you need, in your own words — “power factor before tomorrow’s formative” is perfect.
- Choose how you want help:
- Get a tutor now — someone online right now.
- Book for later — choose a date and time.
- Ask an expert — a short 10- to 20-minute consultation.
- Other kinds of session appear under More ways.
- Pick the module, how long you need, your language and how you want to meet (video, voice only, chat, or a written answer).
- Choose what the educator may see about you (see What your educator sees below).
What you can and cannot ask for
Tutors help you understand and improve your own work. They cannot do your assessment, write your assignment, give you answers to a live exam, sign your logbook, or change your marks.
If you ask for something like “write my assignment”, skillSYMS will suggest turning it into a coaching session on your own work — you choose whether to go ahead. Requests to cheat are refused.
Choosing an educator
Each match shows how well they fit: whether they teach your exact module, their verified qualifications, their rating, the languages they teach in, and their price. Matches are listed by best fit, never by cheapest, and no educator can pay to appear higher.
Tap an educator to see their verified badges, what they teach, reviews from other learners and when they are available. You can follow educators you like.
Get a tutor now: skillSYMS asks the best-matched educators who are online. The first to accept gets the session, and you are taken to it.
Book for later: press Book. The educator has until the session time to accept; if they decline or do not answer, your money comes straight back.
Paying
Sessions are paid from your Learning Wallet:
- Institution support is used first, if a support rule applies.
- Sponsor credit (SkillCredits your institution gave you) is used next.
- Your own learning credit pays the rest.
Your money is held until the session has happened. If you do not have enough, skillSYMS tells you exactly how much to top up. Your wallet is prepaid learning credit with your institution — it is not a bank account and cannot be withdrawn as cash.
What your educator sees
Educators never see your learner record. They see only a Session Context Passport — your first name, your programme and module, and what you asked for. If you tick the boxes, they can also see your latest result for that module and any study accommodation you have described. They never see your surname, ID number, contact details, fees, other modules or date of birth.
After the session
Your educator leaves notes: what you covered, what still needs work, and a suggested next step. Read them in My Help Sessions.
You then have a short review window:
- Confirm the session went well — the educator is paid.
- Dispute it if something went wrong — your institution reviews it and may refund you.
- Review the educator (clarity, preparation and more) and, if you want to, add a thank-you tip.
Cancelling
| When you cancel | What you pay |
|---|---|
| More than 12 hours before | Nothing |
| 2 to 12 hours before | 25% |
| Less than 2 hours before | 50% |
| You do not come | 100% |
If the educator cancels or does not come, you get everything back. Your institution may set different times.
Staying safe
All messages and payments stay on skillSYMS. Never pay an educator in cash or by direct transfer, and never share your phone number or social media. If anything makes you uncomfortable, open the session and press Report a concern — safeguarding reports go straight to your institution’s safeguarding team.