What Support is Available at Universities for Postgraduate Students?
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What Support is Available at Universities for Postgraduate Students?

Written by Sarah Hastings-Woodhouse

Universities have services to support you with accommodation, finances, wellbeing and more. It’s important to access student support services at your university as and when you need them, regardless of whether you’re a Masters or PhD student!

This guide explains how student support services work for UK postgraduates and how to access them.

What do we mean by student support services?

‘Student support’ is an umbrella term that will refer to a range of different services provided by your university. There will be a number of teams at your university who are ready to help with any issues you have, whether it’s financial, personal or academic.

What can my university support me with?

UK universities generally have specialist teams that can support you with any difficulties that may arise during your studies. You can contact them for help with a broad range of issues including:

Financial hardship or budgeting

If you find yourself struggling to manage your money during your degree, your university will be able to help or at least give you some advice. Some run drop-in sessions where you can talk one-on-one with an adviser about your financial situation, or you may be able to seek confidential advice through your Students’ Union.

Most universities will also offer hardship funds for students experiencing financial difficulties. These may include funding for study materials or a one-off payment to help with living costs. Check with your university about what’s available and make sure you take advantage of everything on offer.

Accommodation

Your university’s accommodation office will be able to help you apply for university-owned housing. You may also be able to ask for advice through your Students’ Guild or Union for questions on finding private housing, as well as any issues with contracts, landlords or housemates while you’re living off-campus.

Many UK universities have Residence Life Teams, which are largely comprised of fellow students who will check in on you during your first few weeks of living in student accommodation. They’ll be your first point of contact for any practical issues with housing or disputes with housemates.

Academic challenges

Most universities will allocate you a personal tutor, who will support you with your academic and personal development. You may also have access to an academic skills service. These generally offer 1-2-1 or group sessions that will help you develop general study skills such as referencing, data collection, academic writing, personal organisation and time management.

International study

If you’ve come to study in the UK from overseas, your university’s international office will be able to provide you with specialist immigration and visa advice, as well as general information on living in the UK. They will usually also organise social events to help you meet fellow international students.

Mental health and wellbeing

If you’re struggling with your mental health during your degree, you can get in touch with your university’s wellbeing team. The first step will usually be a one-off appointment with a wellbeing practitioner who will refer you to the appropriate service. This could be a short course of individual counselling sessions, or referral to an on-campus support group.

Most UK universities also run a student-led Nightline service, which you can access every night during term time.

Disability

Your university’s disability support services will be able to help make adjustments if you have a disability. These include mental health conditions, learn difficulties, mobility issues and more. They’ll work with you to create a tailored support plan providing a range of adjustments such as additional time for exams, room adjustments and allocation of a support worker where appropriate.

You may also be eligible to claim Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) to use towards specialist equipment or software that will help with your studies.

How do I access student support services?

Usually, you’ll be able to find them listed in a central hub of your university’s website, and you’ll then be able to click through and find out how to access the specific service you require. This might be via phone, email, or by attending a walk-in appointment.

Will I need evidence to access student support services?

You’ll not need any evidence to access the vast majority of student support services. The exception to this is that you’ll generally need proof of financial hardship in order to access a hardship fund, and you’ll need to supply evidence of a disability or long-term medical condition to be eligible for a support plan or to receive DSA.

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Sarah Hastings-Woodhouse

Sarah joined FindAPhD as a Content Writer in 2021 and produces polished and thoroughly researched pages to inspire and inform prospective postgraduate students. In her time at FindAPhD, she has gained a comprehensive understanding of the postgraduate journey and has engaged with hundreds of prospective postgraduates while manning the advice stand at our popular study fairs.


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Last Updated: 21 November 2023