Charlie Ogilvie
Senior Communications and Editorial Manager, Study UK
Settling into university life in the UK can be both exciting and challenging. As you begin your journey in the UK, remember you are not alone. A huge amount of support is available to help you overcome any difficulties you might face, succeed and thrive during and after your studies.
Much like finding the best places to eat, making friends or joining societies, discovering the support services at your university is an essential part of making the most of your time in the UK.
Join us as we take you through the support available, from career guidance to on-campus counselling, academic support and more.
Sabbatical officers are the student voice within the university, advocating for student issues.
Student unions play a crucial role in enhancing the student experience at universities in the UK. Within these unions, you'll often find sabbatical officers who serve as elected representatives, sometimes including positions like an international student representative. These officers advocate for student interests, represent their concerns to the university administration, and actively work to improve various aspects of student life. They are your voice within the university, addressing issues and striving to create a positive and inclusive campus environment.
In addition to sabbatical officers, student unions typically operate advice centres that offer specialised support for all sorts of problems students may encounter during their academic journey. These designated teams are well-equipped to assist with housing, financial matters, academic appeals, visa inquiries, and more. If the advice centre doesn't have the specific expertise to address your issue, they will guide you to the appropriate department or service within the university. In essence, the student union, its officers and the advice centre serve as valuable starting points for students seeking help and support, ensuring that you receive the assistance you need to thrive during your university experience. Additionally, if you want to find out about clubs or societies - or set up your own - these are the people to speak to.
Course representatives build a bridge between their peers and academic staff.
Course representatives, elected by their peers, are essential advocates for students within many UK university programmes and departments. Acting as a direct link between the student body and academic staff, they collect valuable feedback and work to address concerns around coursework, assessments, and overall teaching quality. This feedback loop supports continuous improvement in course content to improve the academic experience for all students.
In practical terms, course representatives gather insights from their classmates, identifying areas for improvement and sharing these with university staff through structured meetings with programme leaders and others. By amplifying student voices, they make sure that key concerns are not only heard but also acted upon, from adjusting specific course elements to influencing broader academic policies.
Course representatives also play a pivotal role in keeping students informed about academic support and resources, such as tutoring services, study skills workshops, mental health resources, and more. Beyond academics, in some cases, they can advocate for improvements in facilities and engage in curriculum discussions, helping to shape a learning environment that aligns with students' needs. For international students, in particular, course representatives can guide you through the support systems in place and offer you a strong and personal connection with your peers in your course.
Through their work, course representatives contribute to a responsive, supportive, and enriching university experience that helps all students to thrive academically and personally.
The international office's role extends far beyond pre-arrival assistance.
Depending on your university, you may have access to an international office dedicated to supporting international students with matters such as arrivals, visa guidance, and general support. This office can often act as a comprehensive support hub, offering expert advice on visa requirements, travel logistics, accommodation options, and more. For example, they can provide insights into adapting to the UK, connecting with local communities, addressing cultural or language barriers.
However, some universities may organise these services differently. Instead of a separate international office, they may have a one-stop student services centre that brings together resources for arrival, visa support, accommodation, wellbeing, and more. You may also find a language centre or services connected to your course to support in-sessional English.
Regardless of how these services are organised, universities will always have a team of trained professionals committed to your success and wellbeing, ready to support you with any academic, cultural, or personal needs during your studies.
There are dedicated professionals on hand to support you through any personal challenges.
All UK universities offer wellbeing services to support students through a wide range of challenges, whether related to their studies or personal lives, from managing stress and anxiety to addressing feelings of low mood. These services provide a safe, confidential space for students to explore their concerns and develop coping strategies, often through one-on-one sessions with a trained counsellor or within peer-to-peer support groups, where students facing similar challenges can connect in a facilitated environment.
Some international students may worry that seeking professional support might be a sign of weakness or feel hesitant about potential judgment or stigma. However, wellbeing services are designed to be non-judgmental spaces, with staff who are ready to offer you support no matter where you're coming from or what you want to discuss.
You can usually access these services through your university's student support or counselling team, and depending on the service and your needs, they may be offered through phone lines, virtual sessions, or face-to-face appointments with specialist counsellors. Many universities also organise special well-being sessions—such as coffee mornings, or even sessions with support animals (sometimes even puppies) during exam time—to help students manage stress and feel their best.
Before you arrive in the UK, reach out to your university's disability support service to discuss your needs.
UK universities and colleges are deeply committed to inclusivity, offering dedicated support teams for students with disabilities and long-term health conditions. These teams support students with many conditions, including dyslexia, ADHD, physical health issues, sensory or mobility impairments, autism spectrum conditions, and mental health challenges.
Ideally, before you start your course, contact your university's disability support service—they exist to ensure your academic success. They work closely with students to create personalised learning plans, which may include reasonable adjustments such as note-taking assistance, alternative course materials, assistive technologies (like screen readers and voice recognition software), and sometimes financial aid which can help cover study-related costs for various disabilities.
Contact the support team for guidance if you suspect you have an undiagnosed issue, like a learning or developmental difficulty. Even without a formal diagnosis, you can communicate your challenges to professors, and the disabilities centre may provide support and accommodations to help you thrive in your studies and even help you seek a formal diagnosis. Remember, these services are here to support you on your unique academic journey.
There is a lot of support available to help you navigate studying in a new educational system.
Your university's services to support academic and learning development are a valuable resource, particularly beneficial for international students navigating a new educational system and studying in a language they may not be entirely confident in. Depending on your university, you might find academic support through your personal tutor, your faculty or school, at course level or through a dedicated academic writing or language centre.
These services are designed to help you enhance your study skills, improve your academic performance, and align with the expectations of your lecturers. They offer a range of resources, including workshops, one-on-one support, and online materials that cover essential aspects of academic success, such as time management, effective note-taking, essay writing, proper referencing (while avoiding plagiarism), and efficient study techniques.
You can find these resources on your university's website or learning management system, allowing you to develop your skills at your own pace. To participate in workshops, you'll typically need to register in advance, either for in-person sessions on campus or virtual workshops held online, ensuring you have the support you need to excel academically.
Your personal or academic tutor is your go-to mentor throughout your academic journey.
In UK universities, personal or academic tutors play a crucial role by offering tailored guidance and support to undergraduate and master's students. Typically, you'll be assigned a personal tutor within a few weeks of starting your course, and they become your dependable mentors throughout your academic journey. These tutors provide valuable academic insights, assisting you in navigating course requirements, selecting suitable modules, and grasping the intricacies of your curriculum. They can also help you enhance your study skills, prepare for exams, develop critical evaluation abilities, and support with longer-term projects like dissertation preparation.
Personal tutors aren't just about academics; they are also your allies when facing challenges during your studies. Whether you're striving to improve your grades or seeking solutions for coursework and assignments, they are there to offer advice and effective strategies for success. Beyond the classroom, you can turn to them for guidance on personal development, time management, and adapting to university life—a particularly valuable resource for international students, and over 20 per cent of teaching staff in the UK come from overseas, and those who are from the UK will have worked closely with international students over the years and be culturally sensitive and supportive.
Personal tutors serve as invaluable resources, providing unwavering support and reassurance to help you make the most of your university experience, both academically and personally. Their primary role is to empower you to thrive and excel in your educational pursuits. Additionally, should you decide to pursue further studies, personal tutors often become the go-to individuals for providing references. However, it's worth noting that if you are a PhD student, your main support contact will be your supervisor, and you won't be assigned a personal or academic tutor in the same way as undergraduate or master's students.
Campus security teams play an essential role in keeping you safe, from the first day that you arrive.
Universities across the UK are committed to proactively supporting students year-round through a range of campaigns and services. These initiatives are designed to ensure you have easy access to health and wellness resources, with campaigns like Mental Health Awareness Week, programmes combatting student loneliness, and reminders to stay connected to local health services. To make the most of these offerings, it’s a good idea to stay linked to university communication channels, from posters, social media and e-newsletters to on-campus events, so you’re always informed about the latest support opportunities.
UK universities also place a strong emphasis on equality, diversity, and inclusion (EDI), aiming to create a safe and welcoming environment for everyone. Alongside general student support services, many universities have dedicated EDI officers or sabbatical officers, host regular EDI-focused events, and work closely with groups like the National Student Union to advance inclusion. If you ever encounter unwelcome behaviour, such as discrimination, universities provide accessible channels to report and seek support, including confidential ‘report and support’ services, where you can contact an advisor or submit a report anonymously.
Additionally, campus security teams play an essential role in student safety, offering 24/7 services that may connect to dedicated security networks like Safezone. These teams not only help keep campuses safe but are also knowledgeable about the university and surrounding areas, so you can approach them with any safety concerns or questions. Security services are typically part of university induction, so take a moment to familiarise yourself with these valuable resources, which are there to help you settle in and feel secure throughout your studies.
Your university careers service can help you succeed in your career.
Careers and employability services at UK universities offer comprehensive guidance and resources to support you on your career journey during your studies and beyond. You are encouraged to take advantage of these services to help you develop your skills, build your experiences and boost your confidence to make you more employable wherever you want to work and whatever you want to do, whether through using online resources, doing one-to-one sessions or attending workshops or careers fairs.
Careers services will help you with the basics, from writing and tailoring your CV and cover letter for different job profiles and descriptions to doing mock interviews. Careers advisors will also be able to help you reflect on your existing skills and discover which ones you will need to work on to make yourself job-ready for specific positions and explore diverse career paths you may never even have considered or known existed. Careers fairs are also excellent platforms for connecting and networking with potential employers.
Additionally, many career services maintain connections with employers and frequently share internship, voluntary, and paid job opportunities on university job boards, in newsletters, or through mailouts. To maximise these resources, be proactive in your job search and stay engaged with the services, even before you complete your studies. This proactive approach can significantly enhance your employability prospects. And, if you're not on there already, sign up to LinkedIn and start building your connections. It's a great way to talk about what you're doing during your studies and find out about job opportunities globally and network with graduates from your universities - especially those who are working at companies you're interested in working for.
University libraries are not 'just a place to find books', and can open you up to a world of resources you never knew existed.
University libraries are vital resource hubs that offer extensive support to students. Beyond its shelves of books, libraries provide access to a vast array of academic journals and online collections, allowing students to tap into scholarly research across various disciplines that might not otherwise be available. They can also be a safe and quiet space to sit down and focus either with your laptop or university computers, and where you will easily find printing and scanning services. Many university libraries also offer bookable group meeting rooms for group study.
Librarians are readily available to assist with locating and navigating these resources, helping students refine their research skills and access the most relevant information for their studies. Additionally, libraries often offer workshops and tutorials on efficient database searching, referencing and citation styles, and information literacy, all of which are necessary for academic success. Whether you need assistance finding reliable sources for a research paper or guidance on effectively using digital archives, remember to make the most of your university library.
Senior Communications and Editorial Manager, Study UK
Director of International Development, University of Salford
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