The thought of going to university can be nerve-wracking. If you’re worrying about how you’ll settle in, keep up with the work, or stay on top of your finances, find out about all the support we offer students to make sure you get the most out of your experience.
Mental health and wellbeing
We recognise the growing importance for students to have access to support for their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, which is why we have a professional health and wellbeing service available on site. Our experienced advisers are available for confidential drop-in sessions to discuss a range of matters, so whether it’s difficulty sleeping, trouble settling in, or a mental health concern, you will have access to the support you need. We also offer a counselling service on-site - this is free and a great resource for those who might need a little extra help.
Disability support
If you have a disability, medical condition, illness, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty, having the right support can make all the difference to your university experience. The definition of disability is very wide, so if you are not too sure whether you might be considered eligible, it’s really important to get in touch with our Disability Support Team who can offer guidance about the support that could be available to you here at BCU. Our support comes in various forms: extra time and support with assignments, specialist learning equipment, or in some cases a designated learning support worker - all intended to support your learning experience.
Learning support
To help you fulfil your full potential, our Centre for Academic Success provides advice on a range of study skills through workshops and one-to-one appointments with our experts. So if you need help brushing up on your presentation skills, guidance on how to use dastardly punctuation marks, or advice on structuring your dissertation, we have the support you need to succeed.
Finance
Thinking about taking charge of all your own finances might strike fear in you, but rest assured that we are on hand to help before, during and after you come to study with us. Our Finance Team can help students get to grips with budgeting and money management, as well as provide advice on loans and grants.
Mentoring
Our mentoring programmes are designed to help students settle into university life and enhance their professional experience. For academic and personal support, the university has a number of buddy schemes, where first-year students are paired with second-year students from their area of study. When it comes to enhancing work skills, our professional mentoring scheme can connect you with professionals working within Birmingham, to allow you to explore their career needs and develop networks within the industry.
Hopefully, this whistle-stop tour of our student support services has put your mind at ease, even just a little! If you’ve still got some questions, why not take a look at our Student Support Hub for more information?