There is a wealth of advice and support for doctoral students at UCL covering your academic and professional development. There is also support in instances where you might need specialist help with more personal issues that arise.
Key to your academic and professional development as a researcher, your supervisors should be your first port of call for advice and support on almost any matter: if they can’t help directly, they can help you find out who can.
Have a wealth of experience to help you navigate successfully through your time at UCL. Some departments have named PhD Administrators, but all will have administrators with detailed knowledge of your department and the administration of your programme.
Often referred to by the acronym DGT, each department has an experienced member of academic staff from whom you can seek independent advice on both academic and pastoral care matters if you need to talk to someone beyond your immediate supervisory team.
Each department sits within a faculty and each faculty also has an FGT, a senior and experienced academic whom you can contact if you wish to seek advice outside your department.
A central office for all student enquiries, including confirmation of registration/ award, updating your student details, enrolment, ID cards, Immigration and visas, etc. If the Student Centre can’t assist directly, they will signpost you to the correct person to help you. You can also contact them online via askUCL, our new online student enquiry system.
The Student Mediator Is responsible for advising and assisting UCL students with the resolution of complaints, involving staff or other students or services of UCL which the student has been unable to resolve through informal means.
Bin the UCL Students’ Union building on central campus, the Students’ Union Advice Service provides information and advice on a wide range of issues including: immigration, housing and finance. You can also talk to them about any academic issues you are facing: as part of the Students’ Union they are independent of UCL’s formal structures.
The UCL Cultural Consultation Service (CCS) aims to enhance learning and teaching outcomes for students and staff facing cross-cultural and social conflicts. At present, the service is run by two members of academic staff who both have experience and expertise in this area. A team of consultants from across UCL teaching and student community is also available for advice.
The CCS can help people in a number of ways, usually offering a one-hour initial meeting during which the person seeking advice will have the opportunity to discuss their situation in detail, in an informal and friendly atmosphere. You may be given a follow-up appointment and asked to complete a small exercise for ‘homework’ before coming to the next meeting. All meetings are confidential.
Doctoral students at UCL are able to take advantage of not only Student Wellbeing, but also the Wellbeing support for staff.
A team of expert wellbeing, disability and mental health advisers provide a safe, confidential and non-judgmental space, in which you can discuss any issues that may be affecting your ability to study. There is a range of services, including:
Student Disability Services
Providing information and advice for all disabled UCL students. Organising support services such as note-taking, communication support,mentoring and study skills tuition. They can also assist students in applications for Disabled Students Allowance and other funds, and can provide assessments of dyslexia and other learning difficulties.
Student Psychological Services
They provide an accessible and effective professional resource for students who are facing emotional and psychological problems. You can contact them online or via email or phone. You can request an appointment by video call, phone call or using Microsoft Teams chat functionality. Doctoral students can also access the Employee Assistance Programme (Tel: 0800 197 4510 – this is a free service) and online CBT for issues such as stress and anxiety via SilverCloud.
Support for specific student groups
Information and advice for a range of communities, including LGBTQ+ students, mature students, student carers, Black and minority ethnic students, distance learners, and students of faith.
On the web pages Being Well at UCL you can find courses for wellbeing as well as tools to support nutrition, sleep, smoking and alcohol.
You can also use Care First, our 24 hour helpline especially for staff and PhD students to receive direct mental health support. You can receive up to 6 free therapy sessions. Call 0800 197 4510.
N.B. When it states students can only phone out of hours, it means non-PhD students. PhD students are treated as staff and therefore can call any time of day, any day of week. If you have any issues using these services as a PhD student, please contact the Doctoral School.
See more information on mental health support on the Doctoral School website.
The Financial Assistance Funds provide maintenance support to students who are in unexpected financial need. There is also a Doctoral School Fellowship fund to support research students who, due to unforeseen circumstances, have their funding interrupted or completely withdrawn.
Current UCL research students only (excluding students on CRS), from any country/UCL department. Applicants must be able to demonstrate having made realistic and adequate financial plans for the academic year, which have unexpectedly changed.
Awards are for maintenance/living costs only and will vary depending on individual circumstances and availability of funds. The maximum award is £3,000.
Award numbers are not fixed, although funding is limited.
Candidates can apply directly via: https://www.ucl.ac.uk/students/ucl-financial-assistance-fund-postgraduate-research-students-faf-pgr
Current UCL research students only (excluding students on CRS), from any country/UCL department. Must demonstrate circumstances have changed since registration such that, due to unforeseen difficulties, sponsorship originally secured to fund their research programme has been suspended or withdrawn. Students must be progressing well academically and demonstrate that without financial assistance they would not be able to complete their studies/research.
Up to a full year’s maintenance stipend(at UCL standard stipend rate), depending on need. Any outstanding tuition fees need to be covered by departments.
Award numbers are not fixed, although funding is limited.
Candidates cannot apply directly for a fellowship. They must be nominated for support by their Head of Department. Full details are available on the Doctoral School Fellowship web page.
Funded students may also be entitled to parental or sick leave. See further information on the Research Services website.
Student Funding Adviser: support, advice and guidance to students who are struggling with money management or experiencing complex funding issues
Further funding opportunities for research students, including information on UK Government ‘doctoral loans’.
