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Student Health and Wellbeing

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There are a wide range of support services available to you at UCL from the Student Support and Wellbeing team – this support ranges from disability, mental health and wellbeing through to crime prevention and personal safety. You can find core information and links regarding key student support and wellbeing services in the dropdown menu below – there is also a section about the Student Union Advice Service, where you can receive independent advice.

If you would like to learn more about how the Student Support and Wellbeing team can support you, then please take a look at the Student Support and Wellbeing webpages.

UCL and the IOE offer a huge variety of support to our students. 

Seeing an adviser from the Disability, Mental Health and Wellbeing (DMHW) team

The Disability, Mental Health and Wellbeing (DMHW) team in Student Support and Wellbeing (SSW) provide a safe, confidential and non-judgemental space, in which you can discuss any wellbeing, mental health or disability concerns that may be affecting your ability to study. This encompasses any personal or emotional challenges you may be experiencing, mental health difficulties such as anxiety or depression, and disability, including Specific Learning Difficulties (e.g., dyslexia) and long-term physical or mental health conditions. All of the DMHW support services are free of charge and open to all UCL students of all levels. 

If you have any issues with your health, disability or wellbeing, you can book a free appointment to speak with a member of the Disability, Mental Health and Wellbeing team – you can either book a short same-day appointment or if you need support with a more complex issue, you can pre-book a longer appointment. Please take a moment to watch this 2-minute video about appointments. 

To book one of these appointments, please submit an enquiry via askUCL (the student enquiries system) or call +44 (0)20 7679 0100 - phone operating hours are between 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday.

 

Support for disabled students

The support for disabled students section of the SSW website provides information on the support available for students who are disabled or have a long-term health condition. This includes:

If you would like to discuss support available for disabled students, then please make an appointment with the DMHW team through the askUCL student enquiry system or call +44 (0)20 7679 0100 - phone operating hours are between 9am - 5pm, Monday to Friday.

The following 2-minute videos provide a helpful insight into some of the support available:

 

Student Psychological and Counselling Services (SPCS)

Student Psychological and Counselling Services (SPCS) provide free short-term counselling, psychiatric support and group workshops to help you manage a range of personal, emotional and psychological concerns - they are unable to provide support for long-term conditions or in the event of a crisis situation.

The counselling service is separate from the appointments run by UCL Student Support and Wellbeing’s Disability, Mental Health and Wellbeing team (these appointments are better for short enquiries, signposting and initial supportive conversations with an adviser). 

To find out more information about whether counselling is the right service for you, what types of counselling are on offer and how to register, please read through the information on the accessing counselling page. After you have registered, you can read about the next steps of the process on the after you’ve registered page.

If you have any enquiries about appointments or administration, please visit the contact Student Psychological and Counselling Services page.

Student of Concern

There are many sources of support available for students who are having difficulties, but sometimes it is hard to know how to help a student who appears to be struggling, particularly if they seem unwilling or unable to seek the help they need.

If you are concerned about a student's wellbeing or safety, please complete the Student of Concern Form to inform Student Support and Wellbeing (SSW), providing as much information as you can. A member of the Student Support and Wellbeing team will confirm with you that your form has been received and will follow up with the student as appropriate.

Care First (phone and online support)

Student Support and Wellbeing (SSW) works in partnership with Care First, an independent advice and counselling service, to provide telephone and online one-on-one messaging support in the evenings and during weekends, bank holidays and UCL closure periods.

The Care First team of counsellors can help you address a range of emotional and psychological difficulties, including but not limited to:

  • homesickness
  • exam stress
  • relationship problems
  • family issues
  • traumatic incidents
  • bereavement
  • bullying and harassment

For further information about how to access this support, please visit the Student Support and Wellbeing Online and Phone Support Page.

Global Assistance Programme

The Global Student Assistance Programme is available to any students who may be overseas, such as international students who are studying remotely and Study Abroad students and can provide support on a wide range of work and personal issues.  

Through the Global Student Assistance Programme you can obtain practical information, resources and sign-posting to other services, as well as short-term counselling on a variety of topics. Information can be provided over the phone, via email, or by post. Short-term phone counselling, if appropriate, is also offered at a time convenient to you. 

For more information about how to access this support, please visit the Global Student Assistance Programme page.

The Student Centre

The Student Enquiries Centre is located within The Student Centre. The team can also be contacted via askUCL – they are available online from 9am-5pm (Monday-Friday) and will respond to your enquiry within 5 working days.

The Student Enquiries Centre team provide front-line administrative services to UCL students and are an excellent source of information about the services provided by Student Support and Wellbeing - they are here to help by providing information and assistance with any enquiries you may have regarding proof of study, your student record or life at UCL. 

They provide the following services:

This short video tells you a bit more about the service that the student enquiries team provides.

Support in your halls of residence

Wardens (UCL staff) and the Student Residence Advisers (current UCL postgraduate students) both live among students in UCL halls and houses.

SRAs aim to ensure you have a healthy, happy and safe stay in halls and will help you get to know your fellow residents through various activities.

SRAs are available out of office hours for you to talk to about wellbeing issues for you or a friend. They can also signpost you to UCL services and help you familiarise yourself with the site and university. On top of this, they run regular community building events to help you make the most out of your time in halls.

Between SRAs, office staff and security, there is always someone available to provide help in halls if you need it, 24/7.

Contact details for your hall’s Warden and SRAs are displayed in your hall of residence, online and in your hall’s welcome information – for more information about the support provided, please visit the Wardens and Student Residence Advisers (SRAs) page.

Crime prevention and personal safety

For information on personal safety, including how to keep yourself and your belongings safe in London, how to ensure you are safe online and how to avoid scams and frauds, please visit the personal safety page and the staying safe at UCL page. This 2-minute video provides advice on some of the ways you can stay safe in London.

For information about emergency security support on campus, non-emergency security support, emergency services and how to report a crime, please look at the Emergency Contacts page. This page also contains information about the Crime Prevention and Personal Safety Adviser, who can provide follow-up support if you have witnessed or experienced a crime or have security enquiries.

If you witness or experience a crime or security concern outside of campus please call 999 and request the police. 

The nearest police station to the Bloomsbury campus is:

Charing Cross Police Station
Agar Street
London
WC2N 4JP 

To find your nearest police station, please use this tool.

UCL reporting tools and policies
Student Union Advice Service

The Student Union Advice Service offer free, confidential and independent advice and support service - their trained and experienced team can give you advice about:

  • Academic issues - including extenuating circumstances, plagiarism and complaints
  • Housing - including contract checks and housemate disputes
  • Employment - including unpaid wages and part time employment contracts
  • Money and Debt - including budgeting and welfare benefits
  • Many other personal and university matters…

You can submit your query though this contact form - please allow 5 working days for a response.

 

Meet your student advisers (first-year undergraduates)

UCL Student Advisers are the key contact for first-year undergraduates in your department for any wellbeing, support and student experience matters. You can book an appointment with IOE's student advisor, Sania or Barbara, on the IOE for Students SharePoint Hub. Please note that this link will only work for IOE students. 

Sania Mir 

Sania is your Student Adviser for Education, Practice and Society; and Curriculum, Culture and Media (IOE - Faculty of Education and Society).

       Sania Mir

Barbara Strong

Barbara is your Student Adviser for Psychology and Human Development and the Social Research Institute (IOE - Faculty of Education and Society).       

       Barbara Strong