Perhaps it’s not the first thing you think about when choosing universities, but it’s important to explore what support options are available, if or when you need them.
As someone who has been in contact with a few of the different support services here at York, I thought I’d give you a quick rundown of who you can contact and what they do.
College Tutors
Your college tutor is probably one of the first faces you will see when you arrive at York. They’re here to make sure you settle in ok and to support you and your flatmates throughout the year.
They can help resolve issues you might have in your flat, or signpost you to the person or service that can provide further support. All college tutors have an email service, and some also offer drop-in sessions.
Your supervisor
Your academic supervisor is usually your first stop when you need some additional support. Whilst they are based in your academic department, they are also there to provide pastoral support.
Each term you will have scheduled meetings to check in and talk about things like exam results and summer plans. But you can also book appointments to see them outside of these meetings if you need to. They are there to help you with any academic issues, such as exceptional circumstances claims, but they can also help you find support for non-academic needs.
Disability Services
Disability Services are there to support students with disabilities and long-term health conditions throughout their time at university.
They will work with you to write a student support plan. This details how the department can support you during your studies to make sure you get an equal opportunity to succeed. If you have any disability questions related to your course, applying for jobs and internships, or something else, they are there to help.
Open Door
Open Door is the university’s on-campus mental health service. They provide short-term counselling and the option to have someone to check in with on a regular basis.
The Open Door Team are there to support you and help you manage your mental health when you need it. They are a good option if you need a friendly face to talk things through with.
Security
Security Services are there to help in all kinds of situations. If you ever find yourself in an emergency situation, they are the people to call. They are trained first aiders and have had mental health training too. So there isn’t anything they haven’t seen before. Once they have established that you and anyone else involved are safe, they can also signpost you to a long-term support option.
There is lots of support available at York. Plus it is constantly evolving as the university listens to feedback from students. If you do find yourself in need of support while you are at York, there will definitely be someone there to help!
You might also like…
- My top tips for looking after yourself at uni
- Amy’s experience of student support at York
Hi, I have been looking for support regarding living expenses and finances. Please help me out. I have got an offer for MPH starting in September.
Hi,
You can find information on our website about funding for postgraduate students and guidance about living costs.
If you do find yourself worrying about money once you’re at York, our Finance pages outline the people you can talk to and possible hardship and emergency funding available.
I hope this helps,
Helen