Student Support Services and Information
The Student Support Centres
Information, support or advice are available from the University’s confidential Student Support Centres. Both are open all year round Monday to Friday (excluding public holidays). Staff will also be happy to advise and assist personal tutors or help with any questions.
- 50 Park Place, Cathays Park campus (029) 2087 4844
- 2nd Floor, Cardigan House, Heath Park campus (029) 2074 2070
- Web: www.cardiff.ac.uk/studentsupportcentre
Advice Service
The Advice Service Team offers students face to face telephone and e-mail advice both by appointment and on a drop-in basis every week day. This may be for information and advice on a wide range of issues. This might include extra funding, bursaries, fees, loans, debts, childcare, housing, academic matters, or any issue to do with student welfare.
Financial Support
The Financial Support Team provides a range of financial support to help students who face unexpected difficulties while at University. This Includes budgeting advice to students and can refer students with serious debt problems to the co-located advice service.
UK students can apply for help to the Financial Contingency Fund with their costs while studying. The Financial Contingency Fund can help with extra compulsory course costs, such as field trips and equipment where the cost would otherwise leave the student in financial hardship. The Fund prioritises help to students who can not supplement their income with part-time work for example because of disability, ill health, children, final year commitments or exceptional academic pressures or personal circumstances. However the University is not allowed to use this fund to help with the payment of fees.
A small University hardship fund exists which is open to all students, normally near the end of their course, who suffer unexpected hardship causing severe financial difficulties and are unable to get help from any other source.
Further information on the above procedures is contained in the Academic Regulations Handbook: www.cardiff.ac.uk/regis/sfs/regs
In addition the Student Support Centre administers a number of trust funds. Students can access ‘funderfinder’ (an online provision to help access information on help available for further study from a variety of sources) and other on-line help at the centre.
International Student Support
Through the Student Support Centres the University offers a range of support tailored for international students, working closely with colleagues in the International Development Division. Confidential advice is provided on a wide range of personal, financial, academic and general welfare issues, helping students adapt and cope with living in a different culture. A visa renewal service is provided by the Student Support Centre in conjunction with the Home Office. Students can also get immigration advice and apply to extend their leave to remain in the UK.
The Disability and Dyslexia Service
The Disability & Dyslexia Service provides confidential advice and services to students with a disability, specific learning difficulty, mental health difficulty and/or long-term medical conditions. Students are advised to contact the Service with queries regarding all aspects of their disability-related needs whilst studying at Cardiff University.
The Disability and Dyslexia Service liaises with academic staff and Schools within the University to raise awareness of the support needs of disabled students, and in particular those adjustments required by individual students. Information, advice and support for students with mental health issues are available from a specialist adviser.
The Service can advise on, and arrange, dyslexia screening and ultimately, assessment interviews with a qualified educational psychologist.
The Service supports students applying for additional funding such as the Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA). This allowance pays for disability related study costs such as note takers and assistive technology. Assessments for the DSA to determine study support and technology requirements are carried out at the Cardiff Assessment Centre, housed within the Student Support Centres.
Advice is available to students and staff supporting students on suitable disability-related technology and equipment such as software, hardware and ergonomic equipment and furniture.
Additional specialist services provide individual and ongoing support. Charges may apply for these services they are usually met by the Disabled Students’ Allowance. Alternative arrangements apply to students not eligible for this fund. These include the provision of personal assistants and support workers, e.g. communication support, note takers and library assistance, study skills support, e.g. dyslexia tuition.
Schools and departments have identified members of staff as Disability Contacts to act as a point of reference for students’ queries; the Disability and Dyslexia Service work with Disability Contacts in disseminating necessary information and hold details of who is your contact.
Counselling Service
A great deal of pastoral support can be provided without having to make formal contacts with colleagues in support departments: The Student Counselling Service web pages provide a wealth of information on common problems and frequently asked questions.
The ‘Common Problems’ section provides advice on areas such as depression, eating disorders, anxiety and sexual matters. If, having explored the information with the student, further advice or support is felt necessary, please feel free to contact the Counselling Service. A referral form can be found and completed on the web page which the Counselling Service has recently established to assist Personal Tutors.
Web: www.cardiff.ac.uk/cllng/forpersonaltutors/index
Advice and Representation Centre, Students’ Union
The Centre is part of the Students’ Union and provides a professional and confidential advice service for all students. Specialist advice is available on Housing, Immigration, including working in the UK during and after studies, Academic and Consumer issues. General advice and information is also available on a wide range of welfare and related issues. Students can be referred to a permanent member of staff who will advise and represent those students who are facing unfair practice procedure, disciplinary and appeals.
For further information please contact Advice Centre Manager Maria Al-Haddad.
Advice and Representation Centre
3rd Floor, Students’ Union
Park Place
Cardiff CF10 3QN
Email: advice@cardiff.ac.uk
Tel: 029 2078 1490 (advice)
Tel: 029 2078 1506 (representation)
www.cardiff.ac.uk/studx/personaltutorshandbook/studentsupport/adviceandrepresentation