A fresher’s guide to wellbeing and disability support at UCL
Joining us in September and unsure of how to access disability and mental health services at UCL? Use this checklist to help you keep tabs on the essential wellbeing contacts and services available to you during your studies.
Photo Courtesy: UCL Imagestore
UCL prides itself on being a global institution that’s committed to ensuring that you have access to high-quality support, advice, and welfare services to help you through any challenges that you may face during your studies. In the 2018/19 New to UCL survey, 11 per cent of students reported having a mental health condition, 3 per cent a learning disability, and 3 per cent a long-term health condition or physical disability. For students to be able to engage meaningfully with their learning and contribute to their community, it’s important that their wellbeing is prioritised.
Not only is positive wellbeing fundamental to retention and educational attainment but it also affects the student experience and student satisfaction, which are key factors in determining academic success. There are numerous wellbeing services and resources available to students, but as a fresher, you’re bombarded with so much information in the first few weeks of university that it can be difficult to make heads or tails of it all! Use the guide below to help you navigate UCL’s support and wellbeing services and get the most out of student life:
Student Support and Wellbeing Phone Line
Call +44 (0) 20 3108 8836 between 9am-12pm and 2pm-5pm Monday to Friday (with the exception of 2pm-4pm on Thursdays) to speak to a member of staff from the Disability, Mental Health, and Wellbeing team (DMHW), the Student Psychological and Counselling Services team (SPCS), or the Student Enquiries Centre.
DMHW can liaise with your department regarding reasonable adjustments for teaching and learning. They can also assist you with applying for disability funding, such as Disabled Students’ Allowance, and they can advise you on the steps to take if you’re considering an interruption of study.
SPCS can help you with personal, emotional, and psychological concerns. Different forms of therapy you could be offered include Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT), psychodynamic therapy, Counselling Single Session Therapy (SST), or psychiatric consultations. All students are triaged within 24 hours of registering with SPCS. The waiting time for an initial appointment is usually two to three weeks, but you’ll be prioritised if it’s felt that you’re at higher risk.
The Student Enquiries Centre can support you with questions you have related to your student record, including visas, fees, funding, and studying abroad. They’re also the people to turn to if you have any queries about your degree certificate, transcripts, or you need third-party verification of your studies.
UCL 24/7 Student Support Line
Call +44 (0) 808 238 0077 for free any time of the day, any day of the year. This support line is available in over 35 languages, including sign language. You can speak to an adviser about anything that’s impacting your mental health, wellbeing, or time at UCL, from homesickness to money worries and everything in between. You can request to speak to a male or female adviser, an adviser from an ethnic minority background, or an adviser with additional training in LGBTQ+-related issues.
The 24/7 Student Support Line follows a brief solution-focused therapy (BSFT) model, which is a goal-orientated therapeutic approach that focuses on identifying and implementing practical solutions to problems. BSFT will be able to help you if you’re experiencing moderate distress due to relationship issues, challenging life events, or if you need to establish a healthier work-life balance.
It’s important to note that the 24/7 Student Support Line isn’t designed to assist you if you’re in a mental health crisis. In the event of an emergency, find out more about how you can keep yourself safe and access urgent and out-of-hours support here.
Seeing an adviser
The Student Support and Wellbeing team provide a safe, confidential, and non-judgemental space for you to discuss any mental health or disability concerns that may be affecting your studies. Both same-day and pre-booked appointments are available Monday to Friday between 10am to 12pm and 1pm to 4pm.
Same-day appointments are generally 15-20 minutes and available via telephone or Microsoft Teams. Pre-booked appointments, which are for more complex enquiries, are 45-60 minutes and available via telephone, Microsoft Teams, or face-to-face at the Bloomsbury Student Centre or the UCL East Marshgate building.
Advisers can help you access reasonable adjustments, refer you to specialist support or services, and provide general support related to your disability or condition. Appointments can be booked via the self-help centre and the student enquiry portal askUCL.
SoRA
A Summary of Reasonable Adjustments (SoRA) is a document that details the reasonable adjustments that UCL can provide to students with physical, mobility, sensory, neurological, or mental health conditions. A SoRA can include adjustments such as extra time and rest breaks during examinations, assistive software, coursework extensions, and equipment such as ergonomic furniture. Medical evidence is required to obtain a SoRA and must outline your diagnosis and how it impacts on your studies and daily life.
To speak to a DMHW adviser, book a same-day appointment via askUCL and attach your medical evidence to the booking form. During your appointment, you can discuss your needs with a disability adviser before a personalised SoRA is drafted for you. Your department is responsible for relaying the agreed adjustments to the relevant members of staff.
Digital Accessibility Hubs
UCL’s Digital Accessibility Hubs are IT workrooms for students and staff with a disability or reasonable adjustments. The hubs are located on the Bloomsbury campus from Monday-Sunday, 8am to 10pm, and the new UCL East Campus, Monday-Friday, 8am to 8pm and Saturday and Sunday, 8am to 6pm.
A range of facilities are available such as access to specialist equipment and training in accessibility software programs. For ongoing, long-term access to the hubs, you’ll need a SoRA. Once you’ve been referred to the Digital Accessibility team via your SoRA, you’ll be contacted about scheduling an induction session during which a Digital Accessibility Technologist or a Support Officer will show you how the hub works, discuss the support you need, and provide training in any program or software that you may require.
DSA
The Disabled Students’ Allowance (DSA) is a support grant designed to assist students with a disability or long-term health condition in higher education. The DSA can help cover the additional costs associated with a disability or condition, such as specialist equipment, assistive technology, non-medical helpers such as a sign language interpreter, and taxis to travel to campus if you have trouble using public transport. Find out more about your eligibility for the DSA and instructions on how to apply here.
Extracurricular
UCL offers a range of extracurricular activities to help you ease into your role as a university student and connect with other likeminded individuals. The Disabled Students’ Network is a collective dedicated to advocating for disabled rights at UCL and offers a community for students with a long-term health condition, disability, or mental health condition to share experiences, advice, and campaign for change.
UCL Mental Health Society is a community that aims to eliminate the stigma around mental health by offering a safe space for students to open up about the problems they’re facing, support each other, and signpost to the services and resources that they need to help them overcome anything that's impacting on their mental health. If you’re interested in joining either the Disabled Students’ Network or UCL Mental Health Society, feel free to drop them a line on their social media pages or sign up via Students’ Union UCL.