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Student services: student support

The University has a range of support services designed to help you achieve your full potential and to get the most out of your studies. These form a co-ordinated network of support, and are an important part of your overall student experience. Support services aim to be accessible to students and responsive to your needs.

Further information on the wide range of student support provision on offer, including specific arrangements at each campus and contact details can be found by the Student Support website. An overview of the provision on offer is detailed below.

  • Student Support offers advice on many welfare issues, including finance and funding, entitlement to benefits and immigration issues. We also administer the Access to Learning Fund and other hardship funds, and provide support to disabled students (see following page).
  • Student Support staff based in Colchester oversee induction arrangements for new students and work with other agencies on and off campus on issues relating to the student experience. For students at our Southend Campus, the above services are provided in partnership with Learner Support Services based at South Essex College.
  • Residents’ Support Network (RSN) is for students living in University-owned accommodation. Student Support co-ordinates a team of students and staff whose role it is to help you to integrate into life in the University community and respond to requests for advice, information or support. The RSN can be accessed out of office hours when other services are closed.
  • Essex Nightline is another out-of-hours service offering listening, information and drop-in services overnight during term. Essex Nightline is a student-led service based at the Colchester Campus, but accessible via telephone or e-mail to all students of the University.
  • Counselling Service offers assistance with educational, social, personal or emotional concerns, through confidential counselling sessions. At Colchester this is a campus-based service, and at Loughton and Southend local counselling is available.
  • Students’ Union Advice Centre provides independent advice and information on a wide range of issues, including visa renewals for international students. We are staffed by trained student volunteers with support from permanent staff.
  • Academic and study support: Each department, school and centre within the University has a system for providing academic support for its students. In addition there is a range of general study-related support including workshops, groups and web-based materials. For further details please visit mySkills website.
  • Facilities for worship: The Multi-Faith Chaplaincy Centre at our Colchester Campus has worship areas for use by all members of the University. There are recognised chaplains and religious representatives from many world religions and regular events, services and prayers, both on campus and in the local area. For further details please visit: www2.essex.ac.uk/chaplaincy. Our Southend Campus has a small worship and contemplation area for use by all members of the University.
  • Child care: A large, purpose-built day nursery at our Colchester Campus caters for children from three months to five years. It is run by fully-qualified staff and is open weekdays all the year round. Children can attend for mornings, afternoons or the whole day but, as it is very popular, sessions are limited and places must be booked in advance. A play scheme for children of primary school age also runs during half-terms. For further details, please visit: www.essex.ac.uk/dn. Students at our Southend Campus can use the Jungle Cats Nursery at South Essex College, which cares for children aged three months to five years. All child care must be booked in advance and places are limited. For more information please e-mail: nursery@southessex.ac.uk.
  • Health care: All our students are expected to register with a local doctor. There is a Health Centre on the Colchester Campus which offers National Health Service (NHS) care, including appointments with male and female doctors, a nurse triage system for emergencies, and specialist nurse clinics including asthma, diabetes, sexual health and contraception. For further details please visit: www.rowhedgesurgery.co.uk.
  • Dental and optical care is available locally in Colchester, Loughton and Southend, and charges apply for these services. The Southend Campus has a medical centre on site offering NHS services including appointments with doctors and nurse clinics. In addition, a state-of-the-art Dental Education Unit offers a free-of-charge service for routine dental care. Some non-NHS services, for example, pre-employment medicals, may involve a charge. International students on a programme of at least six months are generally eligible for National Health Service treatment. International students should check before they leave their own country whether they have to pay for health care in the UK.

    • Disability service

    The University has a strong tradition of encouraging and supporting disabled students, including those with mental health or specific learning difficulties. We aim to create an accessible and enabling environment. The extensive provision includes: needs assessment; advice on Disabled Students’ Allowance; study strategies tuition and mentoring; learning support (eg note-takers); individual exam arrangements; allocation of award-winning adapted accommodation (Colchester Campus only); and accessible parking (Colchester Campus only).

    Arrangements at Colchester and Loughton are co-ordinated by the Disability Team based within Student Support in Colchester, and at Southend by the Learner Support Services based at South Essex College. We encourage students to contact the relevant disability team or service to discuss access to the University and to their programme of study. These discussions are confidential and information will not be passed on without prior consent. Further details of the facilities can be found by visiting: Disability Service

    Contact details for disability enquiries:
    Colchester and Loughton (Student Support, Disability Team)
    T +44 (0)1206 872365
    E disab (non essex users add @southessex.ac.uk)
    Southend (South Essex College, Learner Support Services)
    T +44 (0)1702 220400
    E guidance (non essex users add @southessex.ac.uk)