Student Advice & Support Team

If you want to talk to someone please email:

• General Student Support matters: student.support@abdn.ac.uk
• Disability matters: student.disability@abdn.ac.uk
• Visa and Immigration matters: student.international@abdn.ac.uk

We can offer you an appointment by telephone, Microsoft Teams or in person.

The Student Advice & Support team are available to help you with a wide range of issues during your time at the University. Our office team will be happy to assist you to make an appointment with an appropriate adviser for your needs.

The Student Support Advisers often speak to students or members of staff who are concerned about another student. Our service is confidential, and allows people who are worried about a friend or colleague to discuss their concerns and receive advice about how they can help, or when they should take further action.

If you are worried about someone, please email student.support@abdn.ac.uk. We can contact students to offer support based on a concern being raised, as well as offer support to those who have been affected by concerns.

Our Student Support Advisers can provide advice and support on the monitoring process, transferring degree programmes, appeals, complaints and more.

If you have received a C6 'At Risk' or C7 'Refusal of Class Certificate' and would like more information please visit the Monitoring and Progress page.

If you would like to change your degree programme, or if you are not enjoying a specific course and would like to change, please visit the Changes to Studies page.

Students experiencing a crisis should email student.support@abdn.ac.uk if they wish to speak with a Student Support Adviser.

Everyone experiences challenges with their mental health from time to time. You can find useful tips and resources to help manage difficult times on our Self-Help Pages.

It is important to know that if you are thinking about taking your own life, support is available from university support services. The Samaritans also have resources to help you understand your feelings and how to access the support you need.

If you find these difficulties are negatively impacting your wellbeing in any aspect of your life e.g. relationships, work, studies, you can arrange a confidential counselling appointment by contacting the Counselling Service.

If you have a persistent mental health condition or are worried that you are experiencing a serious deterioration in your mental health please contact your local GP, NHS24 or call 999.

Supporting someone thinking about suicide

It can be really challenging to support someone you care about who is dealing with suicidal thoughts. There is a popular myth that directly speaking to someone with suicidal thoughts about suicide can be really damaging to that person. Actually, most of the time knowing that they have someone they can speak to about the feelings they are experiencing can be a huge relief.

Samaritans have put together some guides about how to listen and support someone you care about who is experiencing suicidal thoughts. You can find more information here.

Counselling is a form of talking therapy, which gives you the opportunity to discuss issues that could be causing you concern or distress, with a qualified counsellor.

The Counselling Service offers one-at-a-time appointments, so you can speak to a counsellor as needed. The appointments are usually arranged within 1-2 days of contact, depending on your availability, as well as the counsellors

The Disability Service provides advice, information and practical support to prospective and current students. The Disability Team are available to assist undergraduate, postgraduate, full time, part time and online distance learners. They cover a range of disabilities including:

• Sensory and physical impairments
• Mental health conditions
• Long-term health conditions
• Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)/Attention Deficit Disorder (ADD)
• Dyslexia and Specific Learning Differences (SpLD)
• Autism Spectrum Condition (ASC)

The Disability Team are available to assist undergraduate, postgraduate, full time, part time and online distance learners.

Please visit our Disability Service page for further information.

Are you struggling to make ends meet?  If so, the University of Aberdeen may be able to help you.  Please click on the link below to visit the Money Matters page where you will find lots of information and tips including hardship funds that you may be eligible to apply to.

If you have any questions please email hardship@abdn.ac.uk.  

As a University, we are committed to supporting all of our students, and we recognise that the student experience will vary greatly for each of you. We have a team of Student Support Advisers who are available to discuss your individual circumstances, and work with you to ensure that you have all of the necessary and relevant support in place to ensure you can make the most of your studies and have a great experience too. The University is committed to supporting all students and in particular those who identify with the following groups:

• Care Leavers
• Estranged
• Carers
• Gypsy, Roma, Traveller
• Veteran
• Refugee/Asylum Seeker
• Parents in the military
• Parents who have had a custodial sentence
• Educational Maintenance Allowance
• Free School Meals
• Low progression schools

For details of the support which can be provided, please contact student.support@abdn.ac.uk

We are here to support and advise you, and offer confidential, impartial and non-judgemental advice on a variety of issues. We can signpost you to external support or help you contact your School if personal difficulties are affecting your ability to focus on your studies. Please don’t hesitate to reach out and arrange to speak to a member of our team and get the help you need.

Visit the Support & Wellbeing pages to find out about specific concerns we can help with.