Finding support when your circumstances have changed

Throughout your time at the University of Reading you may find your circumstances have changed. You may be experiencing personal, health, mental health problems, financial or relationship worries, or any other difficulty that impacts your wellbeing. Often these things happen for reasons outside of our control, and can occur at any time.

It’s important to remember that our Student Wellbeing Teams are here to help and offer you support when you encounter difficulties. You are not alone, and we encourage you to reach out to our teams for support.

Our 24hr Student Support Helpline, is available 24hrs a day, 365 days a year, to help you with any personal worries or concerns you may have. You can call 0800 023 2466 or live chat via the Wisdom: Learn Grow Thrive app. If you need urgent support, please call 999 or visit Essentials for urgent and emergency help contacts.

You may find that the worries or problems you are experiencing are affecting your studies, finances, mental health, and physical wellbeing. We encourage you to use the resources and services available from the University, to support you during a period of difficulty:

Our support teams are here to help you:

Need someone to talk to?

Right now? Our 24hr Student Support Helpline, is available 24hrs a day, 365 days a year, to help you with any personal worries or concerns you may have. You can call 0800 023 2466 or live chat via the Wisdom: Learn, Grow, Thrive app.

In person? Our Student Wellbeing Teams are here to help:

Student Welfare Team

- Email studentwelfare@reading.ac.uk to book an appointment

- Drop- in service Monday – Friday between 13:00 -16:00. Go to the Student Services reception and ask to speak to the Welfare Team.

Counselling and Wellbeing

- You can register with the Counselling and Wellbeing service online, once you have registered you will be offered an assessment appointment. Find out more about what to expect at an appointment on Essentials.

- For general enquiries please call 0118 378 4216 or email counselling@reading.ac.uk

Support with your studies

During the course of your degree programme if you experience difficulties affecting your ability to perform well or complete the requirements of your course, they are known as 'exceptional circumstances'.

You can receive support by submitting an Exceptional Circumstances request if you feel that these situations or difficulties have negatively affected, or will affect, your ability to complete coursework, to attend classes or to prepare for and/or sit your exams. Through this process you will be able to request, for example, a coursework deadline extension or apply for a deferred exam (if you are unable to sit the exam during the regular scheduled time) due to exceptional circumstances. You can find out more about the exceptional circumstances process and submitting your requests on Essentials.

Your Academic Tutor, School Director of Academic Tutoring, Student Support Coordinator (or Henley Helpdesk or ILSI Admin Office) and Reading Students' Union Academic Advisor’s are available to talk through your options and support with the process if required.

Help available for financial difficulties and money worries

Sometimes we encounter difficulties that impact our personal finances, and this in turn can also impact our mental health and ability to focus on things like our studies.

The University’s Student Financial Support Team are here to help with any money worries you might be experiencing, and have support funds available in times of financial hardship.

As a University of Reading student you have free access to the online financial learning platform, Blackbullion, where you'll find lessons and budgeting tools to help you improve your financial wellbeing. Head to Essentials to find out how you can get started with Blackbullion.

Virtual and face to face appointments are available Monday, Wednesday and Friday between 10:00 - 12.30. You can book an appointment online.

You can also email studentfunding@reading.ac.uk or call 0118 378 5555 (09:30 - 17:00, Monday – Friday).

Support available if you are experiencing loneliness

Sometimes when we are experiencing periods of difficulties, it can make us feel isolated. It can impact our energy levels and make us less willing to socialise and spend time with others. However, connecting with others can also bring us energy and improve our wellbeing.

Student Life Events are social events held throughout the year, and are an opportunity to connect with fellow students, make new friends, and relax with boardgames, snacks and crafts.

There are also Student Life Events hosted for young carers and care experienced students, commuter students, sanctuary scholars, under 18 students, to offer a chance to connect with other students who might have similar experiences to you.

The full calendar of Student Events can be found on the Me@Reading Student Portal.

If you are a new undergraduate student, please remember that your STaR mentor is here to help you settle in and support with any questions you may have. They can also signpost you towards any Support Services you may need. Head to Essentials to find out more about your STaR mentor.

Support available to commuter students

Sometimes personal circumstances change, and you need to relocate or travel to University from outside of Reading. This can lead to a period of readjustment, with extra planning and time considerations.

Our Commuter Students webpages on Essentials contain useful information about the support available to you as a commuter student, such as applying for parking permits, spaces to relax on campus, and connecting with fellow commuter students.

Getting a diagnosis for a medical condition, mental health condition, Specific Learning Difficulty (SpLD), or neurodevelopmental condition

Sometimes the challenges students face while at university can lead you to consider if you may have a long-term condition, which affects your studies. You may have had doubts before, you may have had some adjustments in the past in school or college, or you may already be aware and just hadn’t sought support in the past.

If you have any questions or want advice or support related to seeking a diagnosis, while at university, we would encourage you to:

1. Speak to your GP as early as possible to ask for a referral;

2. Register with the Disability Advisory Service (DAS), as soon as you can, to be considered for adjustments to your learning and assessments.

To be considered for adjustments, your condition needs to fall under the Equality Act definition (it is long-term, i.e. lasting for more than 12 months, and has a significant impact on your day-to-day activities).

If you receive a diagnosis while at university, you may be able to get tailored adjustments to help you while you study (such as extra time in exams). It is really important that you register with DAS, so these can be put in place.

If you receive a diagnosis while at university, you may also be able to be considered under the retrospective marking policy.