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your one-stop shop for support at uni
welcome to
The Guide ade u’ve m o Y ! U s! e to B ulation t a r Welcom g n ur ni – co ant yo it to u w U B SU ey in We at y journ t t i s r e v s grea uni a e b o t at mouth now th k e Bourne w t u and sible b home m as pos o r f own g away e your g movin a n a to m an be nces c having a n i f s and d. studie py roa a bum
General
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Wellbeing
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Academic
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Finance
Naomie
SUBU President
This guid e is des igned to be your go-to gu ide for any well being, a c a demic and fina ncial he lp you may nee d throug hout your stu dies, no matter if you a re a hom e, internat ional, dis a b le mature d or Student or have to look after yo ur kids or a depen dent.
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General askBU
Student Support and Engagement Team
The askBU team is trained to help you with any information, advice or guidance you
The Student Support and Engagement
may need during your time at BU. You can
Team has members embedded into each
easily drop in to see them on both Talbot or
of the university’s faculties. They are a
Lansdowne Campuses, or contact them via
point of contact within your faculty if you
phone or email with concerns and questions.
are having personal or academic issues, concerns or worries while you are study-
askBU@bournemouth.ac.uk
ing.
01202 969696
No matter the size of the issue, the team
askBU at The Base, Poole House, Talbot Campus Helpzone, Bournemouth Gateway Building, Lansdowne Campus
is there to discuss it confidentially and can help support directly or point you in the direction of help or support options.
Monday-Thursday: 9am-5pm Friday: 9am-4.30pm
sset@bournemouth.ac.uk
SUBU Advice SUBU Advice provides advice on a number of issues relating to your studies and your life beyond the lecture theatre, including housing, money and employment. All advice and information given is free, independent, non-judgemental and confidential. The Students’ Union’s Advice Workers will support you with whatever your concerns are from start to finish. The team is accredited by the Advice Quality Standard and audited every two years to ensure you are getting the highest quality advice possible. In person appointments are available Tuesdays-Thursdays on Talbot Campus and on Tuesdays and Thursdays in the Bournemouth Gateway Building in Lansdowne. Appointments can be booked by contacting the team, or drop-in sessions are held from 2-4pm, Tuesdays-Thursdays on Talbot Campus. subuadvice@bournemouth.ac.uk
01202 965779
SC202, The Student Centre, Talbot Campus BG405, Bournemouth Gateway Building, Lansdowne Campus Talbot Campus: 10am-4pm, Tuesday-Thursday Lansdowne Campus: 9.30am-1pm, Tuesday-Thursday
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Wellbeing Your wellbeing can have a huge impact on your studies and how much you enjoy your time at BU. There are a number of services available to you during your time at university that can help you with your wellbeing, whether it is getting the endorphines and serotonin flowing through exercise at SportBU or taking time out of your day to reflect and relax in the Faith and Reflection Centre. Be sure to come back to these pages whenever you need some support with keeping your wellbeing the best it can be.
Student Wellbeing Team The Student Wellbeing Service is a free confidental service for all BU students to contact when they are feeling stressed, anxious or in a low mood. They offer a number of different services that might help: • Appointments - these are with the team’s trained Wellbeing Advisors and are for you to discuss anything surrounding your wellbeing, from stress and anxiety to homesickness and eating difficulties. • Drop-In Sessions - these drop-in sessions are currently online and run during term time from Monday-Friday, 1-2pm. You’ll get to chat to a Wellbeing Advisor about whatever issues you are currently experiencing. • Counselling - as well as appointments with the Wellbeing Advisors, the Student Wellbeing Team can also organise for you to talk to a counsellor. The counselling will provide you with a space to talk and reflect on what is troubling you and, with help from your counsellor, find solutions. • Workshops - the Student Wellbeing Team runs a number of workshops throughout the year on various wellbeing topics, for example how to boost your mood, managing worry and anxiety, and relaxation. Even if you aren’t sure if the service can help, they are more than happy to help you find the best support for your situation. You can self-refer using the online form found on the Student Wellbeing section of the BU website, or email them with any questions or concerns you have. studentwellbeing@bournemouth.ac.uk www.bournemouth.ac.uk/students/health-wellbeing/student-wellbeing
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SportBU
BU Faith and Reflection Whether or not you follow a faith, the Faith
Getting exercise is a proven mood
and Reflection Centre is a welcoming
booster and can help lower stress levels
sanctuary from the busy student life. The
so why not join SportBU? SportBU is the
chaplaincy and faith advisor team are
university’s centre for sports and fitness
predominantly based in the Faith and
with various team sports, group classes
Reflection Centre, on the first floor of Talbot
and gym equipment to help you get
House (the same building as the Student
moving.
Medical Centre) and exist to listen to, support and encourage you in whichever
They also have a Wellbeing Hub full of
way you need.
content about keeping yourself well through eating and moving, which is
Within the Faith and Reflection Centre, you
currently available to all BU students. You
can find a communal area, a quiet room for
can join online or by talking to the
individual prayer, meditation or just sitting,
SportBU team on campus. You can find
an Islamic prayer room, a Kosher kitchen
them next door to the Student Centre!
and an open kitchen for anyone in the centre to use.
Contact the team any questions or to see what facilities are on offer in person.
The team also runs events throughout the year, including celebrating faith-related
sportbu@bournemouth.ac.uk
festivals or holidays, helping facilitate acts
01202 965012
of remembrance and vigils and events specifically for the international student
SportBU, Talbot Campus
community, such as the weekly Global
Monday-Friday: 7.15am-8pm Saturday-Sunday: 9am-5pm
Cafe, and postgraduate students, such as monthly PGR lunches. faithandreflection@bournemouth.ac.uk
TIP #1: TAKE TIME FOR YOU
07928 129767
Sometimes coming to uni, studying and
Faith and Reflection Centre, 1st Floor, Talbot House, Talbot Campus
going out can be overwhelming. Make sure you take time to look after yourself in your
Monday-Friday: 9am-5pm
daily routine with whatever self-care looks like for you.
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ResLifeBU Moving into halls of residence with strangers can be a daunting experience andcan lead to feeling homesick or heightened anxiety. ResLifeBU is designed to help you if you live in BU halls or UniLet at any point during your studies. They run a number of events around their core principles of social (such as movie nights and trips to Durdle Door), wellbeing (such as beach yoga and journaling workshops) and skills (such as cooking classes). As well as their team of Resident Assistants (who are current BU students) they also have a team of four Welfare Coordinators who are a friendly point of contact for you can get in touch with if you need further wellbeing help. To find out about ResLife events, like their page on Facebook, join your halls’ official Facebook group and follow them on Instagram. ResLifeBU
ResLifeBU
Contact your halls’ Welfare Coordinator: • Cranborne House (Sam Honnoraty): cranborne@bournemouth.ac.uk • Bailey Point (Sam Honnoraty): baileypoint@bournemouth.ac.uk • Lyme Regis House (Francis Hawkhead): lymeregis@bournemouth.ac.uk • Chesil House (Francis Hawkhead): chesil@bournemouth.ac.uk • Student Village (Rehan Zia): studentvillage@bournemouth.ac.uk • Okeford House (Rehan Zia): okeford@bournemouth.ac.uk • Corfe House (Robert Collier): corfe@bournemouth.ac.uk • Dorchester House (Robert Collier): dorchester@bournemouth.ac.uk • Purbeck House (Robert Collier): purbeck@bournemouth.ac.uk • Unilet: unilet@bournemouth.ac.uk
Togetherall Togetherall is an anonymouse online mental health support service which is free for all BU students. This online community, which is available 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, allows members to support each other while there are trained professionals monitoring activity to provide extra help and support where needed. They also provide a bank of useful information such as self-help programess for anxiety, sleep, depression and more. You’ll need to register the first time you use the website but it’s quick and easy to do. www.togetherall.com
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Academic Whether you’ve come to uni straight from
Student Reps
college or after being in the working world getting to grips with the expected work
The Student Rep program run by SUBU is
level can be difficult. But don’t worry - there
hugely important for getting student
are plenty of things to help you through!
voices heard at BU. Reps will collect feedback from their fellow students, present it at relevant meetings with SUBU
PAL Leaders
and BU and report back to students what was disussed in relation o their feedback.
PAL or Peer-Assisted Learning is a scheme
In addition to Student Reps, SUBU also has
where trained second year students (PAL
a team of Department Reps and Faculty
Leaders) who are on the same course as
Reps to ensure that students’ feedback is
you provide support during your first year
heard at every level of the university.
of studying. As a fellow student your PAL
www.subu.org.uk/studentvoice
Leader will directly understand your experiences as a first year, especially when it comes to specific course content and
Academic Advisors
teaching. PAL sessions are timetabled into your studies and can be a useful space for
As well as being able to go to your
discussion and learning from someone
lecturers for academic support you will
else’s experiences.
also be assigned an Academic Advisor
www.libguides.bournemouth.ac.uk/ palcentral/home
towards the start of the academic year. This Advisor will be a lecturer from within your course who you can talk to should you have any issues with your academic
TIP #2: FEEDBACK
work.
Although feedback you get on assignments can feel a little deflating, your lecturers
If you aren’t sure who yours is, then
atrying re to help you improve your work. If
contact your programme leader.
you aren’t sure what they mean then talk to them, they want to help.
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Library Support Team The university libraries are great resources of information especially when doing assignments. Its website also provides information on academic skills you may need while at BU. As well as a general library support team, each faculty has a team of librarians who can assist you in finding the academic resources you might be looking for and help you book study areas for group work. • General: librarysupport@bournemouth.ac.uk • Business School Library Team: bubslibteam@bournemouth.ac.uk • Science and Technology Library Team: SciTechLibTeam@bournemouth.ac.uk • Health and Social Sciences Library Team: hsslibteam@bournemouth.ac.uk • Media and Communication Library Team: fmclibteam@bournemouth.ac.uk Talbot Campus: The Sir Michael Cobham Library Lansdowne Campus: Weston Library, Bournemouth Gateway Building Talbot Campus: 9am-5pm Lansdowne Campus: 9am-5pm
Study Skills Workshops Run by the Library team, Study Skills, workshops are all about teaching you vital skills you will need during your studies from how to reference properly and avoid plagiarism to learning how to think critically or plan your essays - tere are loads on offer. Sessions take place throughout the year and can all be found via the website below. www.libguides.bournemouth.ac.uk/study_skills_workshops
Additional Learning Support Team If you have a disability, medical condition, mental health issue or temporary injury, then the ALS team are designed to support you throughout your studies. They can help arrange exam adjustments, arrange screenings for dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADD, help with Disabled Students’ Allowance applications and provide support to ensure you are not disadvantaged during your studies. als@bournemouth.ac.uk
Talbot Campus: 01202 965663 Lansdowne Campus: 01202 961581
DLG17, Sir Michael Cobham Library, Talbot Campus Monday-Tuesday & Thursday-Friday: 9am-4pm Wednesday: 9am-12pm
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Finance Going to uni can sometimes be the first time that you manage your own money and there are lots of additional costs to living away from home. If you need financial help there are plenty of funds and grants in place to help. SUBU Advice can also help with advice on how to manage your money.
BU Financial Support Fund We all experience financial difficulties at some point in our lives and the BU Financial Support Fund is designed to help you should you experience them during your degree. This is non-repayable and can help with living costs as well as academic ones such as childcare, travel, accommodation, course books and equipment. The amount awarded depends on your circumstances. To apply contact askBU for the details of how. Please note that EU, Channel Islands, Isle of Man and international students cannot apply for this fund. www.bournemouth.ac.uk/students/help-advice/financial-support/ bu-financial-support-fund
BU Covid-19 Impact Support Fund This fund is to support BU students who are being financially impacted by the coronavirus pandemic and who have lost income due to Covid-19. Any student enrolled at BU can apply for this fund however to qualify you must either show evidence that you have had to self-isolate* or lost your job as a result of the pandemic since 20 September 2021 and provide evidence that this has affected you financially. If you are successful, you will receive a one-time payment of £200. This funding is limited and therefore awards are not guaranteed even to those that meet the criteria. www.bournemouth.ac.uk/students/help-advice/financial-support/bu-covid-19impact-support-fund *this self-isolation must be because of a positive Covid test or because you have in close contact with someone who has tested positive.
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Small Emergency Grant
TIP #3: BUDGET
This grant provides short-term assistance
Budgeting is key for keeping track of your
for students who have no or very little
finances every month. It can really help
funds available to them. Usually paid in
avoid your overdraft!
denominations of £20, the grant is often paid in supermarket vouchers. Your request will only be considered if you are enrolled on a BU course and are able to show that
BU Laptop Support Fund
you have very little or no funds remaining.
The BU Laptop Support Fund is designed to support students who do not have
Application forms can be obtained from
access to their own laptop. To be eligible
SUBU Advice. You are not required to pay
you must:
this grant back but if you have the ability
Be classed as a ‘home’ student for fees
to do so later it will mean that BU can assist
purposes.
other students in the same way.
Have a household income of £16,000 or below (undergraduate students only) as
www.bournemouth.ac.uk/students/ help-advice/financial-support/ small-emergency-grant
determined by your funding provider (SFE, SFW, SFNI, SAAS). Be fully enrolled on a BU course. Be without a working laptop/computer for
TIP #4: FREE STUFF
study purposes. Be able to confirm that you do not have
One of the perks of being a student is
the funds to buy a laptop.
getting stuff for free or cheaper. Did you know you might be entitled to a number of
Successful applicants will receive a £250
NHS services such as eye tests, dental care
voucher to use with BU’s IT supplier,
and prescriptions, which you need to pay
Getech. The fund is limited and awarded
for once you’re over 18, for free if you fill in a
on a first come first serve basis.
HC1 form. Also at BU, you can get all Microsoft Office programmes for free.
www.bournemouth.ac.uk/students/ help-advice/financial-support/ bu-laptop-support-fund
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NHS Learning Support Fund
Placement Opportunity Fund
If you are on an NHS course you may be
Taking on a work placement as part of your
eligible for additional support from the NHS via their Learning Support Fund. This
studies is a great way to get real world
money is available to students studying
experience wihle still a university but it can
Midwifery, Nursing (adult, child and
be costly. This fund can help eligible
mental health), Occupational Therapy,
students with these additional costs such
Operating Department Practice or
as travel and clothing for interviews,
Physiotheraphy. The fund includes a
essential uniforms, DBS checks and visas.
Training Grant, a Parental Support Fund,
www.bournemouth.ac.uk/students/ help-advice/financial-support/ placement-opportunity-fund
Travel and Dual Accommodation Expenses Fund and Exeptional Support Fund. nhsbsa.nhs.uk/nhs-learningsupport-fund
Unite Foundation Scholarship students who are under 25 and are a care
NHS Learning Support Fund
leaver or estranged from their families. The
This grant is for full-time higher education
scholarship provides a rent-free university
students who have an adult that depends
home for up to three years of your degree,
on them financially. The maximum grant
which at BU would be at Purbeck House in
for the 21/22 academic year is £3,190, does
Lansdowne. This means that students
not have to be paid back and is on top of
won’t have to worry about where they are
your other student finance. It is based on
living while studying and during the
a number of criteria and is paid in three
holidays. Applications for September 2022
instalments across the academic year.
The Unite Foundation Scholarship is for
open in January. www.gov.uk/adult-dependants-grant www.thisisusatuni.org/unitefoundation-scholarship
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Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA) These are provided by UK government to UK students who have a disability that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on the ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities. It is non-repayable and is in addition to any other student finance you are eligible for. Support types and how much you receive is based on your individual needs, which is assessed via a needs assessment. This can help with the costs of specialist equipment, non-medical helpers (eg a specialist note-taker) and any other disability-related study support you need. www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowance-dsa
BU DSA Support Fund This funding is designed to help disabled students further with getting what they need to study unhindered. This non-repayable support is spefically to help those in financial difficulty with getting an Educational Psychologist Assessment/Evaluation of Needs or a contribution towards approved DSA equipment. BU can provide up to £200 for the Educational Psychologist Assessment/Evaluation of Needs and up to £200 for DSA-approved equipment. This is only available to students from mainland UK and Northern Ireland. www.bournemouth.ac.uk/students/help-advice/financial-support/bu-dsa-support-fund
Childcare Grant
Parents’ Learning Allowance
This non-repayable grant is for full-time higher education students who have
This allowance is for full-time students with
children under 15 or under 17 if they have
children. What you are awarded is
SENs. This is available on top of other
dependent on your household income can
student finance and the amount is based
be up to £1,821 a year paid in three
on household income and number of
instalments directly into your bank account
dependent children. This money will go
across the year. It is on top of your other
straight to your childcare provider via a
student finance and is non-repayable.
Childcare Grant Payment Service. www.gov.uk/childcare-grant
www.gov.uk/parents-learning-allowance
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Notes
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We Know Students