Student support, health and wellbeing

Our dedicated Student Support and Success team provides information, advice, support and guidance on many aspects of student life available throughout the year.

Please do not hesitate to get in touch during your time at Winchester using Ask Winchester or via the intranet. Some of the topics our support services cover include:

MENTAL WELLBEING

There may be times when it is helpful to seek support for your mental wellbeing or talk with someone trained to help. Our mental wellbeing service consisting of a team of professional and approachable counsellors and mental health advisers can provide you with a confidential space to listen and to help explore issues with you. Sessions can be provided face-to-face or online. There are also workshops and groups available throughout the year focusing on a range of topics and ways to promote your mental wellbeing.

DISABILITY AND LEARNING DIVERSITY SUPPORT

Our Disabilities and Learning Diversity team within Student Support and Success helps students with disabilities, long term medical needs and learning differences. If you have disclosed a disability and/or learning difference on your UCAS form or by other means, you can get in touch with Student Support and Success and set up support with one of our Disability Advisers.

STUDENT ACADEMIC SUPPORT: HELPING YOU TO ADJUST TO CAMPUS LEARNING AND STUDY

The pandemic and the move to online and blended learning brought significant changes to how we studied and learnt. The skills required altered as we engaged with online content and pre-recorded sessions, found new ways to collaborate in a virtual classroom and explored alternative ways of researching. Many of these skills will continue to be important both for future learning and employability, and demonstrate our adaptability as students and individuals.

As we transition to a return to on-campus study, however, there may be skills that the face-to-face environment requires which have not been needed before or used for a while. Time management skills may need to adapt in light of more timetabled, live classes, additional travel to campus or the availability of more extra curricular activities; techniques for giving a presentation or contributing to group work in person may need to be developed, and different strategies for taking notes in a live lecture or seminar will need to be utilised. The Student Academic Support team are here to help with all of this and more. • Our programme of workshops covers a wide range of skills that you will need for the year ahead. Join us to learn some top tips and strategies to ensure you are studying efficiently and effectively.

• You can book a one-to-one appointment with one of the team to discuss your progress and the academic skills you would like to develop. These sessions are tailored to you and your priorities.

• You can also make use of our fantastic SMART Buddies (Academic Skills Student Mentors). If you are a Year 2 student, why not join one of their peerled ‘Moving up to Level 5’ sessions. These provide a space for you to discuss the next stage of your studies and the transition to on-campus study, learn how to develop a successful student mindset, and undertake practical activities like outlining personal targets for development and creating action plans for progression. If you are moving into either Year 2 or Year 3, you can request a dedicated student mentor who will meet you weekly to discuss your academic skills and how you are approaching your workload and assignments.

Information about all of the above will be available on our Student Academic Support pages on the Intranet, and on our ‘SkillsNet’ Canvas module. Alternatively, email academicskills@winchester.ac.uk and we will be happy to help.

INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS

The International Student Officer is available to help with any non-academic issues you may face whilst at University, including welfare and visa related enquiries. Email the International Student Officer on

student.advice@winchester.ac.uk

IF ENGLISH ISN'T YOUR FIRST LANGUAGE

Our team can support you to develop your confidence and skills in using English for academic purposes. Find out more by emailing

eltsu@winchester.ac.uk

SECURITY

To ensure your security and welfare we have a team of Site Stewards who are on hand 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. The team offer a positive and reassuring presence on campus and are responsible for delivering a safe environment for you to live, study, work and socialise. They regularly patrol the University site as well as acting as an emergency response to any issues that arise on campus. If you wish to contact the Site Stewards please call +44 (0) 1962 827666 or +44 (0) 1962 827667.

STUDENT UNION ADVICE CENTRE

Winchester Student Union Advice Centre offers free, independent and impartial support and guidance for students, specialising in supporting students through the academic processes of appeals, misconduct or complaints. They can also provide support on issues covering wellbeing, money, and housing. Visit www.winchesterstudents.co.uk/advice for toolkits and to find out more.

YOUR NAME

The University records your official name (given names and family name) and a 'known as' (preferred) name on your student record. Your 'known as' name tells us how your would like to be addressed at University and you can amend this name yourself at registration or reenrolment or by emailing Registry.Enquiries@winchester.ac.uk from your University email. This is the name staff will use when they speak to or contact you and will normally be used on all internal informal communications.

Formal communications or documentation will normally use your official name. If you wish to change your official name please email Registry.Enquiries@winchester.ac.uk for advice.

REGISTERING WITH A DOCTOR (GP) IN WINCHESTER

If you will be living in Winchester, we ask you to register with a Winchester GP before you complete your online enrolment at the start of September. You can continue to be able to see your family GP at home during the holidays as a temporary resident. There are three GP surgeries in Winchester you can choose to register with: ■ St Clements Surgery based in Tanner Street in the city centre

www.stclementspractice.co.uk

■ St Paul’s Surgery based on Alison Way, near the railway station

www.stpaulssurgery-winchester.nhs.uk

■ The Friarsgate Practice based in Weeke and Badger Farm areas of Winchester

www.friarsgatepractice.co.uk

When you have made your choice, complete the online GP registration form on your GP’s website. Please make sure to write your new University address where it says ‘Home address’ on the GP form. If you are living in University Managed Accommodation, the Housing team will send out housing offers which will indicate your new University address.

We recommend you continue to see your current dentist regularly, and have a check-up before you come to University. However, should an emergency appointment be needed, please contact the NHS Dental Helpline on 111.

GET VACCINATED

Covid vaccinations: We encourage you to get your Covid vaccinations as soon as they are offered to you. MMR vaccinations: For life-long protection from measles, mumps and rubella, two MMR vaccinations are necessary. Your medical records, held by your GP, will confirm your vaccination status – please check with your local surgery. If you have only had one MMR vaccination, please ensure you have the second before coming to University. Meningitis ACWY vaccinations: Meningitis is a serious and potentially life-threatening disease and all new students coming to University should have received the meningitis ACWY vaccine. Check with your GP and if you have not had this vaccine please do so before coming to University.