Student Advice & Support Office

The Student Advice & Support Office offers impartial advice and support through private discussion on a range of issues, including personal circumstances, money matters, disabilities and specific learning differences, mental health and wellbeing, and more. 

If you would like to speak with an adviser, please email student.support@abdn.ac.uk to arrange an appointment or a call back. 

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

When contacting the team to request an appointment, please provide information about your availability, your preference for appointment location/mode, and please feel free to share any further preferences regarding your support appointment, e.g. a male/female identifying adviser.

Please note that it may not always be possible to deliver an appointment which meets all of your preferences, but the team will do their best to accommodate.

British Sign Language (BSL) users can contact us directly by using Contact Scotland BSL.

Out of Hours Contact

If the Student Advice and Support Office is closed, and you need to speak to someone urgently, please have a look at the following contacts:

The University of Aberdeen Student Helpline
Contact your GP and ask for an emergency appointment
Students in University owned Halls of Residence can call Hillhead reception on 01224 274000 for signposting and support
Contact NHS out of hours service on 111 - NHS out-of-hours
Call 999 in an emergency

Make an Appointment

If you want to talk to someone please email student.support@abdn.ac.uk

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

If you have any specific requests in relation to the support you will receive (e.g., you would prefer to speak with a member of staff who identifies as female) please let us know and where possible, we will accommodate this.

Student Advice & Support Staff

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.

Management Team
Nicholas Edwards - Deputy Director of People and Head of Student Support Services Lesley Muirhead - Student Support Manager (Disability & Inclusion) Jemma Murdoch - Head of Student Advice & Support Kerry Watson - Student Support Manager (Accommodation & Specialist Advice)
Admin Team
Wilma Moggach - Administrative Assistant Sara Misuri - Graduate Trainee Administrator Emma Sinclair - Administrative Assistant (on maternity leave until summer 2025) Ailsa Reith – Administrative Assistant Jenni Karppinen – Administration Coordinator
Student Support Advisers
Steven Kearney - Student Support Adviser Lisa Kilgour - Student Support Adviser (on maternity leave until summer 2025) Geraldine Lynch - Student Support Adviser Kirsty McIntosh - Student Support Adviser Julie McLennan - Student Support Adviser Iona Rae - Student Support Adviser Lucy Rowe - Student Support Adviser Ruth Steele - Student Support Adviser

Worried About Someone Else?

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.

Academic 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 in Crisis

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

Mental Health

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

Counselling is a talking therapy which gives you the opportunity to explore with a qualified counsellor, issues which are causing you concern or distress.

The University Counselling Service offer one appointment at the time you need to talk, rather than a block of future appointments. This does not mean you are limited to only one appointment; it just means that you book one appointment at a time. Many students and members of staff find that one appointment is all they might need; others return to see us again - it is all about what works best for you.

Appointments can be booked online.

Find out more

Disabilities and Specific Learning Differences

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.

Money Matters

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.

Visit the Money Matters page for more information.

Students with Specific Support Needs e.g. Care leavers, estranged, veteran etc

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

Estranged: Stand Alone offers support and information for people that are estranged.

Refugee: Refugee Education UK offers toolkits, reports and resources for young refugees and for people who are interested in refugee education. A former student of University of Aberdeen, Shahid Khan reflects on his own journey to Scotland in this blog, A Refugee's Tale.

Students with children: Are you looking after a little one while studying? We are aware of the extra stress that this can put on you, and we have various initiative in place to help you through your studies.

Students with children

Are you looking after a little one while studying? We are aware of the extra stress that this can put on you, and we have various initiative in place to help you through your studies.

Parent's Network at the University
Parents, parents-to-be and carers who work or study at the University are invited to join the University of Aberdeen Parents and Carers Network. The group is open to ALL staff and students with caring responsibilities and was set up as a way to connect with others to share experiences, ideas and provide support in the University community. Information, support and advice for parents, parents-to-be and carers who work or study at the University of Aberdeen Our online chats and meetings via Facebook and Teams (Parents and Carers Network) provide a supportive setting where members can share parenting stories, doubts and tips, and discuss any topics, from the impact of Covid for us to going part-time, self-care, returning to studies after maternity or paternity leave, life/work boundaries, you name it. One-to-one mentoring around parenting issues is also on offer. Members can also browse the resources, files and links uploaded in this group which provide information to help navigate the challenges around parenting while working or studying at the University. The network is also one of the University's Equality Networks, and as such reports to EDIC (the Equality, Diversity and Inclusivity Committee) and feed back our views on policy. For more information find us on Facebook or look for 'Parents and Carers Network' on Teams.
Childcare Fund
The Childcare Fund provides assistance with the formal childcare expenses for dependant children. Formal childcare includes registered childminders, after-school clubs, and providers of day care and education. For further information on how to apply please visit the Childcare Fund webpage.
Parental Spaces
Where can you take your child on campus? We welcome you and your child to all of the public areas of our campus Baby Changing Facilities Baby changing facilities can be found across our campus. Old Aberdeen Butchart Centre Elphinstone Hall MacRobert Building Sir Duncan Rice Library Students' Union Building You can find further information on the accessibility of our campus from our Accessible Map. Nursing Facilities and AUSA Parents' Room We welcome breastfeeding across all public areas of our campuses. If you would prefer a quiet, private area to feed or express you can find a number of first aid rooms throughout both Old Aberdeen and Foresterhill. AUSA offers a Parent's Room, located in room 007 of the Students' Union Building. This is a quiet place for student parents or staff parents to feed their child. In the Parent's Room you'll find highchairs, places to sit and a microwave to heat up food. Old Aberdeen Cruikshank - G14 Edward Wright - G93 Fraser Noble - 068 MacRobert Building - 033 Meston - 037 Sir Duncan Rice Library - 130 University Office - Crush Hall William Guild - G20 Zoology - G03 Foresterhill Institute of Medical Sciences - 1.56 Medical Research Facility - G007 Polwarth - 0.004 Rowett Institute - 2.043 Suttie Centre 117 (First floor)
University Nursery
The University has a nursery on campus - The Rocking Horse Nursery. You can find listings for other childcare providers in the local area on the Aberdeen City Council and Aberdeenshire Council websites. You may also wish to consider using a childminder.

Student Conduct and Criminal Convictions or Charges

Students at the University are expected to engage in positive behaviours that promote equality, diversity and inclusion and that respect others at all times. When behaviour falls short of what is expected the University can look to resolve these under the Code of Practice on Student Discipline (non-academic).

This document outlines the types of situations in which the University may investigate allegations of misconduct and the expectations that we have on students in relation to their behaviour. We hope that most students never have to make use of this document but encourage everyone to read and understand the expectations placed on them as part of their continued registration with us. The current version of the Code is available on our Discipline website, alongside a guide for students on the process.

Students, and offer holders, have a duty to inform the University about certain criminal charges and convictions that they receive. More details on this, and how to disclose, are on our dedicated criminal charges and convictions webpage.

For more information you can email studentconduct@abdn.ac.uk

Personal Concerns

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.

Wellbeing Support