Student Advice & Support Office

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.

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 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.

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

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.

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 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

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.