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Student services

Supporting you all the way through your time at university

There are lots of ways to get help. Whether you have a problem with your course, finances, personal life or mental health, Student Services are here to help. We will endeavour to answer your query and if we can’t, we will find the appropriate person or specialist team to do so. Please see below the teams that can support you through your time at Solent as a student.

Your first point of contact

The Student Hub is the first point of contact for any queries relating to your course or any personal matters which may be affecting your studies at the University, and can help with the following:

Questions about your course
Wellbeing
Student funding questions
To whom it may concern letters,
Council tax exemption certificates
Bank letters
Replacement campus cards
References
Advice on regulations, processes and policy.

Request a letter online

Drop us a line or pay us a visit. We are centrally located at the end of the main concourse in RM050 – when you come in the main entrance of the Michael Andrews building, walk straight ahead past reception and the Student Hub is directly in front of you.

Opening hours

Monday-Thursday 8.30am-5pm
Friday 8.30am-4.30pm

Contact details

Email: student.hub@solent.ac.uk
Telephone: 023 8201 5200
Twitter: @StudentHubSSU

Health and wellbeing support

The wellbeing team can provide you with information, advice and guidance on all matters relating to your general wellbeing.

Health and wellbeing We expect that your time at university will be successful and and enjoyable, however we are also here for those times when you may need some extra support, or when things do not go quite to plan.

Our friendly and experienced wellbeing advisers are on hand to talk to you in confidence about any issue that you may feel you need support with; you may be feeling homesick, have a relationship or family problem, or find that you have a personal or health issue which is impacting on your university experience.

No problem is too big or too small; we offer practical support, as well as access to self-help materials, and referrals to our specialist advice and support services.

You do not need to book an appointment, just pop in and see us in RM011 in the wellbeing hub (opposite the student hub). You can ask to speak to somebody in confidence, or if you prefer you can contact us to arrange an appointment time.

Contact details

Our opening hours are 9am - 4pm Monday-Friday during term-time (10am-12pm and 2pm-4pm during the holidays)

Visit: RM011 (opposite the student hub)
Tel: 023 8201 3427

Email: wellbeing@solent.ac.uk

Talk to us on live chat

Financial advice and support

The student funding team aims to help students with all matters relating to their student funding ranging from:

Student funding entitlement.
How and when to apply for funding.
What forms to complete.
Help with more complex funding matters e.g. if you leave/change or suspend your course.
Debt advice and money management.
Help if your funding is delayed.
Liaise with Student Finance England.
...and much more.

We have more information on our financial support pages on the University's external website.

The student funding team also administers the following non-repayable funds:

Support grant (previously known as the access to learning fund).
Course cost support grant.
Unpaid placement support grant.
Care leavers bursary.
Foyer / supported accommodation bursary.
Carers bursary.
Estranged students bursary.
Summer support grant.

They can also offer students a short term loan if their funding is delayed:

Short term loans

Leaflets

The student funding team has written various leaflets which relate to students and areas that may cause them or help them in financial difficulty.

Please use the links below to access the leaflets. You are welcome to print them out. They are also available from Students 1st, RM011 (near the lifts).

Learning support

Supporting you at university

We provide information, advice and guidance for disabled students throughout the student lifecycle.

We provide lots of support including:

Information and advice to prospective and current disabled students and to staff who are supporting students
Advice with accessing Disabled Students Allowance and other financial support
Screening and assessment for some conditions
Support in setting up specialist provision and exam arrangements
Access to assistive technology and guidance with specialist software
Short term loans of equipment

Please tell us about any disability (dyslexia; dyspraxia; medical conditions; physical or sensory impairments; mental health conditions and autistic spectrum declarations e.g. Asperger’s) even if you do not think it will affect your studies or experience with us.

You can register with us by completing and returning the attached form:

Access Solent registration form

Financial support

Students may be eligible for funding. Information is available on the student finance pages of Direct.gov.

It can take a while to get your financial support organised and therefore we recommend you get the process started as soon as possible.

Medical evidence

In order to get your support in place you will need appropriate medical evidence. For more information on the required proof please take a look at the eligibility criteria on Direct.gov.

Accessible venues and accommodation

An access map is available on the campus maps page.

Significant investments in accommodation facilities include: vibrating pillows for deaf students, hoists and purpose-built rooms with ground floor access. We also have larger rooms for students who may just need extra space for essential equipment and can provide fridges in bedrooms for medical purposes.
Further necessary adaptations can be made following an occupational therapist's assessment.
Students can agree individual Personal Emergency Evacuation Plans (PEEPS) with the University's health, safety and environment manager.

Additional information

Please note: prospective students will need to organise their personal care support through their social services.

If you have any enquiries or would like to discuss your support, please get in touch:

Email access@solent.ac.uk, telephone 023 8201 3427 or come to the wellbeing hub in RM011.

Admissions policy

The University is committed to equal opportunities and all offers are made based on an applicant’s academic profile. However there may be occasions when reasonable adjustments cannot be made to meet an applicant’s learning requirements and an offer will need to be withdrawn. For more information please see the admissions policy.

Counselling and hypnotherapy

If you're experiencing any issue that is troubling you, the counselling team is here to help. The sessions are free and offer you a confidential, safe, quiet space to meet with a counsellor face-to-face. The service usually offers 50-minute sessions, once a week, for six weeks. The counsellor can help you reflect on, explore and find a way forward with whatever is causing you distress.

We also offer free hypnotherapy to all students in need, to help them with issues that are having a negative effect on them. The hypnotherapist will guide you into a relaxed and pleasant state of consciousness, to help you overcome obstacles in your life, usually over one or two sessions.

If you would like to find out more about the counselling service, please come to the Student Hub (RM050) or contact counselling@solent.ac.uk for advice.

Advice for international students

The University has an international support team who can assist you with a wide variety of questions during your studies: from how many hours you can work in term-time, to who needs to register with the police, to (going forward) the requirements you will need to meet if you plan to switch into another category of the rules for employment or entrepreneurship! We are also experts at giving you realistic advice about extending your Tier 4 visa, and to assist you with the process where appropriate.

If you have any queries, visit the Student Hub and ask to talk to the international advice service or email internationalsupport@solent.ac.uk

Take a look at our frequently asked questions

Religion and belief

Spirituality and reflection

The spirituality and reflection service is here to support students of any faith, or none.

Whether you have a personal issue or something relating to your academic studies, we can offer you confidential advice and support.

Please see our spirituality and reflection web page for more information on the individual chaplains and faith advisers, the Prayer and Quiet rooms, and our statement of service.

Contact us

Visit the Student Hub, and the team can provide you with details on when the chaplains are available, and how to get in touch with the faith advisers.

Not sure who to talk to?

Contact the Student Hub in the first instance, who will happily advise you or refer you to specialist advisers.

The Student Hub is open Monday – Thursday (8.30am-5pm) and Friday (8.30am – 4.30pm)

Alternatively, contact the Student Hub by:

Email: student.hub@solent.ac.uk
Tel: 023 8201 5200
Twitter: @studenthubSSU

More information and contact details can be found in our Student Services Handbook.

Handbook 2017/18