Student Health, Welfare and Personal Development

www.aston.ac.uk/welfareservices

Student life has both ‘ups’ and ‘downs’, so it is essential our students feel that there is always support available should they need it. The wide range of services on offer to Aston students is geared to ensuring their time at University is a success in academic, social and personal terms.

Government and independent assessors have consistently praised the quality of our support and welfare services, contributing to Aston University having one of the lowest ‘student non-completion’ (or “drop-out rate”) percentages in UK Universities* and a reputation as a friendly, supportive campus University.
[*Times Good University Guide 2005]

The close-knit University community on campus helps to ensure that our students know where and who to turn to if they have issues of concern. This support is available whether our students are living on or off campus. The Student Support Department oversees support, guidance and welfare for all Aston’s students, covering some of the areas below.

University Health Centre

The University provides a confidential University Health Service from our modern Health Centre in the Main Building on campus. All treatment is given under the NHS, and students are advised to enrol at the start of term. Our team of male and female doctors and nurses offer a full range of medical advisory services, and there is emergency cover at all times for registered students. All students at Aston University on courses for three months or more are eligible to register with the Health Centre. There is also a Dental Surgery and Opticians on campus, and the nearest Pharmacy is less than ten minutes’ walk away.

Website: http://www.astonuniversityhealthcentre.co.uk/default.asp

Personal Tutor System

You will be allocated a Personal Tutor or equivalent and will be encouraged to make regular contact with him or her throughout your studies. Personal Tutors are there to help discuss academic and, in some cases, personal issues, and, if appropriate, will refer you to the other specialist advisory services available at Aston. Personal Tutors can also often offer support by writing references for placement/graduate employment and academic research.

Study Skills

At Aston we are proud of our progressive approach to undergraduate teaching and the support we give to our students’ academic studies. The Study Skills Programme is open to all students free of charge, and is run throughout the year by our Academic Schools, covering topics such as:

• Reading, note-taking and writing skills
• Statistics and numeracy
• Essay and report writing
• Keyboard skills
• Groupwork and presentation skills
• Stress, relaxation and time management
• Revision and exam techniques

We also offer our Foundation course students study skills seminars if they are required. The University runs a number of other support programmes including a Mathematics drop-in centre (for assistance with Mathematics skills) and programming support for computing students.

Counselling Service

The Aston University Counselling Service is there to help in times of stress or personal difficulty, when it may be useful to talk your problems through with someone outside the situation. www.aston.ac.uk/counselling

Help with Finance

The Student Support Department is responsible for all administration and distribution of the University Hardship, Opportunity Bursaries and International Student Funds. Please see the section on Fees & Financial Support. The Students’ Advice Centre in the Guild is also able to offer current and future students advice on financial issues.

Students’ Advice Centre (SAC) – Aston Students’ Guild

Similar to a Citizens‘ Advice Bureau, except specialising in student enquiries, the Advice Centre offers an extensive independent information, advice and representation service.Enquiries are treated with absolute confidentiality by our friendly, well-trained advice team. Our expertise covers a wide range of areas, including academic issues, tuition fees, financial worries, maintenance grants, bursaries, immigration, accommodation and landlord issues. Based in the Students’ Guild, the Centre also has leaflets and a notice board area advertising everything from accommodation to typing services. Contact the SAC on 0121 204 4848, weekdays from 9.45am-4.15pm, email sac@aston.ac.uk or visit www.astonguild.org.uk and follow the link to ‘Advice and Welfare’.

Students’ JobShop

Students looking for part-time work can use the Students’ JobShop, based on the first floor of Aston Students’ Guild. All term-time work offered to Aston Students is advertised here, as well as some unskilled work for vacation periods. Skilled vacation work is handled by the University Careers Advisory Service via the Graduate Advantage Office. JobShop follows University policy that paid work should not detract from academic work with a recommended maximum number of hours during term time. Contact JobShop on 0121 204 4844, email jobshop@aston.ac.uk or visit www.astonguild.org.uk and follow the link to ‘Jobshop’.

Students with Disabilities and Specific Learning Difficulties

The Disability Co-ordinator provides practical help and support for students with disabilities and specific learning difficulties.

International Students

For further information on Aston’s specifically tailored support for international students, please see that separate section of the prospectus.

Accommodation and Residential Services

Please go to the Accommodation section for information.

Careers Service

Visit the Careers Service website for all our Careers information.

Security and Safety on Campus

Aston’s team of fully trained security and portering staff are there to help ensure the safety and security of the Aston University community (over 8,000 people). Located in the centre of Birmingham, only a short 5-10 minutes’ walk away from the main shopping and entertainment areas, our campus is a safe and friendly place covered by extensive CCTV and security patrols. We also enjoy excellent relations with the local

West Midlands Police with two officers covering the campus ‘Beat’. Crime on the Aston University campus is very low (the lowest of any Midlands university) and our security measures and friendly atmosphere aim to keep it that way.

Nursery(for children of staff and students)

The Nursery is run by our team of fully qualified and experienced staff who provide specialist developmental and fun activities for children aged between six weeks and five years. There are priority and subsidised places for the children of Aston students (due to high demand, please apply early). For further information, please contact Emma Coates, 0121 204 4562 or visit www.aston.ac.uk/nursery

Student Development and Participation – Getting Involved

The Students’ Guild runs around 80 clubs and societies offering students the chance to participate in a wide variety of activities – from running the finances of a sports team, organising an event, coaching football in local schools, or even DJ-ing one of the club nights.

The importance of playing a full part in University life is as relevant as ever and Aston students have a proud tradition of participation, with a strong ‘volunteer culture’. www.astonguild.org.uk

Aston’s Schools and Colleges Liaison Outreach Office supports the University’s student volunteering and widening participation initiatives. Students provide support and role models in local schools and colleges with pupils of all ages – from primary to sixth form. Annually, around 140 Aston tutors and mentors and 40 schools/colleges are involved. Pupils benefit from extra tuition and attention, schools from an additional resource in the classroom and tutors from the development of valued transferable skills. Students also work in the local community as ACE (Active Community Engagement) volunteers with a focus on sport, drama, music and the arts.

Religious Provision

Most universities in the UK have Chaplains. At Aston we have had Chaplains on campus for over 30 years. The University Chaplains represent most Christian denominations. Contactable at all times they offer confidential help and advice and work with Guild societies, departments and individuals, whether they hold religious beliefs or not. The Chaplaincy provides a termly programme of events and religious services at the Martin Luther King Chaplaincy Centre, in the ground floor of Lawrence Tower. They also have details of places of worship and local religious representatives such as Faith Advisers.

For our students of other religions, the student religious societies such as the Hindu, Islamic, Jewish and Sikh Societies offer you the chance to meet and worship with other people who share your religious beliefs. There is also a campus prayer room. In addition, the city of Birmingham offers a wide choice of places of worship covering all major religions.

And finally... keep in touch after graduation

“It doesn’t seem quite right to think about leaving when you’ve barely started, but when you graduate, you’ll join a growing network of Aston alumni (graduates) throughout the world.
The Alumni Relations Office maintains and extends relationships between Aston University and its graduates and opens up a world of opportunity for professional networking. You’ll be amazed at the number of Aston alumni you’ll meet as you climb your career ladder. You’ve only just begun, but we’ll be with you much longer than the three or four years you’ll be here. Why not visit our website at www.aston.ac.uk/alumni and see our alumni magazine Apex – it’ll give you a new angle on Aston.”

Sarah Pymm, Alumni Relations Officer
www.aston.ac.uk/alumni

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