Wellbeing
Many postgraduate students can feel particularly stressed, and may find the process of writing a thesis or a dissertation an isolating experience. Please do make use of the support available. Your supervisor(s) or tutors can provide academic advice and comment on draft work while the Advice and Support Centre can advise on common issues such as perfectionism and imposter syndrome. Where there are more significant issues, Academic Registry can advise on options for managing your studies, such as taking a leave of absence or requesting an extension of studies.
Support in St Andrews
Advice and Support Centre
The Advice and Support Centre (ASC) is the first port of call for any questions or support needs you may have during your studies.
Chaplaincy
The University Chaplain is available to offer pastoral care and support for all students and staff, regardless of religion or belief (including non-belief). The Chaplain is also the point of contact for various spiritual and faith issues.
Phone: +44 (0)1334 46 2866
Email: [email protected]
Nightline
Nightline is a confidential, anonymous listening and information service operated by students at the University of St Andrews.
You can contact Nightline to discuss anything and everything, their volunteers will never direct you in what to do or offer advice, but they will actively listen and be there to help you talk through things on your own terms and in your own time.
Contact them by phone, email, Skype, and IM Monday to Saturday.
- Phone (8pm to 7am): +44 (0)1334 46 22 66 (ext. 22 66 in halls)
- Skype (8pm to 7am): @StAndrewsNightline (audio only)
- Instant Message (8pm to midnight)
- Email (24 hours): [email protected]
Carers, Commuters, Mature and Flexible Learners Forum
The Carers, Commuters, Mature and Flexible Learners Forum (formerly known as ‘Lifers’) is a subcommittee of the Students’ Association with responsibility for representing students who are commuters, parents or carers, postgraduates, mature, and evening and part-time students. The group is a Union subcommittee, not a society, so everyone’s automatically a member!
Its main goals are:
- Representation – ensuring the views of lifelong and flexible students are heard, and working with the university to address issues
- Wellbeing – doing anything possible to improve engagement with university life, and to ensure that Lifers do not feel isolated from the wider student body
- Events – the group organises a busy calendar of amazing events each year which take place in and around the Union.
Report and Support
Report and Support is an online tool where staff, students and members of the community can report issues of bullying, discrimination, abuse, assault, or harassment of any sort anonymously, or by reporting with contact details so an adviser can provide support.
Shelf-help
A wide range of self-help resources are available through the Library and collated in the Shelf Help guide. The books and resources within this guide are available to borrow from the Library or to read online and what you borrow from the Library is completely confidential.
Sport’s Centre
Sport and physical exercise is recognised to have a positive impact on personal and mental wellbeing. The University’s Sports Centre offers a variety of sports clubs and fitness classes, housing facilities including a gym, tennis courts, and a climbing wall.
Saints Sport also runs wellbeing initiatives, providing access to wellbeing advisors online and at the Sports Centre as well as running the Saints Peer Support Network.
St Leonard’s Community Scheme
[The scheme is currently paused]
Find new friends and make connections with the St Leonard’s Community Scheme! The initiative has been designed to help you make the most of your time at St Andrews by linking you with fellow postgraduate students who are also looking to expand their networks.
Whether you want study buddies and social companions in The Bubble or remote learning peers, simply tell us what you’re looking for and we’ll do the rest. You will receive multiple matches throughout the semester. Take a few minutes now to complete the quick and easy sign-up!
Questions? Please get in touch through [email protected].
Student’s Association
A wide range of wellbeing resources can be found through the Student’s Association from advice for settling in to finding accommodation and managing your mental health.
- Support for LGBT+ students
- The Disabled Students’ Network
Workshops
Workshops with a wellbeing theme are run throughout the year by IELLI and OSDS. These cover topics such as resilience, mindfulness, and creating positive habits during your research degree. You can find all workshops on PDMS.
Support beyond St Andrews
Wellbeing Thesis
The Wellbeing Thesis is an online resource for postgraduate research students to support your wellbeing, learning, and research. The Wellbeing Thesis was developed by the University of Derby, King’s College London, and Student Minds.
Prescribe Culture
Run by the University of Edinburgh Museums Services, Prescribe Culture is an mental health and wellbeing initiative that runs online museum tours, storytelling sessions, and social events based around the University’s museum and heritage collections. The Take 30 Together Virtual sessions are open to all and a great way to take time to unwind from your research.