Things not going to plan? Don’t panic, you are not on your own.
First of all, if things aren’t going to plan – don’t make any rushed decisions. Whatever is going on, we can help.
The best thing you can do is speak to someone about your situation, your options and the support available. If you are struggling and you would rather speak to someone outside of your department, you can speak to us. We can help you make an informed decision that is right for you.
Support we can help you to access includes:
Emotional and wellbeing support
Help with making friends and feeling involved in university life
Support with any health issue (mental or physical)
Study skills and learning support
Financial support and advice
Support with accommodation
Careers and job-hunting advice
You can talk to us about your situation, and we can help you manage things. If you choose to leave, we can also help guide you through this process. Whatever you decide your next steps are, we will support you.
You’ve not made friends
Making friends at university can sometimes feel daunting. You may be struggling to make friends in halls, on campus or on your course. It can be normal during this time to feel isolated and to not enjoy your time at university. The important thing to remember is that there is support available.
Our Campus Life team are here to help any students who are struggling to make friends or settle in to their new accommodation.
Campus Life put on a number of social events to help students integrate and meet new people. Make sure to keep up to date with their Facebook page so you never miss an event.
You don’t like your course
You may be feeling that the course isn’t right for you and are unsure what you can do. It is important to consider why you feel this way. Here are some useful things to think of before making any decisions:
What is my main issue with the course?
Do I feel supported on the course?
Is it an academic issue or something else?
The Student Support team will be able to talk through this during our appointments. We can discuss other departments you may want to speak to for some more advice and guidance and we can talk you through all your options.
You are worried about money
If at any point during your time at Edge Hill, you find yourself struggling financially or need help budgeting we can direct you to the relevant support service.
We understand that for some students university is their first experience with balancing income and outgoings and this can sometimes be overwhelming. A weekly or monthly budget can help you to plan and ensure you are fully prepared for university.
If you are experiencing significant financial difficulties the first place to contact is the Money Advice team. The Money Advice team will be able to discuss your situation and what support is available.
You feel like you can’t cope
University can be a time of great change and you can sometimes feel like things are getting overwhelming. It may be that academic work has built up, it may be that you are struggling to balance university with employment or it could be any number of things. It is important to remember you are not alone.
There are plenty of departments who you can access for support and help during this time.
For example, if you are struggling to get on top of your academic work you may want to book an appointment with UniSkills to help organise and plan your assignments and workload.
If you are finding things overwhelming, you could benefit from speaking to the Wellbeing team regarding your feelings and discuss support options. It is helpful to speak to professionals regarding your feelings and general wellbeing. The Wellbeing team are here to help provide emotional and practical support for students and have great internal and external links to other avenues of support.
The team can help talk through your situation and discuss a support plan for next steps. Talking these things through with people can be helpful and can help you to make the most out of your university experience.
University life isn’t what you expected
If you feel that your time at university has not been what you expected, the first thing to do is to ask:
What were your expectations of university?
Why do you feel it has not met them?
Once that has been identified we can start to look at ways to support you. It may be that you want to look at services to help you engage with more social activities on campus. You may be looking for more ways to meet fellow students who have similar interests to you. We can help to point you in the right direction. You can book in for an initial appointment to discuss this with a member of the Student Support team.
You want to be closer to home
University can be an exciting time with a lot of change and new-found independence and responsibility. This may be your first experience of a new area, or new accommodation. Whilst this offers a great opportunity for personal growth and development it can also sometimes feel like a huge step that you aren’t ready for.
It is important to remember that everything you are feeling is completely natural and can be common during your time as a student.
One particular thing that the student found useful was contacting Campus Life and attending That Thursday Thing. That Thursday Thing is a great way to meet new people at the University and get connected with fellow students in an informal way.
Your Apprenticeship isn’t working out as you had hoped
University study alongside on-the-job training can be an exciting time with a lot of change and new-found independence and responsibility. This may be your first experience of employment, travelling or working in a new area, or of independent living. Whilst this offers a great opportunity for personal growth and development it can also sometimes feel like a huge step that you aren’t ready for.
It is important to remember that everything you are feeling is completely natural and can be common during your time as an apprentice.
Talk to your personal tutor or make an appointment with one of the student services team based in Catalyst. They can help you understand how to get the information or support you need to resolve the situation and help get your future on the right track.