Information for Students

We recognise that your caring responsibilities may affect your ability to attend lectures or meet deadlines. If your caring responsibilities affect your academic work, you should speak with your college tutor or your faculty.

There are a number of policies you should be aware of:

• Your department may have specific attendance policies; you should check with your faculty for specifics.
• If you experience absences due to your caring responsibilities, you may want to utilise the University’s Self-Certification of Absence process.
• You can apply to the Board of Examiners where there were serious adverse circumstances affecting your performance in an assessment or examination.
• You can ask for a concession, where your request falls outside the University’s policies.
• If you need to take time off from your studies, you can apply for a Grace Period, providing an exemption from your academic responsibilities.

It’s important that you take care of yourself. We have a number of services available to support you during your time at Durham:

• There is a dedicated student support team within each College who are able to offer confidential and practical support on a range of issues.
• Our Counselling Service provides self-help and confidential counselling services for when you need to take care of yourself.
• We have a world class sport facility, The Graham Sports Centre, with special membership rates available to students.
• The Students’ Union Advice Service provides independent, confidential advice and guidance.

You may be eligible for benefits or financial assistance:

• Department of Work and Pensions - https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits/disability - including information on carer’s allowance
• Student finance – https://www.gov.uk/browse/education/student-finance
• You may wish to discuss options with the Durham Citizen’s Advice Bureau

There are a number of external resources available to carers within the community you may find useful:

• Durham County Carers – www.dccarers.org – offers free support and advice to carers.
• Carers Trust - https://carers.org/ - provides information, advice and support to carers.
• Carers UK - https://www.carersuk.org/ - lobbies and campaigns to promote carers’ rights.
• NHS Carers Direct - https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/social-care-and-support/ - provides information for those needing care support and carers.
• Sibs is a charity that supports the siblings of disabled children and adults in the UK - https://www.sibs.org.uk/. Sibs have a network of peer support groups run by trained volunteers, including one in the North East (based online for now) - https://www.sibs.org.uk/support-for-adult-siblings/.