Student Support and Wellbeing

Your time at University will be exciting and rewarding, but it will also have its challenges. We recognise that many of our students will need support during their time at University. Whether you have a longstanding condition or have recently started to experience difficulties, there are a range of support options.

University College Student Support Office

Current students: find out more on the Gatehouse: Student Support (sharepoint.com)

Your University College Student Support team, headed by our Assistant Principal, can support you throughout your time at Durham University, whether you live in or out. They can advise you on issues affecting your wellbeing and help you access other support services across the University. To contact Sukanya, David, Sam or Nicola email us at univcoll.studentsupport@durham.ac.uk. We hold weekly drop-in sessions during term-time, and you can book an appointment to see a member of the Student Support team by using our booking form which we will share with you once you arrive. 

The Student Support team can help with:

• Any personal or pastoral issues – we can listen, advise and signpost to support services across the University and externally within the community.
• Signposting to relevant support for mental health, disability, financial worries, academic support etc.
• To help you with accommodation needs.
• To help you navigate university processes including self-certification forms, Serious Adverse Circumstances (SACs), academic appeals, plagiarism panels, and other university processes.
• We can help support students who have been affected by sexual misconduct and violence and bullying and harassment.
• Specialist support is available from a wide range of services such as Counselling & Mental Health, Disability Support and Careers & Enterprise. To find out more about the full range of support services available to you, visit the Student Support Hub.: Student Support Hub (sharepoint.com)

You can contact the College Student Support Office by emailing  univcoll.studentsupport@durham.ac.uk

Peer Support

JCR Welfare & JCR Campaigns is a student led signposting service that works alongside College Office to ensure that everyone in Castle is always supported throughout their time at Durham. The JCR Welfare team organises confidential drop-ins, tea and toast evenings among other activities, and welfare campaigns. Many people assume that Welfare is only for those who have an ‘issue’, and whilst JCR Welfare is ultimately a support network we also form a community in College which does not just comprise of the welfare team – it is everyone who comes to our teatimes, engages in our campaigns and everything in between. We aim to provide lots of fun and varied ways to de-stress, educate and support the positive wellbeing of all those at Castle, liaising closely with College Office for more serious concerns. 

The MCR Welfare Officer is always willing to offer help, advice, or just a listening ear to help you work through any difficulties you may be facing, whether big or small. The Welfare officer organises events from Castle Walks to Yoga in Fellows’ Garden for MCR members. 

Support from the University

There are a wide range of specialist support services available at Durham University. You can find out more here Student Support & Wellbeing - Durham University or if you are a current student, you can visit our Student Support Hub for more information on all of the support services available to you and how to access them.  

Self-Certification of Absence

The Self-Certification of Absence Form has been moved online and is now available on this webpage: Student Registry: Self-Certification of Absence.