What is Student Support?

Academic Support

All of our teaching staff offer an open-door policy for students. Practically, this means that you aren’t limited to just your teaching time to ask questions. Most staff will post one-to-one session availability should you need more time with them, but if you have a question you can check their office hours and pop in to see if they are available for a quick chat.

You will also be assigned a personal tutor when you enrol at Birmingham City University. This member of academic staff will be your best port of call for any course-specific questions. They are a good sounding board for any issues you may be having, as they will likely be teaching on your course anyway, giving them intimate knowledge of your coursework and assignments.

Study Support

To help students fulfil their full potential, our Centre for Academic Success provides advice on a range of study skills through workshops and one-to-one appointments with our experts. So if you need help brushing up on your presentation skills, guidance on how to use punctuation marks or advice on structuring your essays, we have the support you need to succeed.

Mental Health and Wellbeing Support

We recognise the growing importance for students to have access to support for their physical, mental and emotional wellbeing, which is why we have a professional health and wellbeing service available on site.

Our experienced advisers are available for confidential drop-in sessions to discuss a range of matters, so whether it's difficulty sleeping, trouble settling in, or a mental health concern, you will have access to the support you need. We also offer a counselling service to students on-site – this is free and a great resource for those who might need a little extra help.

Disability Support

Our Disability and Mental Health Advisers offer advice, information and practical support to all students with a disability, medical condition, illness, mental health condition or specific learning difficulty, such as dyslexia.

Get in touch with our Disability Support Team to find out what sort of support could be available to you.  For example, our support comes in various forms: extra time and support with assignments, specialist learning equipment, or in some cases a designated learning support worker - all intended to support the learning experience.

Financial Support

You may be feeling anxious about your finances and wondering how you are going to manage to pay for your tuition fees, living expenses and other costs associated with going to University. Our Finance Team, can help you get to grips with budgeting and money management, as well as provide advice on loans and grants.

Depending on your course and level of study, you may also be eligible to receive financial support for your tuition fees and living costs while you study with us.

Career Support

Careers+ is a fantastic way to take your skills to the next level, ensuring you leave us work-ready. The Careers+ team can support you with searching for work experience, placements and internships as well as a whole host of other support, including interview skills and CV writing.

Mentor Support

Our mentoring programmes are designed to help you settle into university life and enhance your professional experience. For academic and personal support, the university has a number of buddy schemes, where first-year students are paired with second-year students from their area of study.

When it comes to enhancing work skills, our professional mentoring scheme connects students with professionals working within Birmingham, to allow you to explore relevant career paths and develop networks within your industry.

Student Union

The Birmingham City University Student Union (BCUSU) is run by students, for students. The Student Union is here to make sure you enjoy your time at University. They run all of the varsity sports teams and student societies, which are available for all students to join. They cover all kinds of interests, from skiing and snowboarding and video games to crafting and dancing. There are also a variety of religious and international societies.

Starting university is always going to feel daunting, but hopefully a whistle-stop of all the student support services on offer has helped put your mind at ease.

If you’ve still got some questions why not take a look at our Student Support Hub for more information?