[Anonymous]

Hi, idk if this has been a thing before, I can't really find anything on it but sorry if it has.
I'm doing a psychology degree at the moment (just finished 2nd year) and I'm supposed to be on for a first. I want to do postgrad after I'm finished.

This sounds pathetic but I'm really struggling with just life really (and as far as I hear 3rd year will be even worse) and I'm really seriously considering trying to get some kind of treatment; the situation has just been getting worse and worse since I've been like 12 and I don't know I can deal for much longer (basically at the stage now where I'm trying to make up excuses to kill myself, so I'll sit and think like well if I don't get a first this year/get this job/think up a question for my dissertation/etc. then it'll be justified).

My problem is though, and I wondered whether anyone has had experience with this sort of thing or knows about it regardless, I don't know how I would stand as far as getting postgrad (and particularly getting postgrad funding) if I was in or had recently been on any kind of treatment for a mental health problem.
Like are you obliged to tell them when you apply if there is a problem? As it seems pretty logical to me that if there's any kind of increased chance that you won't finish the course (as I guess it would be perceived with a mental problem) then you'd be a less attractive prospect for both funding bodies and the universities themselves.

Thanks.

[The_Lonely_Goatherd]

Hey,

I don't know about funding (though it shouldn't openly be a problem, otherwise that would be discrimination!) but I was quite honest about my health problems when I was applying for my Masters courses (post-results) and got offers from both Royal Holloway and Goldsmiths

[~ Purple Rose ~]

If you have to complete a health questionnaire you need to be honest about your mental health, because it it comes out later they could ask you to leave the course for lying. It shouldn't be a problem though, as long as you can complete the work, although if you are looking at vocational courses they may want a letter from your doctor saying that you are okay to do it.

[Anonymous]

(Original post by Anonymous)
Hi, idk if this has been a thing before, I can't really find anything on it but sorry if it has.
I'm doing a psychology degree at the moment (just finished 2nd year) and I'm supposed to be on for a first. I want to do postgrad after I'm finished.

This sounds pathetic but I'm really struggling with just life really (and as far as I hear 3rd year will be even worse) and I'm really seriously considering trying to get some kind of treatment; the situation has just been getting worse and worse since I've been like 12 and I don't know I can deal for much longer (basically at the stage now where I'm trying to make up excuses to kill myself, so I'll sit and think like well if I don't get a first this year/get this job/think up a question for my dissertation/etc. then it'll be justified).

My problem is though, and I wondered whether anyone has had experience with this sort of thing or knows about it regardless, I don't know how I would stand as far as getting postgrad (and particularly getting postgrad funding) if I was in or had recently been on any kind of treatment for a mental health problem.
Like are you obliged to tell them when you apply if there is a problem? As it seems pretty logical to me that if there's any kind of increased chance that you won't finish the course (as I guess it would be perceived with a mental problem) then you'd be a less attractive prospect for both funding bodies and the universities themselves.

Thanks.

Sorry I don't know about funding or psychology in particular.No, you are not obliged to tell anything. But if you think you may experience some problems it wouldn't be bad for example to inform your course supervisor.

In any case I am a postgrad student and nobody knew about my depression. But through the course of my studies I wasn't feeling well and I turned in late 2 assignments. I got a note from my GP,talked to the head of my department and got extenuating circumstances. They were extremelly understanding.

[Anonymous]

Awesome that's really encouraging, thank you all.

[Sabertooth]

(Original post by Anonymous)
My problem is though, and I wondered whether anyone has had experience with this sort of thing or knows about it regardless, I don't know how I would stand as far as getting postgrad (and particularly getting postgrad funding) if I was in or had recently been on any kind of treatment for a mental health problem.
Like are you obliged to tell them when you apply if there is a problem? As it seems pretty logical to me that if there's any kind of increased chance that you won't finish the course (as I guess it would be perceived with a mental problem) then you'd be a less attractive prospect for both funding bodies and the universities themselves.

Thanks.

I've been getting treatment for mental health issues since my first year of undergrad - I'm currently doing a masters' degree, only have my dissertation to go and I'm finished.

You're not obliged to inform anyone that there is a problem. I did poorly in my undergrad and so was limited in what unis I could apply for postgrad at without trying for extenuating circumstances. I was too proud to tell universities that my mental health issues were the reason for my ****ty grade so I simply applied to universities where it wasn't a problem. I think if you choose to tell them they would probably take it into account, but you do not have to tell anyone.

I managed 3/4s of my course without telling the university I had mental health issues but then things got worse, I didn't think I'd get an essay in on time so in the end I chose to tell them. They were very understanding, but again, you don't have to tell them.

As far as I know, it's illegal for a university to discriminate against you based on mental health issues so I don't think they would do that if you told them when you were applying. I'm not sure but I think postgrads also qualify for disabled student allowance so that might be worth looking into - maybe even now for your undergrad it might help you.

Hope this helps.

[The_Lonely_Goatherd]

(Original post by Sabertooth)
I'm not sure but I think postgrads also qualify for disabled student allowance so that might be worth looking into

They do. I get it. Made a huge difference to my second year

[Anonymous]

(Original post by The_Lonely_Goatherd)
They do. I get it. Made a huge difference to my second year

Does that also apply to EU students?

[The_Lonely_Goatherd]

Oooh, that I'm not entirely sure, since mine is paid by Student Finance England. You'd have to check that up