The Student Room Group

Dissertation Due in 2 weeks

I’m an architecture student, I have had some personal issues that has restricted my progress.

I’m an estranged student, mum passed exactly three years ago now and I have no idea where my dad is. I’m solely dependent on my brother who is unemployed since October due to an offence so we’re struggling financially. He has a suspension and is expecting to be in courts in April.
Ontop of my brother’s case, my dad has been using our address to incur debt. We have had warning letters coming in and we had court notice of seizure of goods. People actually came to our doorstep to demand to speak to my dad but we don’t know where he is. So that’s another stress
I have been dealing with alot of anxiety and my gp is aware and have been prescribed with medication becuase of everything bricking me down.
We’re facing financial strain, hardship, grievance as we’re still young and alone.
Idk what to do, I’ve been struggling with my mental health becuase of all of this.
I have already applied for an extension and got 3 weeks but I have been struggling and now have two weeks left.
Idk if I can apply for a further extension but they require more evidence (in the email if I need to apply for a longer one)
I feel like I’m gonna have a panic attack, I’m trembling and my heart is racing and I feel like I need to cry but I’m trying so hard. I feel so doomed
What do I do?
Should I go to my gp regarding this for a different medicine? (I have been on this same prescription for almost a year now)
Can I get another extension?
(edited 2 months ago)
Original post by Flower123?
I’m an architecture student, I have had some personal issues that has restricted my progress.
I’m an estranged student, mum passed exactly three years ago now and I have no idea where my dad is. I’m solely dependent on my brother who is unemployed since October due to an offence so we’re struggling financially. He has a suspension and is expecting to be in courts in April.
Ontop of my brother’s case, my dad has been using our address to incur debt. We have had warning letters coming in and we had court notice of seizure of goods. People actually came to our doorstep to demand to speak to my dad but we don’t know where he is. So that’s another stress
I have been dealing with alot of anxiety and my gp is aware and have been prescribed with medication becuase of everything bricking me down.
We’re facing financial strain, hardship, grievance as we’re still young and alone.
Idk what to do, I’ve been struggling with my mental health becuase of all of this.
I have already applied for an extension and got 3 weeks but I have been struggling and now have two weeks left.
Idk if I can apply for a further extension but they require more evidence (in the email if I need to apply for a longer one)
I feel like I’m gonna have a panic attack, I’m trembling and my heart is racing and I feel like I need to cry but I’m trying so hard. I feel so doomed
What do I do?
Should I go to my gp regarding this for a different medicine? (I have been on this same prescription for almost a year now)
Can I get another extension?

I'm sorry you're going through that.

Speak to your Union and get advice from them

Speak also to the University's advice service (or instead, in case the Union isn't useful) if they have one. If you get good advice from the Union, you may not need to do that.

One of those two services should know what you can do in your particular situation and what procedures they have.

Universities usually also have a counselling service and, whilst there can be a waiting list, they can sometimes be quicker than going through the NHS. Usually (though it may depend on the university), you don't need to go through a doctor to access the university's counselling service. It may help with the mental health things.

You're not doomed. Absolute worst case scenario: You have to repeat your final year. I've repeated a year (though it was my first year) of my undergraduate course and considering the problems I had in the original first year, I was so glad I did. I'm not sure how you pay for your course but Student Finance usually allows up to an extra year of funding - and absolutely should if you can prove exceptional circumstances such as being mentally unwell / depressed due to unforeseen circumstances.

However, if you get advice, that may not even happen; you may be able to get extra time.

I do recommend speaking to your GP and explaining to them that the medication isn't helping if that's the case, though they may ask you to try your current one for a little longer first. But let me repeat, you're not doomed.
Reply 2
Original post by HonestStudent
I'm sorry you're going through that.
Speak to your Union and get advice from them
Speak also to the University's advice service (or instead, in case the Union isn't useful) if they have one. If you get good advice from the Union, you may not need to do that.
One of those two services should know what you can do in your particular situation and what procedures they have.
Universities usually also have a counselling service and, whilst there can be a waiting list, they can sometimes be quicker than going through the NHS. Usually (though it may depend on the university), you don't need to go through a doctor to access the university's counselling service. It may help with the mental health things.
You're not doomed. Absolute worst case scenario: You have to repeat your final year. I've repeated a year (though it was my first year) of my undergraduate course and considering the problems I had in the original first year, I was so glad I did. I'm not sure how you pay for your course but Student Finance usually allows up to an extra year of funding - and absolutely should if you can prove exceptional circumstances such as being mentally unwell / depressed due to unforeseen circumstances.
However, if you get advice, that may not even happen; you may be able to get extra time.
I do recommend speaking to your GP and explaining to them that the medication isn't helping if that's the case, though they may ask you to try your current one for a little longer first. But let me repeat, you're not doomed.


Thank you for replying, I went an spoken to my gp and it all went well. My gp sent a letter to my university and that scored a much better extension. 4 months
I also have been granted extra help with all of my other deadlines which are in the future
Original post by Flower123?
Thank you for replying, I went an spoken to my gp and it all went well. My gp sent a letter to my university and that scored a much better extension. 4 months
I also have been granted extra help with all of my other deadlines which are in the future

You're welcome. I'm really glad it went well for you.
I'm obv a bit late, but when I found myself in a slightly similar kind of situation I gave in and deferred the year and as much as it was a drastic option it was the best one in hindsight. It gave me a far better chance of preparing my graded work for the next year with the benefit of knowing what was expected of me, rather than pursuing a flawed concept at the last minute when I was going through lots of stuff and extremely distracted.


Hopefully the 4 months you got gives you enough without doing something so drastic though 😅

Quick Reply