Support for neurodiversity and chronic health conditions at Exeter and Southampton

Hi, I've just applied to Exeter and Southampton Uni's and wondered what the student support services were like for history and English. What are your actual experiences please, both good and bad! Trying to get some insight beyond what I read on the websites!

Reply 1

Uni of Southampton Students

Official Rep

Original post

by Anonymous

Hi there,

Whilst I cannot speak specifically about those subjects, I can speak about the overall student support services offered her at Southampton.

The university's Student Hub offers a 24/7 wellbeing service, with the options to contact them online, over the phone, or in-person! This is genuinely so beneficial and supportive, and the university help provide confidential guidance and support. The Careers Team also offer free career guidance appointments for students, such as CV checking appointments or interview practice.

Also, independent from the University itself, we have SUSU (Southampton University's Students' Union), run by students, for students. Their Advice Centre offers practical advice and support for students, specialising in housing, finance and academic issues.

Lecturers also provide their office hours, when you can go speak to them outside of classes, for extra support or clarification, etc. In my experience, they have always been willing to help and break things down more clearly.

I wish you the best of luck with your applications and that you feel very supported wherever you end up going to university! ☺️

Rehman, 2nd Year Accounting and Finance
Student Ambassador

Reply 2

artful_lounger

Universities Forum Helper

Original post

by Anonymous

Exeter was pretty bad when I was there, and since I left quitesome time ago (because of my deteriorating mental health in part due to the difficulties the way they managed, or did not manage, such issues), I have seen other students commenting on similar experiences even years later. That said I haven't seen much on this since COVID so perhaps they have improved in the last couple years. Equally I was not in either of those departments so couldn't say (and the people I know who were in the history department were generally favourable about it albeit not with specific reference to those matters).

I would say the student health centre GP I had at Exeter was very good (no idea if she's still there), and the counselling service (I forget what it was called) was generally useful albeit very oversubscribed and so you could only get so much support and usually only after waiting a while. Also our department admin/manager was enormously supportive from a pastoral sense but very limited in what she could do to help. The uni did also conduct a welfare check on me where I was living at one point so I guess they don't just completely let students drop off the radar for better or worse...

However my personal tutor was very much box ticking with regards to these things and not really engaged in any pastoral support (which may have been an individual failing but still impacted me a lot), and the central administration was generally not set up to facilitate the needs of such students when they were seeking support for these things (it was very slow in dealing with issues, you had to chase a lot, there were a lot of forms and channels to pursue things and often you had to wait in line to talk to someone at the main desk then get sent somewhere else and nobody really seemed to know much about it). The disability/accessibility services also weren't great for me as while they were very positive and promised the world to me in my needs assessment they didn't deliver anything thereafter even after chasing numerous times (and eventually I gave up...).

(edited 1 month ago)

Reply 3

ExeterStudentRep

Official Rep

Original post

by Anonymous

Hiya!

I’m a second year student at Exeter uni, and while I’m not doing History or English the general wellbeing support offered by the uni is the same across all subjects, with differing pastoral mentors for each facility. I’ve been in contact with the wellbeing team a few times for mental health so while not an identical situation to yours hopefully sharing my experiences will be useful.

Before starting uni, I was able to set up an Independent Learning Plan (ILP) by submitting relevant information and supporting evidence during the process of accepting my place. This was pretty easy to do, just make sure you have all relevant documents ready to send in. Through this you can let the uni know what accommodations and support you would find useful and they may set up a meeting with a Disability Advisor from our AccessAbility team to discuss and understand your needs better. I found it really reassuring to know ahead of starting uni that the wellbeing team were aware and had already put an ILP in place to help support me. If your support needs change during your studies, there’s a form you can use to submit a request to add to or edit your ILP. It’s also very easy to book an appointment with the wellbeing centre if you just need to talk to someone and they can also refer you to specialist services.

There is a Neurodivergent and Disabled Students Society at Exeter which organises accessible events and advocates for accessibility, representation and inclusion. We also have a Neurodiversity Café which meets monthly - one of my friends was part of the group and found it really welcoming and a great place to meet friends. If you haven’t already, I would really recommend looking into the Disabled Students Allowance to assist with any extra study-related costs like specialist equipment, travel, or mentoring. Overall, I’ve personally found the accessibility and wellbeing support services at Exeter to be super easy to communicate with and really helpful in making it possible for me to thrive at uni - and I’m sure they can do the same for you.

Let me know if you have any more questions!

Bella
University of Exeter Student Ambassador

Reply 4

Bramble5554

Original post

by ExeterStudentRep

Hiya!
I’m a second year student at Exeter uni, and while I’m not doing History or English the general wellbeing support offered by the uni is the same across all subjects, with differing pastoral mentors for each facility. I’ve been in contact with the wellbeing team a few times for mental health so while not an identical situation to yours hopefully sharing my experiences will be useful.
Before starting uni, I was able to set up an Independent Learning Plan (ILP) by submitting relevant information and supporting evidence during the process of accepting my place. This was pretty easy to do, just make sure you have all relevant documents ready to send in. Through this you can let the uni know what accommodations and support you would find useful and they may set up a meeting with a Disability Advisor from our AccessAbility team to discuss and understand your needs better. I found it really reassuring to know ahead of starting uni that the wellbeing team were aware and had already put an ILP in place to help support me. If your support needs change during your studies, there’s a form you can use to submit a request to add to or edit your ILP. It’s also very easy to book an appointment with the wellbeing centre if you just need to talk to someone and they can also refer you to specialist services.
There is a Neurodivergent and Disabled Students Society at Exeter which organises accessible events and advocates for accessibility, representation and inclusion. We also have a Neurodiversity Café which meets monthly - one of my friends was part of the group and found it really welcoming and a great place to meet friends. If you haven’t already, I would really recommend looking into the Disabled Students Allowance to assist with any extra study-related costs like specialist equipment, travel, or mentoring. Overall, I’ve personally found the accessibility and wellbeing support services at Exeter to be super easy to communicate with and really helpful in making it possible for me to thrive at uni - and I’m sure they can do the same for you.
Let me know if you have any more questions!
Bella
University of Exeter Student Ambassador

Thanks so much for replying Bella. Really good to know you feel supported.