The Student Services includes the main services that support our students to settle and stay at the University, and deal with problems that may affect their learning. We support the development of a high quality student experience and promotion of student wellbeing across the University; we also provide expert advice in specialist areas to support these aims.
Our services include:
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Counselling and Guidance
Offers specialist help and confidential counselling for students who are experiencing welfare, emotional, psychological or educational problems. As well as individual appointments for therapy we run workshops open to all students on topics from time management to dealing with exam stress. We also deliver popular ‘CalmYou’, the students’ online anonymous self-help programme.
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Disability and Learning Support
Experienced staff offer a wide range of specialist advice and support to students with disabilities, specific learning difficulties and other health conditions. We work with students and schools to develop the skills for independent living and effective learning whilst also enabling them to fully participate in all aspects of University life.
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Enquiry Services and Registration
Throughout the academic year, the Customer Services team proficiently handles over 60,000 enquiries (online and face-to-face) with the Registration team handling over 27,000 online student registrations.
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Student Experience - Projects
The Projects team work to continuously improve the student experience and liaise and collaborate with other Corporate Services, Schools and the Guild of Students. We co-ordinate University-wide Welcome activities and act as a hub for Schools and Colleges to disseminate and exchange “good practice” in developing a distinctive student experience.
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Student Conduct
The Student Conduct department provides online information about misconduct processes including plagiarism, examination irregularities, fitness to practise and general discipline.
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Student Funding Office
The Student Funding Office (SFO) provides Information and advice on the UK government grants, student loans and other allowances available to students. Additional support by the University is offered to students in the form of the centrally-managed bursaries, scholarships and prizes as well as hardship fund applications. We also provide a number of support services to assist students to manage their finances through talks, interactive workshops and online resources.
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Equality and Diversity
The University is proud of the diversity of its community and is committed to treating all staff and students fairly and with dignity and respect. The Equality and Diversity Advisor monitors and reviews the performance of students with regard to the protected characteristics such as: gender, ethnicity, disability, age, sexual orientation, religion and belief, trans gender and maternity and pregnancy. Work is carried out in partnership with student groups, Guild staff and other associations to implement improvements to the student experience. Equality and Diversity is supported by the University's Equality and Diversity Committee which oversees equality and diversity objectives for the institution.
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International Students Advisory Service
The Service provides specialist support and advice for prospective and current international students at the University on immigration issues, registration and welfare legislation, as well as advise on and develop initiatives to improve the International student experience. We also provide an annual comprehensive orientation programme called “Welcome International” to help new international students settle into life in Birmingham.
Key people
Director of Student Services
Chris Twine
Email - c.r.twine@bham.ac.uk
Telephone - +44 (0)121 414 8942
Assistant Director, Student Support
Jean Turner
Email - j.turner@bham.ac.uk
Telephone - +44 (0)121 414 5122
Assistant Director, Service Development
Joanne Bryan
Email - j.e.bryan@bham.ac.uk
Telephone - +44 (0)121 414 3142
Assistant Director, Student Experience
Kelly Hamilton
Email - k.hamilton@bham.ac.uk
Telephone - +44 (0)121 414 9008
Equality and Diversity Advisor (Students)
Jane Tope
Email - d.j.tope@bham.ac.uk
Telephone - +44 (0)121 414 3247
Head of International Students Advisory Service (ISAS)
Helen Eastham
Email - h.eastham@bham.ac.uk
Telephone - +44 (0)121 414 6939
Head of Disability
Samantha Gamblin
Email - s.l.gamblin@bham.ac.uk
Telephone - +44 (0)121 414 5130
Head of Learning Support
Sue Onens
Email - s.a.onens@bham.ac.uk
Telephone - +44 (0)121 414 5130
Projects Manager (Student Experience)
Samantha Noble
Email – s.l.noble@bham.ac.uk
Telephone - +44 (0)121 414 8837