Support for Care Leavers

We encourage you to reach out to us before you start your studies so that we can provide information, advice and guidance that may be helpful to you and so that you can start the process of setting up appropriate support if you'd like to do this.

Before you start your studies, you can contact Student Services:

• By email at: studentservices@derby.ac.uk
• By telephone on: 01332 593000

We can also help you to arrange a pre-entry Campus Tour if you would find this helpful. Further information can be found on our Campus Tours page.

We look forward to hearing from you!

Student Services has two designated named contacts for care-experienced students who you can reach out to directly if you need any information, advice or guidance. They will contact you at the start of your course to introduce themselves and to let you know about the support that is available to you. They will also reach out to you regularly to see how things are going for you.

They can be contacted on the dedicated care leavers email address at: careleavers@derby.ac.uk

If you would prefer not to have regular communication from your named contact, that's no problem and you can let us know in any of these ways. 

The University of Derby can offer accommodation in our University Halls of Residence for 52 weeks per year, subject to eligibility.

Our halls have staff and Residential Assistants to assist with any queries on site and they will be on hand to help you with the transition into University accomodation.

If you are struggling to make the £50 pre-rental halls payment (deposit), please contact our Student Money Advice Team for advice. They can be contacted by email at: SMART@derby.ac.uk

For those who do not wish to live in University accommodation, the Student Living Team can help you to find private accommodation through the DASH (Decent And Safe Homes) Landlord Accreditation scheme.

Contact the Student Living Team

Any students who have been assessed as having care leaver status with Student Finance England will be automatically eligible for the Care Leavers Bursary. Further information can be found on the UCAS website.

You may also be eligible for the University Bursary.

Many students are understandably concerned about the difficulties of managing a limited student budget. Our Student Money Advice Team can offer help with budget planning and can help you to explore the best ways of making your money last.

If you would like to check your eligibility for either bursary or would like to arrange a 1:1 appointment with a Student Money Advisor, please contact the Student Money Advice Team by email at: SMART@derby.ac.uk

Student Money Advice Team Support

Our Careers and Employment Team provides an inclusive approach to supporting, advising and guiding you on your employability journey to success.

They will listen to your needs and signpost opportunities for you to engage with up to three years after graduation.

Careers and Employment Support

Contextual offers are used by Universities and Colleges to take account of a student’s individual circumstances.

Our Admissions Team may either reduce grade requirements or give extra consideration when deciding whether to give a contextual offer. They also support students through information, advice and guidance, outreach activities and on-campus visits before and during the application process.

Further information can be found on our contextual admissions page.

Our Admissions Team can be contacted in the following ways:

• By email at: askadmissions@derby.ac.uk
• By telephone on: 01332 591167

We aim to support students to fulfil their academic potential by removing challenges to learning and we encourage you to reach out to us as early as possible if you would like to access support.

If you have a disability, a long-term condition or a Specific Learning Difference, we advise that you share this on your UCAS form or on your direct entry form. Once the University has received this information, our Student Services team will get in touch with you.

We can arrange an appointment with a Disability Adviser, who can talk you through the support available to you.

You may also be eligible to apply for Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA) which many students find to be beneficial during their studies. 

Disabled Students' Support

If you have a Personal Advisor or a Local Authority contact who you would like us to be able to communicate with on your behalf, this is something we can do.

To set this up, we will need written consent from you.

To start the process of setting up consent, please contact Student Services and request a Named Person Consent Form.

Contact Student Services

Student Services can offer you a variety of support for your mental health, including:

• Counselling Support: short-term, student journey focussed support from our in-house counselling service
• Student Welfare Workshops: learn new skills and techniques to support you on your journey through University life
• Self-Help Resources: support to maximise your student journey at the University of Derby
• Student Support Space: a calm, quiet self-help space stocked with mindfulness resources and activities
• Create and Connect Workshops: a great way to meet others, challenge yourself and maybe find a new hobby
• Specialist Support: support from specialist internal and external teams

If you have a diagnosed mental health condition, we encourage you to disclose this on your UCAS or direct entry application or to contact Student Services before starting your course so that we can discuss available support with you.

REGISTER WITH A GP

To support your wellbeing, we encourage all our students to register with a GP. We have an on-site GP practice at the Kedleston Road campus and we can support you to register if this would be helpful.

Further information can be found here: Register with a doctors surgery, dentist and other health care information.

STUDENT SUPPORT SPACE

In Student Services, we have a new space in S205 at the Kedleston Road campus which you are welcome to access. Created by Student Services, the Support Space is a calm, quiet, self-help space and is stocked with mindfulness resources and activities. It's a place to self-regulate if you’re feeling overwhelmed.

We welcome all students to drop in to this inclusive space during our opening times.

MULTI-FAITH CENTRE

The University of Derby offers a welcome to everyone, whatever their faith or world view. Our Multi-Faith Centre has a team of chaplains and faith consultants who offer pastoral support as well as advising on matters of faith and belief, providing an environment in which to practice and learn about your own faith and opportunities to explore other faith communities. If you want to explore the big questions about life and its purpose, or simply want a chat, the team will be pleased to see you. 

The Multi-Faith Centre at the Kedleston Road site provides an inclusive and safe space for prayer, worship, and meditation, as well as a place to relax and socialise. There are also Faith Spaces at the Cavendish Building, and at the Markeaton Street and Britannia Mill campuses.

STUDENT SERVICES SUPPORT

You are welcome to access support from Student Services at any stage of your studies.

We're here to help and we look forward to hearing from you!

Contact Student Services