University can be amazing… and also very overwhelming. One week you’re on top of lectures, meals, workout, life admin and friendships, and the next you’re behind on everything, your bank balance is scary, and you’re telling yourself you “should be able to handle it”.
Support services exist because a lot of students hit rough patches. Using them isn’t dramatic, weak, or “too much”, it’s literally part of how you stay well and keep moving.
This blog will detail a clear map of the main types of university support, what they actually do, and where to start.
1.Mental health and wellbeing support
If your mood, sleep, motivation, anxiety, stress, panic, loneliness, burnout, or concentration is getting in the way, you don’t need to wait until you hit breaking point.
What support can look like:
- A space to talk things through with someone trained
- Practical tools (sleep routines, anxiety management, grounding techniques, planning when you’re overwhelmed)
- Help being referred or signposted if you need something more specialist
Most universities provide some form of counselling service to their students whether onsite or with a local organisation. University chaplains are also great people to discuss worries with as well as Personal/Course Tutors.
If it feels urgent:
If you’re worried about your safety (or someone else’s), treat it as urgent. Use emergency services if needed, and check your university’s “urgent help” pages as most unis have an on-campus number/security team and an out-of-hours route.
- Financial support (when money stress is taking over)
Money worries are one of the fastest ways to wreck your focus. The key thing to know is that many universities have hardship-style support for students who are struggling with unexpected costs or changes in circumstances.
Common types of help:
- Hardship funds / cost-of-living support (to help with essentials)
- Emergency loans (short-term support when timing is the issue)
- Budgeting support and advice (especially if you’re juggling rent, travel, bills, and course costs)
If you’re thinking “I don’t know if my situation is bad enough” — ask anyway. Most support teams would rather you reach out early than wait until it becomes a crisis.
- Academic support (extensions, mitigating circumstances, staying on track)
When life hits, studying is usually the first thing to collapse and that is not because you’re lazy, but because your brain has limits and a capacity.
Academic support isn’t just “go to office hours”. It can include:
- Advice on extensions and mitigating circumstances
- Support for managing workload when you’re falling behind
- Help understanding what to do next if you’ve missed deadlines or exams
- Guidance on what evidence you might need (and what’s acceptable)
If your situation is affecting your performance, it’s worth flagging it sooner rather than later, even if you don’t have everything perfectly worded yet.
- Disability support (including long-term mental health, ADHD, chronic illness)
If you have a disability, long-term condition, neurodiversity, or mental health difficulties that impact study, you’re not expected to just “push through”. Disability support services can help put practical adjustments in place so your course is actually doable. Things like exam arrangements, deadline flexibility, financial help, learning support, or a tailored support plan. Even if you’re unsure whether you “count”, it’s still worth asking the question.
- Students’ Union advice (the underrated life-saver)
If you’re dealing with anything confusing, stressful, or slightly legal-ish, the Students’ Union is often the fastest route to clarity.
They can usually help with:
- Academic issues (appeals, complaints, meetings, procedures)
- Housing problems (repairs, contracts, deposits, housemate issues)
- Finance questions (funds, loans, budgeting, shortfalls)
- Knowing your options and how to word things properly
If you’re staring at an email draft thinking “I can’t send this”, SU advisers are so good for that.
- Housing support (because where you live affects everything)
Housing problems become mental health problems very quickly, especially if you’re dealing with repairs, landlord issues, deposit stress, or feeling unsafe.
If you’re in halls, there’s usually a residence team or wellbeing staff who can help. If you’re renting privately, your SU advice service is often the best place to start.
- Community support (because “feeling alone” is a real thing)
Sometimes what you need isn’t another appointment and it’s people, routine, and something in your week that feels steady. Societies, sports, volunteering, course communities, cultural groups all counts as support too. If you’re struggling socially, joining one regular thing per week can genuinely change how uni feels.
If you’re reading this while feeling stressed, behind, or a bit stuck: you’re not the only one. The whole point of these services is to catch you when things get heavy and it’s genuinely easier to sort things out once you’ve got the right person in the loop.
