Student support at Newman is designed to enable all students to reach their potential.

The Academic Support Advisers (ASA) are available to support students following single and joint honours degree programmes.

Please note that students on Initial Teacher Education courses are assigned to an Academic Professional Tutor Group, and should contact their Academic Professional Tutor for advice and support. ​

The ASA are here to:

• help you to resolve any academic or pastoral concerns
• provide support if you have any personal circumstances affecting your studies
• ensure you can make the most out of your time at Newman

This includes helping you to:

• Identify the support and resources available to you
• Understand and navigate the university’s rules, processes and decisions
• Apply for additional time to complete your work and inform the university of reasons for missing a deadline or assessment
• Plan your study, review your progress and identify strategies to improve
• Look at your options and explain any implications where you are considering changing, suspending or withdrawing from your studies
• Advise on how to complain about or appeal against a decision
• Find the answers to any queries you have

For further information email: asa@newman.ac.uk.

In addition to the above, the Learning Development Tutors offer regular workshops and appointments throughout the semester in areas of academic writing and study skills and these are open to all students across the University.

For more information, see the Study Advice page.

Email: studentsupport@newman.ac.uk

Support at Newman includes:

• Academic Support
• Careers Service
• Chaplaincy
• Disability, Dyslexia and Mental Health Services
• Library
• Money Management
• Preparing for student life – new students
• Student Counselling Service
• Student Welfare Adviser Service
• Study Advice
• Support for Care Leavers
• Support for LGBT students
• Welfare Benefits

To get help from our support services in any of these areas (except Chaplaincy and Library), email: studentsupport@newman.ac.uk

For Chaplaincy, email: m.holland@newman.ac.uk  and for the Library, email: library@newman.ac.uk

One of the key features of Newman is the excellent graduate employment rate of both its teacher training and single and combined honours degrees.

Newman prides itself on providing quality education and encouraging students to reach their full potential. This could be why Newman historically has one of the best employment rates of colleges and universities in the UK. Every full-time degree at Newman contains a work placement element so that you will gain the graduate level work experience valued by employers. Many of our students find their placement a useful way of gaining a greater understanding of the industry that they are considering working in and helps prepare them for employment. This can, in turn, help them to refine their career options.

Transferable skills

Studying at Newman can help you to meet the demands of the modern job market. Employers are increasingly looking for additional transferable skills as well as having a degree from a leading university. As the number of graduates in the UK increases each year the graduate employment market is becoming ever more competitive. Suitable employment after graduation is no longer as certain as it once was and the employment rate can vary significantly between courses. As studying for a degree represents a significant investment in both time and money, you want to ensure that you do all that you can to be in the best possible position.

Designed to meet the needs of employers

The emphasis on providing skills relevant to the workplace continues in Newman’s postgraduate and foundation degree level courses. Indeed the foundation degrees are specifically designed to meet the needs of employers and can be studied whilst working. This enables students to apply the knowledge gained on their course to their current job and gain qualifications relevant to the industry. This can help them to gain a greater understanding of the industry as a whole and demonstrate development to progress their career.

Invest in your future

Gaining a degree is a definite investment in your future. Typically, graduates are exposed to many more job opportunities and can look forward to much higher average lifetime earnings. Our careers service will help you to seek part-time work opportunities whilst you are studying and provide you with help for the longer term, offering job hunting advice, knowledge and practice with interview techniques and help with up-to-date CV writing.

Our degrees have been designed specifically to bear relevance to the world of work in order to maximise the opportunities open to you after graduation. Whilst gaining a firm theoretical understanding of your subject at Newman, you will also gain much valued practical experience, and be encouraged to think analytically and creatively

Graduate salaries

Newman Students’ success in the graduate employment market isn’t restricted to securing employment, they are also successful in finding well-paid careers.  The average starting salary for a Newman graduate is high at £22,000 p/a according to Which? University

Higher Education Achievement Report

In addition to your degree certificate Newman University is one of only a small number of universities which will also provide you with a Higher Education Achievement Report (HEAR). This is designed to capture more fully your experience, activities and performance throughout your time at university. It will enable you to present a wider range of achievements to employers and postgraduate tutors, potentially enhancing your employability or opportunities for further study.

The ‘HEAR’ will sit alongside your degree certificate and contain:

• A detailed academic record of modules taken and marks obtained
• A record of additional achievements, such as volunteering, representative roles (including representing fellow students through the Students’ Union or Staff/Student consultative committees) or working for the university as a student ambassador.

How to Contact Us

If you would like to speak to someone about Newman’s Careers Service please get in touch with us at: careers@newman.ac.uk

“The scholarship gave me the chance to make my dreams come true, by making it possible for me to start studying at university, opening so many doors for me and enabling me to enhance my skills and develop myself in my profession. Education has always been an important factor to me and without it I wouldn’t be able to enjoy my life.”

Zaid Hameed, 2019 graduate,  BA Single Honours

Since 2014, Newman University has been proud to be one of a growing number of universities to offer a Sanctuary Scholarship as part of the Helena Kennedy Foundation’s Article 26 Project, promoting access to higher education for people who have fled persecution and sought asylum in the UK.

Newman University awards two undergraduate scholarships per year to applicants from a forced migrant background who cannot access finance from Student Finance England because of their Home Office status. Sanctuary Scholars will be provided with:

• A Tuition Fee Waiver: The fee waiver will not usually extend to repeat years of study and is offered until such time as you are awarded status that entitles you to access statutory student support.
• Study and Travel Support: The Sanctuary Scholarship includes an annual bursary of £1200 per year to assist with study and travel expenses. The bursary is not means‐tested and is paid in two instalments (one per semester). The bursary will not usually be paid for repeat years of study.
• Personal Support: Support will be developed for each student to enable them to identify and overcome any potential barriers to achievement on their degree course.
• For applicants who do not live within a commutable distance of Newman University, consideration will be given to providing campus accommodation free of charge.

Students should only apply if they are able to support these costs themselves for the full duration of their university course.

Eligibility criteria

Applicants must be:

• An asylum seeker / forced migrant or the partner/dependent of an asylum seeker / forced migrant; OR
• An asylum seeker/partner/dependent who has been granted Discretionary Leave to Remain (DLR) or some other form of temporary status. Your temporary status must however cover the duration of your intended period of study.

AND

• Have a conditional or unconditional offer of a full-time undergraduate place to study at Newman University
• Have applied for asylum in the UK before applying to UCAS
• Currently attending a school, college, community or voluntary group which can provide a reference in support of your application
• Unable to access statutory student support because of your asylum or forced migrant status, or a dependent’s status.

Please note: Spouses/civil partners must have been the spouse/civil partner on the date which the asylum application was made. Children/step-children must have been aged under 18 on the date on which the asylum application was made.

How to apply

Applications for the September 2022 Sanctuary Scholarship will open in December 2021. The application form and guidance notes will be available as attachments from this web page.

Before you can apply for the Sanctuary Scholarship, you must have made an application for and received an offer of a place (conditional or unconditional) on a 3 year, full-time undergraduate degree programme (or a 4 year programme which commences with a Foundation Year) at Newman University. If you need advice about any of our courses, entry criteria or how to make an application via UCAS, you can find more information at our Study at Newman webpages.

Following initial assessment, the University will contact you to let you know whether or not your application will progress to the next stage of the selection process.

If your application is taken forward, you will be invited to an interview to verify the information you have provided in your application.

If you are successful in being offered the Scholarship, you will be informed within five working days of your interview.

Queries

If you have any questions please contact studentsupport@newman.ac.uk.

More information

Read about our two of our successful students who were awarded Scholarships: Ramisha Abbas and Zaid Hameed

Find more information about equal access scholarships offered by other universities.

Education for All: A guide to Universities

UKCISA: Student Finance for International Students

SW Educational Support for refugees

Support, Advice and Legal representation for young people in difficulty

This page aims to guide Student Carers about what is available to support their studies at Newman University.  Scroll down to answer the questions: Who is a carer? What do the Carers Trust highlight? What support is available at Newman University? What support is available outside of Newman University? Who is eligible to claim Carers Allowance?

1. Who is a Student Carer?

Carer definition: ‘A carer is anyone who cares, unpaid, for a friend or family member who due to illness, disability, a mental health problem or an addiction cannot cope without their support.’ (Carer Trust Report, 2015)

The Carer’s Trust Report

2. What do the Carer’s Trust highlight?

a. Students with Caring responsibilities may hit ‘bumps in the road’ which they had not planned for, due to the support they give.

b. Students with caring responsibilities do not always ask for help in time as they do not realise it is available.

c. Students with caring responsibilities need to know who to contact to apply for the relevant advice.

3. What support is available at Newman University?

a.  We have an extensions system in place.  Any student can apply for an extension to the deadline of their assignment, if they know, in advance of the deadline, that they cannot submit.  If you are a Student Carer, you can apply and give an explanation of the extra commitment your caring responsibilities bring.  For your evidence, you can attach anything relevant regarding the person you care for (their medication, their hospital admission information or, if you are a formal carer, a letter to show you are recognised as such – if you are not sure of what to show, just ask the Academic Support Adviser team on: asa@newman.ac.uk).  To apply for an extension, all students follow the same Extensions Application link.

b. Our Academic Support Advisers (ASAs) can advise you on any appropriate procedures for example how to apply to move your deadlines, or how to apply to put a halt on your studies for a while. Email a member of our Academic Support Advisers team on asa@newman.ac.uk , even if you have missed a deadline.  They can explain our Mitigating Circumstances and Appeals processes.  They will be happy to offer a Zoom or telephone conversation if you prefer to discuss your situation, rather than email.

c. We can organise a ‘RAP by Proxy’ if you care for someone with a recognised medical condition or long term illness.  A Reasonable Adjustment Plan (RAP) is a plan to adjust your assignment submission dates to allow for a little more flexibility in case some unexpected caring duties arise (the person you care for may need medical attention or you may need to attend to their needs more than you had anticipated).  This RAP is a RAP ‘by proxy’ as it is due to the support they need, rather than support you may need, if you were ill.  To organise a RAP by Proxy, you can contact our Inclusion Coordinator who will discuss the  evidence you will need to supply to move your assignment dates on: studentsupport@newman.ac.uk

4. What support is available outside Newman University?

External support

The Birmingham Carers Hub offers a wide range of services to local carers.

Carers Trust are a national charity providing support for carers. On their website they provide help and advice, they have an online community for carers, and a list of local services.

Carers UK are also a national charity providing a range of support to carers. There is a range of help and advice available on their website, from financial and practical support to information about useful equipment and technology. Their advice line can be accessed on: 0808 808 7777.

Barefoot Birmingham Offer free Yoga for family Carers registered with Birmingham Carers Hub, both online and in person at their studios. You don’t need to be a full-time Carer, or be in receipt of Carer benefits, to take up this offer.

Sandwell Crossroads  offer advice and guidance to carers living in Sandwell, including access to their free Carers Assistance Line

Walsall Carers offers a wide range of services to local carers.

Forward Carers provides a range of support and advice including carer’s assessments and information about breaks for carers.

Grants and discounts – If you, or the person you care for, need extra help to pay for something there are many grants, funds, and charities that may be able to help.

5. Who is eligible to claim Carer’s Allowance? 

Full-time students are not eligible to claim Carer’s Allowance. If you are claiming Carer’s Allowance prior to starting your university course, your eligibility for this benefit will cease when you enrol at university.

It is important that you notify the Benefits Agency that you have started full-time study to make sure you do not accrue subsequent overpayment.

Our Welfare Adviser can advise you about other sources of funding.

You do not have to wait until you are in a crisis before seeing the University Counsellor. In fact, problems are easier to deal with if explored early on.

What is counselling?

Counselling provides a safe and non-judgmental environment where thoughts and feelings can be expressed and explored. It can help you feel more in control of your life and be able to make choices or to cope with conflict, change or loss. It does not seek to give advice nor to solve your problems for you. Some of the issues that students bring to counselling include:

• Problems with family and home-life
• Relationships
• Anxiety / panic attacks
• Sexuality
• Self-Confidence
• Depression
• Bereavement
• Eating disorders

Is it confidential?

Confidentiality is an essential part of counselling. Neither the content of your sessions nor the fact that you are attending for counselling will be divulged to anyone else with the following important exceptions:

• Terrorist activities; the Counsellor is obliged by law to report these.
• Real danger of harm to yourself or others; the Counsellor may feel it appropriate to breach confidentiality, but not without discussing it with you first. (There is a difference between feeling murderous and actually committing murder).
• Your material may be discussed with the Counsellor’s supervisor, this is a professional aspect of counselling and names are never divulged. The supervisor has no connection with Newman University.
• You may request that a letter is written to your tutor or to your GP.

How do I make an appointment?

To make an appointment please email studentsupport@newman.ac.uk.

If you have been assessed as having dyslexia or if you are wondering if you may have dyslexia, individual support, information and advice is available from Student Support. Around 10% of our students have dyslexia, with many finding out about this for this first time at university.

What is dyslexia?

Dyslexia is a specific learning difficulty that is neurological in origin. It is characterised by difficulties with accurate and/or fluent word recognition, poor spelling and decoding abilities. Other difficulties may include problems with reading comprehension and reduced reading experience, that can affect growth of vocabulary and background knowledge.

Dyslexia can affect:

• Working memory
• Processing speed
• Phonological awareness

And has relative strengths in:

• Spoken vocabulary
• Problem solving ability and
• Associative reasoning

I think I have dyslexia – how can I find out?

It might feel like a big step to find out if you have dyslexia, but we can support you at every stage and do this for many students each year.

Our Dyslexia Adviser offers ‘screening’ appointments with enrolled, current students, which helps identify indicators of dyslexia. Screening takes place in private and usually consists of a short, computer-based series of exercises lasting about 20 – 30 minutes. Results are instant and you will then be advised on your next steps or options. If you have indicators of dyslexia, you may decide to pursue a full diagnostic assessment. We can help arrange this for you on campus with a fully qualified and experienced Educational Psychologist. Currently, we can usually cover the cost of this assessment from the Newman University Support Fund.

During your assessment, the Educational Psychologist will tell you whether or not you have a specific learning difficulty such as dyslexia and they will send you a written report. Our Dyslexia Adviser will then discuss this with you and will put some initial support in place, plus advise you about applying for funding.

I have been assessed as having dyslexia – what support is available?

Support from the University can include:

• Extensions to Library Loans
• Extra time in Examinations
• Provide you with electronic ‘stickers’ to put on the cover to your assignments and examination papers – the Red Dot scheme – to alert markers to the reason for particular spelling and grammar difficulties (where academic requirements allow)
• Recording arrangements for teaching sessions, to help reduce note taking

Our Dyslexia Adviser will also advise you to apply for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA), which can pay for computer equipment (after the first £200 that you contribute), assistive software and one to one support from dyslexia support tutors. You can find out more about DSA at the Government’s website.

After you apply to Student Finance for DSA, you will be asked to attend a Needs Assessment appointment. This is to help determine what funded support will be made available to you.

How does dyslexia support tuition work?

Weekly one to one support from dyslexia support tutors is either provided by Newman University on campus / remotely or from an external company / individual and is funded by your DSA.

Tutors will arrange a timetabled session with you, as outlined in your Needs Assessment report, to develop learning strategies designed to help you to understand and manage dyslexia.

Distinct from general study skills support, you will work with your tutor to develop an individualised action plan and work toward targets.

Feedback from students about their dyslexia support at Newman University is overwhelmingly positive, so do get in touch and find out more.

Some aspects of studying at university are very different from school, college or the workplace. This is especially true if you have been out of education for a few years. As a service we can provide you with advice on the general study skills that underpin your chosen degree course.

We offer a range of study skills workshops, as well as one to one appointments with IT Mentors, Writing Mentors and Learning Development Tutors. Ask to see the workshops timetable, the timetables for our IT Mentors and Writing Mentors and one to one appointment times on our Moodle resources page. We also have self-help guides and advice on aspects of study skills that we can direct you to.

The Learning Development Tutors are available to discuss any general study skills queries that you may have, advising and supporting you to help make your time at Newman University as enjoyable as possible.

Book an appointment to see a Learning Development Tutor:

• If you have queries at any level of study, for example, grammar, spelling or time management
• If you want to improve your assignment grades
• If you are concerned about a particular aspect of your studies
• If you want advice on note-taking, essay writing or exam preparation

Also, email Learning Support (see the contact at the bottom of this page) if you would like to book an appointment with an IT or Writing Mentor (including a Master’s level Writing Mentor). Our mentors are experienced students who help students. They are excellent at offering tips and advice around IT and Writing.

The Learning Development Tutors are available Monday – Thursday 9.00am – 5.00pm, Friday 9.00am-4.30pm and Wednesday until 8.00pm, by appointment and they are currently offering mostly remote support (through Zoom, email or telephone) with some bookable appointments on campus.

Contact details

Contact: Jacqueline Ridge-Stearn and Elaine Dale Position: Learning Development Tutors Tel: 0121 476 1181 (Ext. 2525) Email:learningsupport@newman.ac.uk

Newman University is committed to supporting all of its students, and has a dedicated member of staff who can provide support for those who come from a background in care. We are here to support you right from the moment you apply and throughout your studies.

Who is a care leaver?

A care leaver is a young person who has been in the care of, or has been given accommodation by, their local authority (LA) for a period of at least 13 weeks or more spanning their 16^th birthday.

A dedicated contact for Care Leaver and Care-experienced students

If you are currently in care, or are leaving/have previously been in care, Newman has a dedicated care leaver contact who can offer tailored support prior to arrival and throughout your time with us. If you have any questions about studying at Newman and the support available please contact our Student Welfare Adviser, Tammy Oyekanmi by emailing t.oyekanmi@newman.ac.uk

Contextual admissions

Newman has a contextual admissions policy which gives a reduced points offer to students who have been in care for more than six months.

Pre entry support

We can offer you guidance from your first interest in applying for university right through to studying here. Please get in touch with our care leaver contact if you have any questions. All of our support is optional and you can decide how much support you need at any stage.

HEADstart

Care experienced students have a guaranteed acceptance onto HEADstart , a preparatory course for new single, joint and combined honours students. The aim of HEADstart is to help you adapt to student life as quickly and smoothly as possible. HEADstart is delivered in the two weeks before Welcome Week. For further details of the programme visit our HEADstart page.

When you arrive

If you choose to disclose your care leaver status to Newman either via your UCAS application form or to our care leaver contact, you will be contacted at the beginning of your first year with Newman. Our care leaver contact will invite you to a meeting, either remotely or on campus to explain the range of support that is available and will give you a welcome pack which for 2020/21 includes an Amazon gift card.

Accommodation

As a care leaver, you can apply for and access university accommodation for 365 days per year if you need it. For more details, get in touch with our accommodation team.

What sources of financial support are available for care leavers?

Local authority bursary and support

A local authority bursary of £2,000 is available for all eligible care leavers entering higher education for the first time before their 25^th Birthday. Please contact your local authority leaving care team to find out if you are eligible for the bursary and how it will be paid to you.

Local authorities may also be able to support you with accommodation and other costs related to entering higher education. You can discuss this with your local authority. Our care leaver contact is able to act as a link between the university and your local authority if you want them to.

Student loans

Full-time undergraduate students can apply to Student Finance England for a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan for general living costs. You may also have eligibility for additional support if you have children or a disability or long term health condition. If you are under 25 at the start of your course you may be required to provide a letter from your local authority to confirm your previous care arrangements. Our care leaver contact is able to guide you through applying for student finance.

Grant Funding

Our care leaver contact can also support you to apply for grants that you may be eligible for such as those listed below.

• The Eve Brook Scholarship Fund (ebsf) supports young people, 16 to 25, who have been in care in Birmingham by giving them the opportunity to go to college or university.

• The Capstone Care Leavers Trust can offer small grants to eligible higher education students aged 17-25 who are not receiving funding from their local authority.

• If you are experiencing financial hardship during your studies you may be eligible for a grant through the Newman University Support Fund, which is administered through the University’s Finance Office. Our care leaver contact can give you advice on making an application to the fund and can support you to ensure you are in receipt of all of your statutory funding.

• There are also a number of other charitable trusts and foundations who offer support to young people in full time education. Use the Turn2us website to search for different organisations different organisations that might be able to help.

Support on your course

Personal Tutors

All students at Newman are allocated a personal tutor who is a single point of contact on your course they can provide support and advice on academic issues as well signpost you to other support.

Careers Support

Within the Careers Team we have a named contact for care experienced students, Teresa Waring, Senior Progression Coach, can support with initial career related questions and advice. Teresa can support students to access;

• 1:1 appointments for those looking for part-time jobs, work experience and careers advice in Years 1 and 2.
• Progression coaching, enhanced careers advice, in final year and first year after graduation through the Transformation West Midlands Project.
• Workshops and Events access through My Career.
• Job opportunities as accessed through My Career

Student Support

Our Student Support team provides a wide range of services to ensure you make the most of your time with us. Our support services include Counselling and Mental Health, Welfare, Disability, Dyslexia and Academic Development. For more information on how to access these services visit our Student Support pages.

If you would like to contact our care leaver contact for further details on any of the support mentioned above, please email Tammy Oyekanmi on t.oyekanmi@newman.ac.uk

Welcome to the Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, Queer or Questioning (LGBTQ+) student page

As a Catholic foundation, Newman University is an inclusive community which recognises the gifts, talents, and contribution of all people, and which respects and supports all individuals regardless of sexual orientation, gender, race, faith position or disability. The Catholic Church asserts strongly that all forms of unjust discrimination, harassment or abuse directed against people who are homosexual in orientation are wrong.

On this page you will find information on the support available to you at Newman University, as well as information about specific issues relevant to the lives of LGBTQ+ students.

Being a student, whether an undergraduate or postgraduate, can be a stressful time. LGBTQ+ students may have additional concerns, such as worries about coming out, or reconciling their sexuality with their identity and/or gender.

The Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Trans, Queer or Questioning Society

Newman’s LGBTQ+ Society aims to raise awareness among Newman students, support relevant campaigns and organise regular events and activities.

Find out more about our LGBTQ+ Society at Newman’s Student Union website

The Counselling Service offers confidential support to students experiencing a range of difficulties.

The Student Welfare Adviser offers support on a wide range of practical and personal issues and can signpost to local support organisations relevant to LGBT students.

Chaplaincy

Newman University Chaplaincy is proud to be at the heart of the university, encouraging all the community to engage in and feel part of Newman’s Catholic ethos.  The Chaplaincy is here for students of any faith, and of no faith; they are here for all students and are welcoming to the LGBTQ+ student community. Whether you are looking to make new friends, for a bit of support through a particular problem, or to explore issues of faith and sexuality, you will find a warm and friendly welcome at the Chaplaincy at Newman.

Bullying and Harassment

Newman University respects all students and staff regardless of sexual orientation. Homophobic abuse, harassment or bullying is treated as a serious disciplinary offence and will be dealt with under the appropriate procedure. Both the University and its Student Union are committed to creating and maintaining a supportive learning environment, and all members of the University community and visitors are expected to play their part in upholding these values.

Sexual Orientation Policy

The University’s Sexual Orientation Policy, and further information about equality and diversity, can be found in the Equality pages on this website. LGBT issues will be included in all equality training and monitoring of complaints of harassment etc. and the results will be published.

Does Newman University monitor LGBTQ+ student data? Newman University does have an optional monitoring question that asks students about their sexual orientation. This question is asked to provide information to the University about how we can further improve our services and support to LGBTQ+ students and to address any issues in terms of applications from LGBTQ+ students and the satisfaction levels of current students (please see the Stonewall guide on why monitoring data is collected for further information). Any personal data collected will be handled and protected in accordance with the Data Protection Act 1998.

External Services

Birmingham LGBT Centre

The LGBT Centre provides a wide range of support to the lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans community within Birmingham. They offer a range of services including sexual health screening, counselling & psychotherapy, alcohol support and general health and wellbeing support.

The LGBT Centre has also produced an excellent community guide which covers community, social, leisure and public services within the local area.

Imaan

Imaan supports LGBT Muslim people, their families and friends, to address issues of sexual orientation within Islam. It provides a safe space and support network to address issues of common concern through sharing individual experiences and institutional resources.

Quest

For LGBT Catholics, Quest have a regional support group.

Inclusive Gathering

For LGBT Christians in Birmingham, Inclusive Gathering organise worship and other gatherings.

Birmingham Pride

Check out the Birmingham Pride site for more information about what’s on at the annual lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender festival, the largest two day LGBTQ+ festival in the UK.

Stonewall

A wide range of support is also available from the leading lesbian, gay and bisexual charity Stonewall.

A comprehensive listing of LGBTQ+ community groups and organisations in the West Midlands can be found in Stonewall’s regional listings database.

Estranged students are young people studying without the support and approval of a family network. Students in this position often have no contact at all with their family and may have removed themselves from a dysfunctional situation.

At Newman we recognise that as an estranged student starting and studying at university, could be particularly challenging without the support of a family network – there may be concerns around accommodation and financial support. We are committed to supporting estranged students both prior to and for the duration of their studies.

We are aware that not every student who is estranged may want to access additional support, however for those that do, the following support is available.

A dedicated contact for estranged students

Newman has a dedicated contact for estranged students who can offer tailored support prior to arrival and throughout your time at Newman. If you have any questions about studying at Newman and the support available, you can contact our Student Welfare Adviser Tammy Oyekanmi by emailing t.oyekanmi@newman.ac.uk

Pre entry support

We can offer you guidance from your first interest in applying for university right through to studying here. Please get in touch with our Student Welfare Adviser if you have any questions. All our support is optional and you can decide how much support you need at any stage.

HEADstart

Estranged students have a guaranteed acceptance onto HEADstart, our a preparatory course for new single, joint and combined honours students. The aim of HEADstart is to help you adapt to student life as quickly and smoothly as possible. HEADstart is delivered in the two weeks before Welcome Week. For further details of the programme visit our HEADstart page.

When you arrive

If you choose to disclose your estranged status to Newman to our estranged student contact, you will be contacted at the beginning of your first year with Newman. Our Student Welfare Adviser will invite you to a meeting, either remotely or on campus, to explain the range of support that is available to you.

Accommodation

As an estranged student, you can apply for and access university accommodation for 365 days per year if you need it. For more details, get in touch with our Accommodation team.

Student Finance

Full-time undergraduate students can apply to Student Finance England for a tuition fee loan and a maintenance loan for general living costs. You may also have eligibility for additional support if you have children or a disability or long term health condition. Our Student Welfare Adviser is available to advise you about applying for student finance as an estranged student and can assist you to gather the supporting evidence you will need.

The Stand Alone Charity have produced an excellent guide with regards to applying to student finance as an estranged student. You may also want to check out this useful webpage from UCAS: Going it alone? Support for estranged students in higher education

Grant Funding

Our Student Welfare Adviser can also support you to apply for grants that you may be eligible for such as those listed below.

• If you are experiencing financial hardship you may be eligible for a grant through the

Newman University Support Fund , which is administered through the University’s Finance Office.

• Buttle UK can also offer small grants to students aged 16-20 who are estranged from their family.
• There are also a number of charitable trusts and foundations who offer support to young people in full time education. Use the Turn2us website to search for different organisations that might be able to help.

Support on your course

Personal Tutors

All students at Newman are allocated a personal tutor who is a single point of contact on your course, they can provide support and advice on academic issues as well signpost you to other support.

Student Support

Our Student Support team provides a wide range of services to ensure you make the most of your time with us. Our support services included Counselling and Mental Health, Welfare, Disability, Dyslexia and Academic Development. For more information on how to access these services visit our Student Support pages

If you would like further details on any of the information or support mentioned above, please email Tammy Oyekanmi our Student Welfare Adviser on t.oyekanmi@newman.ac.uk