Topic outline

  • Student Support Office Contacts


    • You can contact the student support office via email and arrange a meeting with a member or the team.  We can offer support and/or signpost you to a range of more specialised services. 


      ACADEMIC LEAD FOR STUDENT SUPPORT – DR DOMINIC HURST

      Email: r.d.hurst@qmul.ac.uk

       

      STUDENT SUPPORT OFFICER – BECKY HUNTER

      Email: rebecca.hunter@qmul.ac.uk 

       

      STUDENT SUPPORT ADMINISTRATORS -  SHARON HENTON
      Email: dental.sso@qmul.ac.uk

  • Academic Advising

  • Transition to university

    • Starting university is a big step on an even bigger journey in your life, so there are bound to be many things you are unsure about. 


      There will be plenty of advice available once you arrive on campus, but Queen Mary would also like to provide you with additional guidance, resources and events before you start to help you to get ahead. Feel free to explore this site to learn more about what you can expect, what you can do to prepare, and hear from other students about their experiences. 


  • Faith

    • Student Union - BLSA Building

      Basement, BLSA Building, Newark St, Whitechapel E1 2AT

      Multi-faith room


      Royal London Hospital

      Whitechapel Rd, London E1 1FR

      Second Floor, Lift 5

      https://www.bartshealth.nhs.uk/chaplaincy


      • The Sanctuary is a Christian space welcoming those who wish to pray, seek a place of quiet or attend a service.
      • The Muslim Prayer Rooms have separate prayer and ablution facilities for men and women. Toilets are on the ground floor.
      • The Jewish Community Room is a space where people can relax, study or pray. Kosher food and refreshments are also provided. A PIN number to access the room is available from the chaplaincy or from the Stepney Way ground floor reception.


      East London Mosque

      82-92 Whitechapel Rd, London E1 1JQ

      Muslim prayer rooms


      We do not have a multi faith space in the Dental hospital so please kindly use any of the above spaces. 

       

      Please do not use any of the fifth-floor seminar rooms in the Dental Hospital as there are other designated spaces. 


      Charter House Square Campus:

      John Langdon Down House

      Ground Floor

      Room 1.


  • CATQR

  • War

  • Support at QMUL

  • Resources

    LGBTQ definitions every good ally should know

    • A society set up to create a welcoming and supportive environment for all LGBT+ (and unsure!) medics, dentists, and other students studying at Barts and The London.

      Events include fun-filled socials exploring London; lectures and discussion nights from inspirational speakers; our own gaming servers; cultural film nights celebrating the best in LGBT cinema and zany events that no other society can provide. Our society also works to ensure the curriculum and student experience at BL are LGBT-friendly, as well as having links with GLADD (The Gay Lesbian Association of Doctors and Dentists) for professional opportunities as well as social ones.


    • For many people, starting university can be terrifying.

      It means moving away from home, living with strangers for the first time and being independent – there’s so much going on in this transition.

      For LGBTQ+ students, it can be particularly challenging and if this applies to you, you’re not alone.

    • QM LGBT+ Society provides a safe space for all members and allies of the LGBTQ community at Queen Mary.

      Our goal as the QM LGBT+ society is to provide a supportive space for all members of the LGBTQ+ Community at Queen Mary. We hope to foster a better understanding of queer people within the university with our open discussion events and awareness stands, as well as connect LGBTQ+ students through our regular socials. We hope to see you there !! <33


  • Urgent Support

    • As students, you may be the first to notice a peer who is struggling.

      We are encouraging all students to undertake this training to help prevent student suicide.

    • London Nightline is an anonymous listening and information service run by students, for students.

      You can talk to a trained volunteer about anything – big or small – in complete confidence.

      We won’t judge you or tell you how to run your life: we’ll simply listen to whatever’s on your mind.

      We are all students who have undergone extensive training and who understand that university life isn’t always plain sailing.

      How can I contact you?

      We aim to be accessible, so you can contact us in a way that suits you best. Our phones are still the most popular mode of contact, but increasingly instant messagingSkype, and email are being used as ways to contact us.

      We are open from 6pm to 8am every night of term.

      Please contact us using the methods below.
      Phone: (+44)207 631 0101
      Email: listening@nightline.org.uk
      Instant Messaging: via this link
      Skype Phone: londonnightline


  • Mindfulness

    • Taster Sessions – for the curious

      Designed as a fun and informative introduction to mindfulness for the curious. Participants leave with an understanding of the theory behind mindfulness and an experience of mindfulness practices.

      Stress Less Study – 4 week course

      Designed for students this beginners course offers a firm introduction to mindfulness and core mindfulness skills. The focus will be on how Mindfulness can aid attention, memory, reduce stress and improve study performance.

      First Steps Course - beginners

      This beginners course gives a firm introduction to mindfulness and core mindfulness skills. It’s focus is on understanding how our habits inhibit our natural curiosity about ourselves and our world.

      Next Steps Course – intermediary

      This intermediate course is ideal for those who have attended a First Steps Course or the Stress Less Study Course and for already confident meditators. We will be exploring the classic Four Foundations of Mindfulness using core mindfulness practices.  A great course for going deeper.


    • This is a brief document that explains mindfulness and has some links to helpful online resources.

    • Non-guided and guided mindfulness meditation acknowledges and pays attention to feelings and thoughts. 

      With roots in Buddhism, mindfulness meditation is widely practiced in a secular context. 

      It focuses on bringing awareness to the present and making observations with openness, curiosity, compassion and composure. 

      It helps recognise habitual thoughts and tendencies without judgement.


  • Talking and self-directed therapies

    • Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT for short, is a treatment that helps people build skills to effectively handle the challenges that life throws at them. 

      Overwhelming research over the past two decades has shown CBT to be the most effective therapy for a whole host of problems: anxiety, depression, OCD, anger, phobias, eating disorders, substance abuse, assertiveness, shame, avoidance, procrastination, and relationship problems, just to name a few. Because CBT teaches people to solve their own problems by learning and practicing new skills, CBT helps people stay well long after treatment is complete.

    • Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) involves many helpful thoughts, practices and alternative perspectives that can change how you see yourself and your world for the better. 

      As well as aiding recognised conditions, CBT can help you to transform how you feel about yourself generally, and you can become more forward thinking and constructive with regards to past, present and future.


    • There are at least 10 common cognitive distortions that can contribute to negative emotions. They also fuel catastrophic thinking patterns that are particularly disabling.

      Read this short document and see if you can identify ones that are familiar to you.

    • This short guide from The Charlie Waller Memorial Trust explores why striving for perfectionism can be unhealthy.

      Perfectionism guide screenshot

    • All areas of England have "Improving Access to Psychological Services" (IAPTS) programmes.

      Each council in London organises these and they are free.

      Use this site to find your local IAPT.
    • Instead of mercilessly judging and criticizing yourself for various inadequacies or shortcomings, self-compassion means you are kind and understanding when confronted with personal failings – after all, who ever said you were supposed to be perfect?

  • Assertiveness

    As Student Support Lead, I talk about assertiveness a lot with students who are struggling with their mental health.

    Anxiety and depression can sometimes be linked to a sense of disempowerment and so developing assertiveness can help you take more control over your encounters with others.

    • w: https://www.cci.health.wa.gov.au/resources/looking-after-yourself/assertiveness

      Our experiences of encounters with others can be improved by developing assertiveness skills

      Assertiveness works on the basis that you have as much right as anybody else to be treated respectfully and to have your opinion heard.

      Many people suffer mental health difficulties because they feel others don't respect these rights so learning some skills to stand up and assert yourself could improve your sense of well-being.

    • Assertiveness is a key skill that can help you to better manage yourself, people and situations. 

      It can help you to influence others in order to gain acceptance, agreement or behaviour change.

      It is the ability to express your opinions positively and with confidence. 

      Assertive people are in control of themselves and are honest with themselves and others.


  • Depression

    If you or someone you know is in a crisis, please follow the guidance on this QMUL page.

    w: https://www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk/emotional-wellbeing/help-crisis/

    • Whatever you're going through, a Samaritan will face it with you. 

      They are there 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. 

      You don't have to be suicidal to call.

      Telephone: 116 123 - Free



    • Students Against Depression provides you with a calm environment and the resources to help you find a way forward - a website offering advice, information and guidance to those affected by low mood, depression and suicidal thinking.


    • We provide advice and support to empower anyone experiencing a mental health problem.

      We campaign to improve services, raise awareness and promote understanding.

  • Eating disorders

  • Exam anxiety / stress

    Exams and other assessments are stressful times for almost all of us. A small amount of stress is helpful because it helps us get down to revising and keeps us alert during the assessment.

    However, for many students, stress often becomes unhelpful meaning they cause themselves to become unwell, harm themselves or harm their relationships.

    Below are links to several sites with ideas for how to prevent and / or manage unhelpful stress and anxiety.

  • Addiction

    • This BDJ article was written by a dentist who was ultimately helped by the Dentists Health Support Trust to get back on track with his life.

  • Crisis Support

    • If your life is in danger or if you have a medical emergency (including mental health) call 999


      For further support information visit the QMUL Help in Crisis Page 

  • Bullying and harassment

    • Please read this guidance for all options for emotional support and informal and formal reporting processes when a student has experienced inappropriate behaviour.

    • If you experience bullying or harassment by another student, a staff member or anyone else at QMUL, please consider reporting it here.

      Feel free to contact Becky Hunter or Dominic Hurst for a confidential meeting too.

    • This document is from QM HR department but relevant to students.

  • Racism

    If you experience racism, please speak in confidence to Dr Hurst or Becky Hunter.

  • Adults who have experienced childhood abuse

  • Support following a crime incl. sexual assault or rape

    If you have been raped, see the information on the Rape Crisis page about what to do next.

  • Domestic abuse

    Domestic abuse is an incident or pattern of incidents of controlling, coercive, threatening, degrading and violent behaviour, including sexual violence.

    Domestic abuse can be financial, emotional, psychological, sexual or physical.

    It can be perpetrated by an intimate partner but also by others in the home including parents or parents-in-law, children or siblings.

    QMUL Advice and Counselling Domestic Abuse page

  • Financial support

    • QMUL has a single portal to assist students with cost of living.

  • Absence

  • Extenuating circumstances

  • Specific Learning Differences / Neurodiversity

    For example, dyslexia, dyspraxia, autism and Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder

  • Topic 28

  • Student Support Cards

  • DDS Examination Access Arrangements

  • Confidentiality in the SSO

  • Staff-student communications

    • This policy was approved by the Dental Executive, Chaired by the Dean, in October 2021.

      Staff should only communicate with students using email, Teams and QMPlus Forum announcements.

  • Official letters

  • Fitness to study or practice and professional capability

    • This is used when, despite all efforts to support a student, their health has significantly impacts on their or others' ability to study.

      Many students have physical or mental health concerns and only a very small proportion across QMUL will ever need to be subject to this. Where there are no professionalism concerns, this means students do not need to be subject to the Professional Capability process that the GDC requires.

      When a student has done something deemed unprofessional e.g. in association with substance misuse, we would invoke this policy before referring to the Professional Capability Committee. This is because it allows the student to demonstrate that they have positively responded to the conditions laid out from this procedure and this is professional behaviour. We hope this will make the Professional Capability process more straightforward.

      The key message here is to seek help early, take responsibility for your situation, make changes and avoid breaching any of the GDC's nine principles.

    • Professional Capability refers, in the broadest sense, to a student’s health and behaviour being compatible with the expectations of the General Dental Council. Please see the link below to the GDC's Student Professionalism and Fitness to Practise guidance.

      When a student's health is impacting their studies but we are not concerned that any of the GDC's nine principles have been breached, we will usually use the QMUL-wide Student Fitness to Study policy as this does not refer to professionalism.

      However, where a student fails to take responsibility for their health or condition, or they act in a way that breaches one of the nine principles, we are required to refer to the Professional Capability Committee (PCC), who invoke this policy.

      This is because QMUL is required to certify its confirmation that a graduate from a primary dental qualification or professional dental care programme has demonstrated that they are fit to practise upon graduation. When a graduating student registers with the GDC, they will be asked if they have had any formal investigations into professional conduct and must say yes if they have been subject to a PCC.

      The key message is to seek help early, take responsibility and avoid breaching any of the nine GDC ethical principles.

    • This guidance sets out the principles of professional behaviour expected of you during your training to become a registered dental professional. It applies to all students training to become a member of the dental team registered by the General Dental Council (GDC).

      The important thing from the SSO perspective is that you seek help for any problems early so that they do not become professionalism issues. Principle nine is particularly relevant to student well-being issues such as drug use. So long as students take responsibility for their health issue, take steps to improve it and have not done anything to bring their professionalism into question, then they have not breached these principles.

      GDC 9 ethical principles

  • Absent students

    • This policy covers how staff are expected to respond when students are missing.

  • Interrupting studies

  • Appeals

  • Other Student Support Services

  • Motor skills resources

  • External resources

    • PatientsLikeMe is committed to putting patients first. We do this by providing a better, more effective way for you to share your real-world health experiences in order to help yourself, others and advance research.

  • Dental careers videos & podcasts

  • Student Staff Liaison Committees

  • Gambling

    • Being a compulsive gambler can harm your health and relationships, and leave you in serious debt.

      If you have a problem with gambling and you'd like to stop, support and treatment is available.


    • Support for those living with compulsive gamblers.

    • National Gambling Helpline

      0808 8020 133

    • An NHS-run service for people with compulsive gambling.

    • Gamblers Anonymous is a fellowship of men and women who share their experience, strength and hope with each other so that they may solve their common problem and help others do the same.

  • Studying with children

  • Interviews about well-being

  • Intercalating

  • Engagement monitoring - CATQR

    • For FAQs and guidance on how to register or edit a Profile ID and download the CATQR app, please see this page.

      If you are told you already have a Profile ID when you try to register a new one, please search all your personal, NHS and college email addresses using "Profile ID".

  • Undergraduate Induction Handbook

  • Postgraduate Handbook

  • What does ‘extenuating’ mean?

    • There are times in everyone’s life when things happen unexpectedly. Sometimes these unexpected events mean that our daily routines or plans are thrown off course, which may mean that we cannot do the things we intended to do.

      As students, we might have a coursework or assessment deadline that we have every intention of meeting, but something beyond our control may mean that we can no longer meet that deadline. For example, we might break an arm playing football a few days before an important exam or coursework deadline. This is where the University’s ‘Extenuating Circumstances’ process can help.

      The word “extenuate” has its origins in a latin word that means ‘to make thin’ and has come into the English language as a word that infers someone’s individual circumstances are taken into account when assessing their situation.


  • How to apply

    • The Extenuating Circumstances task on MySIS allows you to register extenuating circumstance claims against assessment elements/modules where it is felt that illness or other circumstances led to non-attendance or non-submission. The task can be found on MySIS under its own section entitled ‘Extenuating Circumstances’. Any student registered for assessments will automatically have access.

      • Log in to your MySIS account and click on ‘Extenuating Circumstances’ in the menu bar at the top of the screen. This will bring up a summary showing your personal details, details of your programme and various headings denoting different stages of the claim process. 
      • Click on the ‘New Claim’ button. 

      To help you navigate the claim process there is PDF 'Extenuating Circumstances Student Guide' which can be found on the MySIS Extenuating Circumstances home page. 

      In most cases Extenuating Circumstances claims should be made by students themselves, but it is possible for your home department to create a claim on your behalf if necessary. This should only ever be done on your request and based on evidence/self-certification details that you have provided.


  • What evidence do I need

    • When you start your Extenuating Circumstances claim on MySIS, the second drop-down box allows you to select the claim type as either ‘Standard Claim’ or ‘Self-Certification’. 

      (The claim type cannot later be changed - if you selected the incorrect type you will need to delete your claim and start a new one) 


  • UCAS Budget Calculator

  • Videos on Extenuating Circumstances

  • Neurodivergent Society (QMSU)

    • Hi, and welcome to the Queen Mary Neurodivergent Society!

      As a new society on campus, we have 3 main functions:

      • To provide a safe space for neurodiverse people to come and relax, and interact with other neurodiverse people.
      • To provide educative sessions about different forms of neurodiversity, their misconceptions, and how we cope with them.
      • To provide career development opportunities to our neurodiverse community, and provide access to networking opportunities with people in all kinds of industries.

      Whether it be through weekly socials, biweekly educative sessions and career sessions, external speakers, or conferences, we really hope you'll find a place for you in our society!

      We have a WhatsApp Group chat that is used regularly both for general conversation and to discuss neurodivergence. If you would like to join, please email us at neurodivergentsoc@qmsu.org and let us know you would like to join with your name and phone number. 


  • Care and Caring Responsibilities