SEF Undergraduate Handbook 2025-26

If you encounter any difficulties, we hope it will be possible to resolve them before they interfere with your studies.

The sorts of problems that can arise include the following:

• Problems understanding module material: In the event of such difficulties, see your class teacher in the first instance, then the module organiser, and then your Advisor. You are also welcome to make use of the Maths and Statistics support classes that run weekly and the Peer Assisted Study Support sessions (see section on academic support).
• Financial problems: If you are having difficulties paying your tuition fees please let someone from the School know as soon as possible. In some circumstances Queen Mary can be flexible regarding the scheduling of payments. If you are struggling with living costs or have had an unforeseen cost that has affected your finances, you can apply for the Financial Assistance Fund here: Financial assistance fund - Registry Services.
• Major welfare problems: If you are affected by personal problems (e.g., poor health, lack of suitable housing, family difficulties, or bereavement) that interfere with your work, you should let us know by contacting your Advisor, the Director of Student Engagement and the Undergraduate Student Support Officer.
• If the problem is a serious one that has affected your performance, then it can potentially be taken into account through extenuating circumstances. However, under Queen Mary regulations any such extenuating circumstances must be properly declared and documented, so it is important that you let us know if you are experiencing problems.
• Visa or immigration-based problems: Queen Mary’s Advice and Counselling Service are fully trained to advise on any matters relating to visas or immigration compliance. If you have any concerns relating to this, please do speak to them.
• General problems: Other problems, both large and small, can arise from time to time. The School office can try to help resolve these, otherwise they can advise you on where to go for further assistance.

A number of general resources are available for students experiencing difficulties:

Advice and Counselling Services

The Advice and Counselling Service offers confidential, professional support services to all Queen Mary students. We have helpful advice and guidance for financial, immigration and other practical issues as well as emotional and mental health support on our website (welfare.qmul.ac.uk). You will also find information there about our services and contact details.

Financial, Immigration and Welfare Advice

Our Welfare Advisers can advise you on solutions and options relating to financial, immigration, practical and welfare issues. We provide specialist advice and support on all aspects of student finance (loans, grants, bursaries), hardship funds and welfare benefits. We can help you plan your budget and find out how to reduce your spending. If you are an international student we can advise you on your immigration rights. We can advocate on your behalf if you need help resolving an issue, for example with Student Finance England or the UK Home Office.

Counselling

Life can seem like a struggle at times, and it is normal to sometimes feel a bit low or anxious. Sometimes, though, emotional and psychological issues can become too challenging, and may have a negative effect on your studies and well-being. Our Counsellors can help you to make sense of difficult experiences and feelings by providing the opportunity to think and talk reflectively, which can bring relief and meaningful changes.

The first step is meeting confidentially with one of our Counsellors to discuss what type of support might be most useful to you. This might be short term counselling, group therapy, cognitive behavioural therapy or a referral for longer term support or specialist services outside Queen Mary  / in the NHS. For many students, just one or two sessions can really help. Our Counsellors are all highly experienced in working with students, and all types of issues.

Mental Health

We also have a mental health team who can advise and support you to manage a mental health condition while you are studying at Queen Mary. Our Mental Health advisers can advise you about the local NHS and other support services available in Tower Hamlets and the neighbouring boroughs as well as offering a range of interventions to help you manage your mental health.  

Contacting the Advice and Counselling Services 

For more information about available services and contact details please visit the Advice and Counselling Service’s website:

www.welfare.qmul.ac.uk

Contact us - Advice and Counselling Service

Bursaries, Grants and Scholarships

Student Loans

If you have applied for funds from Student Finance then you will receive the first instalment once you have enrolled fully for the academic year. If your payments do not arrive and you cannot remedy the problem with Student Finance yourself, please contact the AskQM Frontline Enquiry Team. They will be able to assess for any actions needed by Queen Mary and advise you of the next steps.

Bursaries

Queen Mary Bursaries are assessed using the household income information provided to us from Student Finance.

If you do not wish to take out student funding, such as loans, but still wish to be assessed for a Queen Mary Bursary you will still need to apply for a household income assessment, full details on how to do this are on the Advice and Counselling Service website.

Full details of the Queen Mary Bursary, including eligibility, amounts and payment dates can be found here. Email: bursaries@qmul.ac.uk.

Queen Mary Financial Assistance Fund

If you have exceptional or unforeseen costs or you are in financial hardship you could be eligible for help from the Financial Assistance Fund.  The fund is there to help any eligible student who has a particular financial need but we cannot meet every application we receive and we cannot always meet all of the costs that you might apply for. Full details, guidance and an application form can be found here.