Which universities are great at supporting emotional wellbeing of students?

[DelinquentSnails]

DD is looking at studying economics or data science. She has good predicted grades (A*, AA.) and a decent applicant profile. She is autistic, dyslexic and has had some difficulties around her metal health that mean finding a university that is best for her emotional well-being will be much more important than finding the ‘best’ university for her predicted grades. At the moment, she does not want to travel too far from our hometown (Cambridge, she says up to 3 hours away) but would like to try living away in halls (maybe halls for all three years?) She enjoys several hobbies- choral singing, martial arts and is a Christian and would like to keep these up through clubs, Christian union etc. Knowing her, I strongly suspect these activities will provide her social outlet, rather than structured social mingling, at least at first.

I would love to hear about any universities that have been great at supporting young people’s emotional well-being and neurodivergence, either through formal support or just how the university is structured. And also anything else we might need to consider in supporting her or that she might want to think about.

Would she consider living at home and commuting? That could be ARU in Cambridge, unis in Essex, or London unis an hour away, such as City (near Kings X) for data science.

It isn't open for next year yet, should open 23 March with Student Finance assuming they are in England.

You should look at Nottingham Trent. They have a new vice chancellor and he is very student focused.

Thanks for the reminder to apply for DSA. This aspect of uni is all new to us, so it’s really good to know students can access mentoring etc. through this.

I’ve just checked the DSA criteria on the .gov website and it says students are only eligible if entitled to a maintenance loan. Is this correct?

DD does not need financial support but might need learning support/ mentoring. Would she still be eligible for that type of help?

Yes. But even though she doesn’t need financial support is she eligible for the loan even if choosing not to take it? Every U.K. student afaik is eligible for the loan as long as it’s their first UG degree or a healthcare degree.

Mine was diagnosed under the adult system between her 18th birthday and leaving for uni. The DSA has been helpful but also having the diagnosis has upped her confidence no end. Rather than beating herself up for perceived social inadequacies and what she ought to be managing she is making choices based more on what works for her and letting go of unrealistic expectations.

She waited to 18 because then she could lead the whole thing, and college didn't need to be involved. It also halved the cost.

I think I would say to your son that he literally doesn't have to tell a soul, it's his information that he is never obliged to give out. But it would be insurance lined up to help if things go wrong, and it'll probably unlock some practical benefits like a laptop & software he might find helpful, and higher priority for the halls he prefers. Mine swerved the officially quiet halls because they don't allow you to have more than one friend over, which she thought would make it more difficult to make friends. Loads of students don't end up with their first, second or third choice hall at all - DD had to put 10 on her preference list - so they don't always have a huge amount of control over where they end up.

The mentoring can be good but it does rely on the student to set up the appointments, which has been a bit of an issue here!

@HighStreetOtter Sorry, I was’ t very clear.

DD will be eligible for the tuition fee loan but not for any maintenance loan. The government website seems to suggest that this means she is not eligible for DSA. We do not want DSA for the monetary contribution but for her to be able to access things like mentoring at university. I am just not sure how this works for ineligible students, and whether there is a standard process across universities.

Each uni has its way of doing things. At mine, the Office for Students with Disabilities liaises with Student Support in each School to provide many types of permanent or temporary mitigation for mental and physical health problems.

The OSD also send a rep to each Mitigating Circumstances panel. The rep makes sure Schools are observing best practices with respect to health problems and disabilities. For students signed up to OSD long term, they can also provide useful context. When students are doing their reasonable best to work with DSA (who recognise that no one is perfect) the rep is often able to advocate effectively.

Sometimes even students receiving DSA are reluctant to work with OSD, perhaps for fear of seeming different. But the support DSA provides only levels the playing field, and the confidentiality is very high. Also, even temporarily eligible students (eg someone with a temporary health crisis) are more likely than others to make use of Mit Circs and the advocacy provided by the DSA rep can be invaluable.

I would encourage all students to sign up fot whatever support they qualify for. And, sadly, to stay quiet about it. Not all of their friends will understand. No reason to make yourself vulnerable to people who do not.

Why do you think she would not be entitled to a maintenance loan?

It's very unusual to be eligible for fees loan and not maintenance - I've never heard of that.
Or do you mean she won't be entitled to the full loan due to your income? Even if your income is above the highest bracket, she would still receive the minimum loan if she applied for it.

And if she is eligible for maintenance loan, but doesn't claim it, for whatever reason, she would still be able to apply for DSA. It's easier if you are claiming student finance as you can claim it all at the same time online (although the subsequent processes are very different). If she is eligible, but doesn't claim SF, you have to apply for DSA on a paper form.

Warwick have been great for my AuDHD daughter x

Everyone is entitled to basic maintenance loan. But you can apply for dsa regardless

Thanks for the replies. I had a brain fart and forgot that all students can claim the minimum maintenance loan, so of course she is entitled to that and therefore to DSA, even if she doesn’t actually take the loan.

I have one at UEA and one at York.

Both have been outstanding for MH and emotional support. DS at UEA has had a few MH blips in the run up to uni, but they’ve been fantastic and really stepped up for him so he’s doing really well academically and is very happy there.

DD is at York, we lost her gran (who she was very close to) less than a month before she left for uni, and again they have been fantastic in supporting her. I was worried that it would be very stiff upper lip RG and I wanted her to transfer to UEA, but they’ve ensured she is able to thrive and she is also doing very well and outstripping her own expectations. I honestly expected her to drop out before the first half term but they’ve been there for her all the way.