Support for Students

Introduction

Supporting students within the Department of Law and Criminology is about empowerment, guiding the student to find their support mechanisms using methods of active referral.  Not only does this support them through their time here at Aberystwyth, but it educates them in supporting themselves for future life.

Within the Department, we have many forms of first line support: Personal Tutors; Year Tutors and Departmental Welfare and Disability Officer; Examinations Secretary; General Office staff; Careers Officer, all of whom are available to talk to students and offer advice, guidance and support.  The University also has a large support network: Student Support Department; Guild of Students; Counselling services; Student Medical Centre; Life Skills section in the Hugh Owen Library to name but a few.

We aim to provide a first class student experience, with friendly approachable staff, facilitating students to not only have first line support but also to learn how to support themselves, a life skill that can be taken away with them after they have graduated.

Departmental Support

Personal Tutor : each student is allocated a Personal Tutor on arrival. Personal Tutors are there to help you with any academic or personal problem that may affect your studies.
Role of Personal Tutor
Personal Tutor Contact Details

Year Tutor: the Department has a Part One and Part Two Year Tutor:  If you are unable to find, or do not wish to discuss a problem with your Personal Tutor, the Year Tutor is available for you.
Role of Year Tutor

Departmental Welfare and Disability Officer: If you have Special Needs or a Disability query, contact the Welfare and Disability Officer.

Examinations Secretary: The Examinations Secretary deals with all aspects of assessment, as well as special circumstances and special needs requirements.  If you have any question about the above areas, see the Examinations Secretary.
Contact the Examinations Secretary

General Office staff: friendly and responsive. They know the structure and working practices of the Department and are a good place to start with any queries. Two of the secretaries in the General Office are native Welsh language speakers.
General Office Opening Times
Contact the General Office staff

Employability and Careers Development: The Department has a Careers Officer, who works closely with students.  The University also provides an electronic PDP system (Personal Development Plan). The Department also organises careers talks and will inform you of any University careers opportunities that may arise, as well as subscribing to “Allaboutlaw” amongst many other things.
Contact the Departmental Careers Officer

Departmental Policies

Special Circumstances Procedure
Special Circumstances are considered three times a year, prior to each exam board, by the Director of Assessment and a panel of 2 academic staff.  Special circumstances are only considered in relation to a failed module.  The remit of the Special Circumstances Panel is to award free of charge resits for Part One students, and free of charge un-capped resits for Part Two students.  The Panel are not permitted to change marks.
Students must complete a Special Circumstances Form, downloadable from the link below, or available in hard copy on the Departmental Foyer, and attach to the form corroborative evidence in the form of a medical certificate, letter from counsellor, copy of death certificate or order of service.  Special circumstances cannot generally be considered without this evidence.
See link for details of procedure and form:
Academic Office - Special Circumstances Procedure and Form

Special Needs Procedure
If a student has a special need, they are asked to contact the University Student Support Services Department based in the Welcome Centre.
Student Support Services
Tel: 01970 621761
Email: student-support@aber.ac.uk

University Support Services

Residential Support
All AU Residences have a support network of Resident Tutors. Their role is to help you settle in and make the most of your opportunities beyond the classroom. They also assist if you come across barriers to your success and happiness. Teams in each residence provide an on-call, out-of-hours service at evenings and weekends. The details of on-call rotas are emailed to residents each week.
Residential Support

Each Halls of Residence produces a leaflet detailing the Halls Residential Support Team and Useful Contacts list:
Pentre Jane Morgan Leaflet

Nightline
Student-run independent telephone helpline and drop-in service 20.00 - 08.00 during term-time 7 days a week.  The service is located below Ta Med Da in Penbryn hall of residence, behind the Porters Lodge.
Nightline
Tel: 01970 621717

Student Support can be found in the Welcome Centre on Penglais Campus and deal with a variety of Student Support issues, including Healthcare, Child Care, International Student Advice, Disability, Financial Issues and Learner Support.  Their opening hours are:
Mon-Thu 9am-4.30pm, Fri 9am-4pm
Drop-in afternoons on Wednesdays from 2pm-4:30pm
Student Support Services
Tel: 01970 621761
Email: student-support@aber.ac.uk

Student Health Centre has an appointment service and daily drop in facility:
Student Health Centre
Tel: 01970 622087
Email: nurse@aber.ac.uk

Students Union and Guild of Students represent the student body to the University and provide a variety of welfare and recreational services:
Students Union and Guild of Students
Web:ww.aberguild.co.uk
Email: union@aber.ac.uk
Tel: 01970 621700

Hugh Owen Library 
Hugh Owen Library
Tel: 01970 622399
Email: library@aber.ac.uk

Life Skills Section This is a collection, housed in the Hugh Owen Library, designed to help with student life. It includes general self-help works on a range of topics: money, budgeting, loans, landlords, leaving home, exam stress as well as cookery, household hints and passing a driving test etc. It also includes the NHS Direct Wales 'Book Prescription Wales' booklist covering twenty of the most common psychological problems.
Life Skills Section

Effective Study Collection The Effective Study Collection is a collection of books designed to help you study. It covers such topics as how to research and study, writing skills, academic writing, English usage, time management, communications skills and some general guides to research and study in the arts. The material is intended for all users, including those for whom English is not their first language.
Effective Study Collection

Aberystwyth Support Services

Doctors – students are advised to register with one of the many doctors surgeries in Aberystwyth, not only in case of immediate illness, but for long term support, and possible referral to local support services.

Hospital – Bronglais Hospital is located within a close vicinity to the University and has a 24hr A&E department.

Counselling – there are many private counselling organisations within Aberystwyth, who can provide excellent short and long term support.

Gorwellion – a Psychiatric Unit based within Aberystwyth provides excellent support and counselling.