The Student Futures Manifesto
Our six commitments to you
The College and Students’ Union have been working together to co-create a 'Student Futures Manifesto' which will guide and support you to:
- Get ready for student life
- Join the College community
- Find support for your mental health and wellbeing
- Get the most from your learning
- Get involved
- Set up for life after your Degree
To read the full document, visit the student information hub. It's full of links to tell you what you need to know to help you make the best start to the academic year.
Postgraduate Taught Degree Regulations
The Postgraduate Taught Regulations set out the various standards that shape the regulatory framework of your Postgraduate Taught degree with the College. These include a variety of essential information, ranging from admissions to academic progression and examination. Some frequently used elements of the regulations are covered in this handbook.
Royal Holloway Students’ Union (RHSU)
The Students’ Union (SU) is a registered charity which exists for one purpose – to make student life better at Royal Holloway. Independent from the College, the SU is there to champion student interests and ensure they can get your voice heard through their various representative platforms, such as academic reps (see more info under 2.5 Student-Staff Consultative Committee), Student Collectives (which give underrepresented groups a platform and provide support as a network and community) and elected sabbatical officers (who sit on the highest decision-making committees in the College).
Additionally, the Students’ Union is also responsible for supporting over 110 student-led clubs and societies on campus, they run a pub (The Packhorse) across the road from campus, provide somewhere to eat and hang out in Tommy’s Kitchen, and run two venues (the SU Main Hall and Medicine) that host regular club nights, as well as daytime events and entertainment through their Give It a Go programme.
The Students’ Union also runs an Advice Centre from the first floor of the Students’ Union building, which is a free service and independent from the College, with professional Advisors who specialise in academic and housing advice and support but who can signpost you with regards to any other matters too.
Find out more on the Students Union website.
Staff-student committee (and academic representation)
We want to hear your views on the way the department operates, and this is where the academic representation system comes in – which is a collaborative partnership between the Students’ Union and the College. The system relies on student volunteers from within your cohort who represent you to ensure you receive the highest quality educational experience possible.
Course reps work on ensuring your degree course is everything you expected it to be, senior course reps are responsible for providing feedback to staff, school reps work across several departments to instigate change, while the VP Education works across the wider College.
There is a staff-student committee on which both taught and research students are represented. It meets at least three times a year and aims to facilitate effective communication between students and staff, closing the feedback loop, and ultimately securing positive change.
As a new student you can stand to become an academic rep for your chosen degree course when the annual elections open in September, giving you the chance to directly influence what happens on your course and give a voice to your peers.
Departments will provide details of forthcoming elections or the names of current representatives, but you can also find out more on the Students’ Union’s website.
Student Services Centre
The Student Services Centre provides support for issues relating to non-academic matters and student life such as applying to live in Halls, replacement College cards, travel concessions including the 18+ Student Oyster Photocard and also providing documentation such as Student Status Certificates and Interim Transcripts
- Most services are available on the website so you can access or request them wherever you are. You can also get advice by phoning, emailing, or visiting the walk-in centre using the details below. Email: studentservices@royalholloway.ac.uk
- Visit: Emily Wilding Davison Building (ground floor, opposite the library)
- Phone: +44 (0)1784 27 6641
Find out more on the Student Services Centre webpages.
Wellbeing: Supporting you at Royal Holloway
Our Wellbeing department teams are here to support you with your health and wellbeing and to help you have positive academic, personal and social experiences as a Royal Holloway research student. The department is comprised of several specialist teams who cover a broad spectrum of wellbeing support and guidance and advice on areas which can impact on your wellbeing. We encourage students to contact our teams at the earliest opportunity and to signpost friends to our services if you feel they are struggling with their mental health and wellbeing. There is also access to an NHS managed GP Surgery on campus
Find out more on the Wellbeing webpages.
Supporting you with wellbeing guidance
Our Wellbeing Support and Guidance team of wellbeing advisers provides advice and guidance to all students on personal and emotional wellbeing, to assist them in maintaining a healthy balanced lifestyle and to support them throughout their studies towards submission of your research and graduation. The advisers encourage all members of our student and staff community to alert them to concerns or signs of vulnerability to enable proactive engagement with early intervention. We also have Harassment and Wellbeing Advisers who are here to offer support with concerns about the conduct of others and our RH Be Heard platform.
Find out more on the Wellbeing webpages.
Disability & Neurodiversity Supporting you with your disability
Our Wellbeing Disability and Neurodiversity team are here to support all students who have disclosed a disability, long standing medical condition, specific learning difficulty or mental health condition. The disability and academic advisers will help co-ordinate the right support for you including liaising with your academic department, external providers or specialist support services. To access our support you need to declare your disability and register with the team who will then work with you to implement appropriate support as soon as possible.
Your first point of contact for advice and guidance is the Disability Network Member in your department. To find our who this is and what their contact details are please check your Department Student Handbook.
Find out more on the Wellbeing Disability and Neurodiversity webpages.
Supporting you as an international student
Our Wellbeing International Advice team are the first point of contact for international students about a range of support and wellbeing issues – including visa and immigration advice - and will ensure you are able to access the most appropriate services as required. They also support and proactively work to foster and inclusive and welcoming community on campus for all.
Find out more on the International Student Support webpages.
Supporting you with your finances
Our Wellbeing Financial Advice team will assist with financial difficulties you may experience including support with financial difficulty, short term loans, referrals to local Foodbanks, budgeting & financial capability advice and a wide range of other financial enquiries. They aim to ensure your time at university is as financially stress-free as possible.
Find out more on the Financial Wellbeing webpages.
Supporting you with your faith & spirituality
The Wellbeing Multifaith Chaplaincy team aim to support students and staff in building supportive communities of faith, where fundamental questions can be explored and a deep personal search for meaning is encouraged. We have an Anglican Chaplain, Catholic Chaplain and Muslim Chaplain. They are here to offer support to the whole university community. Whatever you believe, whatever your background, whoever you love, whatever your struggles or doubts, and wherever in the world you are, the Chaplains want to hear from you. The team also work closely with the SU Faith Societies and can put you in contact with them and many other local faith communities.
Find out more on the Chaplaincy webpages.
Supporting you through counselling
The Wellbeing Counselling team are here to support you with your personal emotional and mental wellbeing. Emotional problems can get in the way of your studies and life in general. If you find yourself having difficulties, you may find it helpful to speak to one of our professionally trained counsellors who broadly base counselling on the one at a time model with solution focussed sessions. They work to the British Association for Counselling and Psychotherapy (BACP) Ethical Framework for the Counselling Professions and are a BACP accredited service. To see a counsellor, you will need to register with the service before you book an appointment.
Find out more on the Wellbeing Counselling webpages.
Supporting you with your mental health
Our Wellbeing Mental Health team provide mental healthcare to students who require support in primary care. The team form a common point of entry for triage, assessment and referral (where needed) onto specialist mental health services and can help in particular students with emerging mental health concerns.
Find out more on the Wellbeing Mental Health webpages.
Supporting you living in the local community
For students who have chosen to live in the local area of Egham or Englefield Green the Wellbeing Community work to support students so that we are all working together to maintain a harmonious, happy community. In addition, the SU Advice Centre team can provide you with guidance around private housing landlord and contract matters.
Find out more on the Wellbeing Community webpages.
Find out more on the Students Union Advice Centre webpages.
Academic Skills Support
The Centre for the Development of Academic Skills, CeDAS, offers a variety of courses, workshops, 1:1 tutorials and online resources that aim to ensure all students at Royal Holloway reach their full academic potential in a range of areas, including academic writing, oral communication skills and maths and statistics.
Whatever your needs, CeDAS is there to ensure that you can perform to the best of your ability, whether it be through a workshop that introduces you to a crucial academic skill, a session within your department that focuses on writing in the discipline, a course that develops your confidence and competence in academic English language, or a 1:1 tutorial with a specialist to help you master a maths technique or sharpen your essay skills.
- Email: cedas@rhul.ac.uk
- Visit: CeDAS Reception at Founders West 141 during office hours
- Online: Log into Moodle, go to My Courses and click CeDAS Academic Skills. Then follow the instructions to enrol to the CeDAS page for your school.
Find out more on the CeDAS webpages.
Library Information Consultants
Library Information Consultants are here to help you develop your research and referencing skills throughout your studies here at Royal Holloway. You can find your Information Consultant’s contact details here. Please choose the relevant subject.
IT Services Desk
The IT Service Desk is here to support you with issues such as email access, connecting to CampusNetWi-Fi, and making use of College printing facilities. The IT Service Desk can also provide advice and guidance on a range of more specific IT issues, should you experience any problems. They also offer access to free software, including Microsoft Office 365, NVivo and SPSS.
Find out more on the IT Services webpages.