Student Services Handbook

working in partnership with

The Team

The Forum Peer Mentoring The HE Student Services team is The Peer Mentoring Programme based on the third floor of the has been set up with the aim of Forum. This new location designed providing support to first year exclusively for HE students is ideal students by helping them settle and allows the team to be in direct into their course, make progress contact with students, lecturers and achieve their potential while at and staff. This means students South College. feel better supported. The modern The peer mentor’s role is to support facilities cater to meet students individual students enrolled on a needs and include spacious lecture course of study at the College. The rooms, study areas and IT facilities. mentor may have completed the Facebook same course as their mentee. This will ensure the peer mentor can Please visit our Facebook page offer encouragement with issues www.facebook.com/ such as coursework, placements hestudentservices and assignments. You will find interesting articles and research, information At the start of the year, the first about national and local events, year student is assigned a peer employability skills, funding, mentor who supports them disability, graduate schemes, throughout the academic year. voluntary work, useful video clips For more information on peer and website links and much more. mentoring or to sign up to the The Collaborative Careers Group mentoring programme email: [email protected] South Essex College is a member of the Collaborative Group which is a partnership of higher education institutions within the region. These institutions include , , University College Suffolk and Writtle College. The groups remit is to share best practice with regards to careers information, facebook.com/ employability initiatives, student HEstudentservices finance, support for graduates and progression.

3 About us The Higher Education Student Services team are based in the forum on the top floor. Team email; [email protected]

Elinor Harwood-White; Higher Education Careers Coordinator [email protected]

Lorraine Brophy; Senior Learning Mentor [email protected]

Working hours are

8.30am – 5.00pm, Monday – Thursday;

8.30am – 2.30pm Friday

but we can be flexible to meet the needs of the students. • Matrix national recognition for • assistance with complex career quality of careers information, concerns advice and guidance • Study Skills Support with a • independent, impartial and specialist tutor caters for individual needs • higher education student services • advice available up to 2 years work in close collaboration after graduation with neighbouring universities: University College Suffolk, • flexible appointment times University of Essex, Writtle • support for students with a College and Colchester Institute learning difficulty or disability in order to promote good practice and share ideas to • funding support benefit our higher education students Individual appointments available: Please don’t hesitate to book an individual appointment with our friendly team to discuss your specific career path, assist you if you’re unsure of what direction to go in or need some additional support whilst studying your chosen course.

4 Common careers discussion points are:- • options with your subject and • teaching pathways progression routes • voluntary work/ work shadowing • unsure of career pathway to • higher education funding choose following graduation • postgraduate qualifications • finding graduate employment • PHD research • employability skills • CV/ application form assistance • interview skills • covering letter/ supporting • how employers assess candidates statement advice during a selection process • internships/ work experience

Study Skills Guidance: Study skills guidance works alongside subject lecturers to foster a culture of independent learning and critical thinking. Learners are directed, via workshops and -to-one sessions to resources specific to HE courses. Students are taught how to use both the Forum and the Albert Sloman library, also the internet for ebooks, journal and articles. Assistance is offered when planning, referencing and managing findings for all types of academic study. This enables the development of skills of knowing when and why you need information, where to find it, how to evaluate it and to then how to communicate it in a concise and ethical manner. The college also has a twitter feed with links to more than two hundred and fifty academics, online libraries, academic associations and open access platforms. The college is committed to ensure that the skills and disciplines required for successful undergraduate study are rigorously underpinned with excellent access to solid academic research and a thorough understanding of academic excellence.

5 Help for HE students with disabilities We are able to provide support, You can find more information advice and guidance to higher about the DSA by visiting education students who are www.gov.uk/disabled-students- studying with a disability or allowances-dsas/overview difficulty. or by speaking to the Senior Learning Mentor (HE). Funding via the Disabled Students’ Allowance could be available for International and EU students additional costs that could be with dyslexia, disability or a incurred due to the disability. You medical condition can get help with the costs of: You can’t access DSAs from • specialist equipment, like Student Finance if you are computer software an EU or International student. If • non-medical help, like a note- you have a diagnosis of Dyslexia or taker or study skills advice a disability and have evidence of • extra travel costs you have to pay this, please contact our disability because of your disability adviser, Lorraine Brophy, as soon as • other costs such as photocopying possible to discuss this further. • Dyslexia - students should have DSAs don’t cover disability-related their Educational Psychologist’s costs you’d have if you weren’t (or equivalent) report translated attending a course, or costs that into English. The report must any student might have. date from when you As a higher education student were 16 or over living in England, you can apply • Disabled students are advised for a Disabled Students’ Allowance to provide medical evidence of (DSA) if you have a: their impairment, eg, audiogram, • disability doctor’s letter • long-term health condition Extenuating circumstances • mental health condition We are also able to provide advice • specific learning difficulty and guidance on: such as dyslexia • extenuating circumstances Disabled Students’ Allowances • late submission (DSAs) are paid on top of your • intermission other student finance and don’t have to be repaid. • special exam considerations Forms are available on the student How much you get depends on intranet. Please come and speak to your individual needs - not your the Senior Learning Mentor (HE) if household income. you need guidance on completing these forms. 6 Mental Health and Wellbeing The HE Student Services staff at the mentoring via DSA and our in-house Forum can provide initial information counselling service. The College and guidance for students with any Safeguarding Team are also available personal concerns relating to mental to discuss concerns regarding your health and wellbeing. We are located wellbeing and safety. on the 3rd floor in the Forum. We aim to provide a bespoke service The College has various services to our students, ensuring that to support your wellbeing; from information regarding wellbeing peer mentors to discuss day-to-day support is readily available and you study concerns, your Personal Tutor, are signposted to the correct service. HE Student Services staff, specialist Accommodation What type of accommodation is available and what will it cost? If you are over 18 on a full-time Our accommodation team course then you are entitled to can offer you advice regarding apply to live at Southend’s Halls of finding suitable housing in Residence at University Square. the local area while you are at college. Please come to Student You would be staying in a purpose- Services to speak to the team, built facility, in the heart of Southend so you will be right in the action call 0845 52 12345 of the town’s night life. All rooms or email are ensuite and have a high-speed [email protected] internet connection. Can you help me find The rent includes utilities ( electric and heating), broadband, Sky TV in alternative accommodation the communal area. If you have a in the local area? TV in your room, you will need a TV If you are under 18 and you are licence. having housing concerns please • single en-suite rooms are priced at ask to speak to a member of our £132.09 per week safeguarding team. • studio rooms are priced at £162.89 Council Tax per week (these are self contained flats with a double bed and your Full-time students do not have to own kitchen area) pay Council Tax. Contact your local authority to find out how you can register your exemption.

7 Student Finance An Overview The Maintenance Loan Before we begin it is worth This is a loan that can help towards checking that you are entitled to your living costs (travel expenses, apply for funding from Student accommodation, utilities and food). England by checking your residence The amount a student can get status. Please visit the following varies. Students who are living website for advice: away from home during term time are entitled to a larger amount than http://www.ukcisa.org.uk/student/ those who will be living with their info_sheets/tuition_fees_e_he.php parents/guardians. The main student finance package includes a: Loan payments are made termly • Tuition Fee Loan (three times a year) into the student’s bank account. As this is a • Maintenance Loan for living loan it has to be repaid. You must costs (e.g. accommodation, be aged under 60 at the start of food, books) your first academic year to get a • Maintenance Grant for Maintenance Loan. living costs Additional Financial Assistance The Tuition Fee Loan The Special Support Grant: This is a loan that can cover the Students may be entitled to this cost of your tuition fees, universities if they receive or are entitled to can charge up to £9000 per year certain state benefits. Students may for tuition fees. This loan is paid get the Special Support Grant if, for direct to your university when you example, they are a lone parent or enrol. As this is a loan it has to be have certain disabilities. This money repaid. does not have to be paid back. Disabled Students Allowance This is a fund that can help students who have certain disabilities or learning difficulties such as dyslexia. This money can be used to purchase specialist equipment that can assist students with their studies. This money does not have to be paid back.

8 Adult Dependants’ Grant, Repayments Childcare Grant and Parents’ Repayments for the loans will Learning Allowance. not start until the April after the These grants are available student graduates and then only if to students who have adult the student earns above £21,000. dependants, or children. The Students will only repay 9% of grants can help towards the cost of everything they earn annually childcare and other care expenses above £21,000. accrued during term time. As this is The repayments will stop, a grant it does not have to be paid regardless of how much students back. still owe after 30 years have passed (from the April after they Bursaries graduate). There are certain bursaries available It is estimated only 40% will pay to students please visit these back the full amount and these will websites for more information: only be the very top earners. www.scholarshipsearch.org Please visit www.studentcashpoint.co.uk www.studentfinanceengland.co.uk/ for more information. Hardship Funding The College has funding to support students that might find themselves in financial hardship whilst studying. If you are struggling financially you can get advice from the Student Services Team [email protected]

9 Sport and Recreation If you like to exercise, but don’t Southend Campus feel like joining a sports team, or perhaps would love to get into a The Atrium at the Southend team, but you don’t know where Campus has a badminton court to start, there’s help at hand with and table tennis tables. Every our Sports Coordinators. So if you week, various activities and clubs fancy getting involved, just email are run including zumba, boxing, [email protected] badminton, short tennis and table tennis clubs. Campus Check out the activities that we At our Basildon Campus we have have on offer via the College a wide range of facilities including website: a 5 a-side football pitch and www.southessex.ac.uk/student-life courts for basketball, netball, and badminton. We also have squash or check out our Facebook page courts, as well as a multi-gym. www.facebook.com/secstudentlife Plus you can attend various clubs or fitness sessions. As well as this, Table tennis tables are available in the College canteen, Scoff. Thurrock Campus The Health and Wellbeing Centre at Thurrock Campus is open daily and here you can use the fitness equipment, participate in exercise classes, play a game of table tennis or squash, or drop-in for help and advice offered by a number of College services. The campus also has a sports hall where various activities from five-a-side football to badminton take place. As well and within the Health and Wellbeing Centre, there are table tennis tables available to use outside.

10 Student Union Chaplaincy [email protected] The Chaplaincy team engages with When you enrol with us, you spirituality, morality, social, cultural automatically become a member of and ethical aspects of life. They do the College’s Student Union. Run not push their own values but are by students, the Union exists purely willing to answer any questions and to improve your College experience help people to explore their own both academically and socially and set of beliefs, ideas and worldviews. to make your time with us exciting They respect all faiths and the views and memorable. that people hold whilst focusing on the six major faiths - Buddhism, HE Student Services work in Christianity, Hinduism, Islam, close collaboration with the Judaism, and Sikhism together with Student Union in order to increase humanism. awareness of the services we offer students. We work together Representative from the Chaplaincy to ensure that we are doing are based at the three main everything we can to maximise campuses and can be contacted by each student’s potential and to email: [email protected] support them through their degree For further information please visit and life after graduation. their website Find us on facebook www.campuschaplaincy.org www.facebook.com/secsu

11 How do I get involved? Looking for something to spice You can put yourself forward to up college life? be a course representative or even The Student Union runs charity apply to be an Executive Officer or events and days out such as The one of our four senior leadership Big Day Out to Thorpe Park & Alton roles. Great for your CV and for Towers. But that’s not all! We work UCAS applications! As a ‘rep’ with the Student Life team and you will work with people from other teams around the College a diverse range of backgrounds, to run awareness weeks such as knowledge and expertise, all Environment Week and events such of whom have invested time in as We’ve Got Talent. So why not shaping the future of the College keep those eyes peeled for posters for the benefit of all. or check the South Essex College Drop us an email Student Union Facebook page for [email protected] upcoming fun! Or alternatively for more information. visit the student webpage The Student Union does make a southessexstudents.com difference and recent examples Like shopping? include: Radical discounts available in high • Improving access to Wi-Fi in street shops – the NUS Extra card the college is a must have for students. Bring • More printer credits £12 and a passport-sized photo to Student Services and we’ll do the • Student parking rates near the rest. You can also purchase your Southend campus card online at • Access to Waves restaurant for https://cards.nusextra.co.uk/ HE students We support charities

Let us know which charity you

want us to support or if you want

to organise your own event, get in

touch and we will provide you with

help and advice.

12 Your degree... what next? Even after you have completed Identify your skills your course, HE Student Services is still available to help you with any • it helps you to see what you career-related issues you may have have to offer and plan your next (including looking for a job) for two move years after graduating. In addition • it will aid you in seeing beyond if you are prepared to offer some the degree title and module of your time supporting current content Essex students you can take part in • many application forms ask alumni panels or careers events. detailed, skills-specific questions Destinations of Leavers • greater skills knowledge will help from Higher Education to boost your CV and application (DLHE) survey forms Every year we are required to • the interview process ask all those who have recently often involves competency completed a course at South Essex (skills-based) questions or College, to take part in the national scenario questions where Destinations of Leavers from Higher examples of your skills in practice Education (DLHE) survey, to find out are required what happens to them after they Think about the skills you leave university. have developed during What is the Destinations of your degree/ postgraduate Leavers from Higher Education qualification such as. (DLHE) survey? • critical and analytical thinking The survey we ask you to take part • planning and organisation in is a national survey of everyone who has recently qualified from • research methods any university or higher education • time management college in the UK. The information you provide will be analysed by • project management the University of Essex but will • advanced IT skills also be very useful to us at South Essex College to advise our current • presentation skills students about the opportunities • group skills that are available to them. More information is available on • team working www.hesa.ac.uk

13 14 Review what you have done available to you (see attached and where you want to go to examples). help boost your confidence and In addition, try to attend some see where your strengths and recruitment fairs – an excellent way abilities lie. to make contact with employers Take each of the skills required and find out about career routes by an employer and think of an that are available. example of that skill in practice. As a graduate you will have lots Marketing your qualifications of different areas of your life with to employers which to draw upon such as:- Employers will value your • your degree - think about course qualifications as well as any skills work, specific modules and and experience you have acquired. project work It is essential that you demonstrate • work experience - think about how your qualifications can be work placements, project work of use in the particular job you as part of your degree and are applying for. Ensure your part-time jobs transferable skilled are clearly highlighted in your CV and • volunteering covering letter. • previous employment before you Further study came to university • hobbies, interests, out-of- There are numerous study university activities, clubs, options available to those who sports, etc are considering further study. In 2008, 24% of graduates used their Once you have done this you degree as an entry qualification should have a clearer picture of for a further course of study or what your skills are and any skills training (Higher Education Statistics gaps that need to be addressed. Agency, 2009). For many, further If so, you could further enhance study involves working towards a your skills and experiences through particular career goal. further study, employment, internships, voluntary work, travel Graduate Labour Market etc. Despite reports of lower numbers What Career do you want? of graduate jobs due to the economic recession and a more There are lots of fantastic graduate competitive labour market for careers websites to help you access everyone, employers are still hiring information regarding the options graduates.

15

There are key things you should Finding Vacancies know and can do to help in the hiring process. A crucial aspect of your job search strategy should be identifying and More than ever, graduates need to researching as many vacancies be ‘employable’. Demonstrating in your chosen area as possible. employability means you need In doing this, consider published to give evidence of skills and vacancies, employment agencies knowledge appropriate to your and both specialist and general chosen career. websites where jobs are advertised. In the current labour market, you should consider the following Postgraduate Study advice: Weigh up the benefits of • don’t only look at large further study, learn about the companies with traditional different types of postgraduate graduate schemes. Consider courses available and decide if other related professions and you want to study in the UK or employers, small and medium abroad. Postgraduate study can sized enterprises (SMEs) or be expensive so find out about setting up your own business costs and funding before making a decision. • remember to plan for the possibility of doing a number of Next step……….. careers during your lifetime - jobs and skill requirements change An action plan can help you to focus your thoughts and proactively • apply for ‘non-graduate’ jobs work out your next steps (please or for shorter fixed-term work book an appointment with as a way of getting your career the Higher Education Careers started and getting your foot in Coordinator or Undergraduate the door with employers Support Adviser). It could be a • consider paid placements or formal written document, part of internships, found through such your personal development plan organisations as the ‘Graduate at university or a file you keep Talent Pool’, in order to gain personally. employability skills • research further training, including specific professional courses or postgraduate study, as a way of increasing skills in a career area or changing your career path

16 Useful websites www.prospects.ac.uk UK’s leading provider of information, advice and opportunities to students and graduates. https://nationalcareersservice.direct.gov.uk www.inspiringinterns.com Contacts and resources Jobs and work www.sscalliance.org https://graduatetalentpool. The Alliance of Sector Skills direct.gov.uk/ Councils Graduate Talent Pool www.nationalparks.gov.uk www.thegrocer.co.uk Association of National Park The Grocer Authorities (ANPA) www.dsc.org.uk/grant-making-trusts www.agr.org.uk Directory of Grant Making Trusts/ Association of Graduate Recruiters Social Change (AGR) www.gov.uk/contact-jobcentre-plus www.audit-commission.gov.uk Jobcentre Plus Audit Commission www.lgjobs.com www.bgateway.com Local Government Jobs Business Gateway www.myjobscotland.gov.uk www.gov.uk Local Government Jobs in Scotland Business Link www.gov.uk/government/ www.civilservice.gov.uk organisations/ministry-of- Civil Service defence www.gapwork.com Ministry of Defence (MoD) Gapwork www.nhs.uk www.hecsu.ac.uk The National Health Service (NHS) Career pathways for Graduates in www.princes-trust.org.uk Voluntary/ Community Sector Prince’s Trust

17 Study

www.aiesec.co.uk www.mindtools.com AIESEC UK Mind Tools www.learndirect.co.uk www.saas.gov.uk Learndirect Student Awards Agency for Scotland (SAAS) www.windsor-fellowship.org The Windsor Fellowship News

www.highfliers.co.uk www.skill.org.uk High Fliers Research SKILL (National Bureau for Students with Disabilities) www.linkedin.com LinkedIn http://unistats.direct.gov.uk Unistats Reference www.cihe.co.uk/category/ http://windmillsonline.co.uk/ knowledge/publications interactive CIHE Report - Talent Fishing: Windmills What Businesses Want From

Postgraduates www.guidance-research.org National Guidance Research Forum www.hesa.ac.uk Higher Education Statistics Agency (HESA)

18 www.facebook.com/HEstudentservices www.facebook.com/HEstudentservices CAREERS CAREERS EMPLOYABILITY FUNDING DISABILITY ACCOMMODATION PEER MENTORING • • • • • • 19 0845 52 12345 southessex.ac.uk