Help and support
Quick Links
Career advice
Counselling
Student Life Centre
Student Support Unit
Students' Union
English Language help
for Research Staff - see our specialist research staff pages
Your Career
The Careers and Employability Centre provides services tailored to the needs of both doctoral researcher and research staff. See details of specific researcher services on the Careers Management page.
Counselling
Psychology and Counselling Service (PCS) at Sussex have pulled together resources and support specifically for postgraduates. PCS offer confidential individual and group therapy for students, and coordinate specialist groups for anxiety management and eating problems, and a substance misuse programme.You can take advantage of these free services:
- One-to-one counselling
- Procrastination workshops (for postgrads only)
- Insomnia workshops (for postgrads only)
- Access the CALM Relief series of online self-help resources that offer help with anxiety; depression; stress; insomnia; and more.
Academic Support
You will be provided (at a minimum) with a ‘main’ and additional (or ‘second’) supervisor. Where you have joint supervisors, one will be designated as the ‘main’ supervisor for administrative purposes, so that you have a clear point of contact in the event of difficulties. Your ‘second’ supervisor will provide advice and support when your ‘main’ supervisor is not available. In the event of loss of a supervisor, your department and school are responsible for finding a suitable replacement, and ensuring that arrangements are in place to support you during any interim period
For academic-related issues that your supervisor may not be able to help with, in the first instance, you should always contact your school Research and Enterprise Coordinator (REC), who can deal with most queries related to your doctoral studies. Responsibility for doctoral researchers in each school rests ultimately in the hands of a Director of Doctoral Studies (DODS), and you may find yourself referred to your School’s DODS for some issues. Your school website will give contact information for your REC and DODS.
If you are unsure of how to proceed, or wish to raise any matter in confidence, then please remember you will always be welcome at the Doctoral School.
Student Life Centre
The Student Life Centre is on the ground floor at the front of Chichester 1. The student life team provide general student information, advice and guidance; general money advice; and specialist advice in relation to hardship funds, scholarships and bursaries and non-UK student-finance schemes (e.g. US loans). There is also a dedicated role for health and well-being.
Student Support Unit
The Student Support Unit is the base for the University's Disability and Learning Support services, offering advice and assistance to disabled students and those with additional learning needs. Located in Pevensey 1, the unit provides disability support; mental health support; dyslexia and learning support; Dyslexia Assessment. Reception is open from 09:00 to 17:00 from Monday to Friday.
Students' Union
The University of Sussex Students' Union wants to make sure that postgraduate students get the most from their university experience. Our Education Officer is involved with postgraduate student issues; you can contact Maria via email (education@ussu.sussex.ac.uk). You may find the Advice and Representation Centre helpful: it offers free, independent and confidential information, advice and support on a range of academic and non-academic issues.
Sussex Centre for Language Studies
SCLS provides academic development support for international and overseas students. See details of specific researcher services on the Help with English Language page.