The Wellbeing Service provide support free of charge to all students at the University, and this includes international students.
University can be an exciting time, especially when you have the opportunity to live and study abroad. For some people, the experience can also be very challenging. Many international students describe experiencing a short period of ‘culture shock’ before acclimatising to changes in weather, food and way of life. For others this transition process is more difficult, some international students find themselves feeling isolated, stressed and missing the support from family and friends at home.
Find out more about the Wellbeing and Student Experience Support provided for international students below:
Mental health and wellbeing support
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In the United Kingdom medical and counselling support is confidential, this means that your sponsor, academics, or family will not be told that you have contacted our service or given any details of your difficulties (except under specific circumstances; please see our About Counselling Pages and Student Wellbeing Privacy Notice).
The Wellbeing Service is staffed by professional members of staff who are trained to listen and support individuals in emotional or psychological distress. We will work with you as you try to resolve your difficulties. You can find out more about the support we offer from our wellbeing advisor, mental health advisers and counselling team at our information about our services webpages.
Disability support
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In the UK, ‘disability’ is defined in law as a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term negative impact on day-to-day activities. This might include:
Long term medical conditions (such as epilepsy) Sensory impairments (such as. hearing or sight difficulties) Mental health conditions (such as depression) Physical impairments (such as wheelchair user) Specific learning disabilities (such as dyslexia) Autism Disabled students (including international disabled students) are protected under Section 6 of the Equality Act 2010 . The Equality Act says that you cannot be treated any less favourably than a student who is not disabled. You may also be entitled to additional support and services.
How can the Disability Team Help? We provide a free of charge and confidential service to all disabled students, including International students. We will not pass on any information to your sponsor, academics, or family unless you ask us to.
How might this support differ from other countries? International students receive the same adjustments and support as all other Glasgow Caledonian University students. This might be different to the support you may have received in your home country.
Other potential differences for disabled students in the UK include: Educational equality for disabled children . Most disabled children in the UK attend mainstream schools, so the educational experiences of disabled students prior to starting university are no different to those of non-disabled students.
International Student Experience
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The University also provide a variety of different services to help support international students. This includes a VISA Team, Global Buddies Programme and more. Please see the international student webpages for more information on these services.
Our Student Events team provide a number of experiences and ways to get involved in the GCU community, and you can also find activities at GCU Students' Association.
GCU Students' Association also have an International Student Officer, and International Students Group to represent the interests of all International Students studying at GCU who are from countries outside of the United Kingdom.
Settling into university and homesickness
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Leaving home to go to university can be both exciting and nerve-wracking. Homesickness is a normal reaction to being away from home, according to the National Union of Students (NUS) as many as 50-70% of UK students feel homesick in the first few weeks at university. Equally, some students may initially feel adjusted for the first 4-6 weeks and get homesick when the ‘reality’ of being at university sinks in.
How to cope:
Be kind to yourself, know that feeling homesick is a normal reaction and many other students are feeling the same way. Stick to a routine to help you increase your sense of being in control of things. Get involved in the university community through joining sports clubs, societies or volunteering. Search for opportunities at our Get Involved webpage . This might feel difficult when you’re feeling homesick but the more you engage in things, the less homesick you will feel. Look after yourself, make sure you get plenty of rest, eat well and avoid drinking too much alcohol as it may have a negative impact on your mood Create a home-away-from-home- make sure your living space is comfortable and feels like you. Explore your local surroundings. There are lots of things to do in Glasgow, many of which are free. Speak to someone about how you’re feeling: a family member, friend or a member of the wellbeing team.
Other sources of information and support
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Registering with medical services (GP)
Nightline - a confidential telephone listening and information service for students at Glasgow Caledonian University, Glasgow and Strathclyde Universities.
Togetherall - a 24/7 online global community, where GCU Students can access support from trained professionals. See more at our self-care webpages.
GCU Student Wellbeing Service
