Student support
As a student of UHI Orkney, we can offer you support of different kinds. You can chat to your course tutor for advice on your course or you may prefer to get more general help through UHI's support services, but whether it's for study skills, counselling, disability matters or feedback through the red button service, don't forget we're here to help.
Student info
Student info
Course tutors
All students will be allocated a course tutor. Your course tutor will take an active part in your support and guidance while you are with UHI Orkney.
Equalities
UHI Orkney staff endeavour to provide a positive learning environment which is non-discriminatory and inclusive. If however you feel you have been discriminated against or have witnessed others being treated unfairly, please either inform your course tutor, a member of the Senior Management Team or, if you prefer use the anonymous suggestion boxes outside Reception, Student's study room.
Stay safe
If you are worried about something that is happening to you or someone you know, at UHI Orkney there are trained people who can make sure that you can get the help that you need. They will treat everything you say in confidence.
Safeguarding Lead - Tel: 01856 569401 or e: mark.shiner@uhi.ac.uk
Safeguarding Deputy – Tel: 01856 569260 or e: Derek.Aiken@uhi.ac.uk
Disability statement
View our Disability statement online or from Reception.
Information for Care Leavers
Learning support
Learning support
Student Support Services
UHI Orkney has a support service to help students with their studies. If you are about to start a course, or are on a course, tell us if you think you may need additional help, even if only for a temporary period. This could include support with coursework, health issues, financial issues, accessing the building/facilities, or any other area.
Should you wish to speak to the support tutor contact your course tutor and they will arrange an appointment for you. Alternatively you can contact the support tutor directly in room G3.15, by phoning (01856) 569 225 or by e-mailing Kerri.Bickmore@uhi.ac.uk Staff respect confidentiality.
Help with your studies
We can help you with every aspect of study skills - like Harvard referencing, RefWorks and avoiding plagiarism. UHI's website is excellent and is being continually upgraded.
Counselling
Counselling
Introduction to counselling support available at UHI Orkney
If you feel you would benefit from meeting to find out more about how Counselling might be helpful for you, please feel free to get in touch with Renate. (Contact details are below.)
Renate Andrews is based in the Weyland Building on Tuesdays and Wednesdays, by appointment only to ensure confidentiality. She is a BACP and PTUK registered therapist and works alongside colleagues across the UHI Network.
Renate can offer single sessions or blocks of face to face and/or online counselling to help support you through many of the changes and challenges of life. This can be anything that you feel is impacting on you, for example affecting your studies, relationships, and can range from one off events, stress, anxiety, grief and loss to previous trauma.
She is trained and qualified to work creatively which is often a safer way to explore distress and change, as alongside talking, it offers the opportunity to explore alternatives with the bonus of releasing oxytocin to reduce stress. She works in a way that sees you as the expert in your life and will try to help you discover what works for you in approaching difficulties and change.
Renate has recently completed the Level 1 training for Animal Assisted Play Therapy so has Teddy, a 3 year old Irish doodle working alongside her. Teddy is friendly, though likes her own space, safe and calm, also non-shedding but if you need an animal free zone, she can easily be elsewhere during your session.
Please don’t hesitate to get in touch if you would like to find out more through contacting Renate.Andrews@uhi.ac.uk or speak to Student Support or your PAT.
Health
Health
Nordhaven Clinic
Offering a range of sexual health advice and treatment on any sexual health issue, including:
- Contraception
- STI testing and treatment
- Healthcare and advice for gay & bisexual people
- Pregnancy tests
- Sexuality issues
- Free condoms
- Sexual health checks
- Emergency Contraception
Open 9am-5pm Monday- Friday (for appointments and phone consultations).
Every Wed 3.30pm -5.30pm: Young People's Drop-in. No need to make an appointment, just drop in!
Phone 01856 888 917 to make an appointment, or to speak to one of the doctors.
Emergency Contraception can be effective if taken up to 3 days after unprotected sex, and is most effective if taken within 24 hours (1 day). It is available free of charge from the following places: Orkney Sexual Health Service; Boots and Sutherlands in Kirkwall and Stromness and the Balfour Hospital Receiving Unit (ask at main reception desk to see a nurse - you don't need to say what it's for if you don't want to). Tel: 01856 888000 or you can also visit their website
Nordhaven Clinic
Health Centre
New Scapa Road
Kirkwall
KW15 1BX
CAB
CAB
The Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB) is available to all students regardless of race, gender, sexuality or disability. The service is free, impartial, independent, and confidential. The CAB can give advice on a wide range of topics including the following:
- Benefits – trained advisers can check your entitlement to all benefits e.g. jobseekers allowance, employment supplement allowance, disability benefits, tax credits, council tax and housing benefit.
- Consumer – advice on your rights can be given on a wide range of consumer issues e.g. faulty or shoddy goods, second hand goods, poor or unsatisfactory workmanship, scams etc.
- Employment - the bureau can give advice on a wide range of employment issues i.e. holiday pay, sick pay, maternity pay, fair and unfair dismissal, terms and conditions of employment etc.
- Family - advice can be given on most relationship issues i.e. children, relationship breakdown, bereavement etc.
- Housing - guidance can be given on Housing Law concerning tenancies, homelessness repairs and rents.
- Health – independent support and advice can be given if you wish to make comment or complaint about NHS issues. Support is also offered to patients with non-medical problems that are impacting on their health. Assistance, support and advice on a wide range of issues e.g. benefits, money, employment etc. is also provided to cancer sufferers and their families.
- Legal – advice on civil legal matters is given by a certified paralegal. This includes the provision of diagnostic advice and emergency representation in court for unrepresented clients pursuing or defending small claims and summary causes, evictions, rent arrears etc.
- Money Advice – trained money advisers can support you with money management, prepare financial statements and repayment plans and negotiate on your behalf with creditors.
Citizens Advice Bureau (CAB)
Anchor Buildings
6 Bridge Street
Kirkwall
Tel: 01856 875266.
Opening hours
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Friday 10:00am -12:30pm and from 1:30 - 3:30pm. Also Thursday by appointment only.
Careers
Careers
Careers support
In addition to support provided as part of your course or by your course tutor, students at UHI Orkney also have access to specialist careers services:
For those studying HNC and above, the UHI Careers and Employability Centre offer services to all university students, and to graduates within two years of graduating. All services are free, confidential and impartial. To get in touch visit UHI Career Centre.
For students studying Further Education qualifications such as NCs or SVQs, then Skills Development Scotland’s My World of Work can provide you with a wide range of employability information or you can call by the Skills Development Scotland Centre on Albert Street, Kirkwall and ask to speak to an adviser.
If you’re unsure of who to contact you can also get in touch with Jenna Harper in marketing and communications, who can help guide you in the right direction.
Developing the Young Workforce Orkney can help you by giving you access to employers who can support your learning programmes and help meet the Career Education Standard
Finance
Finance
Before you enrol on a course of study through UHI Orkney, you should also think about how you will fund your studies. It is important that you have submitted your application for fees and any personal financial support you may be entitled to.
If you are unsure of what funding is available please contact Student Funding who can advise of the kinds of funding available and how you can apply for them.
Contact details:
Student Funding
Tel: 01856 569202
E-mail: OCRevenue@uhi.ac.uk
We provide support for all of our students as well as people thinking about coming to college, so throughout your studies here you can get information, advice and guidance.
Related documents and links
Further Education:
- 2024-25 UHI Orkney FE Funding Info
- 2024-25 UHI Orkney Further Education (FE) Fees Policy
- FE Discretionary Funds Application Form 2024-25
- FE Bursary Application Form
- FE EMA Application Form
- FE Fee Waiver: To apply for the fee waiver, please log into your UHI Record. As a part-time student the FE part-time fee waver link appears on your Student Hub Page.
Higher Education:
- 2024-25 UHI Orkney - HE Funding Info
- 2024-25 HE Fees Policy
- HE Discretionary Fund
- HE Discretionary Funds Application Form 2024-25
- Thinking of Leaving?
External links
- Student Awards Agency for Scotland
- Student Loans Company
- Student Finance England
- Student Finance Wales
- Student Finance NI
- Department for Work and Pensions
- HM Revenue and Customs
There are many scholarships, discretionary funds and bursaries available to our students through the university.
It may also be worth checking with your local Community Council or Development Trust as they sometimes have funding available to support students.
Forces personnel
Under the temporary non-resident arrangements, forces personnel are treated as being resident at the establishment where they are based. If they are ordinarily resident* in Scotland but are serving overseas, they would be eligible.
*Ordinarily resident means that you live in Scotland year after year by choice, apart from temporary or occasional absences such as holidays or business trips. Living here totally or mainly for the purpose of receiving full-time education may not count as being ordinarily resident. If you are not a UK national, you must be settled in Scotland (as set out in the Immigration Act 1971) immediately before the date on which you made your application.
Support Webpages
Support Webpages
- Spectrum Life - Our 24/7 Student Assistant Programme offering immediate support with unlimited access to phone, text and online chat helplines 365 days a year.
- Cyber Safety – information and guidance on all aspects of online safety, with a number of useful internal and external links
- Gender Based and Sexual Violence – includes links to specialist services, and information about the student e-module
- Safeguarding – contains contact details for local Safeguarding Leads and Deputes, with links to local webpages and a downloadable Safeguarding Referral Form. Includes information for the UHI Residencies
- Support for Victims of Crime – information and useful links
- Money Matters – information and guidance on all aspects of student finance, including budgeting, with a number of useful internal and external links and local (Funding) contact details
- Scholarships and Bursaries – details of internal and external funds, as well as links to other websites (such as SAAS). Can be filtered, or viewed as an A-Z list
- Widening Access – has links to the dedicated webpages for students from Priority Groups, as well as information on our Widening Access Framework
- Disability Matters – guidance on the additional support available at UHI
- Safe Travel – travel safety advice for students
- United to Prevent Suicide - a social movement dedicated to suicide prevention
- Your Housing Rights - a guide for people at risk of housing crisis
Togetherall
Togetherall
Togetherall is a digital mental health support service which is available online, 24/7, and is completely anonymous so you can express yourself freely and openly. Access a wealth of useful resources and work through tailored self-help courses covering topics such as anxiety, sleep, weight management, depression and many more.
It is offered via Orkney Island's Council to young persons (age 16-31) with an Orkney home postcode.