Support for our Postgraduate students
During your time at the Voice Study Centre, you will have access to a range of support systems. This page highlights the types of support offered to ensure your study time with us is positive!
The Application Process
As part of our proactive approach, we encourage you to declare any disabilities, neurodivergent issues, or other complex needs in your application form. This allows us to prepare and implement necessary systems well in advance of your studies. We will also interview you, which gives us an opportunity to explore your needs further and build strategies to prepare you for study. Here are some of the ways we can help:
Neurodivergent Assessment
Many of our students are neurodivergent and we celebrate the positives that diversity brings. As we garner an increased understanding of neuroscience and learning, it is vital that we are all aware of the challenges that can arise. We are proud to offer access to a profiler system that comprehensively assesses individual learning needs.
The Profiler considers the Neurodivergent traits associated with Dyslexia, ADHD, ASC, Dyspraxia/DCD, Dyscalculia and social and communication challenges, along with understanding any study skills gaps, suggesting personalised strategies for university and at home, aiding well-being.
Neurodivergent traits often overlap and not everyone fits into a neat box. Once you have accepted our offer, we can assess you appropriately and build a study strategy appropriate for your needs.
Disability and Financial Support
As a postgraduate student, you can apply for Disabled Students' Allowances (DSA) to cover some of the extra costs you incur due to a mental health condition, long-term illness, or any other disability. You can receive DSA in addition to other student finance and it does not affect any other UK Government benefits you are entitled to. You will not need to repay DSA. It could help you cover the costs of additional support, such as a non-medical helper or major items of specialist equipment. In order to get Disabled Students' Allowance (DSA), you need to apply to your funding body. The relevant links are shown below:
| Student Finance England | https://www.gov.uk/disabled-students-allowance-dsa |
| Student Finance Wales | https://www.studentfinancewales.co.uk/postgraduate-finance/ |
| Student Finance NI | https://www.studentfinanceni.co.uk/ |
| Studebt Awards Agency Scotland | https://www.saas.gov.uk/guides/dsa |
During the course
You may be unaware of neurodivergent issues that could impede your learning at the application stage. Neurodivergent people are very often highly functional, creative, and able to excel in many areas of their lives. They manage the challenges very well and may even be unaware of them. If you discover that you are experiencing difficulties during your studies, we will be able to provide an assessment and, from there, assist you in building learning strategies. We provide continued access to our support structures in the following ways:
Regular personal tutoring contact
Our student support services are separate from the academic team. Our module leaders are there to support your academic needs and our support team is there for you to raise any personal or emotional challenges. Their contact details are available on the Student Support Hub on Canvas, and you will be introduced to them at induction. They will also reach out to you every four to six weeks by email to see if you are working effectively. You will have an opportunity to speak confidentially to them so that they can resolve any problems that you encounter. Our personal support staff are in a continuous cycle of communication with the academic team, and it may be necessary to embed additional support into your programme.
Additional learning support
Additional support may consist of specialised one-to-one support provided by our learning support team. They can schedule one-to-one sessions via Zoom for students anywhere in the world. It may also consist of additional academic support delivered by your academic lead. You may be given structured deadlines and increased mentoring for example.
Mental Health Support
Voice Study Centre provides all students with 24/7, free online counselling sessions.
These services provide immediate access to mental health support, ensuring that students can receive help whenever they need it, regardless of the time of day.
During times of crisis or heightened stress, such as exam periods or personal emergencies, this constant availability can be crucial. By addressing mental health concerns promptly, 24/7 counselling can reduce the risk of more severe psychological issues developing. Additionally, having round-the-clock support can help alleviate feelings of isolation and anxiety. This service empowers students to manage their mental health proactively, leading to better academic outcomes and a more positive experience of the course.
Where you have acute mental health difficulties, they will be able to assess you and offer six counselling sessions as part of your contract with us.
Available to all our students, wherever they are!
Please be assured that it exists independently of the Voice Study Centre and is run entirely by fully trained counsellors. We will not be aware of your contact and your experience with them will remain confidential.
Inclusivity
Student inclusivity is at the heart of everything we do.
We aim to mitigate and break down the following barriers..
- Students from under-represented and traditionally excluded groups have lower completion rates compared to privileged backgrounds.
- Structural mechanisms and financial barriers prevent disadvantaged individuals from accessing higher education.
- Government loans and bursaries exist, but inadequate academic preparation and low expectations for marginalized communities persist.
- Many policies focus on access rather than completion, leading to high drop-out rates.
As an example, our Introduction to Postgraduate Academic Skills course provides a pathway to our full MA programme for those students who would otherwise be ineligible to apply.
- Higher education benefits society with lower crime rates, better behaviours, higher productivity, and improved health.
- Programs that offer both financial and situational aid can enhance access and support students through to graduation.
You can read more about our philosphy in our recent blog post.