Hi ,

University is exciting, with new people, new places and new experiences. But it can also feel a bit overwhelming at times. You might have a wobble and feel unsure about things, miss home, find your course challenging or feel lonely. Everyone goes through this sometimes, and however you’re feeling, you’re not alone. 

In this newsletter, we’ve brought together all the support available and want to invite you to Wobble Week: a week of events, activities and drop-ins happening across campus. Whether you’re looking for advice, connection or just a quiet moment, there’s something for you. 

All the best, 

Yvonne 

In this edition: 

🦁 Wobble Week  

📽 Student Health and Wellbeing Support video

📋 Personal Extenuating Circumstances  

🐝 Be well@NCL 

💼 Interested in part-time work?  

 👂 You said, we listened 

📲 Introducing NULA 

🦁 What's happening this Wobble Week? 

Here's what's on offer: 

• fun activities and events to lift your spirits 🎉
• drop-in sessions for friendly advice and guidance 💬
• workshops packed with practical tips 🛠️
• opportunities to meet others 🤝 

So if you're wobbling, or just curious, come along - we’re here and ready to support you. 

 👇 Student Health and Wellbeing Support video 👇 

We value your mental health and wellbeing and offer a wide range of support to help you make the most of your time at university: 

💬 Contact our Wellbeing Services or visit us at King's Gate to explore your options 

🏃 Explore the Five Ways to Wellbeing, with practical tips like staying active 

🛡️ Access out-of-hours support from our Security Team, who help keep our community safe 

👂 Use our Listening Ear service, led by our Chaplaincy and Pastoral Care team 

💸 Speak to our Student Financial Support team if you're facing money worries or financial difficulty

Visit our Student Health and Wellbeing website to find out more.  

Personal Extenuating Circumstances 

We understand that sometimes life events can affect your studies. If your circumstances are undermining your academic achievements, we’re here to support you.  

Personal Extenuating Circumstances (PEC) forms allow for appropriate adjustments to be considered for your assessments to help you get back on track. You can submit a PEC if your difficulties are significant, unforeseen, unavoidable and relevant.  

To find out more and read guidance documents, including the PEC Policy, please visit the PEC webpage. 

You can self-certify no more than twice a year without documentation. Self-certification PECs may not be used for final projects, dissertations or other equivalent assessments - you must submit a full PEC request. 

Support is available and before submitting your PEC, we recommend talking with:

• your Personal Tutor
• School-based Wellbeing Adviser, or
• the Student Advice Centre at the Students’ Union

Did you know you can access a range of books, e-books and audio titles to support your wellbeing?

Chosen in partnership with the Student Health and Wellbeing Service, the titles cover everything from sleeping well to coping with imposter syndrome and learning how to control doom scrolling on your phone.  

Find out more by popping into the Philip Robinson Library on Wednesday 12 November, 12:00-14:00 to talk to one of the Be well@NCL team. 

Here's what you need to know! Part-time work is a brilliant way to boost your CV, earn some extra cash and build skills that employers value. Whether you're looking to gain experience in customer service, hospitality or something more aligned with your degree, there are plenty of opportunities out there. 

Need help finding part-time work? We’ve got you covered. Visit the Careers Service and find out more about part-time jobs and where to find them.  

👂 You said, we listened

Our new series highlights how your feedback shapes improvements across the University.

This edition spotlights Student Wellbeing:

💬 You said: It can be confusing knowing how to contact wellbeing and being on clear on what service I need

👂 We listened: There is now one main route into wellbeing services via the “Request Wellbeing Support” accessible from every page on our website. You are not required to know which part of the service you need - just let us know what you need help with and we’ll direct you to the best source of support.

💬 You said: There’s not enough availability with my student wellbeing adviser (SWA)

👂We listened: We now have SWA drop-ins twice a week in King’s Gate - no appointment needed. Come and speak to a SWA from your faculty Tuesdays (11:00-13:00) and Thursdays (13:00-15:00). SWAs are also now working in small faculty groups so if the SWA associated with your school is not available then you are welcome to book an appointment with a different SWA within the faculty group.

Introducing Newcastle University Learning Analytics (NULA) 

NULA is a system which aims to help you better understand your learning behaviours and identify areas for improvement or support in a timely way throughout the academic year.

Available via the NULA site and Student Portal.

The system includes data on things like programme engagement, engagement with Canvas, and assessment submissions. This is information that the University already holds, which we are now able to provide to you in a central, easily accessible dashboard.

You, your Personal Tutor and colleagues involved in supporting you can use this information to enhance the conversations you have with them.   

NULA is there to empower constructive discussions about your engagement helping you to take more control over your own academic journey.  The NULA webpages on the Academic Skills Kit website provide everything you need, including step-by-step guides, FAQs, and information on accessing additional support.

🩺 Look after your health: Make sure you’re in the know about essential services like registering with a GP, using the NHS App, and accessing support through Think Pharmacy First. 

📋 Survey opportunity: We want to know what you think about how students provide feedback on their courses and teaching at Newcastle. Whether you've been a Course Rep, you've never engaged with the system or you're somewhere in between, complete our survey by 28 November for a chance to win a £50 voucher.