As a University we are committed to supporting you and want to make sure you have access to the right type of support when you need it. On this page you can find out about the range of support and support services available. In particular, you will find out about:

• who to speak to if you have issues or changes in circumstances affecting your research and/or research degree
• how to access help with a confidential issue affecting your research that you feel unable to share with your supervisors or your departmental Director of Studies
• how to seek independent advice to resolve problems or make appeals
• how to report incidents of harassment, bullying and victimisation
• how to access support with your own wellbeing
• how to access additional funding and financial support
• how to access additional support as a disabled student or if you are ill
• the additional support available for international students

Our Doctoral College arranges for a detailed induction process, designed to support the start of your studies, recognising that some students may not have been to university for many years – you can revisit many of these resources later during your studies for guidance. The Doctoral College team has dedicated support staff for each department and doctoral training entity. They can provide advice about progression through your doctorate, including how issues such as changes of circumstances may impact on your studies and the guidance and forms you will need.

If you need to report a confidential issue affecting your research and you feel unable to share it with your supervisors or your departmental Director of Studies, you can do so by accessing the form reporting an issue online (this is also available in your six-monthly progress reports). This link will connect you to a simple form that when completed can be routed via the Doctoral College to your Faculty/School Director of Doctoral Studies or the Academic Director of the Doctoral College, who will get in touch to discuss the issue in confidence.

It is important to read through our guide on what to expect from your doctoral supervision and how to make the most of it.

Below are some additional guides about responding to scenarios or challenges you may encounter:

• What to do if you feel overworked or have additional responsibilities during your doctorate

• What to do if your doctoral supervisor and you have different expectations or disagree

• What to do if you experience low motivation, imposter syndrome, or rejection during your doctorate

• What to do if your doctoral supervisor is unresponsive or disengaged

• What to do if you are ill and unable to study

• What to do if you have an existing or new disability/long-term health condition

Talk Now is a confidential service that gives immediate advice and support 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. You can contact an adviser by phone, video call or live chat from anywhere in the world, who will be able to support you with any problems you may be facing. This service has been developed in response to student requests for greater out-of-hours support, support in multiple languages and support from trained advisors from diverse backgrounds.

You may find this service particularly useful if you:

• are off campus
• find it challenging to access support during working hours
• are conducting research anywhere in the world
• are studying at one of our doctoral training partners

If you need advice or support around a disability, health condition or specific learning difficulty please contact the disability service for an appointment. You can phone, email or visit their Helpdesk. You are entitled to reasonable adjustments to your doctoral studies and these might be different from those you may have had for previous studies or work.

If you are ill there is information on who to inform, where to get medical advice and if you are entitled to any sick pay.

For a wide range of practical support and information for international students, see International Support Service. If you are an international student, The Student Immigration Service provides advice and help about visas.