Imperial College London Graduate Students' Union

GSU Signposting Series: COVID-19 Specific Support 💻💭

🖤 The kind mind series is a series of weekly videos and resources from the experienced Imperial Student Counselling and Mental Health Advice Service team. The videos can encourage and guide you towards being kind to yourselves during this extraordinary and difficult time.

Follow this link to find more information about the kind mind series:
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/counselling/kind-mind/

🖤 Laptop support fund. Having trouble accessing online study materials and software? The student financial support team is making funds available to assist students with the cost of purchasing a laptop.

Follow this link to find more information about the laptop support fund:
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/students/fees-and-funding/financial-assistance/student-support-fund/

GSU Signposting Series: Masters Students Support for COVID-19 🤓

There are two key policies relating to master students currently at Imperial: The safety net policy and the registration policy. Make sure you have read these and understand what this means for you and your work.

💛 Follow this link to find more information about the safety net policy:
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/media/imperial-college/about/public/Safety-Net-Policy.pdf

💛 Follow this link to find more information about the master students registration policy:
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/media/imperial-college/about/public/Masters.registration.policy.final.pdf

GSU Signposting Series: PhD Students Support for COVID-19 🙌🏻

💙 The college has answered some of the common questions about registration, deadline extensions as well as interruptions. You can also refer to the guidance on assessments affected by COVID-19.

Follow this link to find more information about the guidance regarding assessments affected by COVID-19:
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/media/Guidance-regarding-doctoral-assessments-and-examinations-affected-by-coronavirus.pdf
Follow this link to find more information and FAQs:
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/student-records-and-data/for-current-students/covid19/postgraduate-research/


💙 In terms of funding extensions, please check what your funding body's policies are. If you are not eligible for additional funding from your provider, then you may be eligible for a funding extension from college. Check out the funding extension application which is coming out in waves based on your end date. If you are not eligible for the funding extension from college, but you feel you do require additional financial support, then please refer to the hardship fund, which is being reviewed in light of COVID-19.

Follow this link to find more information about the application for an extension from college:
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/pg/graduate-school/covid-19-support-for-students/applying-for-an-extension-to-your-stipend/
Follow this link to find more information about the student support fund:
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/students/fees-and-funding/financial-assistance/student-support-fund/


💙 The graduate school has created a website dedicated to Remote PhD Supervision & Exams, with lots of information that can guide you during this difficult period:
Follow this link to find more information about the website:
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/pg/graduate-school/remote-phd-supervision/

GSU Signposting Series: COLLEGE 👨🏻‍🎓

💜 Student Hub
Brings together many of Imperial's key support services in one easily accessible place. It is hub for advice and information on a wide range of aspects of College life, including admissions, finance, accommodation, exchange programmes and exam arrangements. The team is on hand to answer your questions in person, by email or online. http://www.imperial.ac.uk/student-hub/

💜 International Student Support
Offers advice to international students related to visas and visa extensions, ATAS, rules on working during studies, and options to remain in the UK to work after study. Follow this link to find more information about international student support: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/international-students/

💜 Graduate School: Postgraduate Coaching Programme
This programme has been established to provide you with an opportunity to talk, independently from your academic department, about challenges you may be experiencing during the course of your studies. The programme primarily focuses on building effective working relationships and there may be other self-development issues that you wish to explore: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/study/pg/graduate-school/community-support/coaching/

GSU Signposting Series: MENTAL HEALTH 🧠💕

💗 Mental Health First Aiders
If you're experiencing mental ill health, college has trained staff and students who can provide information on how and where to get further help and support. Mental Health First Aiders are identifiable by their green lanyards, and you can approach them in person or contact them by email or by phone. Follow this link to find more information about mental health first aiders:
https://www.imperial.ac.uk/natural-sciences/staff/health-and-wellbeing/mental-health-first-aiders/

💗 Student Counselling Service
Provides individual counselling for students for any personal issues that may be affecting your wellbeing and mental health. These can include academic problems, low mood, anxiety, depression, relationship issues, loneliness, issues around sexuality, self-esteem or self-harm. Follow this link to find more information about the student counselling services: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/counselling/

💗 External Support Services
When the support at Imperial does not seem like enough, you can find a range of external support services that offer confidential help for mental health issues or crises. Follow this link to find more information about the external support services: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/counselling/mental-health-guidelines/external-support/

GSU Signposting Series: DEPARTMENTAL & FACULTY SUPPORT 👨🏻‍🏫

💚 Supervisors
Your relationship with your supervisor is central to research degree success. They guide the nature of your research and standard expected. Develop your abilities and achieve best possible outcomes. Support you academically and personally. It is important to understand what is expected from you, and what you should expect from your supervisor.
- https://www.imperial.ac.uk/students/success-guide/pgr/effective-research/working-with-your-supervisor/
-https://www.imperial.ac.uk/media/imperial-college/study/graduate-school/public/Mutual-Expectations-PGR.-01.07.20.pdf

💚 Mentors/ Personal Tutors
Each department has its own pastoral care network. Masters students may be assigned a personal tutor, while PhDs may have a mentor. They offer support, guidance and are available for confidential chat. Approach if uncomfortable discussing a certain topic with your supervisor. Able to guide you to the right support services available for you.
- https://www.imperial.ac.uk/personal-tutors-guide/understanding-your-role/whats-new/personal-tutoring-expectations/

💚 Postgraduate Senior Tutors
Has overall responsibility for the academic and pastoral care of postgraduate students in the department. Able to guide and support in handling problems or queries you are unable to solve directly with your supervisor/ representatives.
- https://www.imperial.ac.uk/personal-tutors-guide/understanding-your-role/your-senior-tutor-and-faculty-senior-tutor/

💚 Faculty Senior Tutors
Have responsibility for ensuring the delivery of consistent, high quality support for students in their personal, general academic and professional development. Work with departments and senior tutors to ensure students are adequately supported and appropriate college processes are implemented.
- https://www.imperial.ac.uk/personal-tutors-guide/understanding-your-role/your-senior-tutor-and-faculty-senior-tutor/

GSU Signposting Series: UNION 😎

🧡 Student Support Zone
Offers support about a problem or difficulty you are facing, or addresses some of your common concerns, including managing your money, finding accommodation, etc. They also offer support about your physical and mental health, from registering with your doctor to maintaining a healthy work/life balance. Follow this link to find more information about the student support zone: https://www.imperial.ac.uk/student-support-zone/

🧡 Student Advice Centre
Offers academic and wellbeing support, for issues such as mitigating circumstances, problems with supervisors, appeals, and guidance on university regulations. They also offer support for life challenges including debt, housing and landlord issues and legal affairs. They also offer support for sexual violence. Follow this link to find more information about the union advice centre: https://www.imperialcollegeunion.org/advice/

🧡 Liberation & Community Zone
Imperial College Union has eight liberation and community officer who each represent students within their respective zones. These include a black and minority officer, a gender equality officer, a disabilities officer, an ethics and environment officer, an interfaith officer, an international officer, an LGBT+ officer, and a mental health officer. Follow this link to find more information about the liberation and community zone:
https://www.imperialcollegeunion.org/your-union/your-representatives/liberation-community-zones

@ Imperial College London

GSU Signposting Series: STUDENT REPRESENTATIVES 🙌🏻

❤ Course/Program Representatives
Your course or program representative is an elected student whose role is to effectively listen and express the views and concerns of all the students in their respective course or program, and to convey these views in meetings with staff to bring about positive change. They are your first point of contact for issues relating to your course and are in regular contact with your departmental representative.

❤ Departmental Representatives
Your department representative is an elected student whose role is to effectively listen and express the views and concerns of all the students in the department, and to convey these views in meetings with staff to bring about positive change. They are in regular contact with your student course/program representatives but can be reached directly.

❤ Faculty Representatives (Graduate Students’ Union Academic and Welfare Officers)
The GSU academic and welfare officer is an elected student who is responsible for receiving and collating student feedback from student representatives in their faculty and raising it to faculty and college level staff and/or the GSU committee as appropriate, working with the GSU Vice President (Research) where necessary. Each faculty has two academic and welfare officers, one for taught students and one for research students.

@ Imperial College London

During your time at Imperial, you may have:
👩‍💻 Challenges that require support & advice
👨‍🔧 Practical issues that need guidance to take care of
🧘‍♀️ Wellbeing concerns to speak to someone about

Over the coming weeks our, "GSU Signposting Series" aims to showcase dedicated staff and volunteers throughout college that can help provide support and advice with difficulties you may face 💪🏻💡. Summary of support resources and services below, including COVID-19 🔬 specific information.

Student representatives:
❤ Course/program representatives
❤ Department representatives
❤ Faculty representatives

Union:
🧡 Student support zone
🧡 Union advice centre
🧡 Liberation and community zone

Departmental & faculty support:
💚 Supervisors
💚 Mentors/Personal tutors
💚 Postgraduate senior tutors
💚 Faculty tutors
💚 Department wellbeing advisors

Mental health:
💗 Mental health first aider
💗 Student counselling service
💗 External support services

College:
💜 International student support
💜 Student hub
💜 Graduate School - Postgraduate Coaching Programme

COVID-19 Specific Support:
💙 PhD Students

COVID-19 Specific Support:
💛 Masters Students

COVID-19 Specific Suppot:
🖤 The Kind Mind Series
🖤 Laptop Support Fund

@ Imperial College London

🎊🎉 Last FREE Online Yoga Sessions in aid of ❤. Join us Thursday lunchtimes up until the end of July!

Date: Thurs 23rd & 30th July
Time: 12 - 1pm (1hr)
Location: Wherever you want! Zoom link: zoom.us/j/98229486703
Cost: FREE, donations to Lumi Foundation are welcome @ donate.kindlink.com/lumi-foundation-/1956/0

Lumi Foundation is a charity committed to making yoga accessible to all 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🌱. By supporting the Foundation, we're helping them bring yoga to communities around West London.

For our latest virtual events: facebook.com/pg/ImperialGSU/events 😀 Link in bio.

😀📝 Get your teams ready for our final pub quiz of the year! Pride and prizzes to be won, including Amazon & Deliveroo vouchers 😋

Date: Thur 23rd July
Time: 6 - 7.30pm
Location: Zoom link via IC email and/ or fb group (link in bio)

For our latest virtual events: facebook.com/pg/ImperialGSU/events 🍻

🎊🎉 Good news! We're extending our FREE Online Yoga Sessions in aid of ❤. Join us Thursday lunchtimes for another 5 weeks!

Date: Thursdays till end of Aug 2020
Time: 12 - 1pm (1hr)
Location: Wherever you want! Zoom link: zoom.us/j/98229486703
Cost: FREE, donations to Lumi Foundation are welcome @ donate.kindlink.com/lumi-foundation-/1956/0

Lumi Foundation is a charity committed to making yoga accessible to all 👨‍👩‍👧‍👦🌱. By supporting the Foundation, we're helping them bring yoga to communities around West London.

For our latest virtual events: Imperial College London Graduate Students' Union 😀 Link in bio.