We’re small by comparison to the undergraduate community here but you’ll still have access to the same support networks and be part of a team committed to your academic success.
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The Student Life Centre is the place to go for all student matters. Our team of advisers offer support with:
- student finance
- tuition fees
- exams and assessment
- accommodation
- disability
- appeals and complaints
- admissions
- international advice
- careers
- student life and wellbeing
- getting around Tooting and the local area.
Telephone: + (44) 0203 897 2033
Email: studentlifecentre@sgul.ac.uk
Opening hours (remote services): Monday to Friday, 10am to 4pm.
The library is offers a variety of drop-in services onsite for students and can train you to use the email system and other IT services.
It’s easy to access the virtual learning environment, Canvas, where you’ll find course materials, feedback and discussion boards. If you would like to brush up on your information-finding skills, they library runs regular, free courses on information literacy.
The university provides a dedicated counselling service available to all students. You can book an appointment to see one of our counsellors through the Wellbeing section of our website.
St George’s Students’ Union also have an Education and Welfare Support Officer who can support students who are facing personal, emotional and academic challenges. This includes providing support on academic procedures (i.e. mitigating circumstances, deadline extensions, disciplinary and fitness to study or practice issues) and on a diverse range of welfare issues including help to deal with mental health problems and major life changes.
Students can drop by the Students’ Union office Monday to Friday, 9am to 5pm or email us to make an appointment.
All students have access to a personal tutor who acts as an academic point of contact and support. Personal tutors offer regular meetings, provide advice, support and feedback on academic and progress issues, and support you if you experience difficulties with academic or welfare matters.
Postgraduate Research Degrees students will have an allocated supervisory team who are responsible for your studies and welfare. They also have access to a dedicated Postgraduate Coordinator, who is an academic member of staff, on the Research Degrees Committee and who has responsibility for a numb er of students within their Institute. The PGC is separate from the supervisory team so that students can have an independent member of staff to speak to about issues that they feel they cannot discuss with their supervisory team.
“St George’s is a very diverse university, there’s lots of different people, and you make lots of different types of friends. There’s always someone to help you out with anything you’re struggling with and the lecturers are really easy to chat to and find.
“I’m supported academically and personally on my course by my supervisor - whose office is only two doors away from my desk. My lecturers are all just one email away and they’re all very happy to meet. The Students’ Union itself can help out with the course and any issues you’re having there and then there’s also the head of department who you can go to if you’re struggling with your supervisor or anyone else who is in the workplace.”
- James Pratt - MRes Biomedical Science
The Careers Service is here to support all St George's current students and recent graduates to develop the skills and knowledge they need to pursue their career or further study. This involves 1:1 advice and coaching, careers workshops and events as well as access to careers information, resources and vacancy listings.
Our careers adviser can help with:
- starting to think about options and signposting to useful resources
- weighing up decisions on career choices, medical specialties or further study
- advice and guidance on where to look for jobs
- CV, application form and further study personal statement checks
- practice interviews.
Appointments are available every Wednesday and Thursday from 9.30am-4pm and the careers adviser is located in the Student Centre, ground floor of the main St George’s building (Hunter Wing).
To book an appointment, contact the Student Life Centre:
Advice to parents or guardians of students who are joining St George’s is provided through our Student Centre.
Juggling study and parenthood can be difficult, particularly if you’re taking a demanding medical or healthcare degree. However, it can be done, and there is support available. Our Student Parents and Carers Empowered society (SPACE) is a group run by studying parents that meets monthly. So if you’re a parent, or thinking of having children, going along is a great way of meeting other students in a similar situation. For more information, or if you have any queries about studying at George’s as a parent, you can email the association.
Students studying full time Higher Education courses may be entitled to additional financial help from their funding body. If you are receiving Student Loans and Grants, or financial support from NHS Student Bursaries, you might like to make enquiries about the following supplementary grants.
- Parents’ Learning Allowance – an additional non-repayable grant paid directly to students to help with course costs such as books, materials and travel.
- Childcare Grant – if you use an Ofsted registered childcare provider, you may be able to apply for non-repayable assistance towards your childcare costs.
Further details about Parents’ Learning Allowance and the Childcare Grant can be found on the Directgov website.
Please note that both grants are income assessed, so if you live with a partner/spouse their income details will be used to calculate your entitlement.
St George's Access to Learning Fund
The Access to Learning Fund (ALF) provides discretionary financial assistance to students to help them access and remain in Higher Education. Students who need financial help to meet extra costs that cannot be met from other sources of support, and those who may be considering leaving Higher Education because of financial problems are particularly encouraged to apply. The ALF can also help to alleviate unexpected financial hardship.
Students with child dependants are one of the priority groups targeted and students are encouraged to make an application as soon as possible as funds are limited. The application form and guidance notes can be found on our website.
Help budgeting
Please contact our Student Finance team at studentfinance@sgul.ac.uk for further information or if you have any financial difficulties at all during your course.
The International Advising Team at St George's recognises that studying in the UK can be both an exciting and daunting experience. The Team provide’s support and guidance on a wide range of non-academic matters including:
- Immigration and visa advice: we guide non-EEA students through the Tier 4 student visa process (this includes issuing the Confirmation of Acceptance for Studies (CAS) and checking the application and supporting documentation). We also advise on: employment regulations, protecting your immigration status and traveling around Europe.
- Pre-arrival support: we send all our international students a Pre Departure Guide which contains lots of helpful information from what to pack through to how to book a cab from the airport. In addition, we facilitate an International Buddy Scheme where future students are matched up with current students, who then communicate, usually via email, in the time leading up to the start of the course.
- Orientation: we organise specific events for international students as part of the university's induction this includes a boat tour of London, a welcome lunch and workshop on topics such as opening a UK bank account, registering with a doctor, culture shock, travelling inside and outside London.
- Social programme: together with the International Student Society we organise social events throughout the year including international lunches, ice skating, Chinese New Year Dinner and end of year BBQ.
- Ongoing support: we are available by email, phone or in person to assist international students throughout their studies including discussing the implications of making a change to study (e.g. withdrawal, interruption of study, transfer) and post study work visa options
If we can't help we can direct you to the most relevant person that can. We are dedicated to the welfare of our international students.
In a recent survey, 92% of international students rated their overall interactions with the International Advising Team as either good or excellent. — (Arrival Survey, 2018)
St George’s makes reasonable adjustments for disabled students and staff where they would otherwise face a 'substantial disadvantage' in their work, their study or in using a service. The Disability Advisor gives students guidance on reasonable adjustments, disabled student allowances or confidential support.