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Dealing with Disappointment- Results
When all the work is done, it can seem like waiting for results is equally difficult as the work itself. There may be many feelings at play- anticipation, excitement or dread. You may feel like you worked as hard as you could, or there could be elements of regret. It is a prime opportunity for…
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Exam Time- The Final Push
As we head into summer term, we also approach exam season. This is the time of the final push. Fatigue and stress may be setting in. The pre-exam period is one of the busiest times in our Accessible Learning and Wellbeing Drop-in service. Staff speak to many students about coping with academic stress, fear of…
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Cultivating Connections- When Students Seek Support for Loneliness
It is possible to feel isolated or lonely even when surrounded by people. Accessible Learning and Wellbeing Drop-in would regularly see students who say that they struggle with connection at university. This could be for many reasons- students who have taken a year out and find themselves in class with a new cohort; students who…
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Self-Care and the Christmas Break
The countdown to Christmas holidays is on and many students (and staff) may find themselves crawling toward it following the assessment period. In the past week, the team in Drop-in are hearing terms such as ‘burnout’ for the first time this year, particularly among second and third years. This month we are focusing on the…
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When Difficulties Arise in the Assessment Period
All the fresh faces from September are now old hands at student life as we head towards November. This means the reality of assessments and exams may be kicking in for students who were excited about moving to Belfast and tasting the student experience. We have seen the first trickle of queries in Drop-in about…
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Welcome to Belfast
As we inch further into September and semester start, Belfast is welcoming thousands of new students from across the region and the globe. It can be a daunting time, starting a new venture in a new city, especially if doing it alone. The Accessible Learning and Wellbeing Drop-in have put together a few ways to…
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Disability and Long-term Health Conditions
According to the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, a disability is defined as: “A physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.” Accessible Learning Support (previously known as Disability Services) currently support over 3200 students. Students engaging with Accessible Learning Support will have…
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Accessible Learning and Wellbeing Drop-in: Who are we?
Welcome to part 1 of The Drop-in Dialogues! Let’s begin with introductions. We are the Accessible Learning (formerly known as Disability Service) and Wellbeing Drop-in Service- not to be confused with other drop-in services within Queen’s University Belfast. Where can you find us? We live in Support Rooms 2 and 3 on the first floor…
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Summer in the City
The Postgraduate plight? As we head to the height of the summer, people may be forgiven for thinking that students have all headed home. There is one cohort however that are moving toward their busiest time. For Postgraduates, dissertation and research is the name of the game. While Undergraduates may have vacated the area to…