Resource Center

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Student Support Services

A female student works at a computer

Supporting you at dBs

We're here to support you throughout your time at dBs and beyond. Whether it's help settling in, assistance with your studies, mental health support or even advice on your finances, our Student Support Team is here to help.

If you're looking for support, this page outlines some of the ways that we can assist you. It provides links to our specialist services, and all our contact information.

Already a student at dBs Institute?
Head to the Student Services hub for further resources and to reach out to your respective support team.

Student Service hub

What support we offer
(Access to HE students)

Academic Support

Group study/pastoral drop-in sessions

Our drop-in sessions allow you to join a group session led by one of the support team to discuss anything you need help with or for signposting to further support.

1:1 pastoral support

We offer bookable 1:1 sessions for any students looking for support with their mental health or academic needs.

A female tutor talks to her student in the common area

Well-being & Counselling

Counselling services and Mental Health Support

Returning to education is an exciting time, but you may encounter challenges. As a dBs student, you can access counselling sessions through dBs Institute on a referral basis.

A group of students and staff relax and chat in our Bristol common area

Finance & Accommodation

Bursaries

Access to Higher Education students will be able to apply for a range of bursaries to support a range of costs including meals, travel and childcare (only during timetabled days), as well asessential course materials / equipment and trips (as required for your course).

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A student leaves there flat to start there day

Career Support

1:1 bookable sessions

We offer bookable 1:1 sessions with our Employability & Engagement Coach for any support needs you may have around your career development, including CV and cover letter sessions, interview techniques and networking skills.

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A tutor and student producing a project in Logic Pro X in the Audient studio at dBs Plymouth

What support we offer (Undergraduate/Postgraduate Students)

Academic Support

Study Skills sessions for all first year students

We recognise that some of our students need some support with certain aspects of the course or have had a gap since leaving school. These sessions focus on academic support covering all aspects of the academic skill set to help you during your journey at dBs Institute.

Support drop-in sessions

These weekly drop-in sessions allow you to join a group led session lead by one of the support team to discuss anything you need help with or for signposting to further support.

In addition, we also offer drop-in Research Labs for third-year undergraduate students who are undertaking their final major research projects (e.g. dissertation).

‍1:1 support

For any student that needs more support than the group sessions above, we offer bookable 1:1 sessions for mental health or academic needs, as well as interim support for students whilst waiting for Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA) to be approved.

Female dBs Student engaging in a lecture

Specialist Support

Additionally funded support

Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA)

Disabled Students’ Allowances (DSA) funding offers additional support for students who have a diagnosis of a specific learning difference (SpLD) e.g. dyslexia or ADHD, Autism, a physical disability or other; or have a working/diagnosis of a mental health problem.

If you think you are eligible for DSA funding, we recommend that you apply through Student Finance when you make your loan application. It is important to know that DSA is not a loan; if you are eligible for support, you will receive funding and not be required to pay it back.

dBs provide all Band 4 DSA support in-house, which covers mental health mentoring, autism mentoring and academic support. Access may vary across campuses, please contact us if you have any specific questions regarding this.

DSA can provide 1:1 support, assistive technologies and a specialist equipment allowance including, for example, support with travel costs and printing costs.

You do not need to wait until starting at dBs to declare a disability or support need. Once you have made an application to study, we can put you in touch with our Student Support Team to discuss your needs and help you prepare before your course officially begins.

dBs common area

International students and DSA

International students studying in the UK will need to hold home residency status to be eligible to apply for DSA.

Find out more about what DSA is, the assessment process, the support you can receive and FAQs surrounding the application process.

Reasonable adjustment

It’s possible that you will find certain aspects of your study difficult due to your differences. Reasonable Adjustments can be made to ensure as much as possible the same experience for everyone. At dBs, we try to think creatively when it comes to these solutions and ensure that no one is disadvantaged.

Information for Needs Assessors

Transition

At dBs, we recognised that it is hard for some people to settle into a new environment. We offer transition meetings over summer and additional tours of the buildings with a technician and the support team.

We aim to ensure that you are familiar with the buildings and as many of the support team members and other staff as appropriate before enrolment week. Any additional requirements will be discussed on an individual basis.

Well-being & Counselling

Counselling services and
Mental Health Support

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University life is great, but doesn't come without its struggles. We have a team of fully qualified counsellors and Mental Health Advisors to support you whilst you're with us.

Students can also access well-being sessions aimed at helping individuals through inclusive activities and discussions.

A close-up image of a student sitting in a lecture hall

Finance & Accommodation

Financial advice

Moving and living away from home for the first time can be scary and making sensible financial decisions is not always easy. We offer financial advice drop-ins and have talks by support organisations to help you make the right choices and manage your money more effectively.

Accommodation advice

As we do not have our own halls of residence, prospective and enrolled students have access to an array of advice and support. We offer:

1:1 support through in-person and remote drop-ins
Budgeting support
Advice on how to find and secure accommodation
Yearly accommodation guides
Supporting you in finding suitable housemates through our Discord group
Information and advice on your rights as a student tenant

We highly recommend that you take advantage of our official student accommodation partners, Hybr and Amber. They will work with you personally through all aspects of your housing search and ensure you find the perfect accommodation that meets your budget and desired location.

Head to our accommodation page for more information

Two students sit on bleacher style seating working in dBs Manchester

Career Support

1:1 bookable sessions

We offer bookable 1:1 sessions with our Employability & Engagement Coach for any support needs you may have around your career development, including CV and cover letter sessions, interview techniques and networking skills.

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Students working on Logic Pro X in the iMac suite at dBs Plymouth (2) copy

Meet the support team

Nurturing your journey at dBs isn’t just about education, it’s about supporting you wherever you need it. Possessing decades of combined expertise, our Student Support team provide an inclusive and supportive environment so that no challenge is insurmountable.

Rebecca Peartree

Rebecca Peartree

Student Support Manager

Rebecca is an experienced psychotherapeutic counsellor and mental health specialist, with a strong interest in building inclusive support spaces

Jenni Gordon

Jenni Gordon

Learning Support Manager

When not trying to expose all manner of music with her son, Jenni is drawing on years of experience to offer personalised support to our students.

Ariana Ahmadi

Ariana Ahmadi

Student Support Manager

Having worked in a range of support roles, Ariana is dedicated to building meaningful connections with students and ensuring they have an amazing study experience.