Campus will be different this year

And in times of social distancing, how do students access your service?

The bulk of our therapy will remain virtual – it’s safer that way, to keep it remote. We’ve had really good feedback from students engaging in this way. Students can have therapy via telephone or via Microsoft Teams. Telephone appointments have existed for a very long time and we’ll continue doing online therapy even after restrictions are lifted because students have responded really well to that.

It’s worth noting our counselling service is located in the main student services building. There are all sorts of reasons that people will be in that building, from careers advice to finance, to getting a letter to prove you don’t need to pay council tax. Entering the building doesn’t mean everyone will necessarily know that you are going to counselling or you are struggling with something.

How will campus look this September?

It’s not a surprise for anyone that campus will look different. How people move around campus is going to change, with a lot of one-way systems. We are asking students and teaching staff to wear masks in buildings and around campus. Campus will feel less busy. Much of the teaching provision will be online certainly for the next semester, which means that students will have less need to be on campus. We’ll have study space available for students who can’t do that in their home environments, lots of hand sanitiser stations around, too. Every student and staff member will also receive a safety pack which has information in it, a reusable mask, hand sanitiser and a thermometer.

Do you have advice for students beginning their first year at uni?

Try not to compare yourself to other people, and I mean that in a number of ways: we find that people at university were often the best at their subject in their school and suddenly they’re with a cohort of people who were the best in their school. That can take some getting used to. Embrace it, you are surrounded by people who are as passionate about your subject as you are, learn from each other rather than worrying.

Every year we see people who are understandably missing friends and family, that’s really normal. That means you’ve got good relationships. It’s really easy to look on social media and see your friends are having a good time or that they aren’t missing you, when the likelihood is they feel as you do. Remember that people tend to put highlights on social media. Keep talking and communicating. Don’t make assumptions.

You studied in Newcastle: what do you think are the standout parts of the city for a student experience?

I say this now, but it was the same when I was a student: it’s the variety the city has to offer. You can be at the quayside vs. Tynemouth beach vs. the city centre vs. the heart of Jesmond. Everywhere has a really distinct feel and yet is only a half hour journey away. And obviously the Geordie hospitality and the feel of the city is pretty unrivalled, I think.

For more information about the student wellbeing services offered by Newcastle University visit

ncl.ac.uk/wellbeing