Where to find support when you need it
Online study support
When you study online with us, you’re in safe hands. We’ve been delivering online learning for decades. And we help thousands of students succeed in their online studies each year.
We do this with a range of support services tailored to online learners.
Find out about all the support available to you, including:
Your Student Support Team
Throughout your studies, you’ll have access to a friendly subject-specific support team. This includes:
- your degree or course coordinator, for all academic questions
- your School’s support team, for any non-academic issues
- the Registry team, for any concerns about your programme of study.
If you feel you’re struggling with your course or falling behind in your studies, it’s important to talk to someone as soon as you can. Contact your course coordinator in the first instance.
Your course coordinator is your academic advisor. They oversee your studies. You can contact them with any academic questions or issues. Even if they cannot provide you with immediate advice, they’ll point you in the right direction.
Your coordinator’s responsibilities include:
- providing information on lecture and tutorial arrangements, coursework requirements, assessment methods, and information on avoiding plagiarism
- ensuring that your degree or course is delivered appropriately and effectively
- assisting you in your learning progression and addressing any academic issues you have.
How to contact your coordinator
At the start of your studies, your coordinator will let you know how best to contact them and when their office hours are. You can contact them via your online learning platform and email, and you may also be able to have a chat via phone, Skype or Teams.
Each of our Schools (School of Engineering, Law, Business, etc) has a dedicated support team, ready to help you with any non-academic issues.
Find your School Office contact details.
You can also contact your School Office to make an appointment to speak with your degree or course coordinator.
If you have wider concerns about your programme of study, Registry staff are there for you. Though they cannot provide academic advice, they can advise on what to do if you, for example:
- want to switch courses
- have failed exams
- are unsure if you’re qualified to progress to the next year of study.
Registry can also help you interpret the regulations for your programme of study.
Contact a Postgraduate Officer in Registry by emailing postgraduate@abdn.ac.uk.
Disability and additional needs support
We’re committed to making online study accessible to all, whether you have a disability, health condition, mental health difficulty, or specific learning difficulty (such as dyslexia).
When you sign up for an online course or degree, we’ll ask you to let us know about any additional circumstances that may impact on your studies. The support we can offer you will depend on the courses you choose to take, but our services include:
- accessible study materials
- specialist equipment and assistive technology
- adjustments to exams, and tailored assessment
- financial help.
Find out more at our main Disability Services page.
Contact a disability adviser anytime to have a chat about how we can help by emailing student.disability@abdn.ac.uk.
Free career support
Our friendly careers team offer free, tailored, impartial and professional advice to all online students. They’re here to help with:
- 1:1 career planning
- CV checks
- interview prep
- job opportunities
- lifelong career support when you graduate.
Health, wellbeing and financial support
If you’re struggling with any issues at all during your studies, our Student Advice and Support Service is here for you. Our expert team offer reassuring, impartial and completely confidential support on a range of issues, including:
- stress and mental health
- money matters
- childcare
- relationships and personal worries.
No problem is too big or too small to discuss with us. We can also signpost you to external support or help you contact your School if personal problems are affecting your ability to focus on your studies.
If you’d like to chat with a Student Support Adviser anytime, please email student.support@abdn.ac.uk. We can then arrange a telephone appointment with you or a remote meeting on Teams. Whatever suits you.
Find out more at the Student Advice and Support Service page.
Help with study skills
Our Student Learning Service (SLS) is here to help you enhance your online study skills. You can book a one-to-one study advice session with them, access their great online resources, and attend their online workshops.
The SLS provides free and confidential advice on:
- academic writing skills
- essay, report and dissertation writing
- study strategies - including time management, revision and exam techniques
- presentation skills
- maths support
- and specialist advice for students with Specific Learning Differences.
See how the Student Learning Service can help.
You’ll also find lots of useful support in the Academic Skills guides in Toolkit.
Library support
We’re here to help you make the best use of our fantastic library collections. View the libraries’ guide for online learners.
Help from library staff
Our library Information Consultants are on hand to offer guidance. Just email them from your University of Aberdeen email account and let them know your student number and what you’re studying. Find the Information Consultant for your subject.
Online library support sessions
Throughout term time, library staff also offer online support sessions. You can visit a drop-in session or book an appointment to get help with your library queries. Find out about online library support sessions.
Visiting our libraries
Anytime you are in Aberdeen you are very welcome to come and visit any of our libraries, to consult or borrow materials in our physical collections. For more information, view our main libraries page.
Using your local university libraries
Did you know that, as a University of Aberdeen student, you can use university libraries across the UK and Ireland?
We’re a member of the Access scheme run by the Society of College, National and University Libraries (SCONUL). It gives you to access books, journals, resources, and quiet places to study at over 150 university libraries participating in the scheme. Find out about SCONUL Access to your local libraries.
IT support
You’ll have access to a range of IT services while you study with us, including:
- a University of Aberdeen email address
- secure personal file space on the University network
- free access to Office365 applications, so you can use online versions of Word, Excel and PowerPoint throughout your studies.
Read about our full range of software and IT services on the IT essentials page.
IT issues
If you have any IT issues while studying with us, visit our online IT Service Desk.
As a student, you can also log in to MyIT to:
- chat with IT advisers during working hours
- view self-help solutions
- report IT issues.
Toolkit
Toolkit is our award-winning IT resource. It’s a great place to:
- discover apps that make online study easier
- learn how to use common IT programs
- watch step-by-step video guides for IT issues.
Peer-to-peer support
Choose to study online and you won’t be studying alone. We welcome thousands of online students each year, from all over the world.
So, wherever you’re studying, you’ll be part of a thriving online community here. And there are lots of ways to reach out for support, motivation and tips from your fellow learners.
- Join one of our Facebook groups for online learners.
- Connect through the discussion boards and collaborate sessions in your online course area.
- Set up social channels with your classmates. Lots of our students now set up WhatsApp groups to chat throughout their courses.
Aberdeen University Students’ Association (AUSA)
When you join the University, you’re automatically a member of our Students’ Association (AUSA). It’s an independent organisation run by students for students. It’s here to support, empower and represent you during your online studies.
From course-specific to University-wide concerns, find out how AUSA can help represent you.
Advice for friends and family of online students
If you’re worried about a friend, family member or colleague who’s studying with us, get in touch with our Student Support Advisers anytime. Our service is completely confidential, so you can discuss your concerns in confidence.
While we cannot provide information about the student you’re concerned about, we can offer advice as to how you can help them, and what we can do to help too.
Contact a Student Support Adviser by emailing student.support@abdn.ac.uk.
