Student Wellbeing

At the University of Cambridge we realise that, while your time spent here can be wonderful and transformative, it can also be stressful, difficult and challenging. In the Department of Politics and International Studies, we're here to help you manage that stress, work through your difficulties and support you through your challenges. Your physical and metal health is paramount to us, so we are here to offer support where we can and point you toward university resources put in place to help.

The Central University Student Wellbeing Service supports all students, Undergraduate and Postgraduate, full time and part time. The service offers online and in-person appointments with professionals specialising in a range of welfare issues. Support is available throughout the academic year, including the summer months.
The University Counselling Service (UCS) supports students who are experiencing personal, relational or academic concerns through one-to-one counselling and peer-support groups.
Your college will have a dedicated Welfare Officer; please see your college website for the resources they can provide.
You can contact the Student Advice Service if you need support: Student Advice Service (cambridgesu.co.uk)

If your wellbeing or studies are affected by a long-term physical or mental health condition, neurodivergence, or disability, you can find support through the University’s Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre.

Students encountering mental health difficulties who need professional support

The University Counselling Service (UCS) provides free, confidential mental health interventions to students. Call 01223 332865 (during office hours), email Student Support on reception@studentsupport.cam.ac.uk or visit their website at counselling.cam.ac.uk
If you are struggling and need someone outside of the university to listen without judgement or pressure, The Samaritans are available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Call 116 123 any time day or night or by email on jo@samaritans.org and they will respond within 24 hours.
NHS First Response Service: Call 111 and select the Mental Health Option.

Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination

The Department, the University and the Colleges operate a very strict bullying and harassment policy.

There is no place for bullying, harassment, discrimination (regardless of intent), sexual misconduct or victimisation in our community and each of us is responsible for the way we interact with and treat others.

If you experience any form of bullying, harassment or discrimination in the department, please contact one or more of the below as you feel most comfortable with:

Your College Tutor
Your Course Administrator or Course Director
the Office of Student Conduct, Complaints and Appeals at OSCCA@admin.cam.ac.uk
Rosanna Hunt (dta@polis.cam.ac.uk) as Secretary of the POLIS EDI committee.
Hugo Hocknell (wellbeing@polis.cam.ac.uk) as POLIS Wellbeing Advocate

You can also contact the Student Advice Service (advice@cambridgesu.co.uk ) for free, confidential, and impartial advice on any problems you might experience as a student

In addition, there is an anonymous reporting option (link) for anyone to report inappropriate behaviour from staff, students or members of the University community, including harassment, bullying, discrimination and sexual misconduct.

Sexual assault and harassment:

Students can self-refer to the Sexual Harassment and Violence Advisor - a specialist advisor who provides emotional and practical support. Email sexual.assault.advisor@admin.cam.ac.uk. For more information on harassment or sexual misconduct, please refer to breakingthesilence.cam.ac.uk.

Not ready to talk, but want to report a sexual misconduct incident anonymously?

Breaking the silence - preventing harassment and sexual misconduct | (cam.ac.uk)

Additional Resources

Disability Able

AccessAble provides detailed information for disabled people so that they can work out if a place is going to be accessible to them before they visit. The Detailed Access Guides provides information about a venue's access. A link to the POLIS Accessible guide is on the department website.

Department of Politics and International Studies (POLIS) (Alison Richard Building) | AccessAble

Wellbeing podcast episode of 'All in the Mind'

The Building Blocks of Wellbeing

Podcast with Professor Felicia Huppert, Professor of Psychology Emeritus, University of Cambridge. Wellbeing has become a bit of a buzzword recently, but what does it really mean? It's not the same as simply being happy or experiencing pleasure - it's something deeper and broader than that. It has to do with how we connect with others, how we feel about ourselves, and much more. So, what do we need to achieve wellbeing?

Wellbeing e-book collection

These brilliant resources have been recommended by librarians from across different faculties, departments and colleges and gathered into a collection of e-books.

All of the books here can be accessed online if you sign in using your Raven login.

The books range across topics like addiction, grief, mental health, race, sexuality, sleep, mindfulness. An amazing collection of materials readily available to us all.

Access the collection here