Our student support services are working to develop and continuously improve our support provision, referral pathways to the NHS and specialist services, and resources in partnership with staff and students across Cambridge. As part of this agenda, we are driven to provide support that is informed and shaped by our diverse student and staff communities.
This webpage captures information on services and resources for our student community across a number of areas. We would warmly encourage you to also check at your College for further details on support available, and please note the Cambridge SU Student Advice Service can also offer free, confidential and impartial advice to all our students.
If you are a Cambridge student or staff member and have feedback or suggestions for this page, please feel welcome to let us know as we build and improve our resources.
The University of Cambridge is an inclusive university with more than 5000 disabled students currently studying across all 31 Colleges and every School. The Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre (ADRC) offers a confidential and accessible service for all disabled students supporting access to your teaching and learning during your time at Cambridge. We are a student-centred service, committed to supporting disabled students to achieve to their academic potential. Please see the ADRC website linked above for full details, visit our FAQ section, or if you need to ask a question please email disability@admin.cam.ac.uk.
The Cambridge SU Disabled Students’ Campaign is a community of disabled students offering support, resources and information that may help you.
The University’s Code of Practice for Disabled Students sets out our expectations for the support provided at the University for disabled students. This is updated annually.
We offer a wide variety of support for care-experienced and estranged students. We are working to provide even more.
Our Student Support Services are available to all care-experienced and estranged students. In addition, there are the following resources:
Financial support
Financial support options are available via the Cambridge Bursary Scheme. The Bursary webpage has a dedicated link for the financial support. This is available to care-experienced and estranged undergraduates. There are also links to need-based financial support. Your College or programme of study may offer additional support. It is worth checking in with them too.
Postgraduates also have sources of funding available to them. The Cambridge Trust provides several financial awards annually to postgraduates. Your College or programme of study may also offer additional support. It is worth checking in with them if you are in need of additional funding.
The UCAS guide to financial aid can help you through the process of exploring your aid options and applying for funding.
Social and mentoring support
Cambridge SU's Class Act campaign works to support students from underrepresented backgrounds. This includes students who are care-experienced or estranged. The campaign is run by students, for students.
The University’s Realise Project supports care-experienced and estranged students through events and mentoring. Contact Realise if you need advice about how to access any type of support within the university.
Stand Alone is a national organisation that works to promote awareness of estrangement. The organisation also provides support for estranged people. Stand Alone have some useful guides about both understanding and coping with estrangement.
The Unite Foundation sponsors the This is Us initiative. It supports care-experienced and estranged students. This initiative also includes an online support network for students to speak to each other, organise meetups, and much more.
Additional sources of support
The EaCES Handbook is a guide to student life. It has been written by care-experienced and estranged students themselves. This is a useful way to find advice about a wide variety of student life issues from people who have experienced them already.
Cambridge is home to students and staff from a variety of faith backgrounds, supported by a network of religious communities. The University fosters an inclusive culture and values religious diversity.
Here are some ways to connect with faith communities across Cambridge:
College Chaplains and multi-faith spaces
Most Colleges have a Chaplain or Dean who offers pastoral support to all students, regardless of religious affiliation. While they may be linked to a particular Christian denomination, they can help you connect with leaders from your own faith tradition. Many Colleges also offer multi-faith spaces. You can find a list of College contacts on the Equality, Diversity & Inclusion website.
Faith societies and community groups
Across the University, there are a range of faith-based societies and communities. These groups welcome new members and offer opportunities to connect, celebrate, and share. You can find further information about these and a list of contacts on the Directory of Faith and Belief Communities in Cambridge.
Faith and Belief in Practice
This University initiative promotes awareness and understanding of diverse religious and belief groups. It is a great starting point if you would like to learn more or get involved. For more information, visit their website.
The University Student Support Department is committed to supporting our LGBTQ+ student community, and to delivering services that are supportive, inclusive, respectful, safe and continually listening and improving in the interests of students.
Cambridge SU LGBT+ Campaign represents and supports the needs of LGBTQ+ students at Cambridge University. They coordinate a group of LGBTQ+ Officers in J/MCRs who support students in college and run events.
External resources:
Direct Support Services;
Galop: Supporting LGBT+ people who have experienced abuse and violence.
Gendered Intelligence: a support line for those who need information and emotional support while waiting for gender affirmative healthcare.
The Kite Trust Access free support for LGBT+ people under the age of 25, with one-to-one support and dedicated social groups.
Switchboard: an LGBTQ+ confidential helpline.
TrueVision: Information and resources on reporting LGBTQ+ hate crime in the UK.
Directories for Therapists or Counsellors:
Gendered Intelligence directory of therapists and counsellors: This directory is a listing of members of Gendered Intelligence’s Network for Therapists and Counsellors who wish to offer their services to trans people (and their families and partners).
Gendered Intelligence Trans Youth Groups: Information about youth group sessions run by Gendered Intelligence.
Pink Therapy: Pink Therapy has an online directory of therapists who work with people who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, intersex and queer or questioning, and people who are gender- and sexual-diverse (GSD).
Information, resources and networks:
Imaan: Imaan is a charity that supports lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans, queer or questioning (LGBTQ) Muslims, providing an online forum where people can share experiences and ask for help.
National Health Service: LGBTQ+ Mental Health Support information.
Regard: Regard is a national organisation of lesbians, gay men, bisexuals, transgender and queer people (LGBTQ) who self-identify as disabled.
Spectra Trans Services: Services and information for trans and gender diverse people, including counselling, mentoring, and social groups.
The University has produced Thinking Globally, which provides information for LGBTQ+ staff and students working and studying at home and abroad.
Trans Unite: Transgender & Non-Binary Support Groups
Hear about this student's experiences of being a student carer at the University of Cambridge.
What support is there for student carers within the collegiate University?
If you have caring responsibilities, it can help to talk to someone at your College. You could speak with your Tutor, Senior Tutor or key member of academic staff (e.g. Postgraduate Supervisor). They can listen and help you find support.
Wellbeing support
There are people you can talk to:
- College staff: Colleges have Health and Wellbeing staff who can support you.
- University Support Services: The University offers 1:1 support as well as group settings. The Student carers group is a friendly space where you can meet other student carers, share experiences, and get support.
Accessibility and disability support
If caring affects your mental or physical health, or if you have a disability, the Accessibility and Disability Resource Centre (ADRC) can help. They offer advice and support tailored to your needs.
Class Act Society
The Class Act Society represent, support and advocate for all students who have faced any kind of social, educational, cultural or economic disadvantage. This includes carers of all ages. The Class Act Society organises events to build communities for Class Act students. They also coordinate with J/MCR Officers, societies and campaign on issues that matter to their members.
What support is there for student carers externally?
Please see the UCAS guide for students with caring responsibilities, covering areas such as:
- tips for carers who want to go to University
- where to get more information and help
There are also national and local resources and support available from:
- Carers UK (national charity for unpaid carers)
- Carers Trust (national network of organisations specialising in the support and wellbeing of unpaid carers)
- Mind (Guidance on managing your own wellbeing while caring for someone else)
- Rethink mental illness (guidance for caring for someone living with mental illness)
- Mobilise (online support for unpaid carers)
The University Childcare Office can help with advice about:
- family accommodation
- nurseries
- holiday clubs
- local schools
- government financial support
The University has guides about parental leave. They outline the process for taking a break from your studies if you or your partner are pregnant or adopting:
- Postgraduate students (research) maternity and family-related leave
- Student maternity and family related leave (taught students: foundation year, undergraduate students, postgraduate taught students)
Speak to your College Tutor for more information.
Our services are committed to creating a culture of inclusivity, diversity, and equity for all staff and students. The University’s Student Support Services are available to all students identifying as Black, Asian or a minoritised ethnicity. Students accessing counselling are more than welcome to request a counsellor identifying as Black, Asian or a minoritised ethnicity if you would prefer when requesting an appointment. For more information visit the Student Support Website.
There are a range of people who can help whether formally or informally should you ever experience any incident of racial harassment or discrimination during your time as a student. In all cases, please know support is available for you at the University and your College.
The Black Advisory Hub has been established to help build a diverse and inclusive community for all students and staff members at the University of Cambridge as part of the institutional action to improve Black students' outcomes at Cambridge.
The Cambridge SU BME campaign is led by BME students and provides community, support and resources for BME students.
The University joined the Advance HE's Race Equality Charter in 2016 and received the REC Bronze award in November 2019. The Race Equality Charter (REC) is a national scheme that provides a framework for higher education institutions to recognise, investigate and challenge barriers to recruitment, progression and retention of Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic staff and students. You can find out more on our Race Equality Charter pages.
External resources:
- Black, African and Asian Therapy Network (BAATN)
- Black Minds Matter UK
- British Asian Trust
- Muslim Youth Helpline
- Rethink Mental Illness – Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) mental health
- Student Space: Support for Muslim students
- Student Space: Support for Punjabi students
- Support Line: Reporting Hate Crime
- Tarakki
- Therapy for Black Girls: an online space dedicated to mental wellness of Black women and girls
- Karma Nirvana
- Diverse Minds Podcast