Understanding Wellbeing -A Module for all Warwick Students

Understanding Wellbeing

A Module for all Students

The Understanding Wellbeing online module is inspired by the successful IATL module 'Understanding Wellbeing Theory and Practice'. The online module will guide you to discover and better understand the crucial concept of wellbeing. You will do this in your own time, pacing your experience according to your own needs.

Key Features of the Module

Module Overview

In the module, we cover this topic by exploring wellbeing from different disciplinary viewpoints, ranging from scientific, economic, psychological, and philosophical perspectives in order to create a holistic understanding of this complex concept.

We also engage with activities and strategies that can improve our wellbeing, from exercise and art to mindfulness and many others. And, very importantly, we look at what factors might be affecting our wellbeing, from social media, emotions, to dealing with failure.

This module aims to provide you with a safe space and a helping-hand to beginning or continuing your own wellbeing journey.

You will navigate this crucial topic for your University life - it is well proved that academic experience and performance are linked to wellbeing - listening to podcasts (yes!, you can listen to them while walking to your accommodation, pottering around in the park, doing your washing up or just before bed...) and engaging with reflective activities that will enhance your understanding and experience.

The module has been co-created by IATL staff and students to make sure that it can be accessible to all and geared for the often time-constrained University life.

Completing the different sections of the module (Bronze, Silver and Gold) will provide you with Level Certificates and relative HEAR Accreditations as well points towards Warwick Award.

How to access the Module HEAR Accredited

The HEAR was introduced at Warwick in 2012. It is issued as an electronic document and gives undergraduate students a fuller record of their achievements whilst at university. It includes information about achievements such as volunteering and prizes awarded as well as information about module marks and the Degree Classification awarded. The full list of information captured can be found on the Information Recorded in the HEAR page.

The Student Records team will create Gradintel accounts and generate HEARs for undergraduate students during their first year of study. Students will be able to access their HEAR via their GradIntelLink opens in a new windowLink opens in a new window account.

Read more about HEAR on the warwick page HEARLink opens in a new window

Warwick Award

Module now included as an activity in the Warwick Award

In addition, completing the levels of the module will also gain you points towards the Warwick Award! In particular, completing the Bronze and Silver levels of the course will be worth 2 Core Skill Points (CSP) each towards the Warwick Award and if you complete the Gold level of the course, you will be able to claim an additional 3 CSP, adding up to a total of 7 CSP.

All you need to do to get the Core Skills Points towards the Warwick Award is complete these steps:

Sign up to the Warwick Award on the GradIntelligence platform (see the instructions on our webpage if you have any problems). If you've already signed up, then sign in here.
Go to the IATL Understanding Wellbeing course at each level you have currently completed. It should be visible on your own Warwick Award profile.
Complete the Skills Reflection (3 questions). How much or how little you write is up to you. We aren't marking these, just checking you took it seriously and showed some understanding of the Core Skills you developed during your experience on the Understanding Wellbeing course.

The CSP will then be added to your profile. If you have any questions about this, you can email skills@warwick.ac.uk and one of the Skills team will help you out.

More information and contacts

Find out more about the module by watching and listening to this Bio Society Interview

Dr Elena Riva and Wiki Jeglinska, one of the module co-creators, have been interviewed by Arianwen Herbert, previous President of BioSoc, about the module.

The module is supported by the BioSoc society, to which we are very thankful!

What is Understanding Wellbeing?

Understanding Wellbeing is our not-for-credit, open access, HEAR-accredited module
The module will guide you to discover and better understand the crucial concept of Wellbeing.
The module is for all Warwick Students and can be taken and completed in your own time.

Why did we create this module?

University can be a stressful time and therefore looking after your wellbeing is crucial. We created this module to allow you to learn about the theory and practice behind wellbeing in an engaging and accessible way.
The module content is presented through podcasts which you can access, in your own time. The Reflective Activities mean that you can engage with the content in a meaningful way which we hope will make a positive contribution to your wellbeing.

What will you gain?

An interdisciplinary understanding of wellbeing: ranging from scientific, economic, psychological, and philosophical perspectives.
An opportunity to engage in activities and strategies that can improve your wellbeing, from exercise and art to mindfulness and many others.
An understanding of what factors might be affecting your wellbeing, from social media, emotions to dealing with failure.
Completing the different sections of the module will provide you with HEAR accreditations and points towards the Warwick Award.

More Information?

Email or email Dr. Elena Riva - module leader and co-creator at