Published on 7.4.25

Looking after yourself is as important as working hard, yet time to rest could be the last thing to make it on your schedule.

At Warwick there is a range of safety and support services to ensure you can make the most of your time here. The academic journey comes with demands and pressures that are part of the knowledge and skills within and around your degree, and you have access to a system of support and services to equip you to do your best. In the Department we offer academic support that includes resources and advice on academic skills, essay and exam writing support.

Studying and doing assessments carry an expected degree of pressure and how you manage your time in relation to what is going on within and around you can have positive or negative impacts. Time management is an important skill, and while it is expected that you will be able to adjust your working schedule to account for short-term disruptions that can occur throughout the academic year, we know this is not always the case. Also, some circumstances fall outside of these everyday pressures and resilience but there is support in place. There are some key layers of mitigation during assessment periods. First, if you have long term conditions and disabilities, Reasonable Adjustments can be made to your study (e.g. assessment arrangements, extra time in examinations and flexible deadlines). Note that this is not processed in the Department but by the Disability Services team, and it can take time, so if you have these concerns, make an appointment with Disability Services. Then, if you encounter any short-term unforeseen disruptions in the run up to assignment deadlines, you can apply for extensions using either Self-certification for 5-working days or Specific Extensions for a maximum of 15 working days per assignment. Specific extensions require evidence and are subject to the approval of the Director of Undergraduate Studies (UG) or Director of Graduate Studies (PGT). Finally, Mitigating circumstances are classed as unforeseen personal situations that impact on a student’s ability to study and take assessment that are not mitigated via another other route (e.g. self-cert, extension etc). The mitigating circumstances policy contains the policy, procedure and associated information, including guidance on acceptable evidence. Speak to your Personal Tutor and/or Senior Tutor for advice if you are considering making an application.

As you already know, the Summer Term timetable is focussed on completing assessments and examinations and it is important to look after yourself by planning your time and activities while you study. Explore the beautiful campus in the sunshine- you could take short walks on your study breaks to get some fresh air, plus being in nature can be rejuvenating even for short periods. The Wellbeing Services offer many useful sessions with tips for maintaining good wellbeing practices during exam periods, including weekly Wellbeing Themes. Stay informed with good advice and support on issues around everyday life that can impact on your wellbeing and studies. This Safety and Support page has contacts and advice for: Medical and health information, Emergency Support, Staying safe on and off campus, Wellbeing support, Report + Support, Support with the Cost of Living.

If you have any questions about your studies, please check the UG or MA/PGT Handbook for guidance on who to contact, wellbeing and support, course regulations, dates and deadlines, department regulations, essay and dissertation guidelines, marking criteria, academic integrity, etc. If you would like to speak with someone about any concerns or queries: for administrative issues around your course and assessments please contact the appropriate PAIS Course Support Team on paisug@warwick.ac.uk for UG and paispg@warwick.ac.uk for MA/PGT; other issues may require your Personal Tutor or send an email to the Director of Student Wellbeing and Senior Tutor on pais.dswb@warwick.ac.uk.