Student Wellbeing Framework

At Goldsmiths, we want you to feel supported and to grow throughout your university and campus life.  

Our approach is to ensure that you have a successful and full experience, maximising your potential, promoting the need to recognise and request support when you need it, as well as empowering our staff to recognise and offer interventions or signposting. 

Everyone in our community has a role to play in looking after your wellbeing.

This Framework sets out the roles we can all play.

Aspects of wellbeing 

Our aim is to support the following aspects of student wellbeing: 

• Mental health
• Physical health
• Recreational and social wellbeing
• Emotional and interpersonal wellbeing

Who has a role to play in your wellbeing

• You (students)
• Student Support Services
• Academic staff delivering the curriculum
• Academic departments
• Senior and Personal Tutors
• Student-facing academic support servicessuch as the Library, Student Registry and the School Hubs, Careers and Employability, Centre for Academic Language and Literacies (CALL) 
• Teaching and Learning Innovation Centre (TaLIC)
• Other Professional Services teams and colleagues
• Goldsmiths Students’ Union (GSU)
• External agencies and partners
• Goldsmiths’ local GP surgery
• Partner accommodation
• Student support charities
• NHS
• Local and national government

Promoting good wellbeing 

We recognise that there are key elements of student life that promote and foster good wellbeing whilst studying: 

• The importance of self-care and looking after oneself
• Enabling connections, friendships, knowledge transfer and promoting a sense of belonging
• Being physically active
• Keeping staff and colleagues supported to support one another

Whole-lifecycle approach

We are committed to promoting aspects of wellbeing throughout a student lifecycle, especially at points of transition, such as:  

• Pre-enrolment (Applicant Days, Open Days and applicant pre-arrival support)
• Induction and welcome
• Reading Week
• Learning and teaching in the classroom and through research practices
• Assessment periods
• Progression through your programme
• Going on placement
• Graduation and end of course
• Other significant pinch points throughout your student life

Campaigns and awareness 

Our focus is to provide information and run awareness-raising campaigns throughout the year, such as: 

• Prevention and wellbeing information
• National Student Money Week
• Mental Health Awareness Week
• Study Well – Goldsmiths’ support in preparing and completing assessments
• Ongoing student communications around student wellbeing, tools and reminders of support networks

Addressing wellbeing needs of specific student groups 

Aligned with our commitments to delivering equality of opportunity for all student groups to access, succeed and progress in higher education, the aim is to support the wellbeing of specific student groups: 

• Disabled students (mental and physical ill-health)
• Care-leavers
• LGBTQ+ students
• Students from lower socio-economic backgrounds
• Students from minority backgrounds
• Commuter students
• Student parents and those with caring responsibilities

Inclusive practice 

Our teaching practices will be centred around inclusivity in line with Goldsmiths’ Disability Policy [PDF]:

• Digitally inclusive learning resources
• Use of our VLE for lecture and seminar preparation
• Accessible IT
• Easy-to-access study adjustments and support

Personalised support 

We have a range of support to signpost and advise you, as well as guidance for staff on signposting to appropriate support: 

• Finance and budgeting 
• Accommodation
• Faith and multi-culturalism
• Wellbeing Team, Disability and Inclusion Service, and study adjustments
• Counselling and self-help support
• Academic support, including senior and personal tutors
• Career and part-time work assistance
• Peer support and student community leaders
• Specialist support from external partners

Data-driven service delivery, good practice, technology-enabled systems 

We will regularly review the higher education sector for sources of good practice, pioneering ourselves as a beacon of good practice, data and statistical analysis and uses of new technologies to support your student life: 

• Data and statistics from service usage across the College
• Sector-led good practice through professional bodies
• Effective student case management
• Service evaluations
• Innovative technology and digital resources