UK Universities and Student Unions: Funding, Support, Community and Your Voice on Campus

If you are reading this after arriving in the UK, you may be carrying many things at once: relief, exhaustion, uncertainty, hope.

It’s likely that the path to university abroad has not been straightforward for you. You may have studied during displacement, during electricity cuts, or while your university itself was under threat or destroyed. You may have left family and community behind in order to continue your education.

Arriving on a UK campus does not erase those experiences. But it does open a new space for rebuilding stability, continuing your studies, and connecting with people who will walk alongside you during this chapter.

Your university will not only be a place where classes happen. It will also be a place where communities are built around systems of support designed to help every student study, live, and take part in academic life.

This support exists for all students because universities recognise that students come from vastly different backgrounds. Reaching out to these services is normal and expected. It is not charity, and it is not something that only certain students use. These are services you are entitled to as a student and that are funded through your tuition fees.

Learning how to use these systems is an important part of settling into university life.

Where to start: student support services

Most UK universities have some form of student support service. They can be called: student hubs, student services, or student support centres. Sometimes they are located in a specific building; sometimes they are spread across different offices.

If you are unsure where to find them, you can ask reception staff on campus or speak to your tutor or lecturer. They will be able to point you in the right direction.

Student support services are usually the best place to begin if you are unsure where to go for help. They can assist with many different issues, and if they cannot solve something directly, they can signpost you to the right team.

They can help with practical matters such as:

• accommodation and housing questions
• timetabling issues
• immigration or visa guidance
• financial hardship support
• adjusting to academic life
• accessing wellbeing or counselling services

These services exist because majority of students often need help to navigate housing, finances, paperwork, or simply adjusting to a new environment.

Many universities also have international offices or international student advisers who specialise in supporting students arriving from abroad.

Academic support and adapting to studying in the UK

Studying in the UK may feel different from what you are used to.

Depending on your course, you may be assessed through essays, research projects, presentations, exams, or practical work. Many courses might also require independent reading, critical thinking and evaluation, and applying ideas rather than simply demonstrating knowledge. Some degrees may include placements or “work-based-learning” as part of the course.

It’s expected that all students will need help to adapt to these assessments so, universities provide a wide range of academic support services.

These may include:

• writing centres, where staff help students structure essays and research papers
• study skills workshops, offered online or in person, covering research methods, referencing, and academic writing
• language support programmes for students whose first language is not English
• library specialists or subject librarians, who can help you find academic resources and journals related to your course

Many lecturers hold office hours, which are times when students can meet them to ask questions about coursework or assignments.

If you are unsure about an assessment or unclear about what is expected to achieve good grades, you are encouraged to ask. Students who grew up studying in the UK use these services regularly, so do not hesitate to use them as well. Make the most of them, they are there to support you.

Wellbeing and counselling services

Most universities provide mental health and wellbeing services, including counselling support.

Students use these services for many different reasons: stress, homesickness, academic pressure, grief, or adjusting to life in a new country.

Given what many students from Gaza have experienced, it is especially important to remember that seeking support is not a sign of weakness but maturity instead. In the UK, it’s normal and acceptable to talk about mental health and ask for help. Universities recognise that all students carry different personal histories, and these services exist to help students manage those experiences while studying.

The support provided is confidential. This means that your friends or lecturers will not know, and it will not affect your academic record. Many universities also offer the option of online appointments if you prefer not to meet in person.

Since many students use these services, sometimes it can take a few days to get an appointment. If you need to talk to someone faster or while waiting for an appointment, here are some helplines that are independent from your university, confidential, and free to use. You do not need to give personal details if you do not want to.

Samaritans

• Phone: 116 123
• Available: 24 hours a day
• Website: samaritans.org

You can call the Samaritans at any time if you need someone to listen. You do not need to be in crisis to contact them.

Shout

• Text: SHOUT to 85258
• Available: 24 hours a day

Shout provides confidential text conversations with trained volunteers who can support you if you are feeling overwhelmed, anxious or distressed.

Nightline Association

• Website: nightline.ac.uk

Nightline is a listening service run specifically for students.

Students’ Unions: your voice on campus

Every university in the UK has a Students’ Union (SU). These organisations exist to represent students and protect their interests within the university. They are often led by student officers who will be elected by you and other students. You can also run to be a student officer.

Many Students’ Unions also have independent advice centres staffed by trained professionals. These services can also help with issues such as financial problems, academic appeals, housing concerns, or disputes with the university. They can provide guidance and, in some cases, representation to ensure that your rights as a student are protected.

For many international students, the Students’ Union becomes one of the most important places for building friendships and finding community.

Societies and finding community

Most Students’ Unions host dozens, sometimes hundreds, of student societies.

These groups bring students together around shared interests, identities, or causes. You may find societies connected to:

• culture and language
• academic subjects
• faith communities
• sports or creative activities
• volunteering and social justice initiatives
• hobbies, crafts or national communities

Almost every campus has Palestinian societies, Arab societies, or Islamic societies (ISOCs), as well as many other cultural and faith groups.

These spaces often provide opportunities for students to share food, language, culture and conversation with others who understand their experiences. They also organise events that introduce Palestinian and Arab culture to wider student communities, helping to reclaim the culture and educate other students.

Joining a society is often one of the fastest ways to meet people, build friendships, and feel less alone on campus.

Opportunities beyond your studies

Universities and SUs offer many opportunities beyond academic coursework.

Depending on your interests, you may be able to:

• volunteer with community organisations
• participate in research projects
• take leadership roles within student societies
• organise talks, events, or cultural gatherings
• work part-time on campus

It is a good idea to keep track of the activities you take part in. These experiences can help you develop skills such as public speaking, organising events, communication, and leadership and can be valuable additions to your CV.

These opportunities can also help you build confidence and relationships that may support your future academic or professional opportunities, while also contributing to the intellectual and social life of the university.

Speaking about Palestine: knowing your rights

As a Palestinian student, you may find that conversations about Palestine can sometimes feel “political” on campus. Discussions about history, international law and human rights can become emotionally charged or misunderstood.

It is important to know that universities in the UK are spaces where debate and critical thinking are expected.

Students regularly engage with political questions as part of academic work, public discussion, and student activism. You have the right to speak about your experiences, your history, and the realities you have lived through.

Freedom of expression is protected in UK law and within universities. Students are allowed to express political views, participate in debate and engage critically with global issues.

UK equality law also protects individuals from discrimination based on certain philosophical beliefs. In recent legal cases, tribunals have recognised that anti-Zionism can qualify as a protected belief under the Equality Act 2010 when it meets the legal criteria applied to philosophical beliefs.

If you ever feel pressured to remain silent about your experiences or political views, it is important to know that support exists.

You can seek advice from:

• your Students’ Union (advice centre, elected student officers, societies members)
• student advice services within the university
• trusted academic staff or supervisors

Most importantly, remember that your voice and your experience are part of knowledge itself. Universities are places where ideas should be explored, questioned, and debated, and your perspective is part of that intellectual space.

As you begin this new chapter, I want to thank you for bringing your knowledge, your perspectives, and your valuable contributions to the communities you are joining. The path that brought you here has required Sumud – the steadfastness, dignity and perseverance that have allowed you to continue learning, and your Sumud will continue to shape the work you do and the relationships you build.

As you settle into university life, remember that you are not alone. There are people, communities, and institutions ready to support you. We hope that during your time here you find not only academic opportunity, but also moments of stability, friendship, and the freedom to pursue knowledge that will one day help shape the future that Gaza deserves.