For many people, the prospect of studying in a city as cosmopolitan and globally connected as London may be both exciting and daunting!
The Student Support and Counselling Service offers support and counselling to students, helping you to deal with practical and emotional challenges you may experience, and assisting you to feel safe and live confidently in London.
In its 2016 review, the UK’s Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education confirmed that “the Institute is highly responsive to student requests and concerns”.
Moving to a new city or country is a big challenge and Student Support aim to make this transition as easy and enjoyable for you as possible.
We offer a range of information for incoming students prior to arrival:
Accommodation and Living in London
- We are pleased to work in partnership with the University of London Housing Service (ULHS) who can assist students in finding the right place to live during your study programme.
- We offer a social forum on the Welcome site through which incoming students can meet each other virtually, perhaps to buddy up and share the accommodation search, or just as a place to start networking!
- We supply information about arriving and living in London: how to access health services, open bank accounts and local travel information.
Once you are enrolled, we offer the following additional services from our Bedford Square campus:
Staying safe
- A Student Support Orientation session at the start of all programs addressing culture shock and outlining additional support available throughout the program.
- ‘Staying Safe in London’- tailor made safety awareness sessions delivered by an expert security consultant.
Staying healthy
- Professional counselling service is available in-house (more information below).
- Student Support - information and advice on health, wellbeing and related issues (more information below).
- Out of hours support – access to listening service Nightline.
- Disabilities and learning difficulties (SpLDs)- confidential advice and support with adjustments.
When you arrive at Sotheby’s Institute of Art - London, we hope you will feel reassured by the warm, supportive and friendly learning community.
Dawn Ashdown Harris
Reg MBACP (Accred)
Counsellor and Student Support Coordinator
Dawn currently manages the Counselling and Student Support Service; she is a professionally qualified and highly experienced counsellor.
Counselling
We offer in-house counselling for students who are experiencing anxiety, depression or any other concerns that may impact on your ability to study. The Counselling Service is offered free-of-charge to students who are currently enrolled on course, it is private and confidential - we are bound by our professional code of ethics.
For further information on the Counselling Service, or to make an appointment for an initial consultation, please email counselling@sia.edu
Student Support
Student Support aims to promote and foster your wider personal development while you are a student at Sotheby’s Institute of Art London. We offer a range of friendly and discreet signposting services on a range of student concerns for example: accessing NHS health care, well-being and self-help materials.
For support please email student.support@sia.com
The Student Support and Counselling Service monitors email accounts during normal opening hours – the service currently operates on Thursday and Friday each week during term time (09.30 - 17.30).
If you need to see someone urgently, and the Student Support and Counselling Service is not available, please contact your GP/doctor, call Samaritans free on 116 123 (UK) or visit your nearest Hospital A&E.