Student Relationships

My relationship problems are affecting my work - what can I do?

If your relationship problems have got to the stage where they're so bad they're affecting your work, then you probably need to go and speak to somebody. Every University will have a counseling service to deal with student relationships, which is free and confidential. It is recommended that you go there in the first instance. Also, because these student relationships are affecting your work you should claim for mitigating circumstances, you will need a letter to say that you've been to the counselor for relationship problems and you'll need to fill out a form to whom your student union adviser will help you with.

It upsets me that I always see my ex around campus - what can I do?

If you're getting upset that you're seeing your ex around campus at university, you're going to have to accept that he's always going to be there unless one of you transfers, so it's you who's going to have to sort out your feelings. You should speak to somebody, speak to a professional, like the university counselling service, and take up a hobby so that you're keeping your mind busy and away from the relationship. Go to the student union, see what activities are on offer and sign up for everything you can.

I'm having trouble after coming out as gay - who can I talk to?

University is quite a popular place for people to come out as gay, because they're in a new surrounding with new people who don't know them. But the first few steps can be quite difficult. Almost every student union in the country has got an LGBT society where you can go for support and they can also organize fantastic events. But if you need to speak to a professional to deal with coming out as gay, you can go and speak to a counselor, or your union has probably got an LGBT representative who has office hours. You can go and visit them every week, and get advice for your student relationships and deal with coming out as being gay.

Where can I meet more people with my sexual preference?

If you want to meet more people with your sexual preference, then you should probably go to your Student Union and join the LGBT society (Lesbian, Gay, Bi-sexual and Trans-gender society). Here, there will be lots of people who can offer you support with your student relationships, with people who have the same sexual preference. They will also organise lots of fantastic events to meet new people and get involved.

Where can I get more information about sexual health?

If you want to get information on sexual health with regards to student relationships, then the first port of call would be your University nurse. The bunts have lots of leaflets about sexual health; specifically the different types of STI's and most can be tested for on campus. The other option is going to a local gum clinic, or if you'd rather not go and visit anywhere, you can log onto the NHS Direct website for further information about your sexual health.

I'm worried I might have an STI - what should I do?

If you think you have got an STI then the most important thing to do is act quickly. You can go to your university nurse in the first instance, or if they can't test for STI's then get yourself down to the local gum clinic to check your STI. If you phone up NHS direct or click onto they're website they'll give you the telephone numbers and contact details of local clinics where you can go to get help for your STI's and sexual health in general.