Wellbeing at university

Our wellbeing services are open to all students and provide  support and advice on wellbeing, including transition and adjustment to university life. Throughout the year we plan proactive health and wellbeing campaigns, events and education with a focus on promotion of good wellbeing.

The wellbeing support team often act as your first point of contact for support and we will enable you to get the right help for your circumstances . You'll be able to get in contact us if you're feeling worried, upset or uncertain.  You'll be offered a drop in or triage appointment with a Wellbeing Adviser who will listen to your current concerns. Wellbeing Advisers will then work with you to develop the support or self-help guidance you will benefit from, which may include putting you in touch with more specialised or clinical services in the University – such as Counselling and Mental Health - or externally. 

Maintaining your wellbeing whilst at university is really important for engaging well with your studies and making the most of the opportunities and experiences you have available during your time at Royal Holloway. The key areas to focus on are monitoring your stress levels, making time for relaxation, finding a healthy study-life balance and making friends and connections. We can help you work towards these areas when you arrive.

Our Money and Financial Advisers are here to assist you with any financial difficulties you may experience as a student.  They can provide advice about budgeting, assist with the costs of learning, advocate for you to receive funding, and can make financial awards through the Study Support Grant.

We're often asked often asked what our top tip for maintaining positive wellbeing is and for us it is remembering the 8-8-8 rule. To support keeping a good balance in your life we encourage you to aim for eight hours sleep or rest each day alongside eight hours studying and eight hours social activity, including sport and exercise.  If you do have a day where you need to spend a little longer on one then you should try to re-balance this the next day.

Regular exercise and physical activity is great for developing a happy and healthier life and our Egham campus benefits from being based in 135 acres of stunning parkland. Our Sports Centre has a multi-use four court sports hall, a 60 station fitness suite and treatment room. Outdoors, we have world-class, floodlit outdoor pitches and course, including a 3G and astro pitch. These facilities provide all-weather playing surfaces for a wide range of sports. In addition to the above, we have two grass football pitches, one American Football field, one cricket pitch, eight tennis courts, two squash courts and five netball courts. 

If you'd prefer a more leisurely stroll, our campus has been named one of the most beautiful in the world; a great setting for a walk in our meadow, by Founder's Pond or through our Arboretum. Slightly further afield but close to campus, Windsor Great Park and Virginia Water are great for a walk or a cycle ride. 

You can also watch a video of some of our social spaces on campus below.

One of our current students, Rebecca, shares her favourite hidden gems on campus in the video below.

One of our current students, Rebecca, shares her favourite hidden gems on campus in the video below.

Royal Holloway is a multi-faith community and we aim to support you in your personal faith and spiritual journey, whatever your beliefs or circumstances.

Our chaplains are available to listen to students and staff of all beliefs and none, offering support to the whole community

The Multifaith Chaplaincy offers a programme of Sunday and weekday Christian services in our beautiful Chapel and Muslim Friday prayers on campus. We also support the worship needs of other faith groups and are committed to a range of interfaith conversations and events. The Muslim Prayer Room  and Dharmic Prayer Room are both  available throughout the week to students. 

On-campus faith groups include Hindu, Sikh, Islamic, Jewish and Catholic Societies as well as a Christian Union, and the Multifaith Chaplaincy works to encourage mutual learning and engagement between students from different faith traditions.

At Royal Holloway, we also have a Peer Guide system. Peer Guides are students who help other students in their first few weeks at University. In particular, they:

• Help new and visiting students as they transition into university life.
• Formalise the ad-hoc peer support that naturally develops within student communities.
• Offer virtual support to students via Microsoft Teams channels and in person meetings.
• Help bring the Royal Holloway community together.
• Promote diversity on campus.

You'll hear more about the Peer Guide system in your first few weeks as a student. 

If you are living with a disability or a medical condition, our team is on hand to support you with your support needs. This can include but isn’t limited to: exam access arrangements, reasonable adjustments, diagnostic assessments, guidance on the Disabled Students' Allowance, and department and library support.

You may have already disclosed your needs on your UCAS form, or you can do it when you arrive. It is possible to register with the team in advance and you can find out more about what we offer here. You may also be eligible to receive the Disabled Students' Allowance and you can find out more by clicking here. 

The Students' Union also provides support and guidance to current students and this can be useful if you're looking to gain an independent perspective. 

They can offer help with academic advice, finding the right wellbeing service along with housing advice during your time as a student. 

The Students' Union also lead student communities for under-represented groups:

Making sure that you are valued and represented during your time here is one of our top priorities, which is where our student communities  come in. They help to give underrepresented groups a platform to have their voices heard on campus and beyond.

As well as organising activities, events and campaigns, they receive support and work with the Union to secure the general interests and rights of students that self-define into the relevant group.

Led by convenors determined by an online election, their activity may include supporting and working across different student groups.

Joining any of our student communities  is completely free! Even if you don’t define into the group you can register yourself as a supporter, allowing you to take part in any of the activities run by the groups

Currently we have student communities for the following groups:

• Black & Global Majority students
• Disabled students
• International students
• LGBTQ+ students
• Mature, Carer and Parent students
• Students of faith
• Women students

If you're looking for support with your academic studies, you will have a Personal Tutor in your department as part of our Peer Guide scheme, where you are appointed a fellow student to offer non-judgemental support. You can also access help through the Centre for the Development of Academic Skills (CeDAS) which runs workshops, 1:1 advice and drop-in sessions to help boost your academic and study skills. Please note you won't be able to access some of the links until you are fully enrolled, but please be reassured that support will be accessible once you start your studies.