Welfare and Support

Teachers, course coordinators and the IEC management team have an open door policy. This means you are welcome to come and see any of us during office hours if you have questions or need any help or support. If we cannot see you immediately, we will arrange an appointment with you.

The IEC Coordinator is the Department’s welfare tutor and is always there to help you if you have a problem.

Students on Foundation, Pre-Masters, Target and Pre-sessional Courses will meet regularly with their personal tutors, who can support both your learning and your adjustment to a new living situation and a new culture. Your tutor will work with you to monitor your academic progress, consider your learning needs and help you plan your independent study. If you experience difficulties or problems, your personal tutor is here to listen and to direct you towards further help if necessary.

The IEC has robust and detailed Safeguarding Procedures to ensure the safety and well-being of all its students.

Students who are aged under 18 when they begin their course with IEC will receive additional care. Both they and their parents must understand and accept the IEC’s under-18s agreement (download here) and the rules for the under 18s (download here) to ensure that they are safe while enjoying their time in Aberystwyth.

The UKVI U18s letter  must be completed by the parents/legal guardians of any student under the age of 18.  The completed letter must be presented to the UKVI as part of any Tier 4 visa application for a student under the age of 18.

All IEC students have:

• a 24/7 phone number to contact IEC Staff in case of an emergency
• access to 24/7 Site Security across the campus
• 24/7 safety & security systems in all student accommodation and individual student bedrooms
• First Aid trained members of staff within the IEC, and on-call across the university campus, including in accommodation
• an IEC Contact Card, issued at registration, with useful contact details for the IEC, the University and emergency services in the UK
• academic tutorials with experienced and qualified teaching staff
• IEC Social Programme

In addition to the support listed above, if students are under 18 when they start an IEC course then we will give them extra help and support:

• All students who are under 18 will have an additional safeguarding session with the IEC Co-ordinator when they arrive to go over the IEC under 18 rules and regulations
• All students under 18 must understand and follow the IEC Under 18 Rules. Students might be sent home if they do not follow these rules
• Students who are under 18 must attend every class. If they do not come to class we will contact them. Students who are under 18 have to let us know why they are not in class. A member of the IEC Safeguarding Team may visit the student in the middle of the day if they are ill to check on the students well-being
• Students who are under 18 must have a phone that is switched on and charged when they are not in class.  This allows IEC staff to contact them at all times
• If an under 18 student leaves Aberystwyth for any reason, they must always inform the IEC Co-ordinator so that the IE knows where they are at all times.  They must also complete the IEC Absence Form.
• During their course, students who are under 18 will have IEC Pastoral Tutorials with the IEC Co-ordinator 
• Every two weeks the IEC Under 18 Group Meeting takes place. This group will talk about keeping safe and discuss any general problems that they might have
• The IEC Co-ordinator is the dedicated contact for parents to contact if they have any questions or worries about their child
• End of semester reports will be copied to parents until their child turns 18
• Students who are under 18 will be able to join in most of the social programme events (welcome parties, end of course parties, Christmas parties, film nights and walks etc) but will not be able to attend any events that involve alcohol, for example pub tours and wine and cheese parties etc

The IEC supports students throughout their time at university. We offer undergraduate modules, drop in seminars for undergraduates and postgraduates, free one-to-one language consultations, and writing advice with Royal Literary Fund Writing Fellows for advice on writing. These services are available to all undergraduate and postgraduate students.

The University provides a Faith Space, available to all students for prayer and quiet contemplation.

If you are staying in University Halls of Residence, 24-hour support is available if you have any problems in your room or flat, e.g. you are locked out, are unwell, need a repair or have a problem with a neighbour, we have staff on hand 24 hours a day to help.

During the academic year (September-June), a team of Residence Assistants, who are students just like you, are on-site to help you settle in and make the most of your time at the University. 

In the summer months, the International English Centre employs its own Halls Officers to support students on its courses.

The University offers a Wellbeing Service. This service is open to all students, and is intended to help them develop the skills to take responsibility for their own well-being and to manage their lives at University successfully.