Support for International Students
New to Bradford?
Coming to a new place and country can be difficult as you have to get used to so many things: there will be differences in the way people dress, how they speak, the food they eat, the climate and customs, the money. This all takes time to get used to.
What is Counselling?
In your own country you would maybe turn to family and friends for help and advice when things are going wrong in your life. At the University of Bradford one way we try to help people who are in difficulty is through counselling.
Counselling gives you a chance to come and talk, in confidence, about anything that is troubling you. Your counsellor will help you to think things through, make changes in your life if you need, and give you information about who else might help.
If you want to see a counsellor, you can make an appointment. If you are still uncertain ask the International Student Adviser in the International Office for help or just give us a ring.
Drop-In sessions are also available. These provide an opportunity to see a Counsellor for a brief session without the need to make an appointment.
When you come for your appointment your counsellor will take you into a private room so that you can talk in confidence. He or she will ask you some questions and will help you to sort out what is worrying you. Your counsellor will listen to you very carefully rather than telling you what to do, so that together you can arrive at what needs to be done.
You will have 50 minutes in which to talk about your difficulties and at the end of this time your counsellor will offer you another appointment for the next week if this is what you want.
Will anyone else need to know?
Counselling is confidential and private and your counsellor will not tell anyone else unless you want them to. For instance there might be someone else in the University who could help you and it might be useful for them to know what is troubling you.
If your counsellor was very worried about your physical safety or the safety of someone you had talked about they might want to talk with someone else to try and make sure no one got hurt. Otherwise it is up to you if you want anyone to know what you have talked about.
What things can I talk about?
You can talk about anything that is concerning you. These are some examples but it can be anything:
- worries about your course
- the death of someone you know
- feeling lonely or isolated
- missing home
- not making friends
- experiencing racism or other harassment
- problems with relationships
- feeling anxious or depressed
