Student Support
If you need support, we’re here to help.
We want everyone to thrive during their time at Churchill College. It’s important to us that our students are supported and given the best opportunities to achieve their potential.
Whether it’s relating to health and welfare, finance, or academic support, Churchill College has excellent provision in place for both postgraduates and undergraduate students.
Current students can find information about student resources, support and how to access funds on our Sharepoint site.
Welfare support
Academic support
Financial support
College Tutors
Each student at Churchill has a personal Tutor whose job it is to keep an eye on how you are doing.
Tutors are concerned with student welfare and progress throughout your time at the Churchill. Students should feel free to speak to their tutor at any time on any matter concerning themselves and the College, or for advice or help on any personal or financial matter.
Academic problems are primarily the responsibility of your Director of Studies or research supervisor, but these matters are often also useful to discuss with your tutor.
Students can also contact the relevant Tutorial Office for help and assistance:
- undergraduates: [email protected].
- postgraduates: [email protected]
Churchill’s Postgraduate Tutors
- Dr Alastair Lockhart (Senior Tutor)
- Prof Alex Webb
- Dr Liz DeMarrais
- Professor Benedikt Löwe
- Dr Thanuja Galhena
- Dr Clare Sander
Churchill College’s Undergraduate Tutorial team
Churchill’s Undergraduate Tutors
- Prof Sally Boss (Deputy Senior Tutor)
- Dr Rita Monson (Senior Tutor)
- Dr Hannah Bower
- Dr Sonja Dunbar
- Dr John Fawcett
- Mr Nigel Knight
- Dr Jon Ludlam
- Mr Graeme Morgan
- Mr Barry Phipps
- Dr Avital Rom
- Dr Andrew Taylor
- Dr Jerry Toner
- Dr Christopher Braithwaite (Finance Tutor)
Wellbeing Coordinator
The Wellbeing Coordinator provides a 1:1 confidential service to Undergraduates and Postgraduates, to support their psychological wellbeing.
Louise Ranger is the College’s Wellbeing Coordinator. You may be referred to Louise via a member of staff (such as your Tutor), and you can also self-refer.
Once in contact, Louise will arrange a meeting to discuss current difficulties you may be facing, answer general questions and address any other concerns you may have. After this you may be signposted or referred for support as relevant to your need. In addition to this, regular support from Louise will be provided if necessary.
Louise can refer students to:
- Other appropriate referrals such as to the Senior Tutor, Finance Tutor, Study Skills Tutor, Chaplaincy, etc.
- Appropriate mental health support services, including College Counsellors, specialist Counsellors, the University Counselling Service, Mental Health Advisor, NHS therapy via your GP, etc.
- The College Nurse or your GP
- The Accessibility & Disability Resource Centre for advice on academic support mechanisms
- Self-help resources
In addition to College Wellbeing support, the University of Cambridge offers a wide range of services students can also engage with:
College Nurse
The College surgery is open daily during the week in term-time for all students, staff, visiting fellows and conference delegates.
Our College Nurse is Karen MacGinley, who is typically on site 08:00 – 16:00 Monday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday in term times. Out of term, hours are reduced.
Minor ailments and injuries which are commonly seen are headaches, eye infections, splinters, grazes, cuts, blisters, minor burns, sprains, strains, colds, flu, diarrhoea, sore throats, cystitis, boils and some rashes. Patients presenting with more serious problems may be directed to Accident & Emergency, a General Practitioner or the Wellbeing Co-ordinator. assessment.
The Nurse is also able to carry out blood pressure and temperature checks, urine analysis, weight checks, and BMI calculations. Removal of sutures and dressing changes can also be arranged. The Nurse may also visit patients discharged from the hospital who may need short-term support.
A small stock of over-the-counter remedies are available, such as: painkillers, sore throat lozenges and antihistamines. Ice packs, crutches, bandages, eye wash, plasters and dressings are also available. Please note, controlled drugs, antibiotics and prescription drugs are not available from the Nurse Surgery.
College Counsellors
You can talk to a Counsellor about any personal issue that is troubling you.
Our Wellbeing Coordinator Louise Ranger offers psychological support services alongside College Counsellors Guy Snape, Rich Rippin and Tanis Howell. Counselling provides a safe and accepting space to be heard whatever your background, identity or race. The Counsellor is trained to listen carefully and respectfully, and aims to help relieve your distress, increase your personal understanding and widen the options you feel you have.
You can use counselling to help you address any personal issue from immediate concerns to longer-term problems. Issues people bring include, abuse, anxiety, bereavement, depression, eating disorders, family difficulties, identity, procrastination, racism, relationships or social concerns, self-harm, settling in, sexual harassment, sexuality, stress and suicidal feelings.
Talking to family, friends or other staff can be very helpful, but counselling provides another option if you want to talk to someone separate from the rest of your life who is professionally trained and who has time for you.
Counselling appointments will be in-person, but if you are at home out of term, or a Postgraduate student working remotely or living out, online sessions can be arranged using Zoom or a similar platform.
You are entitled to six free sessions per year, and a further six at a subsidised rate of £20 per session. This provision resets each Michaelmas term. If you are in financial adversity and there is a requirement for further free sessions, then please talk to your Tutor.
Director of Studies/Supervisors
All students will have a Director of Studies (DoS) or research supervisor assigned.
A Director of Studies (DoS) or research supervisor (for some postgraduates) is responsible for the academic work and progress, of their assigned students.
Directors of Studies support students by providing academic guidance, e.g. suggesting subject options, lecture courses, seminars. Career progression advice may also provided, which is particularly relevant for subjects like Law and Medicine where choices can impact future plans.
Research supervisors provide a similar role for postgraduates (where a DoS is not provided).
If you need to improve particular aspects of your learning, Churchill runs specialist support and study skills sessions, covering everything from note-taking and essay-writing through to examination technique.
Learning resources
Churchill College is designed to help students thrive and excel.
The College is well-served by three libraries, two of which are open 24/7, and with the Churchill Archives Centre on-site, we are privileged to be able to share world-class resources with our students.
As well as books, students can also borrow resources to use in the Library or loan, from skeletons (for medical students) to stress aids.
We also have the Bill Brown Creative Workshops on site, offering students the chance to get hands-on and make ideas take shape. Students can learn, design and create using a range of laser cutting, CAD and 3D printing equipment to produce solutions inspired by real-world challenges.
The College was created to provide a range of spaces to learn – from spacious student bedrooms, to our quiet library study areas, to alcoves and cafe seating for those who prefer more background noise. In summer, beanbags and blankets are provided to make the most of learning in the outdoor space.
Course-related socialising and community building are important to academic development. At Churchill, many subjects run academic student societies in which outside speakers give talks or students make presentations on their work. Sessions are often linked to social events and each year whole-College subject dinners allow Fellows, postgraduates, and undergraduates to get together and talk in a less academic setting.
Learning opportunities
A range of opportunities to take your learning further at Churchill College.
We are able to create opportunities for our students, often thanks to our donors, to give our students the best experiences. These include:
- Summer Opportunities Bursaries for Churchill Undergraduates who are not finalists. These bursaries provide support for a summer project outside of your course for 8 weeks, during which you will be entitled to College Accommodation.
- The Churchill College Enterprise Competition, supporting the entrepreneurial skills of current students. The programme offers training and development for all participants, regardless of whether they choose to enter a business idea for the competition or not.
- ACCEL, a leadership development opportunity for engineering and physical sciences undergraduate and postgraduate students.
We also offer grants for students who want to take up sporting, musical, or travel opportunities.
Bursaries and scholarships
Thanks to the generosity of our funders and donors, we have been able to fund over £300,000 of bursaries and studentships each year.
Cambridge Bursaries
Typically 1 in 3 Churchill undergraduate students are eligible for a Cambridge Bursary of up to £3,500, which the College funds with the University in a 2:1 ratio.
The Cambridge Bursary scheme is based on assessment of household income by the Student Loans Company (SLC) so you must apply for a student loan for maintenance (UK students) or tuition fees (EU students) in order to be automatically assessed for a bursary under this scheme and you have to reapply to the SLC each year of your course.
If your household income is less than £62,215 p.a. you should be eligible for a Bursary.
Undergraduates are automatically assessed for a Cambridge Bursary, provided you do not tick the box opting out of sharing financial information with the University in your SLC application.
Postgraduate Scholarships
Churchill College has a number of scholarships for postgraduates, which you can find using our Financial Support Finder. Examples include:
- The United Nations Least Developed Countries (UN LDC) Overseas PhD, offering a full studentship for a full-time PhD student at Churchill College in any subject from a nation on the UN-LDC list.
- The Gulbenkian Yuval Studentship offers a full studentship for a full-time PhD student at Churchill College in any subject area for applicants from outside the UK.
- The Bill Brown Engineering Fund provides a full studentship for a full-time PhD student at Churchill College in Engineering for applicants from the UK.
Churchill College also puts funds aside to support students facing hardship. The Development Office support these funds by raising money for the Student Support Fund and we’re grateful to our donors who enable this.
Prizes and grants
Supporting excellence and opportunity.
The College provides a range of funds to support and recognise achievement.
Sports and Arts Grant
Providing financial support for sporting activities, musical and drama tours etc.
Undergraduate Travel Grants
Funds to support travel that is for academic or intellectual purposes or which is likely to bring benefit to disadvantaged people, especially in the developing world.
Postgraduate Travel Grants
Support with the cost of travel to conferences and medical electives.
Achievement prizes
For undergraduates, prizes recognising outstanding achievements and top performers in subjects include Hart-Marshall Prize in the Arts & Humanities, Hawthorne Prize for Engineering, and many more.
Language Bursaries
The Churchill College language bursary is for assistance in learning a language, not connected with your studies, with the Cambridge University Language Programme. Churchill College will refund half the cost of fees for one course a year at the University Language Centre under the CULP programme to any Churchill student.
Sizarships
Churchill College is active in music-making, drama, and the visual arts. Sizarships are available to students to support this.
A “sizar” is a Cambridge term for an undergraduate receiving financial help from the college in exchange for certain duties.
Music Sizar : The Music Sizar oversees and promotes musical activities in the College and liaises with the Director of Music to arrange concerts. The Sizar organises and chairs meetings of the Music Society Committee and is the point of contact for members of the College wanting to use the Music Centre’s facilities. The Music Sizarship comes with an honorarium of £250 and may be held in addition to other music bursaries. The post runs for the calendar year.
Theatre Sizar: Churchill College offers £150 per year to undergraduates or graduate students of the College taking on the Theatre Sizar role. The Sizarship is offered for one year from 1st January, with the possibility of extension for one further year. The Theatre Sizar is expected to foster theatrical life in the College. In doing so, the Sizar will assist those teaching English in the College, and will be assisted by other members of the College.
Visual Arts Sizar: Churchill College offers a Visual Arts Sizarship of £100 per year open to undergraduates or graduate students of the College. The Sizarship is offered for one year from 1st January with the possibility of extension for one further year. The Visual Arts Sizar encourages the visual arts in College. A large art studio is available in the garden of 76 Storey’s Way for all kinds of visual artwork, for drama rehearsals, scenery preparation, etc. It is administered jointly by the Theatre and Visual Arts Sizars.
Bill Brown Creative Workshops Sizar: Open to undergraduates or postgraduate students of the College, Churchill College offers a Bill Brown Creative Workshops Sizarship of £100 per year. The Sizarship is offered for one year from 1st January with the possibility of extension for one or two further years. The Bill Brown Creative Workshops Sizar liaises with the Director of the Workshops to encourage the use of the workshop space by students and the development of projects using the Workshops’ facilities.