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University Centre Student Support
Student Services
Library & Academic Skills
Careers & Employment
Welsh Language/Cymraeg
Mental Health & Wellbeing
Chaplaincy
Inclusion & Learning Support
Funding & Financial Support
Safeguarding & Prevent
Equality & Diversity
As a University Centre dedicated to providing a comprehensive educational experience, at Cambria we understand that students face unique challenges during their academic journey. That’s why we are committed to offering a range of support services to help our students thrive.
Our Student Services teams are based across all our college sites, and they are here to provide support and guidance on personal, financial, and academic issues, including information and advice on course and future career opportunities.
We are committed to supporting you in any way we can, so you can achieve your academic goals and succeed in life.
Find out below about just some of the ways our Student Services Team can help you.
You can contact Student Services by calling 0300 30 30 007 or emailing studentservices@cambria.ac.uk.
We recognise that mental health and wellbeing can have a significant impact on a student’s experience. The team at Cambria University Centre are passionate about providing the best support and resources to support wellbeing and good mental health.
There isn’t any criteria to meet, students can refer themselves for Resilience Coaching, Counselling and Welfare support on the Student Hub, speak to their Course Tutor, call into Student Services or email studentservices@cambria.ac.uk.
You can find out more about Mental Health Support here.
Our Careers Advisors and Student Services Team can support students with questions about next steps, or if they are unsure about their current course.
By using up to date labour market information and trends, they can help students research careers in all job sectors.
Furthermore, we have an Enterprise and Entrepreneurship Coordinator, who can offer guidance and support on self employment and business start up through workshops, guest speakers and enterprise clubs.
For any queries or further information, please email careers@cambria.ac.uk.
Here at Coleg Cambria we’re well connected, with transport available from a wide variety of destinations across Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham.
The College network is free to use, as long as you live 3 miles away from the site. For more information and eligibility, please contact Student Services.
For any support, advice or guidance with your transportation to the College, please email transport@cambria.ac.uk.
The Cambria University Centre is committed to the safety and well-being of students and provides:
- A supportive safeguarding team on all sites
- A clear anti-bullying approach
- A supportive environment for students to discuss concerns or issues relating to extremist views, terrorism or dangers of radicalisation
- Safeguarding and Prevent training and information for all.
You can find our Safeguarding & Prevent policies by clicking below:
If you have any concerns or are concerned about anyone else visit the Student Hub.
Students have access to financial support such as:
- Free transport that is available from a wide range of destinations across three counties
- Free Breakfasts for all students
- Advice, information and guidance from easily accessible staff on all sites.
Student Finance
As a Higher Education student, you can get access to a variety of financial support.
The Student Loans Company and Student Finance Wales offer loans (which you repay) and grants (which you don’t repay) for anyone studying higher education courses at Coleg Cambria.
Your eligibility will depend on the course type, where you live and your household income.
Coleg Cambria can offer a £1000 bursary payment to you if you’re progressing from Coleg Cambria (i.e. level 3 and Access to HE) to one of the following courses:
- FdA Childhood Studies.
The bursary is paid in two £500 instalments:
- Year 1, at the end of Semester 2
- Year 2, at the end of Semester 2.
In order for the bursary to be given to you, the following conditions must be stuck to:
- Confirmation has been received from the University that the course fees have been paid to date
- You have an attendance percentage of over 90%
- All of your work is up to date (confirmed by the Programme Leader).
For University Centre Learners Living in Wales
Tuition Fee
You could get up to £9,250 a year, depending on how much your course costs. How much you get does not depend on your household income.
We pay your loan directly to your university or college. You have to pay it back, including interest once you’ve finished or left your course. Don’t worry though, currently you do not have to pay anything back until you are in employment and earning over the repayment threshold of £524 a week, or £2,274 a month.
Help with Living Costs
You could also get a mixture of loan and grant to help with your living costs. How much you get depends on your household income and where you live and study.
These tables show an estimate of how much you could get based on your household income for 2023/24:
Household Income | Living With Your Parents | |
---|---|---|
Loan | Grant | |
£18,370 or less | £3,065 | £6,885 |
£25,000 | £4,020 | £5,930 |
£35,000 | £5,462 | £4,488 |
£45,000 | £6,903 | £3,047 |
£59,200 or more | £8,950 | £1,000 |
Total | £9,950 |
Household Income | Living Away From Parental Home | |
---|---|---|
Loan | Grant | |
£18,370 or less | £3,620
| £8,100 |
£25,000 | £4,773 | £6,947 |
£35,000 | £6,512 | £5,208 |
£45,000 | £8,251 | £3,469 |
£59,200 or more | £10,720 | £1,000 |
Total | £11,720 |
Full details of all financial support, how and when to apply can be found on the Student Finance Wales website.
For Learning Living Outside of Wales
Students living outside Wales can find information on funding and application processes via the following links:
Helpful Videos
For further information
Studying with Cambria University Centre gives you access to a number of well equipped libraries across the Cambria sites.
The libraries are safe, inclusive and welcoming spaces designed to support your learning needs.
We have quiet study areas for group or individual work, access to PCs and Chromebooks to use onsite or loan for home use.
There are printing facilities and support to connect your own devices to the college Wifi along with help to boost your digital skills while studying with us.
Our dedicated team are here to help you via email or phone.
Don’t hesitate to contact the team at library@cambria.ac.uk for any library enquiries.
You will have opportunities to request advice from a professional and well qualified academic skills team to guide your learning journey.
Group and tailored 1:1 academic support is provided on a wide range of key academic topics including critical evaluation, effective research and referencing with simple and accessible routes to self refer for additional support where needed.
In addition to personal guidance you will have 24/7 access to sector leading, high quality peer reviewed research literature, a range of ebook platforms to provide flexible access to your essential and wider reading along with opportunities to request book titles that you would like to see added to the library catalogue.
Our Careers Advisers provide help to prospective students on choosing the right course as well as offering advice and guidance on developing your career and planning your next move after college – whether that is getting a job, ab apprenticeship or going to university. We are your gateway to finding out about different careers and opportunities in the world of work.
We can help you with:
- Choosing the right courses for you at Coleg Cambria
- Applying to university – we can assist you with thinking about what you want to do and where is best for you, we’ll also help with writing personal statements and getting UCAS applications in.
Our Job Shop Employability Coaches support our students with:
- Finding out about apprenticeships and work-based training if you wish to gain paid employment and gain a qualification at the same time
- Applying for jobs, writing a CV and preparing for job interviews.
Find out more about the Coleg Cambria Job Shop
For further details contact us
Being bilingual at Coleg Cambria
At Coleg Cambria, we are committed to helping you develop your bilingual skills that will lead to career and life success.
Bilingualism opens doors for you in the world of work and increases your employability. It can also enrich your social life and improve your mind and creativity.
Studying through the medium of Welsh or bilingually
If you have studied through the medium of Welsh or bilingually at school you can continue to do so at Coleg Cambria.
Many of our courses are delivered bilingually and can give you the opportunity to continue to develop your skills in both Welsh and English.
You can also do the following in Welsh:
- Submit written work and receive bilingual notes
- Follow specific courses or modules
- Complete work experience in a range of Welsh speaking environments
- Assessments, entry interviews, tutorials, mentoring and meetings.
Developing your Welsh language skills
If you have no Welsh language skills or would like to develop existing skills, there are a great deal of opportunities for you to improve and gain confidence in using Welsh within your chosen subject area.
You can do the following:
- Complete bilingual units relevant to your subject
- Complete online taster courses
- Attend Welsh classes building on your skills
- Attend Welsh beginner classes if you have no knowledge.
If you want to study in Welsh or develop your skills, our Welsh team can support you by offering 1-1 mentoring and guidance. They can also help you to improve your Welsh language written skills and provide translation for terminology and technical terms.
Having fun in Welsh
We have a range of bilingual social events and activities available for you to enjoy from Welsh festivals to overnight trips.
Our Welsh Branch Officer runs social gatherings on each site and keeps in touch through our social media accounts.
Interested In Learning In Welsh?
To enquire about learning in Welsh, please fill in the form below.
"*" indicates required fields
Learn In Welsh Student Videos
For further details contact us
Our Support
Here at Coleg Cambria we strive to support and educate learners regarding their mental health and wellbeing. By introducing healthy support and wellbeing techniques into our routines, the more resilient we can feel.
We know that mental health & wellbeing can have a significant impact on your college experience. Our Mental Health & Wellbeing Team are passionate about providing the best support and resources that promote your wellbeing and good mental health.
This includes:
- Support from dedicated trauma informed wellbeing staff across all college sites
- Bespoke transitions into and out of college
- Wellbeing Hubs and pop up hubs across our sites providing safe, quiet locations for you to relax and take part in mindful activities
- Support from our Resilience Coaches and Wellbeing advisors to help identify and overcome barriers to learning
- Face to face counselling
- Mental health and wellbeing activities throughout the year
- 1:1 mental health and wellbeing sessions and support, tailored specially to meet your needs and helping you to succeed
- Support with overcoming anxiety related to socialising, accessing college or travel to college
- Multi agency working including referrals and social signposting.
We are a trailblazer college for embedding trauma informed approaches in Wales.
We have contributed to and follow the National Trauma-Informed Practice Framework with collaboration from the ACE Hub Wales, wider support services and other educational settings.
We are currently training all of our staff across the College to be trauma informed and are beginning the process of reviewing processes and policies whilst ensuring our culture and language is trauma informed to support all of our full time and part time learners and staff.
We reflect on our own strategic direction and college values and how we align these to being inclusive and trauma informed.
We follow the 5 principles of a trauma informed setting:
- Universal approach which does no harm
- Person centred
- Relationship focused
- Resilience and strength focused
- Inclusive
And we recognise we can do this by:
- Embedding safety
- Empowering (voice and choice)
- Trust (and transparency)
- Tackling historical, gender, cultural and wider issues
- Peer support
- Collaboration and mutuality
Further information on the framework for a Trauma Informed Wales can be found here: https://acehubwales.com/
Our dedicated team are here to help you via email or phone.
Don’t hesitate to contact us at wellbeing@cambria.ac.uk for any enquiries.
*For apprentice and work based learners we can also offer online, out of hours or off-site appointments.
Chaplaincy may be a word that not everyone may be familiar with, but it’s very simple, chaplaincy exists to help all staff and students feel connected and valued within our College community. Chaplaincy works alongside our support teams to help make Coleg Cambria a supportive and inclusive place to learn and work. We always looking for your ideas and suggestions about things that we could be doing better, or areas that you would like the Chaplaincy to explore.
We offer a lot of different projects and support including;
- Spiritual Wellbeing – Workshops and events looking at spirituality and identity
- Bushcraft – Exploring spirituality through forest skills and nature encounters
- Multi Faith Awareness – Interactive workshops and resources on all major world religions, including events to mark religious festivals and significant world days from Pride to Holocaust Memorial Day
- Faith Support – Including expert advice, prayer rooms and prayer support, crisis of faith support and more.
For more information call into Student Services or email us
Here at Cambria University Centre, we’re committed to inclusion. We actively promote equality and celebrate diversity.
With our inclusive approach and the support and adjustments we offer, we are able to meet a wide range of needs.
Inclusion support is offered across all five of our campuses. Our approach will be tailored to you and your individual needs.
You can talk to us before your course starts or at any time during your course of study. One of the ways you can talk to us is through
emailing hesupport@cambria.ac.uk.
Inclusion support is offered across all five of our campuses. Our approach is tailored to you and your individual needs. Your support needs can be shared with us before your course starts or at any time during your course of study.
If you have a learning need, our specialist tutors can support your independent learning.
They can help you to develop skills in:
- Using assistive technologies
- Strategies in effective learning
- Time management
- Exam technique & anxiety
- Organisational skills
- Plus much more…
If you feel you would benefit from applying for Disabled Students Allowance (DSA), our team can support you with this. To apply for DSA you need a medical diagnosis of a disability, or a diagnosis of a Specific Learning Difference (SpLD).
If you feel you have a SpLD but don’t have a diagnosis, our team can support you with this.
Reading and writing software is available to you whenever you need it, on whatever course you need it for.
Following an initial meeting and assessment, we may provide you with resources to support your learning, such as:
- Guidance and training on using assistive software
- Laptops/Chromebooks from the library
- Keyboard and mouse alternatives if needed
- Portable magnification devices.
As a Higher Education (HE) student with a disability, you could be eligible for assistance through Disabled Student Allowance (DSA).
DSA helps pay towards extra costs you may have when studying on your course as a direct result of your difficulty. You can find more about the Disabled Students’ Allowances and how to apply by watching the following video and visiting yourdsa.com.
Please apply for DSA as soon as you can to ensure support is in place as soon as possible.
If you need more information, please go to the ‘Get in touch‘ page to leave your details, or email hesupport@cambria.ac.uk.
If you’re a University Centre learner with Specific Learning Differences (SpLD), physical, or medical needs you can apply for Exam Access Arrangements.
These arrangements give you equal access to the exam without changing the demands of the assessment.
Some examples of EAA are:
- Extra time
- Use of a reader
- Use of a scribe
- Use of a word processor
- Coloured overlays or paper
- A smaller or separate room.
If you have had EAA in the past for your exams, please give us this information on enrolment.
You’ll need to provide evidence of your learning difference or medical need to your ALN specialist lecturer.
They’ll meet with you in your first term to put these arrangements in place, inline with the university partners’ guidance.
If you need more information, please go to the get in touch page to leave your contact details, or email hesupport@cambria.ac.uk.
Frequently Asked Questions
At Cambria your support needs will be met by a team of people called the Inclusion Team. Your personal support needs will be identified and your support may be in the classroom or delivered as an additional session that you attend with a Specialist Lecturer or Mentor.
You can use this software to assist you to read written text, or to type as you speak. It is linked to your college email account and can be accessed remotely from home.
Yes, if you want us to put support and/or exam access arrangements in place at Coleg Cambria.
We only pass the information on if you have given us consent or requested us to do so. For example consent for exam access arrangements. However, it may be a good idea to make other organisations aware of your needs so that relevant support can be put in place.
Specialist Lecturers support learners to develop learning independence. A Specialist Lecturer will introduce themselves to your group at the induction for each course. This is normally within your first week at Cambria. However, if you need to contact them before you enrol, don’t hesitate to email hesupport@cambria.ac.uk.
Higher education students
As a Higher Education student, you can get access to a variety of financial support. The Student Loans Company offers loans and grants for anyone studying higher education courses at Coleg Cambria. Eligibility depends on the course type and where you live.
In summary:
- Foundation degrees and degrees have fees which can be funded by Tuition Fee loans
- Higher apprenticeships are usually funded by the Welsh Government
- Professional courses may be funded by your employer, by you or by European projects
What you need to know
Cambria HE Bursary
For those undertaking a degree at Cambria University Centre you may be eligible for a non-repayable financial support through our Cambria HE Bursary.
Who is eligible*?
- Those on a full-time Higher Education course
- Those paying their own fees of £7,500 or above
- Students who have the required level of attendance
- Students whose assignments are completed and submitted on time
- Student conduct is in accordance with the Coleg Cambria Code of Conduct
How is it paid?
- Money (fixed reward) into your bank account
- Cambria Campus Credit (fixed and award in kind via vouchers)
*Full T&C’s apply and payment will be withheld if the student fails to meet the required conditions
—
Other bursaries
Coleg Cambria can offer a £1000 bursary payment to you if you’re progressing from Coleg Cambria (i.e. level 3 and Access to HE) to one of the following courses:
- FdA Childhood Studies
- FdA Education (Learner Support)
- FdA Education (Special Educational Needs)
The bursary is paid in two £500 instalments:
- year 1, at the end of Semester 2
- year 2, at the end of Semester 2
In order for the bursary to be given to you, the following conditions must be stuck to:
- confirmation has been received from the University that the course fees have been paid to date
- you have an attendance percentage of over 90%
- all of your work is up to date (confirmed by the Programme Leader)
For further information
Student Finance Explained
How to Apply for Student Finance
Childcare
We have a welcoming and homely childcare centre at Cambria, Toybox at Deeside. We can offer you financial assistance if you need it. Read about the nursery and what they can offer you and your child below.
Toybox
Here at Toybox Nursery, we want to make sure that both you and your child are coming to an environment that’s warm and friendly, which is why we’re proud to say we offer the best childcare in the most beautiful setting.
We provide ‘educare’ for children aged 3 months to five years, with a healthy mixture of learning and play. Our curriculum is built around areas to support and encourage your child’s personal, social, emotional, physical and intellectual wellbeing and development.
Useful Information
Each area within the nursery has a curriculum to follow, which includes personal and social development, language and literacy, mathematics, physical and creative development.
We have five rooms for five different age groups. The caterpillar room is for children 0-12 months. It’s full of conventional toys and holistic activities such as treasure baskets, bubbles, music and water play to encourage the babies to explore and enjoy their surroundings indoors and outdoors.
Our ladybird room is for children aged 12-18 months. There they’re encouraged to become more mobile through soft play, push along toys and more.
The children in the butterfly room (aged 18 months – 2½ years) are encouraged to communicate, play together and to find their voice together with shared activities such as baking and sand play.
In the bumblebee room, children aged 2½ – 3 years are given a wide range of learning opportunities through sand, malleable play, books, block play, exploratory play, role play and movement.
The children in the grasshopper room (3-5 years) follow Foundation learning, which allows your children to be creative, imaginative and to have fun whilst learning. This gives children skills to build on and develop ready for school.
Our opening hours are:
Monday – 8.00am – 5.45pm
Tuesday – 8.00am – 5.45pm
Wednesday – 8.00am – 5.45pm
Thursday – 8.00am – 5.45pm
Friday – 8.00am – 5.45pm
Toybox Nursery is open throughout the year except for Bank Holidays and one week at Christmas. Please note that if the nursery is open on Christmas Eve, the closing time will be 1.00pm.
We’re based at Coleg Cambria’s Deeside site. If you need to contact us please call 0300 30 30 007 or email us at toybox@cambria.ac.uk
Funding
We don’t want financial difficulties to get in the way of your education. If you’re studying full time at Coleg Cambria (or want to), have preschool children and you are on a low income, you may be eligible to receive financial assistance towards the costs of childcare.
Please contact Student Services on 0300 30 30 007 or email studentservices@cambria.ac.uk for details of the Financial Contingency Fund; you can apply for assistance as soon as you enrol on a full-time course at Coleg Cambria. You and your child will both be in good hands with us.
Keeping you safe
The college is committed to your safety and well-being whilst both in and out of college whilst you are a student with us. If you feel that you are at risk or have any concerns you can speak to any member of staff, who will support you including seeking the support of our Safeguarding Team.
As a College we have a duty to safeguard all children, young people and adults at risk from the threat of extremist views, the influence of terrorist groups and the dangers of radicalisation. Our Prevent Strategy lays out our approach and our responsibilities. It’s focused on education, respect and providing a safe place for students to discuss issues, ask questions and share their views and aims to help people how to protect themselves.
If you have any concerns please contact the Safeguarding Team on 0300 30 30 009, email Safeguarding@cambria.ac.uk or pop into Student Services.
If you need support, you can contact us
Contact us
0300 30 30 009
At Coleg Cambria we understand the importance of actively working towards making our college the most inclusive, equal and supportive place for everyone. We work closely with our diverse community of learners, staff and stakeholders to ensure that Coleg Cambria is inclusive for all of us. Our Equality and Diversity Coordinator is available to support both staff and learners in anything they need to ensure they have what they need to thrive here.
Regardless of who you are and what your characteristics are, you deserve to be treated with respect, have fair and tailored opportunities and be celebrated for you. No matter your race, religion, gender identity, age, sexuality, disability, class, marital status, pregnancy or maternity, you are an equal, valued member of our community.
We are committed to constantly improving our services to be inclusive to everyone. We expect that every member of the Coleg Cambria community to both be treated with respect, and to treat others with respect. See below some of the ways in which staff and students of Coleg Cambria promote equality and diversity.
Access
We recognise that access for people with physical disabilities may require additional adjustments. Our Inclusion Team will work with you to address any barriers.
Reflect the diverse communities we serve
Respect & celebrate all backgrounds & cultures
Zero tolerance for bullying & harassment
Treat everyone equally and fairly
Ensure learning is accessible to all
Challenge prejudice
What We Are Working On
It is vital that we are continually working towards making Coleg Cambria the most inclusive and equal place for all. The below documents lay out what our plans are for doing that, and the progress we have made so far.
Coleg Cambria Promoting British Values
The best in British values underpin all education and activities at Coleg Cambria. We have a legal duty to ensure that all learners understand the British values set out in the Government’s Prevent Strategy.
Democracy
The rule of law
Individual liberty
mutual respect
tolerance of faiths & Beliefs
Our values include to ‘encourage and celebrate diversity’ and to ‘respect others and our environment’. The college is an ‘investor in diversity’ and we actively promote tolerance of different faiths and beliefs via our chaplaincy services, the pastoral system, college activities and a very active equality and diversity committee.
Our dedicated team are here to help you via email or phone.
Don’t hesitate to contact us at equalityanddiversity@cambria.