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Advice

The Advice & Representation Centre can give you free, independent and confidential information, advice and support on a range of academic and non-academic issues.

We have professional advisers and elected student representatives and the service is completely confidential, independent from the University and no issue is too big or too small for us to deal with.

The Students' Union is here to help you make the most of your time at Sussex so if there's something bugging you that you think is likely to be affecting other students as well tell us about it by filling in our online form.

► Case studies

"If the [advice] service wasn't available I wouldn't have got my Disability Living Allowance, Employment Support Allowance, Housing Benefit and got my finances back in shape. If I hadn't got those benefits I would of faced a lack of funding to the point where I wouldn’t have any money at all … and so would of faced a massive financial emergency. The difference in quality of life when you know that you aren’t going to run out cash or be forced to work when incapable would of led to a massive decline in my mental health."

- 3rd year full-time undergraduate

“Because of your help I am still at the university. If it wasn't for your intervention on my behalf, my finances [both university and elsewhere] would have been a mess. This also helped with my health. It is not only that you were prepared to take me on, it was that you understood that at the time I wasn't fully functioning. So you kept up the contact and made sure that I undertook what I had to do.

You are a good example of dealing with the requests made while finding out if there is anything else that relates to the problem. People like me don't always have a strategy to deal with issues of finance, health etc. you seemed to grasp that straight away, and in a very supportive way got me through my crisis.

The whole process left me feeling a lot better off than when I first requested help.- and I don't just mean financially. I have, happily recommended you to other students"

- 2nd year part-time undergraduate

“I was really satisfied with the helpful way I received support from the Education Officer and also the fact that I received excellent support with my case in the summer vacation. You represented me very well and in the future I know where I have to go if I have similar problems during my degree at Sussex.”

- Anonymous

“I have no doubt that without the continuing, sympathetic and extremely professional help of [the adviser] and the Advice Centre I would not be finishing my course.

Whilst one may or may not receive sympathetic treatment from one's Department and the various University employed advice staff, I have never felt that they have the same level of understanding of the reality of student life with regard to finance or health. They are certainly no substitute for the independence and understanding of the Advice Centre.”

- 3rd year full-time undergraduate

“First of all as a disabled student I found the Advice Centre invaluable in helping me to get settled at Sussex … Later when it became obvious that my condition had deteriorated SAC helped me to get my exam status changed so that I could have a scribe. Finally, after my [further illness] last November, the Advice Centre sorted out all my problems with Student Loans and with the University resulting from my long absence on sick leave …had it not been for the Advice Centre I do not know what I would have done. The Advice Centre is an invaluable resource for all students not just those who are disabled"

- Full-time undergraduate

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► Case studies