1So the counselling services we offer deal with any problems arising from your studies,
2or in your life outside the university.
3Let's take academic counselling.
4If you're confused about subjects or how to combine them in your degree,
5then we can advise you and discuss the career you are aiming for,
6so that you can see it all in context.
7We can also chase up your tutor if you're not getting proper feedback on how you are getting on in your subject.
8Besides help with academic problems,
9you may also need personal counselling:
10if you think you're already under stress,
11well, just wait till classes begin next week.
12You'll have to start adjusting to teaching and learning methods that may be unfamiliar to you,
13as well as the mounting pressure as the deadline for that first assignment creeps up on you.
14And of course, you have to cope with all this without your usual social network -
15you know, the social contacts, family and friends you could normally rely on for help.
16All of this causes anxiety.
17Studying overseas can trigger a personal crisis -
18you may have left a lot of what you might call 'unfinished business' back in your own country,
19or you may have interrupted personal relationships
20or even sometimes have broken them off to come overseas,
21and so the student often feels lonely, unhappy, unmotivated
22and unable to concentrate on studying.
23Or there may be other things bothering you.
24Our resident chaplain can offer you spiritual guidance if that's what you want,
25or we can put you in touch with community groups that can provide you with social contacts and friendship.
26What about exam stress?
27It affects nearly everyone to some extent,
28but especially overseas students like yourselves.
29There may be a huge amount of family pressure on you to succeed,
30and if you fail a subject or drop out of a course because it's too difficult
31then your self-esteem can suffer.
32But it's not the end of the world if you don't pass an exam -
33I had to resit First Year Anthropology, so I can certainly offer you a sympathetic ear!
34Anyway, exam failure can lead to worrying changes in the way you normally behave.
35You may also be off your food,
36or you may have dietary problems
37because the local food is not to your liking and upsets you,
38and this can affect your health and studies.
39Glenda Roberts is our dietician in the Health Service
40and we can put you on to her.
41And we all have money problems, don't we?
42But remember, full-time students can get a low-interest loan of up to six hundred dollars to buy books
43and for similar study-related expenses.
44That's right,
45and you can get double that amount if you can't afford an item of equipment you need for your course -
46a musical instrument, for example.
47And it doesn't stop there.
48When you move into a flat,
49starting-up expenses, including furniture for it,
50can be covered by a loan through the Welfare Service.
51See Jill Freeman for details.
52Can we help you?
53Well, last academic year, in spite of staff cuts,
54we counselled 240 international students for a total of 2600 hours counselling,
55and, finally we won all but just 1 of the 12 appeals that we launched on behalf of students.
56Not too bad for an understaffed service, don't you think?
57That's all from me.
58Thank you.