NSCD’s Student Services department is a one stop shop for all students, and aims to be students’ first point of call for all enquiries.
Student Services coordinates the following areas of student support:
The Student Services office is located in the main reception area and staff are always available to offer immediate assistance and to signpost students to further help and support if needed.
Whilst students have academic tutorials scheduled into curriculum time, they can also book additional tutorials with almost any NSCD staff member through Moodle the Virtual Learning Environment. This allows students time with any member of staff they wish rather than being restricted to one personal tutor.
All students entering a course at NSCD will be assessed on their learning style.
This assessment identifies students who may require support with learning challenges such as dyslexia and dyspraxia.
Any students who are identified as having learner support needs, or those with diagnosed neurodiversity, will be offered relevant support throughout their time at NSCD to enable all students to gain equal access to the curriculum. This may take the form of support with written assessments, or 1-2-1 or group sessions on areas such as time management and organisation.
To discuss any learner needs, contact learner.support@nscd.ac.uk
Disabled Students Allowance
If you are offered a place at NSCD we can also help you apply for the Disabled Students Allowance (DSA) if you don’t already have this in place, and help you arrange any specialist support you may be entitled to. This can help cover the cost of specialist equipment necessary for your studies, including software and study skills tuition. Unlike a student loan, DSA does not have to be repaid. Applications are made through your awarding body, for example Student Finance England. In order to apply for DSA the awarding body will require evidence of any impairment or disability.
Support for students with a disability or medical condition
Applicants are encouraged to disclose a disability or health condition to NSCD at the point of application so that appropriate support and adjustments can be considered as early as possible.
All courses at NSCD have been designed with inclusive practice at the centre which means we can support students through a variety of assessment methods to find the method that is most appropriate for them.
If you have any questions or concerns that you would like to discuss before you apply you can contact the Head of Student Support via student.services@nscd.ac.uk. Any information that you share will be treated in confidence and will only be discussed with other members of staff with your permission.
Inclusive Practice
All courses at Northern School of Contemporary Dance have been designed with inclusive practice at the centre which means we can support students through a variety of assessment methods to find the method that is most appropriate for them.
English Language (EL) support is provided to all NSCD students who do not have English as their first language. To access this support students should contact elsupport@nscd.ac.uk.
Overseas students with English as their second language are offered an extended induction. This is to introduce them to NSCD and their course of study, discuss Visas and the language and academic support available, and to familiarise them with living in Leeds.
Good mental health is essential for students to get the most from their training at NSCD, however we recognise that it’s completely normal to experience anxiety, stress and overwhelm.
The NSCD Wellbeing team are available Monday – Friday to support any students who are struggling with their mental health, or who are concerned about themselves or a friend.
Our counselling service is free and confidential, and is available for all students to access. Waiting times are usually very short so that we can respond quickly to any students experiencing distress.
The first step is to book an appointment so that support needs can be assessed.
Making an appointment:
Appointments can be booked via Moodle here, or through Student Services. Students will generally be seen for an initial assessment appointment quickly – usually within a few days.
From there, different support options are available depending on what feels right. For example, students could be offered:
Whatever students are struggling with – stress, anxiety, loneliness, addiction, panic attacks, eating or low mood – and however large or small it may feel, we can help.
Mental Health Resources
Although we aim to see any student needing support quickly, we are not an emergency service and are unable to offer out of hours support.
For the full directory of mental health services available in Leeds visit MindWell directory – MindWell (mindwell-leeds.org.uk)
Or, if you need help right now, Samaritans are available 24/7 to talk to. You can use the free helpline at 116 123 or visit https://www.samaritans.org
This level of dance training will inevitably place stress on muscles and joints. Aches and pains, injuries and strains are all possibilities which we aim to support students with.
NSCD’s Injury Support service offers:
Physiotherapy appointments can be booked via email at peak.physio@nscd.ac.uk or via Student Services. We always aim to see students as quickly as possible but encourage students to access A&E for immediate support with any serious injuries.
All students are provided with guidance on nutrition and fitness, with timetabled sessions on these areas, plus Experiential Anatomy classes.
We also offer help and support in finding a local GP and other NHS services.
Injury Support staff also work closely with the Wellbeing team to ensure the emotional side of injury is picked up and addressed. Together, we work closely with students who may be struggling with pain or an inability to participate fully in their studies to discuss coping strategies and adjustments to their weekly schedule, alongside their physical therapy.
Find out more about injury supportNSCD facilitates a House Hunting Day and provides support and useful contacts for you to use when arranging your accommodation.
As the majority of our students live in shared housing, NSCD uses the services of Unipol, a student housing charity, who accredit all our recommended student housing using the Unipol code.
Should you prefer not to live in shared housing, there are many halls of residence in Leeds available due to the number of Universities and colleges in the city.
Find out about Student accommodation
