The article provides practical assistance with studying during and after the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdown. It covers mental health and well-being considerations as well as guidance in navigating university systems, services and people you can liaise with. We also offer guidance on prioritising your work, taking into account a healthy work-life balance.

The global pandemic has provided challenges for all students and this article provides some advice on areas such as studying remotely, engaging with college services, and maintaining a healthy balance.

Here are some practical things to consider:

• Identify a named person at NCI who can help you to navigate the various services which you will need to access. This may be someone from the NCI LDSS or one of the NCI Counselling team.
• Consider what areas you need help with for example, prioritising work, managing feelings of stress or anxiety, remaining productive etc. Make a list of things you are finding challenging so you can discuss these with people from the college.
• Create a timetable or routine for working from home.
• Make sure to incorporate healthy eating, some exercise and fresh air into your routine.
• If you feel stressed or anxious talk to the teams at NCI. You may benefit from help such as from our Learning Support tutors or Counselling team.
• You can always find information about NCI’s response to the Covid-19 pandemic and current arrangements at the Our Campus Commitment section of the NCI website.

We understand that student responses to the pandemic will be individual, and not all the advice and guidance in this document will apply to everyone.  Some students may be finding working remotely beneficial, and easier to engage with, which is positive and worth celebrating.  However, we are aware that some students are finding learning remotely challenging, and the guidance given here is designed to help with the effective management of study related challenges.

As an autistic student you might find it helpful to follow this guidance. However, you do not have to be autistic to find this guidance beneficial.

Its aim is to give you a form of road map which you could use to make sense of services available to you while the university is not operating in the way it used to. The information provided should help to diminish the stress and anxiety often associated with confusing and challenging situations.

And keep in mind that this is a temporary situation which affects everyone. It will not last forever. Whatever works for you is OK.

Be sure to read the whole of the attached paper (PDF format) which considers all aspects of the student journey:

DOWNLOAD: Studying remotely – advice for autistic students (external link)
by Nicki Martin, Southbank University, and Harriet Cannon, University of Leeds

The global pandemic has provided challenges for all students and this article provides some advice on areas such as studying remotely, engaging with college services, and maintaining a healthy balance.

The global pandemic has provided challenges for all students and this article provides some advice on areas such as studying remotely, engaging with college services, and maintaining a healthy balance.