Student support

Helping you thrive.

While the Dyson Institute is a rewarding and fulfilling place to learn, it can also be challenging – you work on a robust academic degree alongside live Dyson projects, all-year-round. To help you thrive, there is a wealth of support services available to you. And because of our small year groups, we can respond to your individual needs.

Your wellbeing is our priority. Our team of Student Support Advisors are the first port of call for student support during your time at the Dyson Institute. You will have access to a range of support, from informal check ins to more structured coaching conversations and discussions around your general wellbeing. Our experienced Student Support team are trained to help you thrive and will be able to offer a range of support as listed below.

All of our Student Support Advisors are qualified executive coaches. These one-to-one coaching sessions offer a framework to achieve your professional and personal goals. The essence of coaching is raising awareness and undertaking the responsibility to unlock potential and maximise performance. Awareness is created through broadening perspectives and self-reflection, increasing confidence, insight and learning.

Your Student Support Advisor will be able to provide encouragement and support no matter what you are going through - whether that's stress management or discussing your mental health and wellbeing. If you need to talk through a situation, need pointing in the right direction of more specialist support, or just need a listening ear, our Student Support Advisors are here to support you. As an undergraduate, you'll have access to internal and external services, including a clinical psychologist, online talking therapies and self-help resources.

Alongside one-to-one support, we facilitate wellbeing and development days each semester focusing on themes that are relevant to the student journey at that time. These workshops are designed to inspire, empower and support undergraduates to thrive as healthy and fulfilled individuals who take ownership and achieve their potential. These days provide space to step back and reflect, as well as an opportunity to foster close relationships within the community.

Some of the topics explored during wellbeing and development days include resilience, mindfulness, relationships, networking, and connection. You'll also have an opportunity to engage in wellbeing activities such as circus skills, arts, music and craft.

The Dyson Institute is committed to safeguarding and promoting the highest standards of welfare of its students. We also expect all Dyson employees, partners, and contractors to share this commitment. Safeguarding is everyone’s responsibility.

We are committed to creating a safeguarding culture and to deliver the highest levels of student safety and wellbeing. We believe in every individual doing their outmost to protect everyone in the community from harm or abuse.

These are some of the things we do to support a safeguarding culture:

We have a dedicated safeguarding team.
We have a Safeguarding and Prevent policy that we ensure supports our safeguarding practice.
We have a comprehensive training programme for all Dyson Institute staff, workplace line managers and mentors, and students alike.

Disability is a broad spectrum and includes lots of different conditions and impairments. Here at the Dyson Institute, disability support is incredibly important to us. Our goal is to be as inclusive as possible from day one, with bespoke plans of support, including reasonable adjustments, in place for those who need it.

We take a three-pronged approach to disability:

We anticipate a level of need and ensure the course is inclusive from day one.
We design detailed packages of support for those with a higher level of need.
We celebrate the differences in our community by raising awareness.

Some of our adjustments are anticipatory measures that we put in place and benefit all undergraduates. Others are more bespoke including detailed conversations with individuals to see which adjustments might best meet their needs. The types of reasonable adjustments we can offer could include:

In order to support every student at the Dyson Institute according to their learning differences, the following anticipatory measures are available for all students.

Laptops provided
Access to assistive software
24/7 site access with printing available in most areas
Notes in advance for lectures whenever possible
Lecture recordings with a transcript available after lectures
Access to the student support team when needed (as well as at planned intervals throughout the academic year)
Access to mental health support
Different areas to study
Onsite sensory rooms
Adjustable lighting in lecture rooms

You may need more specific adjustments in place to manage the learning environment. This might include:

Being able to take movement breaks
Sitting in a specific place in the lecture room (for example, to be able to see the lecturer better, or to use a rising desk)
Opportunities to clarify instructions for given tasks
Requesting to not be called upon to answer without preparation time
Colour overlay for any printed reading
Enlarged font on any handouts
An opportunity to learn from another part of campus if you need to manage any challenges in the moment
A BSL interpreter
A note taker

Exams can prove to be really challenging for those with a disability. Here are some of the adjustments that can be put in place with evidence and a detailed conversation with a Student Support Advisor:

Extra time (usually 25%, but can be more depending on independent assessment)
'Stop the clock' rest breaks
A venue with a smaller group of people
A sole venue that allows you to manage the exam your way (such as using read aloud software)
'Stop the clock' toilet breaks (applicable if you have a medical condition that impacts this)
Use of noise cancelling headphones or ear plugs
Using a laptop for longer written answers
Specific colour paper
Use of read aloud software
Scribe
Prompter

There will be many forms of assessment as well as exams. This allows us to assess our undergraduates in many different ways, allowing people to play to their strengths. This might include written assignments, group projects, practical assessments and presentations. Some will need adjustments in order to show their best selves in these different types of assessment. This might include:

Flexible deadlines
Marking consideration for written work
Marking consideration for oral presentations.

The workplace at Dyson is a very flexible place. You can speak with your line manager to decide the best way for you to work in their team. However, it can be important to note these down and keep track of what works best as this will equip you for your future career. Adjustments may include:

Movement breaks
Noise cancelling headphones
Regular check ins with your line manager
A chance to clarify instructions and actions after a meeting
Prior notice whenever possible for when you have to make contributions or give presentations
Option to have written material ahead of a meeting if you need more time to process
Specialist equipment (such as a rising desk, ergonomic IT equipment, footstool etc)
Different spaces to go and work

We want you to thrive in your learning journey at the Dyson Institute. Whether in the lecture room or the lab, our team of academic specialists and technology experts are on hand to guide you through the programme.

You will have constant access to our specialist academic team to support you through your learning journey. They will deliver the academic content through lectures, seminars and workshops. However, they’re also available to support you with your studies through academic tutorials. With our small year groups, you'll have the opportunity to really get to know the academic team and benefit from individual support.

Our team of Engineers are on hand for any technical problems you may encounter on your course or within your roles in the workplace and while studying. They will ensure you have all the knowledge you need to thrive in your workplace rotations and support your development into specialisms as you progress at Dyson.

You have a Dyson line manager for each of your rotations in the workplace. They’ll help you define your daily working objectives. You’ll have regular conversations with them about your performance and they’ll help you identify your strengths, plus any areas that need development. All Dyson people have regular one-to-ones with their line managers. You can also discuss any general questions or concerns with your line manager, who’ll be able to point you in the right direction if you need further help. 

You will also be assigned a Technical Mentor during each of your workplace rotations. Their role is to provide technical support and guidance during the work placement. They will be on hand for day-to-day support in your projects and responsibilities and help you to fully integrate within your team.

As an undergraduate, you'll also benefit from the support of a close-knit community of undergraduates across the Dyson Institute.

As a new joiner, you will be assigned a Peer mentor to guide you through your transition into life at Dyson, the Dyson Institute and living in the local area. Your mentor will be in the years above and will be able to pass on their valuable experiences, skills and knowledge to help you settle in as quickly as possible.

The Undergraduate Experience Committee (UEC) is our formal student representative body and ensures that there’s a student voice at all levels and across the breadth of the student experience. With reps for ever aspect of the undergraduate experience, they ensure the student voice is heard so that your experience is as supportive as possible.

A lot of emphasis is placed on the student support. I've gained a lot of confidence and soft skills since I've got here. There's lots of ways to put yourself out of your comfort zone.

Rosalyn

Undergraduate Engineer

Case study: Neurodiversity

Around a third of our undergraduates identify as neurodiverse. Find out how some of our neurodivergent undergraduates find studying and learning at the Dyson Institute.