Be a part of the Natural Sciences community
You are at the heart of what we do. We have an active course community that runs on student participation. Our common room is a friendly space for students to study, relax, and connect and we host regular events to bring together students from all years.
Peer Mentoring
What is peer mentoring?
Peer mentoring is our way of helping new students to settle into their first year. It gives you the opportunity to meet other students on your course, find out more about life on campus and get support adjusting to a new study environment.
Run by students, for students
The peer mentoring scheme was set up by our students to support new students when adjusting to university life. The scheme is managed by the Peer Mentor Leads (Natural Sciences students). All of the peer mentors are students who volunteer to take part in the scheme because they feel they benefited from having a mentor when they started.
You will receive an email with your mentors' names and some information about them a couple of weeks before you start so you know a bit more about them before you get here.
Pastoral Support
Personal Tutors
Every student is allocated a personal tutor who is an advisor throughout your studies. As part of forming a connection to the school, your personal tutor:
- will welcome you into our school community
- should see you within the first two weeks of every academic year
- should meet with you at the end of each semester to discuss your exam results
- will help you to navigate policies and services in the school and the university
You will receive details of your personal tutor a couple of weeks before you arrive and will meet them during the first week in a group and during the first two weeks one-to-one.
Disability Support
The Disability Support Service is here to ensure that students with a long-term condition, mental health difficulty, specific learning difference, autism spectrum condition, or disability can engage with their studies fairly and equitably. If you flagged a condition on your UCAS application, they may have already contacted you. If not, or if you haven’t yet mentioned a condition for which you received support at school, please use the link below to find out how to get a support plan put in place.
Find out how to get a support plan
Support for International Students
Make sure you’ve looked at the International Student Welcome webpage so you know what to do to prepare for your journey and get ready for life in the UK. You may also find these additional resources helpful as you prepare for your arrival and for studying in the UK.
Support for Black Students
The Black Students’ Guide was designed by students from the Black Student Collective and African Caribbean Society to help new and returning black students feel more welcome at the university and in the city of Nottingham.
Download the Black Students’ Guide
Natural Sciences Student-Staff Forum
The Student-Staff Forum allows students to directly participate in how their course is run and how it develops over time by making suggestions for change and working with staff to create solutions to issues. The forum is chaired by our Senior Course Rep and is attended by course reps, the society president, peer mentor lead, subject advisors for the core subjects and course staff.
If you are interested in being a course rep there will be a chance to sign up during welcome week.
Societies - get involved, have fun
Whatever you’re into, the Students’ Union has something for you. Your SU is home to more than 200 societies and over 70 sports clubs, as well as student media groups, student-run services and student networks. So, there’s guaranteed to be something for everyone.
Natural Sciences Society (NatSci Soc)
Natural Sciences has a tightknit community and NatSci Soc is at the heart of that, bringing together students from across all years of study to interact and network.
They are responsible for organising a wide range of social activities, including:
- Nights out
- Quizzes and competitions
- IMS sports teams in netball and football
- Daytime craft and games events
- Wellbeing communi-teas
- Annual careers event
Why join the society?
The main reasons to join the society are:
- take part in the socials that take place through the year
- meet other students on natural sciences
- network with alumni and find out more about careers you could go into
- be a part of the wider course community
Keep up to date with the activities NatSci Soc is organising by visiting our Instagram account.
Browse our merchandise
Natural Sciences have set up a special online store for a University-branded Natural Sciences hoodie 1/4 zip for new starters.