• Keep all doors closed – both inside and outside
• Close the curtains as soon as it starts to get dark
• Install draught excluders and seal up any gaps – but don’t seal up ventilation flues or air bricks
• Line external walls behind radiators with tin foil to reflect the warmth into the room
• Set the timer on your heating to switch on and off when only you need it
• If you can’t heat all your rooms when you are at home, keep your living room warm through the day and heat your bedroom before going to bed
• Boilers are confusing! The Energy Saving Trust have a detailed guide to how boilers work here: http://www.energysavingtrust.org.uk/In-your-home/Heating-and-hot-water
• Check out the Check, Switch, Insulate campaign run by Consumer Focus and the Citizens Advice Bureau for tips on how to get the cheapest gas and electricity deal: http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Nl1/Newsroom/DG_199725
• Sheffield City Council run a free insulation scheme for private sector tenants and homeowners in Sheffield. Click here to find out more: https://www.sheffield.gov.uk/in-your-area/housing-services/environmental-sustainability/free-insulation-scheme.html

To find out more about Housing Voice click here: http://www.housingvoice.co.uk

There may be some confusion from the NHS and/or Student Finance England because from September 2012 the NHS student funding is changing completely, one such change being all NHS students being entitled to a reduced rate loan.

If you need further guidance please contact the Advice Centre

They have also launched a free interactive Student Hub Forum  http://www.actionforme.org.uk/get-involved/join-a-discussion-forum/student-hub-forum which gives students with M.E. valuable access to peer support and friendship.

If you have applied on a paper application form then you will need to re-apply through the online system as the Business Services authority have stated they will only accept online applications.

If the delay in your funding will cause financial hardship then you may be able to get short term financial assistance for essential expenditure from the Student Financial Support Centre

For further guidance please contact the Advice Centre

You can make appeals against decisions made by the following panels:

• A Ratification Panel if you disagree with coursework/exam marks, note that if you think your mark is too low then you can appeal if there was an error or irregularity in the assessment process but you can’t appeal against academic judgement (this is a lecturer’s professional opinion);
• An Extenuating Circumstances Panel if you did not submit ECs in time for an exam or piece of coursework and want them to be considered;
• An Academic Conduct Panel if you have been accused of plagiarism or cheating and disagree with the marks.

An appeal can only be made if you have grounds that relate to errors or incorrect procedures being followed. For Extenuating Circumstances you can ask for your personal situation to be re-considered if you feel that they haven’t been taken into account properly.

If you need more information then click here http://hallamunion.org/advice/files/2009/04/5-Appeals1-12.pdf or for guidance get in contact with the Advice Centre on 0114 225 4148 (advicecentre@shu.ac.uk)

If you have already been accused seek advice from the Advice Centre as soon as possible by calling 0114 225 4148 or e-mailing advicecentre@shu.ac.uk.

ECs are things which cause exceptional interference with academic performance. The university states that distressing and difficult life events are a normal part of life so consult the link below to see if yours is acceptable.

If you have ECs and are due to sit an exam, submit an EC1 or EC2 (if the EC relates to a short illness lasting between 1-5 days) form. Try and submit these before the exam but if you can’t, then no more than 5 days after the exam. You can download a form from ShuSpace under the rules and regulations tab at the bottom of the home page.

If it’s for coursework, submit an EC1 before the coursework deadline. Alternatively if you only require the extension for a few days you can submit an Exceptional Extension Request Form (EER1) form to your faculty.

What happens next? The EC panel will decide and notify you of their decision. If denied and you have grounds, you may appeal. For more detailed information about ECs and the various forms click 4 Extenuating Circumstances 11-12

We will re-open at 1pm and the drop in session will go ahead as normal.

We apologise for any inconvenience this may cause you.

A person claiming to be a landlord will offer to let a property. They will say that they are living abroad and that they require proof of your income before they show you around the property. To get proof of your income they will require you to transfer money into a Western Union (or other)  account. They will ask for a receipt to prove that you have transfered the money. They will then take the money and leave you without a property.

Remember, don’t pay any cash deposits without having checked the property and having signed a contract. Check that the landlord has a landline telephone number and a contact address (if you rent a property you are legally entitled to get the landlord’s contact address). 

The best place to find properties is through the University Accommodation Office where all the landlords are signed up to the Responsible Landlords Scheme.

If you think that your potential landlord is trying to pull the wool over your eyes then contact the Advice Centre, we can check out your housing contract.

For more information about house hunting visit our advice pages here: http://hallamunion.org/advice/info-housing/