Student Support

Who We Are

The Student Support service is an in-house NMH (Non-Medical Helper) provision at the University of Derby. The provision is provided by a team of highly skilled, qualified, and registered professionals who are experienced at providing specialist support to students. Our focus is on the academic experience and achievement of students, which is ensured through a comprehensive quality assurance framework.

Information for Needs Assessors (last updated December 2025):

Our in-house NMH (Non-Medical Helper) provision is open for the 25/26 academic year. Please note we have now reached capacity for Specialist Notetaking support (VI/HI) and Study Skills Support (ASC/SpLD). We still have capacity for all other types of support.

Due to the length of time it can take to arrange a Needs Assessment, Disability Advisors may have arranged interim NMH support with the University of Derby. Needs Assessors should ask students whether interim support has been arranged with the University of Derby and reflect this in the needs assessment to allow the University to reclaim interim support costs.

Our Support

Open the links below to find out more about the Non-Medical Helper provision that Student Support may be able to provide, if the University of Derby is listed on your DSA2 letter.

Sighted Guide

Our Sighted Guides are practitioners who provide support in navigating around campus if you have a vision impairment.

Someone typing on a laptop with a student in the background.

Specialist Notetaker

Our Specialist Notetakers are trained practitioners who may be able to help you if you are Deaf or have a vision impairment.

A student with earphones in front of a laptop in a private room.

Specialist Study Skills Tutor

Our Specialist Study Skills Tutors (SpLD/ASC) are trained professionals who provide one to one support for students.

A Mentor and student talking facing each other.

Specialist Mentor support

Our Specialist Mentors (MH/ASC) are trained professionals who provide one to one support for students.

People walking together in a corridor at Markeaton Street.

Practical Assistant

Our Practical Assistants are practitioners who provide support in navigating around campus if you have difficulty getting to your academic sessions (mobility).

A student sat in front of a computer in the library.

Library Support Assistant

Our Library Support Assistants are practitioners who provide support for disabled students in using the Library services.

Scribe

Our Scribes are used to write or type what a student dictates, usually in exam settings.

Outside image of the Markeaton Street building, doors and bike storage.

External NMH suppliers

Our Service Level Agreement is designed encourage collaboration between the University of Derby and external Non-Medical Helper (NMH) providers supporting our students.

Cost of support for DSA Assessors:

Band 1 - Support Assistants

Role	Standard rate (in-person)
Sighted Guide	£23.83
Practical Support Assistant	£23.83
Library Support Assistant	£23.83
Reader	£23.83
Scribe	£23.83

Band 2 - Enhanced Support Assistants

Role	Standard rate (in-person)
Notetaker	£28.48

Band 3 - Specialist Enabling Support

Role	Standard rate (in-person)
Specialist Notetaker for Deaf/Hard of Hearing students - includes electronic note-taking	£40.00
Specialist Notetaker for Visually Impaired (VI) students - including Braille	£40.00

Band 4 - Specialist Access and Learning Facilitators

*Band 4 roles can be delivered remotely e.g. via MS Teams. The remote delivery rate is the same as the standard rate of £59.00

Role	Standard rate (in-person)
Specialist Mentor - Mental Health Difficulties (MH)	£59.00
Specialist Mentor - Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC)	£59.00
Specialist one-to-one Study Skills and Strategy Support - Specific Learning Difficulties (SpLD)	£59.00
Specialist one-to-one Study Skills and Strategy Support - Autism Spectrum Conditions (ASC)	£59.00

Meet the Team

Meet the Student Support team who can help you with a question or query about your support throughout your academic journey.

Name	Title
Charlotte Wisson	Student Support Manager
Nicki Browne	Student Support Administrator
Sam Hutchby	Student Support Administrator Specialist Notetaker (VI/HI)
Jess Illsley	Student Support Administrator

Useful Info

Red telephone against a white background.

Out of Hours Support

Find out where to get emergency support outside of Student Services' opening hours

StudentHub@Derby

The StudentHub@Derby has a whole host of services that support you in every aspect of your student life, including enrolment, assignment hand-ins, student fees and much more.

Disability Support

Our Disability team provides a wide range of support for students with long term conditions, from mental and physical health, specific learning differences and much more.