Student support
Get help with study skills, access one-to-one pastoral support, and learn how to lead worship with confidence.
At St Augustine’s, your journey is about more than academic study—it’s about personal change, spiritual growth and deepening your faith.
From help with study skills assistance to one-on-one pastoral support and how to confidently lead worship, our student support team is on hand to help you make the most of your academic experience.
Suzy Gregory, head of our student support team, joins students Tom and Beverley to chat about supporting students with learning differences.
Pastoral and spiritual support
Undertaking a degree in theology or training for ordination can be a powerful, transformative experience. But when you are absorbed in study, challenges and personal difficulties can hit you even harder.
Our staff, faculty and student support team are here for you at St Augustine’s. Whether you’re questioning your faith, experiencing a spiritual struggle or personal difficulties, we’re here to help.
When you join St Augustine’s, you become part of our community, and we support you from enrolment to graduation and beyond.
“Returning to formal education following a 30-year break was a scary prospect. However, I found a supportive environment at St Augustine’s in which I was able to flourish and achieve more than I ever thought possible.”
Sue Shortman
St Augustine’s theology student studying part-time
Making learning accessible
Everyone should be able to access and benefit from theological study.
Whether you need help to sharpen your essay writing or accessing support because of a learning difference, our team is on hand.
Developing study skills
Many students have concerns about the academic side of their studies. Students may be:
- Returning to higher education years or decades after graduating
- Studying at university-level for the first time
- Undertaking a theology degree after previously studying a subject with little essay writing
Our team offers tailored support for developing study skills, including:
- Writing and structuring academic essays
- Accessing study materials and using the college library
- Coaching for effective academic study habits
- Managing assignments and meeting deadlines
Working with the Writing Tutor
Suzy Gregory, St Augustine’s specialist writing tutor, offers coaching to help students write to an academic standard. Together, Suzy and the student can address unique challenges, such as:
- Managing learning differences
- Interpreting questions or objectives
- Ensuring assignments are ready for submission
- Improving existing writing skills
- Turning drafts into polished work
- Offering guidelines for those out of practice
With her expertise, Suzy also helps identify issues like previously undiagnosed learning differences, such as dyslexia.
As a theology student who happens to be dyslexic, Tom was pleasantly surprised to learn that he could rely on the support of a writing tutor during his time at St Augustine’s.
Supporting neurodivergent students and those with learning differences
If you have a learning difference or are neurodivergent, you may face more barriers to academic study than others.
To support you in your study experience, St Augustine’s offers:
- One-on-one support from our Writing Tutor, Suzy Gregory
- Extensions on assignments (typically two and four weeks)
- The option to submit assignments via verbal assessment
- Flexibility to attend classes virtually (course-specific)
We understand every student has unique requirements and access needs. Whether you know what support you need or are unsure where to start, we’re here to help.
“During my studies, Suzy noticed that there was some dissonance between the way I engaged verbally in class and the way I wrote. That insight helped me learn that I was dyslexic: not something you expect to find out in your early middle-age!
The team was amazing, and that support is one of the things that really stands out for me as I reflect on my time at St Augustine’s.”
Beverley
St Augustine’s ordinand from the Rochester Diocese
Support in leading worship
For many students, particularly those training for ordination or licensed lay ministry, confidently leading and supporting worship is essential.
Through our training opportunities, you can learn to worship with strength, whether behind the pulpit or in the congregation.
Voice coaching and training for public speaking
Does the thought of speaking publicly in a leadership role fill you with dread? St Augustine’s offers coaching to help.
Led by our specialist singing tutor, Suzy Gregory, this training will teach you how to:
- Speak clearly and engage your audience
- Project your voice effectively in different spaces
- Build confidence when speaking to large groups
- Avoid slipping into an ‘off-putting clerical voice’
With one-on-one bespoke coaching, you’ll learn the techniques to develop an authentic, confident approach to leading worship.
Singing training
You don’t need to sound like an angel when you sing during a service.
However, as a minister or church leader, your congregation may expect you to lead when the music starts.
At St Augustine’s, our specialist singing tutor can help you build the confidence to lead worship through song and uplift your congregation.
Next steps
Take the next step on your journey into studying theology.
Need help or have a question? Contact our admissions team for further assistance.
