12/01/2013
Student life
What kind of course work can you expect? What type of accommodation is right for you? Find out about what student life is like, and how you can prepare.
Contents:
How can I prepare for student life?
Course work
What are my housing options?
Meeting people and making friends
Becoming a student is often the first step to independence, particularly if you are moving away from home. You'll get to meet lots of new people and there are lots of chances to socialise. However, you may find yourself struggling to achieve your study goals.
Student life is different for everyone. If you want to get a taste of what student life can be like, have a look at education providers’ websites. With student stories, pictures and videos, they aim to give you a feeling for what life on campus is like. You can usually find useful information about course work, finding accommodation and how to get started as a first year student.
How can I prepare for student life?
Talk to people who have done the course or degree you're doing. They may be able to give you tips and advice about the workload, and make suggestions for how you can prepare.
If you're moving to a different place, try to arrive a few days before you start your course. That way you'll have time to get familiar with the town/city layout, and learn your way around.
Work out how you will get around. If there is no suitable public transport in the city, can you get a bike or car? Do you need to get a driver's licence?
If you're moving into a flat, ask your parents if you can take any furniture with you (eg bed, dresser, desk, chair, sofa). Otherwise, start gathering stuff together from secondhand shops. If you're going away to study, it may be easier to leave this until you get there!
Decide on your accommodation early on. If you want to live on campus, you'll need to get in early. If you're going flatting, getting in early gives you more choices.
Think about doing holiday work to help you earn and save money for the year ahead.
Course work
Course work will be different at each education provider. Check out your education provider’s website for specific information about course work. This can help you to plan for the work and keep it on track. The website may also let you know where you can go for more help if you have problems.
Student in the library choosing books.
Keep on top of your course work - don't be afraid to ask others for help
How to choose papers and courses
Choosing papers in the first year of university may be difficult. Don’t be afraid to ask former students or a student adviser for help. Often you will find more information about this on education providers' websites.
Colleges of education, polytechs and institutes of technology usually plan out the course content for you. Going to classes may be compulsory to pass your course.
How do you set realistic goals and plan timetables at uni?
It's tempting to try to achieve too much in your first year of study, which is common with new students. This can leave you feeling overwhelmed and unmotivated, because you may not leave enough time to do course work or take time out from study. Remember to leave time for things such as preparing for lectures, part-time work and spending time with friends.
You also need to consider what time of day best suits you for classes. For example, would you schedule lectures for Mondays at 8am if you knew you were not a morning person?
Ask older students how they plan their timetables. You can learn from their experiences and get valuable advice
