tips for first year of uni
The main thing I would recommend for starting university is to be open minded and to look after yourself! It can be a challenging transition, but everyone is in the same boat, and there will be plenty of support available through your friends and university wellbeing services, should you need them. Try new things, join societies, and explore the city you are living in, both independently and with your new friends! Do things that make you feel happy and fulfilled, as well as making time to study- balance is super important.
A massive tip i think worth mentioning is to start making a packing list early into the summer before you head off to university. There are lots of little things, like hangers and extension cords, that you will need and are easy to forget if you pack last minute! If you look on TikTok or other social media platforms, there are lots of recommendations of what to bring with you that can be really helpful 🙂
If you have any questions, pop me a message and I would be happy to chat more!
Lucy
2nd year languages student
I would say the main tips for first year is to not put too much pressure on yourself and to ask for support when you need it. In first year, you’ll experiencing so many new opportunities and challenges, so it’s important to look after yourself and know how and where to access support if you need it. I found joining a society or a sports club really helpful, as it gave me a space outside the academic side of university and gave me more structure to the week. You can normally sign up to taster sessions for society’s and sports clubs in the freshers week, so you don’t have to pay for a membership straight away, without knowing if you will enjoy it or not.
University is such a good time to explore new experiences and challenge yourself to different things. It can be quite challenging and overwhelming at the start of the semester but everyone is in the same position as you, and once you settle into the new routine of uni. It will become a much less overwhelming time. Good luck with first year!
Suzan - Student Ambassador
Anon,
Here is some tips/advice for the first year of uni (if you move away from home).
1.
Enjoy! It's the year when there is less stress on you as your grades normally don't tend to count towards your final degree. You have the chance to explore a new town or city, to meet new people and to study a subject you love or want to build a career from. It's also the best time to get plugged into societies. It's a year to get used to living away from home, cooking, shopping, doing laundry and being independent. There are a lot of changes, but it's a year of growth : )
1.
It's takes time to build a routine, so don't be too frustrated if by week 4, you are still trying to figure out the best time to go grocery shopping, to do laundry, to cook in a shared kitchen etc...
1.
Call home at least once a week, so you can stay up-to-date with life but also to reassure your family that all is well. It's also good to have a chance to subconsciously reflect on how things are going so that if things are bothering you, you can begin to think about what can be done e.g. struggling to get up early enough for lectures and so buying an alarm clock!
2.
Try and budget. It's easy to get carried away with being away from home and to buy lots of junk food, only to find that you have no proper food to eat and that you have already spent so much on food. Avoid eating lots of takeaways! Buy rice, pasta, potatoes, frozen chips...food that will help to make a substantial meal and provide leftovers. Invest in decent coffee, so that you are not buying coffee every day. Think carefully about how you'll manage to get enough protein and mix it up: eggs, nuts, beans, tinned fish, cheese, plant-based products and poultry (red meat tends to be more expensive). Buy frozen fruit and veg or better yet find your local fruit and veg market.
1.
Speak out if you are feeling overwhelmed, struggling with loneliness/making friends, with your overall wellbeing or studies. It's normal to feel out of your comfort zone when you start uni, but if those feelings persist and you feel like you are being emotionally swamped then do reach out to someone. It may be talking to family, your personal tutor, friends from home or friends you've made at uni or making use of the university's support services. The most important thing is that you share with someone so you no longer feel alone facing a problem and so that people can be a support to you. It's okay to reach out to others!
All the best,
Oluwatosin – 3rd year student – University of Huddersfield
I'm a third-year at Lancaster University and I have a few tips I would have wanted to know in third-year.
1.
Stay as organised as possible. Use a planner to keep track of assignments, socials, exams and appointments. Also, create to-do lists to prioritise tasks.
2.
Connect with academics. Attend office hours to ask questions or email them to make sure you understand the material.
3.
Take care of your well-being. Try to get enough sleep, eat well and exercise regularly. Seek support if you need it.
4.
Explore career opportunities. Attend career fairs and networking events. Also use the university to seek internships and part-time jobs with relation to your field of study.
-Beth (Lancaster Student Ambassador)
Hey!
There's a lot of great tips here that I'd defintely recommend myself - but just thought I'd add in that it's worthwhile learning what services your university offers to students and making full use of them whilst you're studying.
Whether it's career support, mental health support, academic tutoring or even just free access/premium subscriptions to software programs such as Adobe or LinkedInLearning, all these services tend to come as part of your tuition fees - so there's no point waiting until your final year to realise they exist.
Most importantly, enjoy your time there and don't worry too much about whether or not you're having the typical 'university experience'. The university experience looks different for everyone, and you should choose to participate in as many or as few societies/extra-curriculars as you personally wish!
Eve (Kingston Rep).
As it has been said already, the most important thing to do when going into your first year of university is to be open-minded, to look after yourself, and be up for trying new things! It can be a great time to discover more about yourself, enjoy the new independence, learn a lot of new skills, and meet some great people.
I'd recommend that you talk to the people in your accommodation. This really helped me when I went into my first year. We had a common room that everyone went to when they were done moving in, so if this is possible that would be great! Another thing you could do is prop your door open or say hi to your immediate neighbours. It makes the transition so much easier to have some familiar faces and people to hangout with early on.
I also think it is important to attend sports and society, fresher's, and any other fairs/events your university puts on during fresher's week and after. This is a great way to sign up for things you are interested in, get familiar with your campus, and meet new people.
Going into your first year can be tough, so do remember that there is plenty of support available for you. Get familiar with your university's wellbeing services, stay in contact with friends and family, and do things you love to give yourself a break from school.
It's an exciting time - so make the most of it!
Best of luck,
Isabella
Third-year Geography with a Year Abroad Student
That is getting stuck in with your work, course, societies, flat mates, the city where you are living etc. I was lucky enough to have a great flat, from the day we all moved in, I made sure to spend as much time as I could in the common living area, either watching a series on tv, playing board games, playing cards, chatting, cooking, listening to music, doing this made it easier to bond with them and get to know them better, you also find out who has similar interests. A weird one is doing a big food shop trip together in the first week, you can figure out the area together and maybe decide to cook a few meals together.
Go to a fresher's event, find out what societies there are and join one. This is something I did not do, and I regret it now looking back. Societies are great, say you did not click with your flat mates, or you live alone, joining a society is a fantastic way to meet like-minded people. Most societies will have weekly social events, giving you plenty of chances to make new friends.
You normally start your course the week after moving in, make sure you attend your classes! The first week of lectures and seminars is more important than you think. It is likely that they are induction lectures, but these lectures will give you all the information and contacts you need to know for the year ahead, you can work out where your lessons will be, what books you need, and you can meet your new course mates. Seminars are made up of smaller groups, although this may seem scary, they are great for meeting people and talking as you normally do group work. Seminars are also great for getting more information from the teacher, you can get essay tips and ask more questions.
Stay organised and on top of your work, have folders for each subject, do the seminar work so you can take part in discussion (and save yourself from being clueless when you get asked a question). First year may not seem as important but it sets you up for 2nd and 3rd year. Use feedback from your assignments, get referencing right, learn how to write in the correct style, find a way of working that suits you, so you will succeed and be ready for the years that count.
Explore your city, either on your own, with new friends or maybe with a friend from home who is already at the university. Get your bearings, find the train station, discover the shops, restaurants, bars etc. Familiarising yourself with your new surroundings will make you feel much more comfortable and at home!
Lastly, stay in contact with your family and friends from home, it is normal to feel a bit homesick. A quick conversation on the phone always helps.
Remember, everyone’s university experience is different, and you can make it whatever you want it to be! Try not to compare your experience to others and enjoy your independence!
I hope this is helpful!
Katie- Roehampton Rep
My Top Tips:
1.
Be organised - have a diary whether physical or digital and keep track of all your personal and uni commitments
2.
For deadlines do not leave it until the last minute. When you get a deadline date, set your own deadline a bit before to give room and allow you to be less stressed and more time to proof your work
3.
Take feedback and build from it. Not everything is going to go amazing but you are on an ongoing learning process
4.
Be open to new opportunities and try not to be afraid of trying new things and possibly stepping out your comfort zones.
5.
Turn up to classes. It may seem obvious but whilst that 9am may seem too early it matters! Do the required prep work, show up and participate. Get the most out of your uni experience.
Hi there,
I just thought I'd also give you my tips and advice for starting uni!
Firstly, I would say to try and get stuck in as much as you can. In freshers week, there will be lots of events and chances to meet people so I would say to try and go to as many things as you can! It's a great way to meet people and learn new things about the city and in freshers week everybody is new and wants to make friends so it is the perfect opportunity to put yourself out there as everyone else will be doing the same.
I would also say if your course puts on any welcome events, try and go to these too! This is where I met my closest friends on my course and it made me feel a lot more at ease for actually starting my course. It also gives you an opportunity to look around some of the uni buildings you might be in and find your way to some of the buildings as this can be tricky at first!
Try and set a budget before you come. When you know how much student loan you will be getting, try and make a budget plan based off this as this can be really helpful when you arrive. It's also worth mentioning try not to spend all of your money in freshers week! Having a budget will help you with this and to know how much money you have each week/month to spend while still having money for rent and food.
Attend as many lectures and seminars as you can. It's a great way to learn and also a great way to meet people on your course an socialise. It also helps you not to fall behind which is great too.
Stay in contact with friends and family from home. Text them, call them and keep them updated on your life and find out what they are doing! I would say try and stick out the first couple of weeks without going home or it can make you more homesick when you come back but if you want to go home for the weekend there's no shame in doing so!
Look into joining a society! Everyone says it but it is a great way to make friends and also do something fun that you enjoy that isn't related to your course or uni work! Universities offer loads of societies so if there is something you are interested in, definitely look into it
I hope this helps!
Lucy -SHU student ambassador.
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