prep for uni life

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Bring essential food - eg pasta, brown rice, a couple of tins of baked beans, soy sauce, dried herbs, a few veggies, cereal/granola, raisins, some chickpeas and canned tomatoes - it saves you having to do a big shop before you even settle into your new accommodation and means you have enough to keep you going until the end of Freshers' week.

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Something that reminds you of home - a plush toy, some fairy lights (if your accom allows it), photos/posters, a musical instrument - so you can make your own space your own.

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Plenty of canvas bags - great for sustainable shopping and storing all of your Freshers' giveaways!

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Give yourself plenty of time to settle in, get used to your new environment and establish your routine. Its normal for things to start quite slowly with your course but they will pick up as the weeks go by. Just give yourself time to explore, meet people, join in with as much as you can and take all the opportunities you can!

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Don't be afraid to ask your lecturers for help - they're experts in their field and also the ones marking your assignments. Its in their interest for you to do well so please do make the most of their office hours, ask them for short meetings if you need advice or tips for an assignment. Most will be very happy to share their thoughts and help you, and no one expects you to navigate this new way of working alone.

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Defo join a society! Here at Bath we have 150+ to suit tons of different interest and faith/cultural groups. Its definitely worth doing and a lovely, fun way to meet people.

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Be social early on – Keep your door open, introduce yourself, and say yes to plans. The first few weeks are the best time to make friends.

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Stay organised – Keep track of deadlines with a planner or app. Procrastination can make uni much harder than it needs to be.

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Budget wisely – If you’re in London or another big city, costs can add up quickly. Set a weekly spending limit and take advantage of student discounts. Consider part-time jobs like being a student ambassador, which are flexible and work around your studies.

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Learn basic cooking – Knowing how to cook a few simple meals will save money and help avoid relying on expensive takeaways.

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Go to lectures – It’s tempting to skip, but attending makes everything easier when exams come around.

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Look after your wellbeing – University can be overwhelming, and it’s normal to struggle at times. Use university support services if needed and don’t be afraid to take a break.

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Balance social and academic life – Have fun, but don’t let nights out interfere with deadlines or exams.

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Join societies and clubs – Great for meeting new people and making university feel more like home.

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Think about career opportunities early – Attending open days, applying for spring weeks, and getting involved with networking events can set you up well for internships later. Platforms like Unibuddy can also help you connect with current students and get a better idea of university life before you start.

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Join some uni groups on social media. This might be something for nearer the time, but they are really good to join and you can often meet quite a few people here so I would recommend this. There are usually groups on Facebook for your uni, your course and your accommodation!

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Think about what societies you might want to join (if any). They are great ways of meeting people and doing something fun so I would always recommend this to people starting uni.

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Try and set a budget before you get to uni. Work out how much money you will get in (loan, job etc) and then work out how much your accommodation is and see how much you will have left over to spend weekly.

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Think about getting a job for a few hours a week as this is good to just make sure you have money and you can sometimes meet people by doing this too!

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Hangers

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Extension leads as your plugs may not be where you want them

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Storage boxes for under your bed (try and find out if you have room under there first)

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Important documents like ID, course enrolment confirmation

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Photos/things to make your room feel homely

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Big items such as printers as you will be unlikely to need them and uni will have them.

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Candles as you won't be allowed them in your room

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Other kitchen electrical items such as kettles/toaster as you should have these in your kitchen