In the 1990s articles like this would have been full of cheery and helpful advice on living away from home for the first time, making new friends, the best places to use your Student Card and top tips for student budgeting. And for a proportion of new students, this is still the case. However, this is not the “typical” student anymore. Modern students are as likely to live at home whilst studying as they are to be entering halls of residence. Many will already have a part-time job to juggle alongside their academic pursuits, and some will have full-time family commitments.
With this in mind, here are some nuggets of practical advice that will hopefully be useful to anyone about to start University this year
1) You are not alone – approximately 270,000 people in the UK from all backgrounds will be starting their course at the same time as you. That in itself should be a source of comfort.
2) Universities have an amazing range of academic and pastoral support services available – engage with them early and make sure you know where to go when you need help. Ask. It’s a simple thing, but difficult to do sometimes. There is no such thing as silly questions, but it can be silly if you don’t ask questions at the right time. Everyone at your institution from academics to support staff wants you to succeed. If there is anything you need or are unsure about, or just want information, go and speak to someone in the University.
3) Get stuck in. Be inquisitive. Participate. Your course will fly by, so don’t wait for “next term” – maximise the opportunities you are given, get involved and extract the absolute most you can from your time at University.
4) Careers services in Universities are a fantastic resource for you to exploit. Don’t wait until your final year to engage with them, engage with them as soon as you can.
5) Whether your interest is cricket, quidditch, dance, sewing, reading comic books, politics, community volunteering or dressing as a pirate, I’m pretty confident your University will have a society where you can express your passions. And if they don’t, start one. Go to the Student Union and find out about what societies are available.
6) Did I mention that 270,000 people will be starting University at the same time as you? On the flip side, there will also be 270,000 students graduating with you at the same time. That’s a lot of degrees and talent. Make sure you stand out from the crowd when you graduate and have a CV that’s more just than a list of qualifications (see points 3,4 and 5)
7) Enjoy!
Matthew Till
Assistant Director Skills
Birmingham City University
