Student Life Information

Countdown To University: 20 Top Tips from Students

A new poll from the DfES shows that 90% of past students feel they were under prepared for university, meaning they wasted money or made embarrassing mistakes.  Here are their top tips for getting ready and settled in:

1. If you are staying in university accommodation, check what your university already provides – 31 per cent of past students said they took too much, with more than a third of toasters, kettles and irons not needed

2. If you are staying in a shared flat or house, avoid buying items for communal areas.  You can club together for things like kettles and toasters when you arrive

3. Don’t buy books beyond the core ones until you actually start your course: you can then decide what you need, seek out second hand bargains and source non-essential ones from the library

4. If you are travelling by train or bus and are unable to carry much, consider ordering what you need on the internet and arranging for items to be delivered direct to your accommodation at the start of term

5. Ask current students or recent graduates what they packed and planned – seek out an older sibling of a friend or grab somebody when you visit your university

6. Arrange your Student Finance as early as you can – the deadline for applications is 29 June if you want to ensure you get your money at the beginning of term

7. Be careful with your money.  Look for bargains, plan your spending carefully, save up over the summer if you can, avoid the temptation to spend your student loan as soon as you receive it and keep a log of the money you spend each week

8. Plan your meals before you go food shopping to avoid buying items which will go to waste.  Look for bargains and ‘value’ ranges

9. Contact your Student Union for advice on the best places to pick up the most cost effective goods

10. Bring some keepsakes to make your room feel homely

11. Invest in a laptop rather than a PC so you can work in the library as well as in your room

12. Bring a door stop – it makes you more sociable if your door is open

13. Avoid taking a TV – make friends instead

14. Don’t arrive late – everybody will have already met, making it more difficult to start up a conversation

15. Be considerate of the people you live with

16. Be prepared for hard work, as well as fun

17. Visit the university and accommodation before you go

18. Learn how to cook and wash your clothes before you start your course

19. If you find yourself not enjoying your course, don’t be afraid to investigate changing

20. Make the most of it, the university years are the best of your life