STUDENT LIFEDan Wilde and Danny Shelton

Todays talk

• What to expect when you arrive

• Accommodation

• Essential things to take

• Fresher’s week

• Students Union

• Student spending

Arriving at university

• Everyone is in the same boat

• Different teaching methods – fieldwork, lectures, seminars

• Assessments and deadlines

• Independent study

• Time management

• Healthy work/life balance

A day in the life…

08.00 – 09.00 Get ready for university09.00 – 12.00 Fieldtrip12.00 – 13.00 Lunch & watch daytime TV13.00 – 14.00 Lecture14.00 – 15.00 Food shopping with flat mates15.00 – 16.00 Go to the library16.00 – 17.00 Lecture17.00 – 19.00 Diving - Coxside19.00 – 20.00 Dinner20.00 – 21.00 Go to the library and get lecture notes and check emails21.00 – 22.00 Go out to a comedy night22.00 – … Get back home and go to sleep!

Example timetables

9:00 9:15 9:30 9:45 10:00 10:15 10:30 10:45 11:00 11:15 11:30 11:45 12:00 12:15 12:30 12:45 13:00 13:15 13:30 13:45 14:00 14:15 14:30 14:45 15:00 15:15 15:30 15:45 16:00 16:15 16:30 16:45 17:00 17:15 17:30 17:45

Mon Practical – clinical skills ward Tues Practical – clinical skills ward Wed Manual handling – clinical skills ward Thur Seminar Seminar Lecture TutorialFri Lecture Lecture

9:00 9:15 9:30 9:45 10:00 10:15 10:30 10:45 11:00 11:15 11:30 11:45 12:00 12:15 12:30 12:45 13:00 13:15 13:30 13:45 14:00 14:15 14:30 14:45 15:00 15:15 15:30 15:45 16:00 16:15 16:30 16:45 17:00 17:15 17:30 17:45

Mon Tues Lecture Lecture Lecture LectureWed Lecture LectureThur Seminar Fri Seminar Lecture Lecture

9:00 9:15 9:30 9:45 10:00 10:15 10:30 10:45 11:00 11:15 11:30 11:45 12:00 12:15 12:30 12:45 13:00 13:15 13:30 13:45 14:00 14:15 14:30 14:45 15:00 15:15 15:30 15:45 16:00 16:15 16:30 16:45 17:00 17:15 17:30 17:45

Mon Fieldwork Lab time Tues Diving Wed Thur Lecture Lecture Lecture Lecture Lecture LectureFri Practical Practical Lecture

2011/2012 Week 16 Adult Nursing

2011/2012 Week 16 Education Studies

2011/2012 Week 16 Environmental Science

Settling into your accommodation

Types of student accommodation

• Live at home

• Halls of Residence

• Cluster flats

• Shared house

Typical weekly prices of student accommodation

Accommodation type

Halls of Residence Shared House Cluster flats

Weekly price Standard room: £81 – £92

En suite room: £110 – £118Studio flat:

£133

£65 – £85(doesn’t necessarily

include bills)

Standard room: £97

En suite room: £108

Studio flat: £129

Positives • On or close to campus

• Lots of students

• More space for less money

• Car parking

Same as Halls of Residence

Negatives • Expensive • Small rooms

• Not all bills are included in rent

• Neighbours that complain about

noise

Same as Halls of Residence

Moving out of home

• Everyone makes friends!

• New house mates

• Annoyances!

• Cooking for yourself

• Some properties include bills and some don’t – you need to check before you sign agreements

• Washing your own clothes

• Feeling homesick

Student safety

• Security staff on campus

• Secure halls

• Be sensible – don’t walk around on your own at night

• Get contents insurance

Fresher's Week and the SU

Freshers’ Week

• Go to the Freshers’ fair and sign up to new clubs

• Induction to your course

• Pick up your NUS card

• Sign up with the medical centre

• Go to all the themed nights – fancy dress is a must!

• Pick up all the freebies

Get involved with the Students Union

• The SU is the hub of the university

• It’s more than a bar and nightclub

• A place for advice, to relax and organise events – e.g. climate change march in London.

• Lots of things to try – live music, beer festival, comedy nights and many more…

Clubs and Societies

• Over 100 sports and societies to choose from

• Societies reflect the diversity of student’s interests – music, debating, dance etc.

• If there isn’t one that you like – start your own one up with 20 friends.

Clubs and Societies

Student health and wellbeing• Academic personal tutor• Medical centre • Free dental treatment • Councillors • Multi faith chaplaincy • Labplus for science and

engineering students• SUM:UP in the library• Disability Assist• Security staff on campus 24

hours a day

Student spending

What will I spend my money on? • Accommodation • Bills (electric, internet, water) • Travel • Food/toiletries • Clothes • Mobile/landline • TV and TV licence • Books and stationery • Photocopying/printing • Clubs and societies • Social life • Plus many more…

How much do students spend?

Item Weekly spend

Rent (inc. bills) £

Mobile £

Clothes £

Food/toiletries £

Books/stationery £

Travel £

Clubs/societies £

Social life £

WEEKLY TOTAL £

How much do students spend?

Item Weekly spend

Rent (inc. bills) £102.50

Mobile £5

Clothes £15

Food/toiletries £35

Books/stationery £5

Travel £7

Clubs/societies £5

Social life £30++

WEEKLY TOTAL £204.50

Before getting to university• Apply for funding in plenty of

time • Do a budget planner• Ensure you have enough

money on arrival – recommended £250

• Bank account/online banking • Check out student bank deals • Learn to food shop • Save any money you can

now!

What our students say

Student Case Study – Lindsey Cooper

“I was so shy when I came to University and had struggled making friends at college but I was amazed how many friends I made during first year (and are still making!). Ask any

students and they’ll tell you that people you meet at University

become an extension to your family”.

“I was so shy when I came to University and had struggled making friends at college but I was amazed how many friends I made during first year (and are still making!). Ask any

students and they’ll tell you that people you meet at University

become an extension to your family”.

“I sometimes miss home and it’s perfectly normal to miss home when you first move away. There are so

many things to distract you when you get to University, you soon forget

that you were missing home. When a visit my parents now – I get

Plymouth sick!”

“I sometimes miss home and it’s perfectly normal to miss home when you first move away. There are so

many things to distract you when you get to University, you soon forget

that you were missing home. When a visit my parents now – I get

Plymouth sick!”

“We cooked together a lot during the first year, it meant that we were

guaranteed at least one decent meal each week! If you’re splitting the cost

between you it works out so much cheaper to cook for a group and

really isn’t that much effort”

“We cooked together a lot during the first year, it meant that we were

guaranteed at least one decent meal each week! If you’re splitting the cost

between you it works out so much cheaper to cook for a group and

really isn’t that much effort”

How easy is it to make friends?How easy is it to make friends?

Did you miss home?Did you miss home?

Do you share the cooking with housemates?

Do you share the cooking with housemates?

Summary

• Don’t forget to apply for funding in plenty of time

• Enjoy the new experience – don’t stay in!

• Avoid missing lectures because you had a “late night”

• Don’t get Fresher's flu• Be sensible with your money• Keep healthy.

Are you ready to be a student? All stand up! Sit down if you have never…•Slept in past midday•Borrowed money •Eaten food past its use by date •Stayed awake for over 24 hours •Stayed in your pyjamas all day•Put a traffic cone on your head

Congratulations!

You are well on your way to

becoming a student!

Wednesday 27 June Saturday 20 October

Saturday 31 March Saturday 9 June