Latest from the blogs

Careers advice service on hand to help stressed-out students  The Exam Results Helpline is preparing for another busy August helping stressed-out students and their families as 2017’s major exam announcements approach. The 40-strong team of career advice experts provide free, specialised information, help and guidance to students who have higher or lower exam results than expected. The helpline number 0808 100 8000 opens in Scotland first on August 8, when Higher, Advanced Higher, National and Scottish Baccalaureate results are announced and closes North of the Border on

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Last year, thousands of places were available in Clearing, in courses ranging from science to history. Here are the five things that'll give you an understanding of what Clearing is.  1. What is Clearing? Clearing runs from 5 July to 23 October and is an opportunity for anyone who hasn’t been accepted by a university or college to find a place on another course. 2. How do I know if I can use Clearing?  When you log in to Track, you’ll see if you’re in Clearing.

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Beginning university is by far the most nerve-wracking and difficult part of the year because, for the first time, you're going to find yourself in a situation where you are amidst a lot of new people and places figuring it out on your own. It is very much learning something familiar all over again, from speaking to other students who are in the same boat to getting to grips with the route to your campus from your accommodation (unless you're one of the lucky ducks who live on campus).

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This hasn't been a month for reading so far, with the usual busy schedule starting to fall back into place. As a literature student, it is important to keep reading however so I am determined to get back to my usual habits. But the good news is that that doesn't have to be the end of things because we are still only half way through July.

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                As the end of the PGCE course seems in sight, I have taken the opportunity to reflect on my experiences. If you are reading this you are probably at the same stage of your career or where I was last year, considering if this is what I want to do. If you are in the latter, please just do it, I won’t say you won’t have moments that you regret that decision but on the whole you will love it.   I am going to start off with one of the best things about the course.

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It's summer! The time of long lazy days and time of our own. Whilst the boredom soon kicks in, I think the prospect of so much free time is a big part of what gets students through those difficult parts of the year when there is a stack of books a mile tall on our desks and a deadline just around the corner.

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Recently I've been using my time over the summer to try and gain some experience when it comes to my writing. Finding your voice is a very tricky thing and the more you write, the more likely it is that you will be able to shape what you want to say into something coherent, fun, useful and (most important of all) engaging. Being creative and standing out is one of the most difficult things in the world, which is why it takes so much practice. The 10,000 hour practice rule (how long it takes to become a professional) is true of everything, including the written word.

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Going to university is a big change from sixth form or high-school in many regards. Firstly, you're only going to be studying one specialist subject and in a lot of detail. When people hear that a degree only includes that one subject, particularly if it is a subject you enjoy, they come to the immediate assumption that this is something which is going to be easy to complete. But that isn't the case at all!

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Summer has been back to stay the past few days, with bright sunshine everywhere you turn. I have been making the most of it by taking my Dutch text books and to-be-read pile down to the local botanical garden. With all of the flowers in bloom, it is a really colourful, quiet place to sit. Plus if I ever get stuck on a particular section of the grammar I can walk off the frustration around the rockery.

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