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Latest from the blogs

Creating a cosy reading nook

Wed 16 October 2019 - 11:55

By Chloe Price in UCAS advice

It's a well-known fact that bookworms can read pretty much anywhere, but when it comes to a serious reading session, the best place to settle down is your cosy reading nook. 

Student accommodation is often small and, depending on how many you live with, quite crowded in parts of the house. Therefore, your own cosy reading nook is needed for when you want to quietly hide away with a cup of tea and your current read. It doesn't matter what your room will look like at your accommodation – you can create a reading space pretty much anywhere. Here’s how… 

Find suitable space
First and foremost, you need to find the right place for your nook. It could be that somewhere is already screaming out to you, possibly the end of your bed, or a chair by the window. Or you may need to be a bit more creative. An empty corner, a space underneath a sloping roof, a small alcove – they can all be used. Just make sure it's out of the way of your housemate...

How to be energy efficient

Tue 15 October 2019 - 11:23

By Ella Hendrix in UCAS advice

As a student with numerous financial constraints, you might feel it’s difficult to be super energy efficient. We all know how important it is to try to do our bit to help the planet, but if it costs extra money to do so you can sometimes find yourself torn about what to do.
 
Being energy efficient, however, isn’t only good for the environment, it will almost always save you money in the long run – a double whammy of goodness.
 
Whether you are heading off to uni for the first time, or you’re moving out of halls and into a shared house, there are a number of things you can do to become an energy efficient student, help save the planet, and help to save your pennies as well.
 
1. Heating
Heating is one of the most energy thirsty parts of the home. So, by reducing the amount of heating you use, you reduce the energy you use, and also save yourself money....

Things I have learned since graduation

Thu 3 October 2019 - 15:41

By Chloe Price in UCAS advice

It's been over a year since I graduated from Bath Spa University, and I've learnt so much in this time. 

Leaving your student home and stepping out into the real world can feel like a slap in the face. Suddenly the friends you saw every day are scattered across the country, and, when you thought you had worked as hard as you possibly could during your degree, you now have to work even harder. 

The thing with university is that it compasses you into a bubble. The outside world is far away, everyone you know are students, and all that matters is getting out of bed, completing your degree, and finding the cheapest night out. You don't really know who you are yet – even if you think you do, you'll be surprised at how much you learn about yourself once you venture outside of student life. 

With that in mind, here are some of the things I have learnt since graduation. 

1. Keep searching for the job you love
When I...

Get to know more about school leaver programmes

Thu 3 October 2019 - 09:08

By UCAS in UCAS advice

School leaver programmes give you a direct route into the world of work. They allow you to learn new skills, meet new people, and earn a wage while you’re learning. Not sure if it’s the right path for you? Georgina, from PwC, shares her story. 

Why did you choose the programme?

One of the main things that appealed to me was the thought of independence gained through working in a professional environment. As a school and college leaver, you qualify as a chartered accountant in just the same way as a graduate, just without the three years of university debt! The idea of working, combined with learning, really appealed to me, and, although it’s a challenge to balance college and work-based learning, I would always prefer to be busy and push myself. The feeling of kick-starting and progressing your career from the age of 18 was something I always favoured. For me, I couldn’t see the logic in...

Seven tips to smash your personal statement

Thu 19 December 2019 - 08:57

By UCAS in UCAS advice

Your personal statement is a key part of your application. It’s your chance to show the uni or college what kind of person you are, and how you’re suitable for their course. Here are seven top tips to help you write a killer personal statement:

  1. Start early – The deadline for applying to most undergraduate courses is 15 January, but don’t think you can start your personal statement the week before and casually hit ‘submit’ at 17:59 on deadline day. Your personal statement is the one section of your application that will set you apart from everyone else. Unsure where to start? Sign up for the UCAS Hub and get started with the personal statement builder!
  2. Write everything down – Your personal statement is limited to 4,000 characters, or 47 lines (whichever comes first). Remember, it’s 4,000 characters, not words! When you start off don’t set yourself any...

Before you start your new job: Quick trips after graduation

Thu 26 September 2019 - 11:11

By Ella Hendrix in UCAS advice

Some people can’t wait to finish university and start work, whereas others try to delay their entry into the world of employment for as long as possible. Whichever camp you fall into, the end of university is the end of an era, and after at least three years of hard study, you deserve a well-earned break before you start your new job.
 
It’s understandable that you might not have too much disposable income having finished years of studying, but there are plenty of quick trips you can take after your graduation that won’t cost the earth, and still let you get the break you need.
 
1. Theatre break in London
Are you a drama or performing arts grad? London has everything you can imagine – and more. And one thing London does spectacularly well, is theatre. The West End is famous the world over for its excellent theatre, so why not take a couple of days break, stay in a nice hotel, eat some great food,...

A guide to graduate careers in engineering

Tue 24 September 2019 - 09:22

By Ella Hendrix in UCAS advice

According to a report by Engineering UK, the country will need 265,000 skilled entrants into engineering through to 2024. That’s an annual shortfall of at least 20,000 people. The good news is, therefore, that as an engineering graduate you are well sought after, have great career prospects, and a wide variety of options in terms of career prospects in engineering.
 
Engineering recruitment agencies are a great place to start when you are looking for career options in the world of engineering, helping you find the jobs which best suit you, and which offer competitive pay rates across all areas of the industry.
 
Engineering – or creative science – as some people like to call it, is a genre that stretches across almost every industry that exists. We will always need innovative and...

Three tips to choosing the right course

Thu 19 December 2019 - 08:58

By UCAS in UCAS advice

Have you considered a career in music, dance, or drama? If so, check out what’s on offer with UCAS Conservatoires.

But how do you know which is the right course for you? Our tips will make sure you choose the course that best suits you.

1. Research courses in our search tool.
The first place to start will be our search tool. Once you’ve found a course and conservatoire that’s taken your interest, find out more about the course, the conservatoire, the entry requirements and the audition fees by clicking on the course in question.

2. Attend open days
Open days will give you the opportunity to check out the facilities, meet current students and staff and give you the chance to ask them questions. Search for open days by conservatoire on our...

Charlotte's blog post on writing an undergraduate personal statement

Thu 19 December 2019 - 08:58

By Charlotte Stevenson in First year

A popular past post of mine was about how to construct a personal statement. Since that time, I myself had to re-write my own personal statement in order to re-apply for my literature degree. Going about doing this on my own was quite tricky, as I didn't have the same amount of advice as I had had in sixth form due to already being at university. Also, second time round I was writing for a more academic institution opposed to a performance based one (conservatoire)

In my second personal statement, as I have mentioned fairly briefly in another post, I was able to veer away from the specialist music performance element I had first had to focus on when writing for a conservatoire directly. This was interesting as it meant although the academic side of things was not too different (I talked about my A levels, how they tied together with useful links and resources) yet my hobbies included not only my music education and extra curricular but also my interest in writing, being...

Decision, decisions… when are you likely to hear back from unis?

Thu 19 December 2019 - 08:59

By UCAS in UCAS advice

The wait for decisions on your application can be agonising. It’s a good idea to use this time effectively by familiarising yourself with the decisions the unis you’ve applied to could make, so you know what to expect and what to do when the time comes.

Each university and college will make their decisions at different times, meaning you might hear back before your friends do, or vice versa. However, there are deadlines by which they have to decide:
  • 6 May 2020 – if you sent your application by 15 January 2020
  • 13 July 2020 – if you sent your application by 30 June 2020
  • 20 October 2020 – this is the...

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