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Update: I'm going to University!!!

Thu 10 January 2019 - 16:24

By Itunu in Applicant

Hola Bonitos. It seems so bizarre to finally be writing this I AM GOING TO UNIVERSITY!!!
 
It’s been a long road *cue the dramatic music* and I thought I wouldn’t make it. There were tears, headaches, lessons where I sat there half-asleep, sleepless nights, mornings I Usain Bolt sprinted for the bus (eww) but it’s all over. I am finally going to the University of Birmingham to study Politics and International Relations and I am so (insert word for a culmination of every feeling ever).
 
The fact that I’m writing this one week before I pack my things and become a fully-fledged Brummie is a testament to the fact that I can’t believe this is happening. I don’t really know how to feel about it all. I am excited, but it’s the kind of excitement before you go on a rollercoaster. You stand in the queue buzzing but you’re also hoping that you don’t fall out of the ride or throw-up. It’s like...

Freshers' Advice

Fri 18 September 2020 - 15:39

By Anna James in First year

Hello!
 
I can't believe that after all the excitement and everything, I'm finally moving into Hope in just over 2 weeks! It doesn't feel real, but I can't wait to get there and get started!
 
I recently went away with a few of my friends who are all a couple of years older than me and while we were away, they gave me some amazing advice for freshers.
 
The tips they gave me were too good not to share, so here we are! Some are pretty self-explanatory, while others are a bit more detailed! Hope this is helpful/interesting!
 
1) Student Loan
It has to last you three months, so don't spend it all in the first week!
 
2) Don't eat out/get takeaways all the time
As my friend Rachel beautifully put it: "there's an oven with...

Do you need to take an English test to study at university in the UK?

Thu 10 January 2019 - 16:22

By UCAS in International students

By Petra Olsson from Cambridge English Language Assessment

In 2015, the UK’s Visa and Immigration service (UKVI) changed its rules affecting the English language tests needed to work or study in the UK. Many students have found the new rules complicated and are not sure if they need to take a Secure English Language Test (SELT) or another kind of English test. This quick guide outlines the key facts about who needs to take a SELT and, more importantly, who doesn’t!

What are the different types of English...

Preparing for your final GCSE year

Thu 10 January 2019 - 16:24

By Charlotte Stevenson in Applicant

Some of you may have taken GCSE's for your options for the past few years, others not, but the pressure is probably feeling a lot more evident now that it is your last year of GCSE's and hence a lot more work - with a lot of subjects to study and get to grips with at once, it can feel like there is a never ending stream of work to do and the nerves might build as a result.

My first piece of advice, and it might sound like an obvious one, is try not to be too stressed! Whilst the future will need you to have good grades, this is not all that matters. The main thing that matters is keeping a healthy balance and environment - one in which you can work your best,  but also enjoy all the fun that comes with being in your last year of high school, whether that be getting involved with projects to raise awareness for charities as part of the student council or as a prefect (I can't believe it's been so long since I was a performing arts prefect now!) or getting to spend time...

Teachers change the world – Janie Livermore

Tue 15 October 2019 - 15:15

By Janie Livermore in Teacher Training

My mum inspired me to become a teacher. She has worked in primary schools since I can remember, and growing up, I would go to her class and help her out when I could; I loved the fact that no two days were the same. Also, I have a lot of lovely memories of my time in primary school with my mum working there and my dad being heavily involved. Every member of my immediate family have worked in education, and I guess it was natural for me to do the same.

I came back from travelling for 2 years thinking I have missed the boat in applying for any type of teacher training course when my mum spotted an advert in the local newspaper. I applied straight away and got offered an interview a few days later. The interview was at a local primary school, and we had to take a literacy and maths test, take in a book suited for the year group allocated and read to a class, as well as preparing a presentation about ourselves and an interview with the course director and the head teacher. The...

If at first – Hayley Ebdon

Tue 6 November 2018 - 15:50

By Hayley Ebdon in Teacher Training

A PGCE wasn’t always the way that I had intended to complete my ITT. For the 2014/15 academic year, I had applied for one PGCE course, and two School Direct (salaried) programmes. Unfortunately, all of my applications were unsuccessful – I didn’t even get as far as an interview for the PGCE at this stage. I was very nervous about the whole process and the interviews were really tough – one had a panel of six head teachers interviewing! The feedback from the interviews was that I needed more experience in a school – due to working full-time, I’d only really done the two weeks minimum experience required for application.
 
I had five years’ working experience in a private nursery, moving from a student to a nursery nurse, to assistant manager, to nursery manager, but this obviously wasn’t enough. I’d worked full-time whilst studying part-time (one night per week) for my degree, moving from a foundation degree to a BA (Hons) Top-up, where I finished with First...

Can you get financial help from grants, scholarships and bursaries?

Thu 10 January 2019 - 16:26

By money.co.uk in Money

You have to pay student loans back with interest after you graduate, but there are several other ways to help you pay for university that do not need to be paid back.

Universities offer help to support students with financial difficulties, to award achievements or to attract gifted students.

You can’t get Maintenance Grants or Special Support Grants when you start uni any more, but you can get financial support in the following ways:

Scholarships are awarded based on your academic achievements or abilities. They...

How to find a job

Thu 10 January 2019 - 16:18

By money.co.uk in Money

There are lots of resources on the internet that can help you find a job, successfully apply for it and perfect your interview technique.

• UCAS’ careers guides cover everything from writing your CV to how to get into specific industries.
• The BBC website features videos to help you prepare for finding a job.

What industry should you work in?
Your degree could help you get a job in particular industries. For example, a maths degree could make it easier to get a job in...

What is sixth form like?

Thu 6 June 2019 - 14:31

By Charlotte Stevenson in Applicant

When I faced university, the new challenges and new aspects of an entirely new place took over and some how my brain completely erased the memories of only two years earlier, when I had been beginning sixth form with much the same feelings. It is strange to look back now and think that for both of these experiences, I must have been experiencing very similar things. But the thing is, when everyone around you is adjusting to the new situation as well it is often quite easy to adjust - and if not easy, it just happens so quickly that before you know it, your A levels are over and you're moving on to the next stage in your academic training. 
 
Manchester was definitely a fantastic city to study in. In fact, studying here meant having access to many interesting and valuable resources - from the John Rylands' library to the museum of natural history, or even the foreign language centres, and especially the central library with it's floor of musical...

How to cut the cost of bills and insurance at uni

Mon 28 January 2019 - 14:55

By money.co.uk in Money

If you can cut the cost of the dull things in life, you’ll have more money to spend on exciting things.

It’s worth spending a few minutes shopping around for cheaper utilities and insurance if it will save you enough for a night out. Here’s how:

Paying bills
Halls of residence and some student houses include most of your bills in your rent, but if you live in private accommodation that you share with others you will need to share the bills too.

To make it fair you could use a service like Split the Bills. Everyone in...

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