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Four Steps to a Great Student Christmas

Thu 10 January 2019 - 14:34

By Rebecca in First year

Around the end of November student loans begin to dwindle but fear not, you can still have a great Christmas in your student halls even on a tight budget!

Decorations
Nothing will get you in the Christmas mood more than blasting out Mariah Carey while decorating the Christmas tree but you have to be smart about where you buy your decorations from.  There are so many buy/sell apps out there that this shouldn’t be a problem. Have a look in your local area for people trying to get rid...

What to pack for a semester abroad

Tue 18 June 2024 - 14:31

By Anna in First year

Hi!

Ever since I got back from Erasmus in Madrid in June I haven't stopped thinking (or talking) about it. From reminiscing with international friends to working as an Erasmus ambassador at my university, I haven't been able to stop! Recently my friend and I went to Germany for the weekend to visit our friend from Munich, and in a few weeks another friend from Valencia will be coming to see what Sheffield has to offer (hint: hills and sub-zero temperatures).
 
But all this Erasmus-talk has got me remembering how much of an amazing experience it was and how I long to go back and chill in that Spanish sun again, drinking sangria with friends or wandering around discovering new things wherever you go. So, for all you semester abroad goers heading off in January, here is a list of all the things you should take with you, to take that added stress away from what will be the most incredible experience...
 
1. Suitcase- First of all...

Tips for international students studying in London

Tue 18 June 2024 - 10:27

In International students

Rachel Yohe is an American student studying Marketing Communications and Spanish in New York. As part of her degree, she did an internship in London. Here are Rachel’s top tips for international students coming to the capital.   
 
“Start budgeting ahead of time. Sort out what you’re willing to spend on rent, groceries, and living expenses before you get to London. If you have friends coming with you, decide on roommates and work with their budgets as well.
 
If you want to do a work placement or internship, you may also have to spend a bit of money for a work visa. London is an expensive place to live, so check out what areas are cheapest and closest to your classes. 
 
...

10 Things I Wish I Knew When I Started University

Wed 17 July 2024 - 11:57

By Rebecca in First year

With 2 years of university currently under my belt I’ve had plenty of learning opportunities and times to reflect on my experience so far. As a fine art student at the University of Chichester my course is largely practical and spent in the studio but I still have to attend regular history of art lectures and seminars. I have learned a lot of new things since beginning my course, some of which seem incredibly strange, so I’m going to share some of my wisdom with all of you whether you’re still in the application process or are a couple of months into your first year.

1. Your student loan is not free money

Contrary to popular belief, the student loan that you receive is not just free money for you to squander. You’re really going to need every penny to get you through the year and even then it will be tight! Make sure to budget and save as much as you can while still being able to enjoy your time.

2. Look after your...

Seeing my family

Thu 10 January 2019 - 14:32

By Enia in First year

Unbelievably, I’ve been at uni for just over a month! The time feels like it has flown by (I can’t really imagine life before it) but, at the same time, everything still feels new and a tad intimidating.
 
My family have just visited for the first time since I’ve been here. It was so nice to see them again and any worries that they would have moved on without me were quashed as soon as I saw them. We settled into our old rhythm straight away.
 
Yet, I had been quite nervous to see them and I think this is because I was...

I always wanted to teach, but life happened – Tracey Brown

Tue 18 June 2024 - 10:58

By Tracey Brown in Teacher Training

 
I had always known I wanted to teach, and it had always been in my mind to find a way to get into the classroom. But life happened and I found myself working in a bank for 18 years, dreading going into work. One day I decided to do something about it. At that stage I didn’t have a degree, so I started by going to evening classes to try and find a subject I was interested in. It wasn’t until I took an evening class in Biology that I even considered science. I took my HNC and then secured a place at university studying Biomedical Science. Having completed that, I was offered a funded Masters and eventually I did a PhD. 
 
All the while I was learning, I was still aware that the ultimate goal was to teach and during my PhD I secured a place on SCITT programme. Unfortunately my situation changed, and I realised that paying to train wasn’t an option. I came across Teach First and went along to...

How taking social action can help you stand out

Tue 18 June 2024 - 15:03

By UCAS in Support


Making your UCAS application stand out from the crowd can be challenging. One thing you could consider is taking part in ‘social action’ to show you’re a motivated, disciplined, and resilient person.
 
By social action we mean campaigning, fundraising, or even volunteering. This can give you something unique to talk about in your personal statement, and can reinforce your commitment to your chosen study area. There are loads of organisations you can contact to discuss opportunities – from the Scouts and Girl Guides, to your local council.
 
We’re Step Up To Serve, a charity that coordinates the #iwill campaign. We work with over 750 organisations across the education, business, voluntary, and health sectors, to ensure every young person has the opportunity to take part in social action.
 
The beauty of social action is that it has a double...

The importance of Freshers Week

Thu 4 July 2024 - 11:12

By Aimee in First year

Freshers is an exciting time for all university students whether you like partying or getting involved in the day time activities, there is something for everyone. Obviously the partying is a big part of Freshers week(s) but I won’t go into too much detail about that as that is pretty self-explanatory.
 
The weeks of Freshers is an amazing opportunity to meet new people, help your confidence grow and find out what the university has to offer. During these weeks there are often various bazaar’s ranging from a sports bazaar to a society bazaar to a RAG bazaar. Bazaars are a big must because they show you various clubs you have the opportunity to join from football, to choir, to the hot air balloon society. The variety of societies that are on offer at university is incredible. RAG is at a lot of universities and offer opportunities where you can do a residential to raise money for charity. I’m currently...

Oxbridge application tips

Thu 4 July 2024 - 13:19

By UCAS in UCAS advice

The early UCAS deadline for Oxbridge applications is fast approaching. For those of you who are considering applying to these universities, work will now be well underway regarding your personal statements, academic portfolio and finding suitable references. Representing yourself through so few words is one of the biggest challenges you will have faced throughout your sixth form experience so far, hence it is natural to feel overwhelmed and a little stressed by it all. Fear not – whilst the deadline is approaching, there is still more than enough time for you to complete everything necessary. It’s all in your approach.
 
As far as your personal statement goes, make sure that you have a clear structure as you read over everything. If someone were skim reading this, would they be able to pick out your key ideas from the topic sentences at the beginning of paragraphs? Is there an interesting range and evident fluency to your writing?...

How to write a personal statement

Thu 11 July 2024 - 13:09

By Robyn in First year

A personal statement is what sets up an accurate portrayal of your character to universities. It’s one of the most important things you need to do, and it’s one of the things that your application relies on, but it’s not too difficult to make it perfect.
 
You don’t need to pour every single thing that’s on your mind into those 4000 characters, but it’s a good way of discussing where you are in your knowledge of your subject, where you want to take that knowledge and any past experiences you have had. And believe me, when you’re passionate about a subject, 47 lines is not enough to tell them everything.
 
A few tips for what to write about include:
 
Why you chose to apply for that particular course.
Write about your...

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