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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...

Cure the debt hangover from your student days

Wed 7 November 2018 - 16:31

By money.co.uk in Money

As the heady days of student life become consigned to the realm of nostalgia, it’s time to pick up the tab.
 
Reality might begin to bite when you find yourself landed in thousands of pounds worth of debt, money flowing out of your account that you cannot keep track of, and a credit history tarred from years of abusing credit.
 
However, there are some quick and easy steps you can take to get your finances back on track.

Clean up your overdraft act
While your overdraft may have seemed like your best friend during your student days, now you are no longer studying it is likely to be more of a curse, particularly if it...

Preparing for Exams

Thu 10 January 2019 - 16:27

By Anna J in Applicant

Hello!
 
I hope you're okay and not too stressed with exams and revision etc. I've done 2 exams so far this year and so I thought I'd share my top tips on how I prepare the day of my exam.

Morning and afternoon exams are obviously very different, and I know that everyone has one they prefer. Personally, I like morning exams much better because I feel fresher and more energised in the morning and so I'm able to concentrate for longer - most of the time anyway!!

So here is what I do on the day of the exam to help me feel prepared and calm.
 
1) Confidence
I'll be the first to admit that I'm not the most self-confident person in the world. My motto for confidence is "fake it till you make it" and that works pretty well most of the time!
For both my exams so far, I've woken up early before college so I can...

Seven ways to kick-start your studies

Thu 10 January 2019 - 16:27

By National Extension College in Applicant

In a few months’ time, a million young people in the UK will be immersing themselves for the first time in the hurly-burly of undergraduate life on a university campus. At the same time, online and distance learning students will start studying in the peace and quiet of their own home. Two very different experiences, but they both have something important in common. As well as getting to grips with their chosen subject, they have to learn how to take responsibility for how and when they study.

...

What's it like at a music conservatoire?

Tue 22 October 2019 - 14:41

By Charlotte Stevenson in UCAS advice

If you’re thinking of studying at a conservatoire there are many things to consider before you apply. advice to get you started but in this blog post we get an inside look at applying to a conservatoire and of conservatoire life from Charlotte Stevenson, who studies at Leeds College of Music.

What has been the most enriching part of studying at a conservatoire?

Being able to access resources that allowed me...

Who inspires you?

Thu 10 January 2019 - 16:29

By Charlotte Stevenson in Applicant

If you have a passion for performing arts then you might want to consider studying at a conservatoire. Each conservatoire has its own particular strengths and subject specialisms. While they all offer music courses, only two offer drama courses.
 
Conservatoire students can be influenced by many different factors to pursue their ambitions. One of our bloggers, Charlotte Stevenson, shares what influenced her to follow her passion.
...

Friday nights are for...

Tue 6 November 2018 - 15:57

By Siobhan in First year

Writing massive to do lists? Listening to my study playlist? Trying to organise my life?!

As I mentioned in this blog for the last assignment I submitted, a 2500 word report, I ended up pulling a very late night to get it finished and submitted.

I am very much a last minute worker. I often find myself saying "I work best under pressure" but I don't know if this is just because I'm the Queen of Procrastination so I've learnt how to work under pressure. Probably. I'm in a different situation to most university students though. Being a 'mature student' and juggling a full time degree course alongside a full time job isn't easy. So having pulled a late night (3:30am!!) I then had to be up at 7:30am for work! This was the least desirable thing. And on top of that, I also had a 6 hour day at uni to get through after working the morning. Let's just say, I...

Royal College of Music: Who Inspires You?

Fri 12 April 2019 - 15:46

By Royal College of Music in UCAS advice

Ever thought about studying at a conservatoire? They provide specialist professional training at undergraduate and postgraduate level for ​
talented musicians, actors, and dancers, to fulfil their creative and professional aspirations.

Want to know more? We spoke to two students from the Royal College of Music who share their inspiration to study at a conservatoire.

Cecilia Chan is a 4th year BMus cello student. She’ll be starting a Master of Music in Performance course in September, and reflects on the start of her musical journey.

I started learning the cello when I was 9 years old. My first cello teacher was a violinist who taught at my school in Hong Kong, and she decided to put me in the school orchestra a month...

Get to know a uni better at an open day!

Fri 26 July 2019 - 09:07

By UCAS in UCAS advice

Open days are a great opportunity for you to check out a university, before you apply or accept a place. Not sure how to find them or how to prepare? We’ve got it covered in four simple steps!

1. Make a shortlist
There are hundreds of unis and colleges in the UK and there might be a fair few that offer the type of course you’re interested in. Put a shortlist together of the unis or colleges you’d like to visit, by searching for courses in our search tool. Once you’ve done that, search for open days to see if you there are any you can attend.

2. Plan ahead
So, you’ve found a uni you want to attend and arranged to head off to an open day? Get an idea of what you want out of the day. Whether it’s seeing specific departments, or meeting particular course tutors, make sure you have a plan in mind to get...

Advice for parents

Thu 23 May 2019 - 14:54

By UCAS in Parents

Applying to university can cause a fair amount of anxiety, but not just for your son or daughter – we know that as parents you want to do whatever you can to help them through this important stage of their lives. For some, the process can seem quite unfamiliar – but rest assured we’ve created useful resources especially for you to help you give the best advice and support.

Monthly newsletters

We send out monthly newsletters with timely advice so you can support your son or daughter with their application. They cover a wide range of topics such as completing the application form, offering support at open days, help on finance and much more – sign up now!

Video guides

We have a selection of videos to help you get to grips with various stages of the application process, but we also have a selection of videos just for parents which offer...

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