It’s that time of the year where university life begins again, and for all the first years, it’s where your university life starts! We have recently written about university life, giving tips and advice for those joining, and as the new university year is still in its early stages, we at CityBlock would like to give you a big warm welcome to university.
As you are still settling in and getting used to life after Freshers’ Week, we to provide you with some essential advice to help you adapt to your university life.
Life After Fresher’s Week
Many will know the beginning of university life starts with Fresher’s Week. However, as this time has now come to an end, the important aspects of University life will begin to surface. Lectures become more frequent as the academic year begins, and assignments will be introduced.
Throughout the beginning of first year, introductions will continue to be made with further students, as your course officially begins. This is the time you will understand what the year entails, whilst still giving you the time to socialise around campus. This is still a fun and exciting time following the buzz Fresher’s Week still holds in the air.
Important Things to Know
Being a fresh student, there are important things you need to know, and at CityBlock, we are always happy to help you wherever we can. It’s always nice to learn some new tips when in an unfamiliar environment, and by gaining new knowledge, you’ll find that you can enjoy your university life even more.
You may have heard the term ‘eating like a student’ before, but this is a true way of life. You will learn new skills, such as cooking meals on a budget, and it’s quite amazing how much food you can get for £10. This will help you greatly in the future, particularly when you are waiting for your next student loan payment. Easy-to-find items such as 10p noodles and huge bags of pasta will become your new shopping staples throughout university, and this lifestyle also gives you the opportunity to try new things and get creative with foods in the kitchen.
Budgeting is definitely something you need to learn throughout your time at university, and it’s best to get this nailed from the very beginning. This is a time where you are gaining your independence, and by thinking ahead, you can avoid the stress of being a truly ‘skint student’. When your student loan arrives in your bank account, it’s incredibly tempting to spend it, but you must remember this has to last you three months. You can still have a great time by spending less!
Ticking Your Checklist
When you are in the first stages of beginning your life at university, it’s wise to create a checklist of things you will need throughout your time. Now you have started attending your lectures and writing your assignments, did you get everything you needed? One important item you will need throughout your time is a few memory sticks to store your work.
It’s ideal to have more than one memory stick to back up your work, just in case something unexpected occurs – this could be a computer crashing, meaning that all your hard work could disappear. By having multiple memory sticks, you can avoid this issue – but make sure you back up your work!
Academic diaries and calendars are also a great investment for students. At university, deadlines need to be met, so it is important for you to know what is due and when in order to avoid any confusion and to keep you well informed of work and social events.
Adapting to Student Life
Adapting to your new student life can seem intimidating, but there are thousands of students who are in the same boat as you. Learn to pace yourself and go at your own speed, take time to explore what’s around you, and take advantage of societies to join at your university – this keeps you busy whilst also giving you the opportunity to participate in something you enjoy.
People do adapt to university life differently, but the best thing you can do is to embrace your new life as a student and dive right into the fun!
Enjoy Your University Years
The main thing you need to remember is to enjoy yourself. Even though you have only just started your university life, make sure that you try enjoy every day – after all, your university days will be some of the best memories and years of your life!
If you are still in need of student accommodation, City Block can help you. We offer central student accommodation in Lancaster, and Reading. If you would like more information, or to book a room, please contact a member of our team today by calling 01524 541251 or email us at info@cityblock.co.uk.
