Going to university is an exciting time – but it can also be pretty scary. Suddenly, you’re in control of everything from paying rent to buying food and doing your laundry, as well as getting to grips with new people, a new place – not to mention the studying. That can be a big change if you’ve been living at home, going to school and having most of your life managed for you by others. But if you think smart about being a student, you’ll find it much easier to make that transition – giving you far more time and energy to enjoy university life.
“It’s an exciting time,” says Miles Finch, who’s just started his third year studying media communications at Bath Spa University. “I’d outgrown where I was living, and I was so ready to go and move out and to start a fresh new adventure.”
But for this adventure, you need money. Budgeting is key to making the most of your university years, whether that’s working out how to cover the big costs, such as rent, or everyday needs, such as food and transport. Finch says he wishes he’d thought more about money in his first year.
“I thought I could scrimp and save, using money I’d earned in the holiday, but that only lasted until December. Plus, I didn’t have a part-time job. And I spent a lot of money partying.” He advises new students to plan a simple budget before they start. “Sit down with a calculator and figure out how much your student loan is, and how much you have to pay in rent and extras.” Finch suggests if your loan doesn’t seem to cover it, seek support from your family, or think about a part-time job: lots of students do this and depending on where you study, there can be plenty of opportunities.
Getting a part-time job, he says, has been crucial. “It gives you spending money but it’s also great to get a bit of dirt under your fingernails. You come out a nicer person after you’ve worked. But don’t let employers take the mickey. I’ve worked in some horrible jobs. Now I work in a lovely tea shop, where my manager respects the fact that I’m a student. One of the great things about studying in Bath is that it’s a tourist town, so there are always jobs available.” Bath Spa University’s Job Shop matches students with local employers in term time, offering an abundance of opportunities for part-time work – in 2017 it advertised more than 2,500 vacancies.
It’s also worth finding out about scholarship and bursary schemes to help ease the financial pressure. These vary from university to university, but they should be listed on an institute’s website. At Bath Spa University, for example, students who enrol in September 2019 have the opportunity to secure £750 in their first year. There are three ways students can qualify: by achieving better-than-predicted grades; by displaying outstanding talent in the creative or performing arts; or by achieving exceptional A-level results of at least AAB, or the equivalent.
Making the transition from home to campus is a challenge – so before you go, make sure that your university has good support services. “We are very proactive in seeking out and giving students an overview of the kind of support we offer,” says Rob Black, mental health and wellbeing service manager at Bath Spa University.
“For example, we offer a programme called Get Started to any student who has disclosed a disability or mental health challenge. It enables those students to move in a week prior to registration and take part in a three-day programme of events to make them aware of the support services. We also offer a mentor scheme to all first-year students who feel they would benefit from it, to help guide them through some of the challenges.”
Then, of course, you need to think about how you manage the work itself. Again, planning is crucial. Caroline Barnett is just about to start her third year studying business and management (entrepreneurship) at Bath Spa. As a mature student who also works part-time and has a family, she’s had to work smart to juggle all her commitments. “When I started, I thought how lovely it was – you turn up, listen to the lectures, and take part in the seminars. I can do this!” she says. “But then I realised I needed to start writing pretty early on.”
Barnett is “spreadsheet crazy”, she says, and plans as much of her day as possible. That includes not just lectures and seminars but also reading time. “I book specific days for specific modules, with deadlines in mind,” she says. “But, of course, things can change very quickly, so you just have to adjust. At Christmas last year, I had planned everything – and then my husband’s father was diagnosed with leukaemia. The university was very supportive. I spoke to my personal tutor and to the tutors I had deadlines for. They gave me extra time and pointed out that family comes first. You have to be flexible – if you plan too much, you end up disappointed.”
And when you arrive, just remember that everyone is in the same situation as you, says Finch – and you’re all learning together. “Everyone starts off trying to make the best impression possible. But as the weeks and months go on, you relax into university. You feel like you’re allowed to be yourself, and you really start enjoying it.”
For more information, visit bathspa.ac.uk
