Student guide:
How to make the most of University in 2021
june 2021
afs | intro to AFS: student guide
june 2021
Introduction At Accommodation for Students we’ve put together a student guide to help prospective students understand what going to university is like. Inside this guide, you’ll find pieces from our student ambassadors discussing their personal experiences at university and talking about what they got out of going. You will also find some helpful tips and tricks about attending university, as well as a guide for how to use AFS for your property search. If you have any questions on anything you read inside the guide, or about AFS in general, feel free to get in contact with our team here.
15 tips to make the most of University this September If you’re attending University in September 2021, then it’s likely your university will be taking a blended approach to learning.
This means that your course will be split between some online content, and some face-to-face interaction. Moreover, your freshers’ week may also be blended between face-to-face and online interaction. With things being slightly different than usual, we’ve put together some tips and tricks to help you ease into university life.
01.
Join Facebook groups Connecting with friends online has never been so important. Joining groups is a great way to meet people from your course and within your accommodation. It is also a great way to keep up with the latest news and freshers’ events.
02.
Do as much as you can in Freshers’ Week Freshers week is a really important part of your university experience. During this week, your university will be hosting many different events, and taking part in as many of these, whether in-person or virtually, is a great way to get involved in university life.
afs | intro to AFS: student guide
03.
Join at least one society While joining a society might seem intimidating, this is a great way to socialise and to meet likeminded people. There’s no limit to how many societies you can join but most people choose to join two or three.
04.
Get a student bank account Taking out a student bank account is a great idea during university. Many banks will often offer students a free overdraft, as well as many other incentives such as a free rail card and sometimes even money for opening an account!
05.
ork out your weekly budget
W
udgeting at university can often be a challenge. If you work out how much you will have before you come to university then you’ll find budgeting a lot easier. There are also lots of different apps that you can download that will help you work out your weekly budget. B
06.
Learn how to cook For many people, their time at university is the first time that they’ve had to cook for themselves. Learning how to cook before you arrive can often make your time at university a lot easier.
june 2021
07.
Take a look at your course reading before you arrive Getting a head start on your course reading can really benefit you when it comes to university. If you’ve already read up on what you’re going to be studying then you’ll be prepared for when your course starts, and you won’t fall behind.
08.
Spend some time getting to know your way around the city This can be a great way to make you feel more at home in your new city. Whether you’re going to a large city, or a smaller campus-based university it’s really important to know your local area. Spend a few days as a tourist, get to know the local places, and plan your route home after a night out.
09.
Get to know your academic advisor and your student support officer If you’re in need of some support, don’t feel afraid to reach out. There are many people at university whose job it is to make sure that you’re doing okay. Getting to know your academic advisor and student support officer means that if you do need support, you’ll know where to turn.
afs | intro to AFS: student guide
june 2021
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Getting to know your flat mates is really important. These are the people that you’re going to be spending the next year living with. Perhaps plan some nights out, or some nights in, to make sure that you really get to know one another.
While many students may prefer to do their university work from home, visiting the library early on in the term is a great way to get to know all the resources that you have available to you. Maybe you just want to have a look where it is, or maybe you want to stay for a study session, but getting to know the library is a great way to help you settle into university.
Get to know your flat mates once they arrive
11.
Do an IKEA shop Living away from home, you’re going to need all new crockery, new bedding and other things for your new room. Going to Ikea (or equivalent) before you start university is a great way to make sure that you’ve got all the essentials.
12.
Make sure to pack everything you need You’re not living at home now, it’s up to you to provide everything you need. Don’t forget things like an extension cable, a washing basket and a spare phone charger. It’s a good idea to start making a list of the things you need before you come to university and gradually add to it as you think of extra items.
Visit the library
14.
Attend office hours In first year, many students feel nervous about going to office hours with their lecturers. However, this is often a great way to get to know your lecturers and to get help with anything that you might be struggling with. Remember that your lecturers are there to support you.
15.
Try to do something outside your comfort zone Going to university is all about having new experiences and growing in confidence and independence. Trying something outside of your comfort zone doesn’t have to be something crazy like skydiving, it could be as simple as going to a social event on your own.
afs | intro to AFS: student guide
june 2021
How to use AFS to help you with your property search If you’re looking for a student property, we’ve got you covered. At accommodation for students we’ve got thousands of student properties available to you at the click of a button. Follow the steps below to get started on your property search:
Step 1. Head to our home page at
https://www.accommodationforstudents.com/
Step 2. Enter into the search bar the location that you are after.
You can search by university, city, area, street name, address or landmark.
Step 3. Add more filters. You can then filter your accommodation
search by type of accommodation, how many bedrooms you would like, and what you want to pay for the property.
Step 4. Click on the property you want to view. You can now view
different photos of the property, find out about which different amenities the property includes, and see where the property is located on the map.
Step . If you are happy with the property that you have selected, 5
you can then press the make an en uiry button’ or call the landlord in order to arrange a viewing of the property. You may also want to read the landlord testimonials in order to find out what other students think about the property. ‘
q
Step . If you have any problems during this process, you want 6
get in contact with a member of our team by emailing support acco odationforstudents.co @
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afs | intro to AFS: student guide
june 2021
What is it like to study at uni right now? We’ve asked our student team to share their personal experiences of studying this year to help you prepare for your time at Uni.
Hello! My name is Emma, and I have just graduated from the University of Manchester from BA English Language and Literature.
Throughout my time at university, I have gained a plethora of interpersonal skills, as well as academic skills and enhanced my cultural awareness.
Going to university has also helped me to gain a range of transferable skills, such as communication, teamwork, and leadership. Throughout my experience I became a lot more independent. Living away from home really helped me to leave my comfort zone and helped me to meet new people.
What’s it like living in a big city?
When I was in first year, moving to Manchester felt like a big change, as I come from a small seaside town, Southport. However, this was something that I was really able to embrace. When you’re in a big city, there’s always somewhere new to visit, or a different place to explore. I really enjoyed visiting lots of different coffee shops, trying new foods, and going to lots of different venues. I could go to a different place every time I went out and I’d never get bored. There are also so many cultural places to visit as well. Manchester has so many different Museums and Art Galleries.
“There’s still places on my bucket list that I haven’t got round to seeing.”
There’s still places on my bucket list that I haven’t got round to seeing. Especially as an English student, I could regularly go to the theatre to see different productions of plays. During COVID-19, there were lots of different parks and outdoor spaces around Manchester that were great to visit, Fletcher Moss was my personal favourite.
afs | intro to AFS: student guide
june 2021
What was my accommodation like?
In first year, I lived in University halls. The place I lived in was called Manchester Gardens. I lived in a flat with 3 other students, I had my own en-suite and a shared kitchen and living room area. The shared area was a great place for socialising and sitting with my flat mates. I also had access to different outdoor spaces at my accommodation, and there was a study section where I could use the university computers and get my work done. In my second year of University, I lived in a private house with 7 other girls. This was absolutely amazing because we felt like we really had our own home, that was our own space to live in. We also had a great landlord who would help us with anything that we needed. Throughout my final year, I lived with 5 others in a privately owned flat. This was perfect as we lived right in a centre of Fallowfield, and we were really close to all the local amenities.
“I lived in a private house with 7 other girls. This was absolutely amazing because we felt like we really had our own home”
How did COVID-9 impact my experience at University?
As was the case for many students, COVID-19 had a big impact on the way that I was able to engage with university. However, I was very quick to adjust to the online format. By the time the new academic year came around, the university had many contingencies in place, and the plans for online learning were now much clearer.
“I saved a lot of time by not having to travel into university, and I was able to watch the lectures whenever I wanted”
Although online lectures felt a bit different to in-person lectures, I saved a lot of time by not having to travel into university, and I was able to watch the lectures whenever I wanted, rather than at a set time. During the second lockdown, in November 2020, the libraries stayed open and students could book out rooms in order to study or to watch interactive lectures.
Although the student life was definitely impacted, I spent more time doing small activities with my flatmates. We would have different games nights, movie nights or wine nights, and we were still able to make the most of being a student. When things started opening up again, we’ve been sure to go back out as much as possible.
Read more about Emma's experience at Uni here accommodationforstudents.com/student-blog/7357
afs | intro to AFS: student guide
june 2021
Hi! I'm Lauryn and I have just finished my BA course in English Literature and Creative Writing at The University of Manchester. I moved to the U.K. to get a unique university experience that you can't get anywhere else in the world. UK universities offer a range of extracurricular opportunities, from societies and clubs to competitions, student media and volunteering. These experiences have definitely enriched my studies, helped me make connections, and further my academic and professional skills. I have met wonderful people and made memories I'll never forget.
What was my course like?
I really enjoyed my course as it encompassed everything I wanted to study. My course was quite different from most of my friends' courses as it involves a lot of independent study hours, reading and analysing, rather than solving problems and creating elaborate experiments. I enjoyed having the freedom to work in my own time and select my favourite classes, but if you are studying something like English I would advise preparing detailed study plans so that you don't get overwhelmed by the amount of work.
What have I gained from my degree?
Overall and despite the pandemic, I wouldn't change my choice to study in the UK. I learnt so much from moving away from home, living with other people, studying independently and being responsible. You can't learn these things unless you go out there and try them yourself and the UK's university system, although it has its faults, is generally an inclusive, fun, and safe space.
Read more about Lauryn’s experience at Uni here accommodationforstudents.com/student-blog/7355
afs | intro to AFS: student guide
june 2021
Hello! My name is Zoe and I am a second year student at the University of Birmingham studying BA English Literature.
So far university has been an incredible experience, I have gained so much confidence in my subject and as a person. Going to university has enabled me to meet so many people from a wide range of backgrounds who have become great friends.
University has also been a fantastic place for personal growth and career development, offering students plenty of opportunities to explore their interests and expand their horizons. My experience of university has made me a lot more assured in myself; moving away from home was a daunting prospect but it has helped me to grow as a person and to have some great experiences meeting new people and engaging with new opportunities.
What was the student life like?
There are five universities in Birmingham, meaning that there is a huge student population. There’s so much going on for young people, from street markets to clubs there’s something for every student.
The city is full of well-known chains as well as independent venues. Students are known for enjoying the clubs, bars and pubs as well as the museums, galleries and sporting events. Many places will offer student or other discounts making the whole experience of living in a city more affordable. In my first year I enjoyed exploring the clubs, with specially catered student nights out.
“Many places will offer student or other discounts making the whole experience of living in a city more affordable.”
My second year was unfortunately disrupted by COVID-19 but that meant that my friends and I were able to explore some of Birmingham’s outside spaces such as the parks and woodlands. Since things have opened up I have loved discovering all of Birmingham’s vibrant bars and going out for brunches in new restaurants.
afs | intro to AFS: student guide
june 2021
Was there time for extra-curricular activities?
There are over 500 student groups, societies and associations at my university. Whether you’re interested in joining the society for your subject, volunteering, religious beliefs, music, film, food and drink or sports there will surely be a group that appeals to you. Universities also give you the opportunity to create your own society about whatever you feel passionate about. Joining a student group is a fantastic way of trying something new or exploring your favourite hobbies whilst also making some great friends. There is definitely time to participate in a student group which interests you outside of your studies. During my past two years at university, I have been involved in the student newspaper. My favourite section to write for is food and drink, sharing recipes and reviews with my fellow students. You can read more from our student team on their University experiences and what to expect from your time studying on our student blogs page
“There is definitely time to participate in a student group which interests you outside of your studies. ”
Find out more about student life in Birmingham accommodationforstudents.com/student-blog/7356
Hi! My name is Magda and I’m from Poland. I’m about begin my third year at the University of Edinburgh where I am studying Maths and Business.
I am really grateful to have the opportunity to study at such a prestigious university. I am given plenty of opportunities to be involved here. I’ve met new people, and establish myself within the university. It’s amazing how much it helped me leave my comfort zone and become more independent.
What’s it like living in a foreign country?
Moving abroad is a big life event which has its benefits but the disadvantages are unavoidable. I remember my first day when I arrived at the airport.
afs | intro to AFS: student guide
june 2021
The left-sided traffic, people speaking in a different language and all of my heavy luggage made me absolutely overwhelmed. However, all I needed was some time to adjust to the new surroundings.
During my first year, I didn’t really find time to explore Scotland as it was a very busy and chaotic time. The second-year went completely different. Due to Covid-19, I was forced to find alternatives for my free time. I discovered plenty of new spots located in my neighbourhood that I didn’t even know existed. My absolute favorite places are Blackford Hill and just next to it the Hermitage of Braid. I used to go there at least once a week for a walk or run to see the Edinburgh from above.
What was the student life like?
Edinburgh offers a great quality of life for students. Living in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe can’t disappoint. Besides the well-equipped university facilities and academic institutions, there is plenty of things to explore. For nature enthusiasts, there is Arthur’s Seat located in the Holyrood Park, Blackford Hill and Pentlands as well as many parks and botanical gardens.
History fans have the best opportunity to expand their knowledge by visiting the landmarks such as the castle located in the city center as well as the Scott Monument or St Giles’ Cathedral. Many students socialise by going out clubbing or drinking at bars. One of the most well-known streets for a night out is Cowgate. Just nearby, The Hive Venue is located which is one of the most iconic places according to many students.
Read more about life as a student in Edinburgh accommodationforstudents.com/student-blog/7355
“Living in one of the most beautiful cities in Europe can’t disappoint.”
afs | intro to AFS: student guide
AFS partners
june 2021