Foreword Leaving university can be a daunting time. You’ll start the next chapter of life’s journey and take the first next steps in your career. It’s an exciting time but can come with elements of worry. As a new graduate finding your way in the world, we want to support your preparations for the next phase of your life. This Leavers’ Guide will give you practical tips and useful advice on making the transition to life after university. You’ll find career and postgraduate study support alongside ‘need to know’ practical information designed to make leaving university as seamless as possible for you. Your studies and wider experience have already equipped you with the skills and knowledge you need to forge your way. And, when your self-assurance wavers, Falmouth will always be here for you. Our alumni network is also a lifeline for those looking for a new community of creatives after graduation. No one can ever be fully prepared for all that life throws at us, so the next best thing is having resources and support you can refer to when you need it. I hope you find this guide useful and that it helps you navigate the next few exciting months. Professor Alan Murray Deputy Vice-Chancellor: Academic Falmouth University
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Contents
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Introduction
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Help & Support Wellbeing Employability Service Placements Postgraduate Study
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Falmouth Alumni
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Practical Stuff Finance Leaving Your Course Alumni Benefits
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Housing Moving Out Council Tax
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Introduction There’s not long to go until you finish your course (where’s the time gone?!). While all of university life tends to fly by, the final few months, with all the deadlines and hand-ins, are a bit of a blur. It’s easy to lose sight of where you’re going next and the practical things you need to get done before you leave. This guide will help you prepare for life after university. The information will be helpful now and in the first few months and even years after graduating. So keep it safe and come back to it. Whether your next steps are already set, or you’re not sure what direction you’ll be heading in, we’re here to help. If you have any questions that aren’t answered here, head to The Compass online and the friendly team will point you in the right direction. compass.fxplus.ac.uk studentservices@fxplus.ac.uk 01326 370460
Have Your Say National Student Survey Graduate Outcomes Survey
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Graduation Graduation 2020 Your Degree Certificate
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Your Students’ Union
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Checklist
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Keep in Touch
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Top Tips 4
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help & support 6
“Having secured my dream job just before finishing university, I was excited to be embarking on new adventures.’’ Aimée Fish
BA(Hons) Creative Events Management
Wellbeing Leaving university is a big step. It’s an exciting time but making the transition can sometimes be difficult. Dealing with life outside the structure of your studies can be overwhelming. You may find yourself isolated from the friendships, creative links and networks you built during your time at Falmouth. It’s important to know that it’s ok if you feel like this - you’re not the only one! There are things you can do before leaving university to help make your first few months and years as a graduate easier. If you’ve been receiving support from our Counselling, Health and Wellbeing team, please discuss your future support requirements with your Counsellor or Wellbeing Practitioner. They can liaise with your doctor if required. You can continue to access our self-help resources relating to emotional and physical health. Also, as a graduate, please be aware that depending on where you live, you may need to register with a new General Practitioner (GP). For more information please visit inclusive.fxplus.ac.uk/support-after-university The Employability Service As a Falmouth University graduate, the Employability service is here to help support your professional development now and beyond graduation. You’ll have access to all the same services after you leave Falmouth, this includes the resources on Employability Online, the option to attend our workshops and webinars, book an appointment with one of our Talent Coaches and utilise our tailored Jobs and Opportunities board. 70% of opportunities are open to graduates from any degree background – so get inspired and plan for a successful future. You can even continue to book onto employability webinars and get support from the team throughout the summer months. To find out visit falmouth.ac.uk/employability or email employability@falmouth.ac.uk Placements Have you considered a placement after graduation? For details regarding the application process or to book a one-to-one appointment, please email placements@falmouth.ac.uk Postgraduate Study Falmouth University offers a range of postgraduate study options, from taught MAs through to flexible online and distance learning courses. For any entrepreneurs out there looking to start their own business check out the Launchpad programme. Falmouth alumni even receive discounts on some postgraduate courses. If you’re interested in postgraduate study now or in the future take a look at falmouth.ac.uk or contact futurestudies@falmouth.ac.uk
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Falmouth Alumni When you leave Falmouth University you become part of our wide and varied alumni community. There’s so much you can gain from being an active member of the alumni network. Benefits currently include ongoing support from the Employability Service, library access and subsidised Sports Centre membership. You can also join our free, exclusive, alumni-only website falmouthconnect.com where you can keep in touch with friends, course tutors and the University. It includes a regularly updated jobs board, a mentoring service and networking facilities. To find out more visit falmouth.ac.uk/alumni or contact alumni@falmouth.ac.uk. Here’s what some recent graduates have been up to:
Poppy J S Purchase
Jessica Doherty
BA(Hons) Fine Art 2014-2017 Since leaving Falmouth University, I have worked in many different types of jobs and travelled a fair amount. I worked as a nanny, freelance Set Design production, as a social media creator for a small independent company, and I volunteered in China to work in a school teaching english (TEFL). Throughout all of these jobs, I was, and still am, creating my own artwork which I sell and produce commissions for customers. I am now in a full time job at the Hauser & Wirth Somerset Gallery as a Gallery Assistant, I received this role after an internship at this gallery. 8
Will Dorrell
BA(Hons) Business & Entrepreneurship 2017-2019 I graduated from Business & Entrepreneurship last year and am now working at Tregothnan, the UK’s only tea estate, as a Digital Strategist. I am supporting this unique business with its online presence; working across online marketing and Tregothan’s customer relationship management (CRM) system, helping to maintain meaningful contact and conversations with the people the company does business. I first got my foot in the door at Tregothnan on an eightweek placement, but the company was so impressed, they offered me a permanent position. Now I am enjoying graduate life in Cornwall and relishing the start of my career.
BA(Hons) Textile Design 2014-2017 At the end of the third year I attended New Designers in London with the course. Being able to show my degree work to a much larger and broader mix of people was excellent. I was approached by a design studio and invited to an interview. Following this I had a two week trial, a six month probation period and then continued to work there for two years. The job gave me experience in many aspects of the industry. The most important thing for me was that it involved lots of drawing, creativity and using photoshop on a daily basis, which vastly improved my abilities. In August 2019, I decided to start working freelance as an artist. I have had commissions creating murals, bespoke artworks and textile designs, as well as assisting a Fine Art Printmaker. Since making the change I have never been busier or worked so hard and it is fantastically mad. The knowledge and connections gained in the two years experience I had in industry helped enormously in preparing me for this exciting new chapter.
Toby Cook
MA Film & TV 2017 I graduated from Falmouth University with a masters in Film and Television. After leaving university I began searching for a job in sound post production whilst continuing my freelance sound recordist and dubbing mixer work. I joined Jungle Studios in Soho as a runner and became their lead foley artist before leaving after eight months. I am currently working as a Transfer Engineer for Soho Square Studios. I liaise with high end clients such as Universal, Sony, Disney, McDonald’s and BBC. My work entails setting up all the booths for vocal sessions, first pass audio editing for projects such as Floogals, O2 phone bundles, App records and Thomas the Tank Engine. I also prepare all the sessions for Thomas the Tank Engine and have done all the primary dialogue editing for the new Moomins animation for Gutsy Media. I have also worked on feature films such as Venom and Girl in the Spider’s Web preparing ADR sessions and connecting with American studios. I am essentially the engine house for the studio as I deal with most of the ingest and output of each recording session.
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practical stuff 10
Finance Repaying Your Student Loans You’ll be considered for repayments from the April after you leave your course. You’ll be expected to make repayments if you’re earning more than £494 per week or £2,143 per month (before tax & other deductions). How repayments are taken or need to be made will depend on your employment status. Information can be found on gov.uk/repaying-your-student-loan It’s important you make repayments as required and keep the Student Loans Company informed of any changes to your employment status or if you leave the country for more than three months. You’ll have a student loan repayment account and should ensure that your contact and other details are kept up-to-date. You’ll be able to log on to do this; to make payments and check your loan account balance. Any student who has a financial obligation to Falmouth University will not be allowed to receive their degree certificate. If you have an outstanding tuition fee debt, payment can be made through the paymentportal.falmouth.ac.uk or please contact student.fees@falmouth.ac.uk / 01326 213778 if you need to discuss. Leaving Your Course Before you finish remember to: •
Pay any library fines or course materials debts. Please be aware, you will not be able to graduate if you have outstanding debts with the University
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Return hired equipment and library books and get back any deposits you’ve paid
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Collect personal items or coursework you’ve stored, remembering to clear studio spaces or lockers you’ve used and check with tutors the best place to dispose of rubbish
Benefits Remember that as an alumni, you’re entitled to great benefits like subsidised sports centre membership, reference access to the library and great deals on accommodation in Falmouth!
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Moving Out Soon it’s going to be time to pack up and move out of your student accommodation. Here’s some tips and advice that may help:
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housing
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Change your address. Do it two to three weeks before you move so you don’t miss essential post Cancel utilities. Let your utility providers know you’re leaving, or they’ll keep charging you. Contact them as soon as you know your moving out date and take meter readings on the day you leave Check the inventory. Go through the house inventory and check it against the photos you took when you moved in to ensure everything is still in order Have some good clean fun. Set aside a day with all your housemates to clean up before you move Speak to the landlord. Set a date to inspect the house together while you and your housemates are still around If there are any problems… Contact the SU’s Advice Service on advice@thesu.org.uk for help Don’t forget. Waste and recycling should be left out on the correct collection day and not all on the day you vacate the property
If you left your accommodation earlier than planned due to the Coronavirus lockdown, remember that you are still likely to be tied into your contract/tenancy so you’ll still be obligated to pay your rent. You are advised to discuss this with your landlord/agent, especially if your finances have been adversely affected by the current situation. Council Tax As soon as your course finishes you will become liable to pay Council Tax for the property you live in. It’s your responsibility to make sure you are registered to pay Council Tax and update your address with the local Council Taxation Office if you move house.
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National Student Survey This survey gives you the opportunity to voice your experience of your course, including what you liked and what could be improved. Your feedback will be used to shape the future of the University for your fellow students. Universities use this information to make real changes to the student experience. All your responses remain strictly anonymous so you can provide honest feedback. To take part please visit thestudentsurvey.com Graduate Outcomes Survey Tell us about life after Higher Education! Once you complete your course at Falmouth University you will be asked to take part in the Graduate Outcomes survey. The survey is the biggest annual social survey in the UK and captures the perspectives and current status of graduates, 15 months after you finish your studies.
have your say
Your valuable response adds to the collective voice of graduates and the results will give current and future students an insight into career destinations and development.
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The survey looks to understand whether you’re in employment, have continued with further study or are doing something else and to what extent your qualification played a part. We also want to understand the non-traditional routes that graduates are taking following education. Employment isn’t the only successful outcome; we want to know what you do, and really understand what you see as fulfilling. So join your fellow graduates and be part of the picture of education today! Find out more here: graduateoutcomes.ac.uk To ensure you receive your invitation to take part please keep your personal contact details updated with us by logging into MyFalmouth.
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Graduation 2020 For current information on Graduation 2020 please visit falmouth.ac.uk/graduation Your Degree Certificate Degree Certificates will be posted to you by the beginning of August 2020. Certificates are posted to the home address (i.e. not your term time address) on your student record. If you need to update your address, please log into My Falmouth by the end of June. Incorrect address details will cause a delay in receiving your certificate. If you need confirmation of your qualification before August, please contact: student.admin@falmouth.ac.uk
graduation
It’s a legal requirement that the certificate is printed in your full legal name. Your name will appear on your certificate exactly as it is on your student record. If you need to make any amendments to your name, please contact student.admin@falmouth.ac.uk no later than 30 June 2020. You will need to provide a copy of your passport, birth certificate or driving licence, to enable us to correct your name.
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Your Student Union The Students’ Union Advice Service provides free, confidential, impartial advice and guidance to all students, even after you have left university in certain circumstances. Our fully trained and experienced advisers are here for you. They can help you navigate through student funding, benefits, financial problems, housing queries, consumer advice, employment, academic problems and more. Visit thesu.org.uk/advice for more information.
Checklist If you don’t have time to read everything now here’s a quick breakdown: What Next? • Leaving university can be a hard time, make sure you take the time, among everything else, for your own wellbeing and mental health • Make a plan for the first few weeks or months after deadlines • Make contact with the Employability team and the alumni service before you leave Do the Admin • Keep up to date with Graduation 2020 information falmouth.ac.uk/graduation • Return course equipment and pay any outstanding fines or fees Do the Housework • Clean your house and check the inventory • Change your address and cancel the utilities • Arrange for any work or personal items to be collected from the University
Keep in touch
Keep in touch Even after you graduate, you remain a part of the Falmouth community so let us know how best to keep in touch with you.
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It will enable you to find out about benefits such as discounts on our master’s courses, access to job opportunities, business start-up/freelancing advice, as well as digital employability content and much more! Provide us with your details and let us know how you’d like to be contacted via the Keep In Touch tile in MyFalmouth myfalmouth.falmouth.ac.uk.
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Top Tips
Here are our top tips for graduates: •
Step towards your inspiration It’s a journey. You may not know your destination, but doing what you love is a good place to start. Always ask what’s in it for you and don’t be afraid to say no.
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Turn the job search upside down Spend time on industry research and approach your targeted companies directly. Tailor your CV and cover letter to each company, demonstrating your knowledge of them and the skills and experience you can offer.
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Network Build and utilise your connections. Opportunities are everywhere – reach out. Develop a solid online presence and use it to engage with industry.
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Develop your resilience Don’t let fear of failure stop you trying. Things go wrong sometimes. Failure is success in progress. Take the time, reflect and try again.