Fresh Direction - Autumn 2011

NEWS • MUSIC • FASHION • FILM • GAMES • TRAVEL • BEAUTY • SEX • ADVICE

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AUTUMN 2011

BONKING MAD!!!

WHAT’S ON NOW!

Sex at uni

City-by-city listings

DON’T PANIC!

JUMP THE GAP!

Banish stress

Plan your adventure

NOW!

£5 OR LESS

cheap eats. . .

Nicola Roberts

Event Junkie

Get your fix!

Autumn’s breakout star

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CONTENTS

INSIDE

Fresh Direction Autumn 2011 www.student365.co.uk

38

68 NEWS • MUSIC • FASHION • FILM • GAMES • TRAVEL • BEAUTY • SEX • ADVICE

CK US OUT

CHE .co.uk student365 ONLINE!

THE UK’S Nº1 STUDENT MAGAZINE

AUTUMN 2011

BONKING MAD!!!

WHAT’S ON NOW!

Sex at uni

City-by-city listings

DON’T PANIC!

JUMP THE GAP!

Banish stress

Plan your adventure

NOW!

£5 OR LESS

Event Junkie

cheap eats. . .

Nicola Roberts

Get your fix!

Autumn’s breakout star

Official Partner

WIN! SONY VAIO C SERIES LAPTOP! + Windows 7 Ultimate

WIN!

WIN!

AN iPOD CLASSIC

SONY BRAVIA 40” TELEVISION

Perfect for loading up with tunes, videos and your pics

Plus latest Blu-ray DVD’s

Ready? It’s all go!

Autumn means it’s back to university - or, for many of you, your Fresher first time!

Losing your student virginity can be scary and that’s why this issue of Fresh Direction is packed full of fresher content designed to make you feel at ease in your new surroundings. From cooking guides, to money advice to surviving the stressful first few months - this issue has got all you need to make sure you settle into uni with no problems.

Plus it’s all combined with our usual selection of news, reviews and fantastic competitions. Log-on to student365.co.uk, let us know what you think on our Facebook and Twitter pages - and enjoy the issue!

79

FRESH IN

TRAVEL

66 Competitions

Read all about it 06 Fresher Special Lowdown on starting out 12 Battle Of The Uni’s!

Who will emerge victorious?

14 What’s Fresh The must-have fresher gear

The must see events of winter 36 Travel News Roundup All the globetrotting latest 38 Get To The Gap Plan your gap year getaway 42 Breaking Away City breaks on a budget

68 Fashion

ENTERTAINMENT

FOOD + DRINK

78 Ask Doctor FD

No longer a girl, still loud 18 Reviews All the latest music and films 20 Paperback Rater Autumn reads reviewed 22 Fresh Telly Winter TV preview 24 Technology Latest in IT and gadgets 30 Gaming What’s new in pixels 31 Fresh Talent Rising stars still at uni

Lose your kitchen fear 54 Snack Attack The best quick eats reviewed 56 The United Drinkdom What’s your tipple?

04 Fresh News

17 Nicola Roberts

FRESH DIRECTION IS PUBLISHED BY F D MEDIA LIMITED 5 Ella Mews Cressy Road London, NW3 2NH

32 Event Junkie

46 Starting From Scratch

ACCOMMODATION 58 Accom-motion

Be smart about moving in

SHOPPING

62 No Pain, No Bar-gain

Guide to the best uni deals

Advertising & Sponsorship: Huseyin Huseyin h.huseyin@fd-media.co.uk Editor: Ciaran McCauley ciaran.mccauley@fd-media. co.uk

Win a laptop and more!

Get the latest trends cheap

72 Beauty

Best kit for looking your best

HEALTH

74 What Fresh Hell Is This?

Beating student stress

Your health queries answered by our resident doc 79 Bonking Mad Surviving the sex free-for-all

STUDENT LIFE

86 The Good And The Gay Be yourself at uni

88 The Money Trap

Guide to being money smart

91 The Dreaded Drop

Dropping out isn’t the end

94 The Final Countdown Are you ready for uni?

Hartley; Rob Hearn; Kelly Holgate; Jessica Hopper; Anya Lawrence; Claire Muffett Reece; Rashmi Narayan; Louise Pinn; Charli Plant; Georgia Smith; Kay Stevens; Louise Van Weezel; Rhian Westbury.

Tel: 020 7428 7018 Fax: 020 7504 5909

Art Director: Gemma Burgess www.newissuedesign.com

www.fd-media.co.uk

Sub-Editor: Sara Evans

Printed By: Polestar UK Ltd, 1 Apex Business Centre, Boscombe Road, LU5 4SB

Publisher: Paul Russell paul.russell@fd-media.co.uk

Contributors: Andrew Caygill; Chris Cope; Alexandra Cooper; Katie Dowling; Adam

Want to write for us?

Send ideas to: ciaran. mccauley@fd-media.co.uk

The entire contents of this publication are protected by copyright, full details of which are available from the publisher.

All rights are reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted by any means – electronic, mechanical, photocopying recording or otherwise – without the prior permission of the copyright owner. The publishers do not accept the responsibility for any views expressed in this publication. © F D Media Limited 2011

FRESH DIRECTION AUTUMN 2011 2 3

NEWS

R F S W E N H FRES WHO LOVES THE UK MORE THAN iPHONES? Studying in the UK is such a satisfying experience for foreign students that they are happier than the average owner of an iPhone, a recent consumer study has revealed.

The same study also found that UK students studying in Europe are even happier, with 91% indicating their extreme satisfaction in their chosen countries.

Despite these scores, satisfaction of foreign students studying in the UK still fell below other European countries, with international students in Austria the happiest overall at 92%, followed by Norway (91%) and Finland (88%).

TICKET TO RIDE SAY GAP YEAR PLANS ARE CHANGING NOT DYING OUT

Tuition Fees Alter Gap Year Habits

T

COOKING UP A STORM Just got to university and already fancy a change of scenery? Well the world’s oldest and most respected cookery school, Le Cordon Blue, is offering students from all over the UK the chance to win a £30,000 scholarship to train in the art of seriously professional cooking.

Starting in 2012, the scholarship will take place at the new flagship school of culinary arts at the UK headquarters located in Bloomsbury Square, London.

The scholarship is open to 16 to 19 year old cooking hopefuls. To enter you must upload a video to the scholarship’s website (lcblondon.com/london/scholarships/ en) explaining what you know about Le Cordon Bleu and what inspires you. Previous culinary experience is not necessary and all entries must be in by the 24th of October. www.student365.co.uk

he impending student fee increases are causing a shift in gap year travel habits says the co-founder of a leading gap year travel specialist.

Will Hayler, one of creators of Ticket To Ride, believes many students are changing their minds on a traditional gap year in favour of other options.

“It’s understandable why many are thinking twice about taking a traditional gap year,” said Hayler. “It’s mainly because any student who doesn’t go directly to university this year could face university costs of up to £40,000 over three years.”

Year after year, figures have been impacted, but instead of halting travel, jetsetters are simply changing their their methods,

with many opting to take gap years after university instead of after A-levels.

Ticket To Ride have even developed ‘Mini Gaps’ which are designed to offer a flavour of being on a year out, but in a shorter timespan.

With the increase in fees, many students may even opt out of gap years all together, but Hayler believes many will miss out if they avoid the gap. “We’ve had to learn to communicate more effectively that our trips help give young people the opportunity to immerse themselves in a local culture and help them become a more well-rounded person,” he said.

For more information about the trips available with Ticket To Ride visit ttride.co.uk.

EASY ONLINE SHOPPING The brainchild of two recent graduates (pictured), Shopow.com is a new shopping search engine with a difference: it allows users to compare the prices of millions of products from retailers, but also integrates social media sites enabling students to recommend bargains instantly to their friends. The company is also working with students’ unions (SU) across the UK to introduce Shopow Powerstores to their sites, allowing them to integrate online shopping for items such as text books, stationary or entertainment products from within their own websites. Kevin Flood, CEO of Shopow, said: “Shopow now enables you to share and discuss the best prices with friends and fellow freshers.”

E R F S W E N FRESH Edinburgh to become the UK’s most pricey uni Edinburgh is set to become the most expensive university in the UK since it announced plans to increase tuition fees to £9,000, meaning that future students there will have to pay £36,000 for a degree.

With a standard Scottish degree taking four years, as opposed to three, it means Edinburgh now has the dubious distinction of being the UK’s costliest uni. Aberdeen and Heriot Watt Universities have also announced £9,000-a-year fees for non-Scots, but will capp their fees at £27,000. Edinburgh defended the move, saying they would offset fees with £6.7m worth of bursaries per year.

The university’s vice chancellor for external engagement, Professor Mary Bownes, told The Guardian: “These students will be studying at one of the world’s top teaching and research institutions.” However, NUS Scotland described the fees as ‘terrible news’.

GET OFF THE BEATEN AFRICAN TRACK The smallest country in southern Africa may not sound like an automatic destination for volunteering students, but Swaziland is in need of helping hands. To assist them, I-to-i Volunteering have launched an exciting range of projects in the country, inviting travellers to experience a side of Africa that remains relatively unknown.

Each project is designed to helpSwazi kids and familes in need: the country has the world’s lowest life expectancy at just 31.3 years. Projects include caring for orphans, teaching underprivileged children and sports coaching. Volunteeers will be able to spend between two to 12 weeks making a difference to African familes while they also broaden their own horizons. For more information on the projects visit i-to-i.com.

Be more than just a passenger!

Being able to drive gives you so much.

Think freedom! Think independence!

And now think driving lessons!

As well as freedom and independence, being able to drive brings other benefits too. For example, if you can drive you can: Move your mates: when you fancy a change from campus, hire a car and drive straight to the door of your destination. And if your mates give you petrol money, it’ll be cheaper than public transport.

Shift your stuff: you can hire a van to move your stuff whenever/ wherever you like and all in one go!

Safe on the inside: sometimes travelling on public transport can make you feel insecure. If you can drive, you can drive yourself (and friends) home.

Boost up you CV: driving is a valued skill and, depending on the job, may be an essential employment requirement

WIN FREE DRIVING LESSONS Now you can see why being able to drive is a MUST DO! Luckily for you, Fresh Direction has got into the driving seat with the UK’s most experienced driving school, BSM (British School of Motoring), to offer you a top-gear competition where one winner will win ten hours of free driving lessons, and 50 runner-ups will get one free driving lesson when they buy their first one.

Five fun reasons for getting behind the wheel…

1. You want to be Top Gear’s Stig when you grow up!

2. You’ve always wanted to buy a burger at a Drive Thru!

3. You long for someone to say ‘follow that cab’ and then do it!

4. You get to wear your Penelope Pitstop driving goggles!

5. You’ll be able to drive and listen to that Driving Anthems CD you got for Christmas!

Independence and freedom are just a click away. What are you waiting for? Log on student365.co.uk now and click through to the Competitions section where full entry details can be found.

FRESH DIRECTION AUTUMN 2011 4 5

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STARTING OUT

SPECIAL

DAZE

OF OUR LIVES A

fter over a decade of education, seven long years of constant exams – GCSE’s, A-Levels, other qualifications – you’ve finally made it to the hallowed halls of university, a place where partying all night, sleeping all day and generally making mischief is considered a perfectly acceptable way of life.

In the past year university life has come under intense scrutiny in the wake of the tuition fee debate. Media, politicians and public alike were asking the same questions – is university worthwhile? Does it provide young people with the skills to launch www.student365.co.uk

exciting careers? Do students really watch that much Jeremy Kyle?

The answer to all those is yes. Students really do watch an a ridiculous amount of Jeremy Kyle (among other daytime TV classics) and yes, university does provide young people with the skills required to launch brilliant careers even in an evershrinking job market. And, yes, university really is worthwhile, even if it does come at an increased price. Uni is the first time many people get to express themselves independently, and whether that expression results in great works of academia or constructing a fort from discarded Pot

Noodle containters is irrelevant – the only important thing is university is all about living life. And for you guys, life starts now.

So freshers and returning students alike, the next few pages features wall-to-wall content focusing on all the best aspects of the fresher experience. From bizarre clubs and societies, to global freshers and the history of history of fresher’s it’s all here. We’ve even got an exclusive interview with Liam Burns, president of the NUS aka you’re go-to representative in the real world.

So turn the page, get stuck in and whet your appetite for the experiences you’ll be getting for the next three or so years....

ILLUSTRATOR: Katie Mac @ www.bento-illustration.com

Excited about university but have no idea what you’re in for? Worry not! Over the next few pages we’ll be illuminating some of the most exciting elements of the fresher experience so you’ve got everything you need to be prepared.

L A I C SPE

Get Clubbed

Clubs and societies are a crucial part of the fresher experience but they’re not all about football and politics - anyone for burlesque?!

OUTDOOR

WHAT: Live Action Role Play (LARP) Club WHERE: University of Nottingham EH?: LARPing involves role-playing a character in a fantastical mythical world.

Players can invent whole new personas and even be completely different creatures such as werewolves or goblins. Plus it involves hundreds of people getting in a field and hitting each other with realistic looking rubber weapons - fun.

FIND THEM: su-web.nottingham. ac.uk/~rpgsoc/larp.php WHAT: Speleology (Caving) WHERE: University of Leeds EH?: Caving is a challenging and exciting new experience for those who want to try something different. This club in Leeds run caving trip’s every other weekend, usually to the Yorkshire Dales, and trips are open to all, even those with no previous experience.

FIND THEM: leedsuniversityunion.org.uk/ clubsandsocieties/outdoor/speleology/ FITNESS

WHAT: Cheerleading Society WHERE: University College London Student Union EH?: You may think they smile, shout loud and shake their pom poms but really these folk are hardcore athletes. Cheer takes no experience - just dedication - and the club will train you in gymnastics, flying and basing, with the aim of winning trophies in national competitions.

FIND THEM: groupspaces.com/ UCLUCheerleadingSociety WHAT: Korfball WHERE: University of Lancaster EH?: Bizarre blend of netball and basketball, this game actually originated from the Netherlands in 1901. Played by two teams, there are no rules with players

deciding what tactics to employ on the spot.

More chaotic and fun than a week-long student union booze-up.

FIND THEM: lancs.ac.uk/socs/lukc/ index.html OUT OF THE ORDINARY

WHAT: Juggling and Circus Skills Society WHERE: University of Manchester EH?: For those who always fancied running away and joining the circus - but only made it as far as running away to university here is the perfect society. Learn to juggle, unicycle, spin fire, eat unnatural things, entertain and clown about.

FIND THEM: facebook.com/group. php?gid=2303637613 WHAT: Water Of Life (Whiskey Drinking) WHERE: University of Edinburgh EH?: Students arn’t known for whisky appreciation - generally we like guzzling whatever bottom shelf booze we can find.

But if you have a passion for the dram, this club is for you. With pub crawls and regular visits to distilleries, it’s a great place for young whiskey lovers who prefer to savour their liquor instead of guzzling it.

FIND THEM: wols.eusa.ed.ac.uk/

EVOLUTION OF A FRESHER ➜ 390MA (million years ago) Fish grow legs and crawl out of the primordial swamp onto dry land leading to the development of amphibians, mammals and, eventually, humans. Freshers refuse to leave the swamp due to being ‘too hungover’.

www.student365.co.uk

➜ 65.5 MA A massive asteroid smashes into the earth, causing extinction of the dinosaurs. Freshers remain safe from extinction as they were all in bed when it happened and the impact failed to wake them from slumber.

➜ 0 AD Christ is born. Shepherds come to the Bethlehem stable to bask in the new born’s glow, three wise kings come bearing gifts and fresher’s come to beg for a good grade in their end-of-term exams.

➜ 1096 AD First known example of teaching takes place in what is to become Oxford University, making it the oldest uni in the English speaking world. Fresher’s miss this historic first by heading straight to Ye Studente Unioyn for a pint of mead.

STARTING OUT

It’s A Fresher World

The UK fresher week is an intense experience, but how does it compare to nations around the globe?

WORDS: Ciaran McCauley; Rashmi Narayan

WHAT: Steampunk Club WHERE: University of GlasgowEH?: From renowned authors such as William Gibson to cult film Blade Runner, steampunk and its influence is a striking presence in modern culture. This club holds monthly film nights, as well as craft events in which members create steampunk themed artwork. Although based in Glasgow, they extend welcoming, though creepily robotic arms, to anyone who is interested in getting involved.

FIND THEM: gu-steampunk.co.uk/ WHAT: Burlesque Society WHERE: University of Leicester EH?: Once upon a time burlesque - with it’s coy strip teases and gentle sensuality was thought of as seedy, but it has become a fixture as high culture in recent years.

Last year there was even a titular movie starring Cher and Christina Aguilera. But this society allows students to get involved in the glamourous world of Burlesque by hosting themed evenings and regular performances which pass on skills that have been part of theatre history for over a century.

FIND THEM: leicesterunion.com/clubs/ burlesque

➜ 1492 AD Christopher Colombus lands in the Bahamas, leading to the swift colonization of the America’s.

Fresher’s join the swarm heading to the New World, in the first known example of gap travel.

SHUBDHA CHAUDHURY, New Delhi, India

ANJA RENATE, Oslo, Norway

Fresher’s week in Delhi University featured several extra-curricular activities like debating, writing and musical competitions. When I look back, the week was the foundation to make your name. By contrast Fresher’s Week in Westminster University (London) involved exploring the city, making new international friends and, above all, learning to accept a life which would be different.

ROY ZHENGYANG LI, Huang Zhou, China In China, the fresher’s week does exist but nothing really exceptional happens, especially anything related to pub culture or drinking. We organised group activities that helped freshers after us, so they could have the necessary information about how to get around the city and enjoy it. In the UK it was more difficult, because there was a lot of information to absorb. You have to force yourself to adapt to a different tempo of life.

➜ 1610 AD Galileo publishes his ideas on the universe and incurs the wrath of the Catholic Church by declaring that the Earth revolves around the Sun. Freshers shocked to find out the universe doesn’t in fact revolve around them.

Fresher’s week in Norway is two weeks of endless partying. During my fresher’s week, we went on a daytrip to Sweden, had a pub crawl, held concerts and theme parties and even had a student café made for the two weeks where we could bring our own drinks, and hang out. In the UK they did not really have a fresher’s week, except for the fresher’s fair, and they had some parties but it was harder to get involved.

MONICA TAMBRESCU, Bucharest, Romania In Romania each department has its own fresher’s party.

We get to meet the course leader after which there is a party where, apart from dancing, there is also a small beauty contest during which a Mr and Miss Fresher are elected. The welcome programme in London was quite varied and I particularly enjoyed the four-hour boat trip on the Thames and the trip to Brighton. The University was great in helping us adpt and feel comfortable in a new city.

➜ 1969 AD Man lands on the moon. Neil Armstrong utters the immortal phrase: “That’s one small step for man, one giant leap for mankind.” Freshers immediately launch conspiracy theories about the whole thing being faked.

➜ 2011 AD The modern day fresher is a complex creature who subsists almost entirely on a diet of ready cook noodles, vodka, caffeine and daytime TV. They truly are a modern marvel of science.

FRESH DIRECTION AUTUMN 2011 8 9

L A I C SPE

STARTING OUT written, but you don’t know where it is going either. Institutes rush to fee waivers leaving students pockets empty when they actually have to pay nothing. It is situation that is bound to have an impact on people psychologically.

Q

Do you plan to make any changes in the NUS? If so, how do you plan to implement this during your tenure?

The NUS has stayed in the same guise for a number of years so I plan to look at the lives of the students more than the system of the NUS. Students are more concerned than ever about what we can do to help them better.

My advice to the students of today is to get involved in their student union, it’s a decision they’ll never regret

LIAM BURNS

We plan to implement changes in terms of how much money students have in their pockets as finance is one of the biggest problem facing students.

Q So says President of the NUS Liam Burns - he chatted to Rashmi Narayan about his own experience as a student and his plans for the coming year.

Q

So far, how has it been being the NUS president? Do you feel under pressure given the expectations of students around the country?

So far, it’s been great. It’s a difficult time for students now; they have so many challenges coming their way. There’s a lot for us to do, and regarding finances, we have to arrange for some long term funds.

Q

Obviously tuition fees are a huge issue, so how are you planning to address this during your tenure? Also what are the other major issues facing students in the coming year?

Yes tuition fees do take priority. Our main www.student365.co.uk

focus is on how students are funded, as they have to work long hours to make ends meet and also have to take time off to study. We plan to start campaigns and to help them raise these funds.

Q

Regarding the University fee waivers, in July you said “I want to see solid evidence that waivers have an effect on the choices of those from the poorest background. Until then they should be banned.” What is your current stance on this issue?

Oh this is a tricky situation. The fee waivers are a certain amount and you never actually see the money that is meant to be

What was your university experience like?

My experience during Uni was great. I got involved in my own student union, I joined the sports club, and there were so many activities to participate in. My advice to the students of today is to get involved in their student union, it’s a decision they’ll never regret and with the kind of intelligence they have today, there’s so much they can contribute.

Q

What is it about university life that makes it so important for young people? What do you think the experience provides for a young person and why do you think it’s an experience worth preserving and fighting for?

I think being content with everything you do is the key. You have got to be content with the people you meet. I also believe in being at the right place at the right time to get the best opportunities. The only thing I am scared about is that, with the way things are going right now, at least a thousand students are going to be denied that opportunity. So we are going to work towards preventing this. We aim to ensure everybody gets a fair chance during their term at University. 

KEEP IT SIMPLE, STUDENT

S

tarting university is difficult enough without having to go trawling the internet for everything a modern student needs. That's why student365.co.uk, brought to you by the team behind Fresh Direction, has everything in one place from exclusive money off deals to fantastic features.

Just register now and you'll have access to: CASH SAVING OFFERS! We’re bringing students exclusive money off deals, offers and vouchers from some of the UK’s biggest brands. Just check out the offers section online and save on everything from textbooks to take-away’s.

FREE STUFF! Our comps give students the chance to win fantastic swag for the low, low price of nothing. Click though to our offers section, hit the competitions link and get in with a chance of winning thousands of pounds worth of must-have student stuff.

MUST-READ FEATURES! If it’s going on in entertainment, then student365.co.uk has it covered - we’ve got everything from film, fashion, music and TV plus not to mention the best videos and games the internet has to offer.

PROBLEMS SOLVED! Plus we’ve got all the information and advice you need to survive those stress-filled uni years, from exam advice, to health, travel and tips on how to save cash.

GET INVOLVED! Even better all our content is written by student writers, who know a thing or two about university life. And you too can get involved - just contact us at editor@student365.com if you have a great idea and want to share it with your fellow students.

Student365. The UK’s No 1 student website, in association with Fresh Direction Magazine.

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Follow us on Twitter: http://twitter.com/#!/student365 Like us on Facebook: www.facebook.com/Student365.Website

student 3 6 5

UNIVERSITIES

! ! s I N U E H T F BATTLE ouO eatest in the UK. gr e th y ul tr is ty si er iv un t what Cut out, deal, play and find

UNI CITY: BELFAST

UNI CITY: LONDON

✁ CAREER PROSPECTS

74%

SATISFACTION

77%

PINT PRICE

£2.80

MALE:FEMALE RATIO

54:46

25,080

CAREER PROSPECTS

75%

SATISFACTION

86%

PINT PRICE

£3.00

MALE:FEMALE RATIO

40:60

A city with a history of conflict now reguarly torn apart by students on a Friday night.

The home of Coronation Street, Morrissey and great student nightlife.

NO. OF STUDENTS

304,065

CAREER PROSPECTS

80%

SATISFACTION

83%

PINT PRICE

£3.50

MALE:FEMALE RATIO

45:55

Students flock to the big smoke to live the high life and pay the sky-high rents.

✁

UNI CITY: LIVERPOOL

58,545

CAREER PROSPECTS

74%

SATISFACTION

85%

PINT PRICE

£2.35

MALE:FEMALE RATIO

43:57

Sheffield - a place all about steel, snooker and, eh, students.

www.student365.co.uk

NO. OF STUDENTS

58,845

CAREER PROSPECTS

67%

SATISFACTION

82%

PINT PRICE

£2.50

MALE:FEMALE RATIO

46:54

Be sure to take the ferry cross the Mersey - be sure not to tell any scousers to ‘calm down’.

UNI SPECIFICATION

NO. OF STUDENTS

UNI SPECIFICATION

UNI SPECIFICATION

✁

UNI CITY: CAMBRIDGE

✁

UNI CITY: SHEFFIELD

NO. OF STUDENTS

22,820

CAREER PROSPECTS

86%

SATISFACTION

94%

PINT PRICE

£3.50

MALE:FEMALE RATIO

52:48

Glittering alumni and lots of old buildings to drunkenly explore post Fresher’s Ball.

PHOTOS via Flickr: infomatique; HouseOfHall; alexbrn; shining.darkness; kyz; stefrobb; StevieAcko; tejvanphotos; Draco2008; IK’s World Trip. * Stats taken from unistats.direct.gov.uk, ucas.com and the internet. All numbers approximate. It’s just a bit of fun after all.

73,953

NO. OF STUDENTS

UNI SPECIFICATION

NO. OF STUDENTS

UNI SPECIFICATION

UNI SPECIFICATION

✁

✁

UNI CITY: MANCHESTER

Game Rules First up - if you’re waiting for a Blue Peter style ‘get a parent to help you with the scissors’, then this game is not for you.

Cut out and keep the cards. Shuffle and deal the cards amongst the players (up to four). Players place their cards in one pile, face down and take the top card from the pile in turn. The player to the right of the dealer nominates a category to be played – either number of students, career prospects, student satisfaction, pint price check or male/female ratio (players must select either male or female). The aim is to select a high category. The person holding the card with the highest number in the selected category* collects the cards held by all other players. Repeat this process until the player left holdng all the cards wins the game. Simples!

✁

UNI CITY: NEWCASTLE

41,180

CAREER PROSPECTS

71%

SATISFACTION

84%

PINT PRICE

£2.50

MALE:FEMALE RATIO

45:55

NO. OF STUDENTS

19,575

CAREER PROSPECTS

79%

SATISFACTION

89%

PINT PRICE

£2.20

MALE:FEMALE RATIO

49:51

UNI SPECIFICATION

NO. OF STUDENTS

UNI SPECIFICATION

UNI SPECIFICATION

✁

UNI CITY: BIRMINGHAM

✁

UNI CITY: CARDIFF

Baltic temperatures mean you’ll spend most of your time in the library – or the pub.

Don’t like rugby? You’ll have to learn to like it if you end up in the Wild Welsh West.

NO. OF STUDENTS

75,440

CAREER PROSPECTS

80%

SATISFACTION

85%

PINT PRICE

£2.57

MALE:FEMALE RATIO

44:56

Known as ‘The City of aThousand Trades’ – so shouldn’t be too hard to get a post-grad job.

✁

UNI CITY: GLASGOW

UNI CITY: EDINBURGH

23,760

CAREER PROSPECTS

76%

SATISFACTION

93%

PINT PRICE

£3.45

MALE:FEMALE RATIO

53:47

One of the world’s top institutions. Puts the ‘ford’ into ‘can’t af-ford another night’s clubbing’.

NO. OF STUDENTS

44,415

CAREER PROSPECTS

71%

SATISFACTION

82%

PINT PRICE

£2.20

MALE:FEMALE RATIO

43:57

The typical Glaswegian student breakfast?

Irn-Bru and deep-fried pizza.

UNI SPECIFICATION

NO. OF STUDENTS

UNI SPECIFICATION

UNI SPECIFICATION

✁

UNI CITY: OXFORD

✁

PHOTOS via Flickr: infomatique; HouseOfHall; alexbrn; shining.darkness; kyz; stefrobb; StevieAcko; tejvanphotos; Draco2008; IK’s World Trip. * Stats taken from unistats.direct.gov.uk, ucas.com and the internet. All numbers approximate. It’s just a bit of fun after all.

TOP TRUMPS

NO. OF STUDENTS

39,720

CAREER PROSPECTS

71%

SATISFACTION

84%

PINT PRICE

£3.10

MALE:FEMALE RATIO

44:56

The Athens of the North, renowned for it’s academia - so work hard, play hard.

FRESH DIRECTION AUTUMN 2011 12 13

WHAT’S FRESH

FRESHER

must-haves

Make your mates jealous by tricking out your room with some of these essentials items of fresher gear, perfect to get you through the autumn term.

Skullcandy Roc Nation Aviator £150; next.co.uk Treat your ears to the Roc Nation Aviator.

Constructed with the multifaceted listening experience in mind, the Aviator’s platinum sound technology is like having your own personal amphitheatre!

LOGIK L19DVDP10 19” HD Ready LCD TV with Built-in DVD Player £129.99; currys.co.uk For TV with the X-Factor, this pink dream has got it all – a 19’’ screen which won’t dominate your room, plus a space-saving built in DVD player. It’s HD ready too.

Robot Clocks £9.75; paperchase.co.uk Don’t be late for lectures again with this quirky robot clock that runs on a quartz timepiece.

Comes in teal, red or berry – so you’ll sure to find one that matches your room colour.

Hangover Mug £10; clintoncards.co.uk Have fun personalizing your own ceramic mug so when the morning after comes everyone will know to go easy on you!

Neo Geo Polypro Notebooks A4: £6.95, A5: £4.75, A6: £3; paperchase.co.uk No need to hide your notebooks away when you’ve got these good looking specimens that also feature a back pocket for keeping any vital scraps of paper.

www.student365.co.uk

Twitter for Good by Claire Diaz-Ortiz £16.99; eu.wiley.com If you want your tweets to help others, take a look at this easy-to-read guide which shows you how to connect with other people online while reaching your own personal goals.

FRESHER KIT

PHILIPS DS3020/05 iPod and iPhone Dock £69.99; currys.co.uk This sleek speaker comes in white or black and allows you to dock any iPod or iPhone to it. Contains a battery or AC power option, so you can use it in room or while travelling.

STAR BUY

Big, portable sound but at an affordable price.

Paul Frank Glitter Lamp £24.99; argos.co.uk Create the perfect chilled atmosphere with this illuminating piece of kit. You and your housemates can unwind after class with the lamp’s hypnotic light reflections.

Posters From £4.99; HMV.com Don’t underdress your walls – liven them up with a poster or two. Whether it’s One Direction (really?) or your favourite beer, let the world know about it with a GB Eye poster.

Press 81 cider All good supermarkers, clubs and pubs If you’re looking for the perfect party bottles, think Press 81 style cider. Served in a stylish cold-activated aluminium bottle, Press 81 stays as cool as you look and delivers a refreshing hit of premium grade apple and pear cider.

FRESH DIRECTION AUTUMN 2011 14 15

loaded Podcasts

Do you like laughter? What about Loaded, podcasts, cider or that bloke Dom Joly that used to walk around with a huge mobile phone?

If you answered "yes· then check out the new 'Celebrity Comedy Podcasts' launched by Frosty Jack's and Loaded.

The series of funny podcasts feature host Dom Joly grilling celebrity guests including Justin Lee Collins, Dermot O'Leary, playboy bunny Louise Glover, Scouting For Girls, Hard-Fi and boxer Ricky Hatton.

DOWNLOAD FROM iTUNES

drlnk aw.r•• co. uk 10< .... ,_

INTER-

INTERVIEW

girl

A-LOUD Nicola Roberts isn’t the first member of Girls Aloud to go solo – but she’s taking a unique route to success writes Chris Cope.

T

eaming up with electro maestros Diplo and Metronomy for debut album Cinderella’s Eyes indicate Nicola Robers is not taking the usual Girls Aloud route to solo stardom. We caught up with the singer to find out more.

How would you describe the sound of your album?

I’d say it is electro, but I think there’s something for everyone. There’s a really stripped down ballad, but aslo ‘Beat Of My Drum’ which is crazy disco. And there’s a song I did with Joseph from Metronomy, it’s a really hardcore, electro tune.

What was it like working with people like Diplo and Metronomy?

It was nice because, at the time, I didn’t have a deal, so when I went into the session, it felt it didn’t have to be simply be a commercial recording. It was amazing to work with people you’re a fan of. It breaks the ice before there’s any ice, if that makes any sense.

Is Cinderella’s Eyes the true Nicola Roberts?

I think so. I pretty much wrote it and then had to shop it around to get a deal with a label. So nobody else got a say, it’s all coming from me. It’s worked out really well.

You were young when Girls Alound started, so I presume going to uni was never really on your mind?

No college wasn’t something I thought about. Not everyone is going to go for longterm education and I suppose if you’re a creative person you’re only going to be happy when you’re doing creative things. But I loved school, especially music and English. But all of the rest – maths, science – I just wasn’t interested.

Was music a big part of your life when you were growing up then?

Absolutely. I used to enter all of the competitions and go to all the auditions. These days I’m cautious, my feet firmly in reality, but when I was younger I was obsessed with becoming a singer. So there was no looking back. It had to happen.

Do you have any advice for young people who want to become a singer?

Work really hard and keep pushing yourself to get better. I always say Beyonce wasn’t built in a day – she is so determined and so regimented in becoming better. Don’t listen to doubters because it brings you down. Even that little voice in your head called doubt brings you down and blocks your vision. You need to work hard and just go for it.

Are there any plans to reunite Girls Aloud or are you not thinking about it?

The band will always be our centre. We owe everything to the band – and our fans, who are so dedicated and patient. It’s just that we needed a bit of time. But it’s our tenth anniversary next year and I’m really, really excited about that.

So you’ll be doing something to commemorate it?

Yeah – but I can’t really say just now…

Yeah, Girls Aloud will be doing something next year - but I can’t really say just now...

XXXXXXXXXXXX Officipsam velecaboria nos mo quam, et persperovid quodic te vollaturiae magnam, num repe num aliquidia volla simin perumenis natiani blaut apis doluptas aliqui re comnim ilibus etur?

Torepud aeperum eum eum aut lanis qui quaes sin parchic illaut volum aces denihillic totaecae

FRESH DIRECTION AUTUMN 2011 16 17

REVIEWS

MUSIC

YOU ME AT SIX

SINNERS NEVER SLEEP • Out Oct 3 You Me At Six are fast becoming one of the UK’s biggest rock bands, and with their third album ‘Sinners Never Sleep’ – fervently anticipated by trillions of screaming girls - it seems like the five Surrey boys are just about there. Once keen purveyors of pop-punk, and wearing fringes as floppy as Bugs Bunny’s ears when he’s feeling a little bit down, their new material seems streamlined into a bona fide rock juggernaut.

Opener ‘Loverboy’ is a jaunty cut that showcases a chorus fit for every radio or TV in the country, whilst ‘The Dilemma’ mashes up the kineticism of Panic At The Disco and Biffy Clyro into a three minute package of hip-swinging melody and guitar stomping – via some sneaky trumpets. This band already has masses of delirious fans, but it seems like they’re on course to ensnare even more - and now they’ve got the tunes to back it up.



BOOM BIP

BEN HOWARD

WE WERE PROMISED JETPACKS

MODESELEKTOR

ZIG ZAJ • Out Sept 26

EVERY KINGDOM • Out Oct 3

MONKEYTOWN • Out Oct 3

US producer Boom Bip almost won the Mercury Award in 2008 so has pedigree. ‘Zig Zaj’ is a grimy collection of mostly instrumental electronica and subtle hip-hop. But despite guests - Franz Ferdinand’s Alex Kapranos to name but one – it doesn’t quite have the ‘gosh’ factor.

This lush debut album may put Ben Howard among the nu-folk fraternity of Mumford and Sons and Laura Marling. His earthy, acoustic laments are married with more upbeat, folkpop. Recorded in a rustic Devon barn, each note and vocal laced with sentimental modesty.

Berlin electronic dynamos Modeselektor enlisted selfproclaimed fan Thom Yorke for vocal duties on their third album proper.

But with bleepy dance aplomb and a dash of hip-hop streaming through the whole album, there’s pick-me-up glory at every turn.



TOP





IN THE PIT OF THE STOMACH • Out Oct 3

These Scottish rockers have a great band name and their sophomore album has got all the jet-propelled thrust anyone could need. Opener ‘Circles and Squares’, for example, sets the tone nicely with a mix of masterful melody and vivid power.



NES

TU BACK TO UNI

WRETCH 32

www.student365.co.uk

1. Ed Sheeran You Need Me, I Don’t Need You Indulge in your new found Fresher independence with the hotly tipped Ed Sheeran.

2. Mastodon Curl Of The Burl Need to let off some steam? Do it in style with the world’s premier sludgemetallers.

3. Discopolis Lofty Ambitions Scotland’s hottest property whip out dreamy electronica perfect for nursing that Freshers’ hangover.

4. Alex Clare Up All Night Alex Clare is rereleasing this track in October - a perfect accompaniment to uni nights out.

5.Wretch 32 Don’t Go Rapper Wretch 32 is on to big things – and this is great if you’re feeling a bit introspective.

6. Laura Marling Sophia Check out this folky single for something a bit quieter whilst you hit the books.

7. Noel Gallagher The Death Of You And Me This debut solo single is perfect for a pre club singalong with your mates.

8. Nirvana Smells Like Teen Spirit Rock out as Nirvana re-release classic album ‘Nevermind’.

9.The Jackson 5 ABC Brush up on your rusty writing and arithmetic - and have a bit of a dance too.

10.Pink Floyd Another Brick In The Wall ‘Hey teacher - leave those students alone!’ The mustlisten tune after a bad day in class.

ENTERTAINMENT

FD previews the hottest music, film and DVD releases, out this autumn DVDS

Do not watch on your own!

INSIDIOUS Josh and Renai are a happily married couple who move into a new house with their three kids. But when their eldest, Dalton, inexplicably falls into a comma it kicks off a chain of terrifying and disturbing events! They’re soon forced to face the fact that it might not be the house that is haunted.

Terrifying horror fare from the the writer-director team behind the original Saw movie. It’ll play on your mind long after the lights are out.

BONES – THE COMPLETE SIXTH SERIES

THE ONLY WAY IS ESSEX – SERIES TWO

The gorgeous David Boreanez plays the loveable FBI agent, Booth, and Emily Deschanel stars as the socially awkward forensic anthropologist Brennan.

Together they’re faced with some their toughest cases yet, including eight pairs of dismembered feet and a mystery Jane Doe. When their pasts come back to haunt them, Brennan is forced to reveal a secret that will change their lives forever.

One of the best procedural crime dramas around.

OUT NOW

OUT NOW

The Swashbuckling Epic Night Out

THE THREE MUSKETEERS This familar story gets the remake treatment. When D’Artagnan and his three former legendary Musketeers uncover a plot by a beautiful double agent, and her evil boss, to seize the French throne they spring into action. Packed with razor sharp witty one-liners, swords and balls of steel this film is set to be an awesome autumn adventure.

• Out Oct 12 Rocky...With Robots WORdS: Alex Cooper; Chris Cope

Girls nigh t in

Sofa alert!

REAL STEEL Think The Fighter crossed with Transformers and that’s the premise for this film. Set in the future, where robot boxing is now a top sport, Hugh Jackman plays a struggling promoter who finds

An excuse to cuddle up

Best for boy s

THE ROOMATE

PRIEST

Oh shut uuuuuuuuuuup!

The TOWIE gang are back - louder, sparklier and more cringey than ever! Catch up on all your Essex gossip, find out how Mark and Lauren’s turbulent lovelife is going, check in at Amy’s salon and see what happens when Arg meets Lydia’s over protective mum! Plus there are some new faces in this series too. Just wait until you meet nightclub promoter Joey Essex and his constant catchphrase: “well reem!”

Staring Gossips Girl’s Leighton Messter, this movie is one creepy college tale. Forget about Blair, here Meester is an unhinged psychotic presence. When Sara arrives at school, she falls head over heels for Stephen and becomes great friends with her roommate Rebecca. But things soon turn nasty and Sara begins to realise her new best friend is obsessive, unbalanced and even more dangerous than she could imagine.

The world has been ravaged by centuries of war between man and vampire, And when a Warrior Priest’s niece is abducted by a murderous pack of vampires, the Priest breaks his sacred vow and begins his quest to save her, with a little help from his wellarmed friends of course.

Ok so it is another Vampire movie but it’s actually a clever mix of vampire mythology and religion, with a solid cast and the kind of script which will have genre fans drooling.

OUT NOW

OUT NOW

OUT NOW

an old discarded robot. After some encouragement from his 11 year-old son he decides to train this shabby cyborg into a fighting machine and see if he can regain his son’s respect.

FILM

• Out Oct 14 The Saga Concludes

TWILIGHT: BREAKING DAWN Hearts around the world will break as the long-running series ends with Bella and Edward tying the knot. However their married bliss is short lived, with the honeymoon proving more fraught than either could imagine, and - as Bella’s life hangs in the balance - Edward is forced into making a fatal decision that will change their lives forever.

An epic supernatural romance that brings to an en

• Out Nov18

‘YOUR EAR - IT’S JUST SO BEAUTIFUL...’

The Christmas Action Flick

SHERLOCK HOLMES: A GAME OF SHADOWS When the Crown Prince of Austria is found dead the evidence points to suicide. But Sherlock Holmes deduces that the prince has been the victim of murder – a murder that is only one piece of a larger and much more portentous puzzle,

designed by his nemesis Professor Moriarty. Sherlock Holmes and his sidekick Dr. Watson join forces in an attempt to outwit and bring down their fiercest adversary yet.

Staring the super talented Robert Downey Jr. and Jude Law, a brilliant adventure backed up with witty dialogue, funny one-liners and great chemistry between the leads.

• Out Dec 16

FRESH DIRECTION AUTUMN 2011 18 19

REVIEWS

BOOKS

PAPERBACK RATER

What books deserve to take up your free time this summer? Alexandra Cooper gives you the low down.

1

2

3

4

6 7 8

5

CHIC LIT BUT NOT AS YOU KNOW IT

1. OUTSIDE THE ORDINARY WORLD

BY DORI OSTERMILLER A stunning literary debut, already compared to Pulitzer Prize winner Elizabeth Strout, this novel shines a bright light on the grey areas surrounding betrayal, the complex interplay of religion and the powerful legacies passed down to the next generation.

The Literary Review describes the author as having ‘an old-fashioned dedication to the craft of storytelling’. We say this read is fantastic and unputdownable.

the images from the book offer the reader a bittersweet tour of the vanished world, when national pride was at its peak and Britain was the centre of the industrial world.

CALLING ALL SUPER-SLEUTHS

4. SEQUENCE

BY ADRIAN DAWSON This high concept crime thriller features LA detective, Nick Lambert, pitched into the most indecipherable case of his career. In the midst of a conspiracy that seeks to redefine history itself, Nick quickly realises that he is on a one-way path to an explosive end.

SPORT OBSESSED

1. THE BRITISH OLYMPICS: BRITAIN’S OLYMPIC HERITAGE 1612 – 2012

BY MARTIN POLLEY Written by one the UK’s leading sports historians, this stunningly illustrated history details Britain’s relationship with the Olympics. Full of fascinating facts and figures about the Olympics (did you know the first Olympic Games to be staged in Britain took place in 1612?) and how they have been influenced by Britain. Perfect book for getting excited about 2012.

FOR PHOTOGRAPH GURUS!

3. THE PHOTOGRAPHY OF BEDFORD LEMERE & CO

BY NICHOLAS COOPER An architectural photograph collection like no other. Taken at the turn of the 19th century, www.student365.co.uk

LAUGH OUT LOUD

5. KEITH LEMON: THE RULES

BY KEITH LEMON Slip into something more comfortable, and let Ketih Lemon guide you through the rules of attraction, chat-up lines, first dates and relationships ‘Lemon-style’. This book will having you crying with laughter, much like his TV show.

FOR FILM BUFFS

6. THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE MULTIPLEX

BY MARK KERMODE Be-quiffed movie guru Mark Kermode returns with his latest book, which riffs on the evils of the modern movie experience. Kermode is an astute but down-to-earth presence, equally happy to extol the virtues of Zac Efron as The

EXILE BY JAKOB EJERSBO ST TRANSLATED BY METTE CHOAIR CE PETERSEN After the mega-success of Steig Larsson’s Millenium Trilogy, here’s more Scandanavian fiction hitting our shelves.

Samantha’s parents run a down-at-heel travel lodge in Tanzania but pay little attention to their daughter. She soon learns affection comes at a premium but it’s a price she’s willing to pay, however shallow or hollow the love on offer.

Released in November, this first-parter in a powerful and gritty trilogy explores the listless, self-destructive lives of rootless Europeans, capturing effortlessly the tragic beauty of a continent run into the ground and sinking into the mire.

Exorcist (his favourite movie). Refreshingly irreverent, it’s perfect for any movie obsessive.

A REAL NAIL BITER!

7. THE ACCIDENT

BY LINWOOD BARCLAY When Glen Barber’s wife, Shiela, is killed in a drink-driving accident, with three three others, he is devastated. And when it appears she caused the accident, it forces him to look deeper into the event as he slowly comes to realise the many secrets that lie behind his town’s idyllic facade. A superior thriller which builds to a gut-wrenching climax.

BEST BOOK FOR GO-GETTERS

8. LIQUID THINKING

BY DAMIEN HUGHES In this climate we could all do with some extra cash - luckily this book is written for people looking for inspiration in finding a new moneymaking venture. Hughes encourages readers to ‘take the plunge and become a fellow Liquid Thinker’. Plus Richard Branson, a man who knows how to make a quid or two, provided the foreword so it must do something right.

GUI SURVIVING

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WEAR PReTECTleN (like a jacket when it rains)

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(even the crap an88. One man's ru~blsh is anather man's abay ,urchase)

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REVIEWS

Fresh

TELEVISION

When you fancy a night in, make sure it’s a night when there’s top google box entertainment on. We’ve lined up the best shows on this term.

Celebrity JuiCe SHA-TIIING! Celebrity Juice is set to return to our screens this autumn, with yet more cheeky banter between host, Keith Lemon, and team leaders, Holly Willoughby and Fearne Cotton. The new series promises more great celebrity guests (Ant and Dec have just been confirmed as guests for the first show), with catchphrases and innuendos galore. The format will remain the same, but you can expect even more bizarre rounds in the game show – will Gary the dog return to steal the show yet again? You’ll have to watch and find out. Bang tidy!

Celebrity Juice, ITV2, Thursday’s, 10pm.

Gok’s Clothes roadshow Hold onto your bangers girlfriend, Aunty Gok is back to transform your wardrobe! Definitely one for the girls, Gok’s Clothes Roadshow hopes to show you how to look fabulous on a budget – perfect for rescuing students caught in a ‘food or clothes’ dilemma! Gok will perform purse friendly makeovers and battle to win the Budget Vs High Street challenge in a different city each week. He’ll also show you tricks of the trade, with some simple haberdashery tips to take you from skint and shabby to frugal and fabulous.

Expect to see Gok return on Channel 4, early autumn.

life’s too short Described as a cross between The Office and Extras, Life’s Too Short is the brainchild of brilliant comedy duo, Ricky Gervais and Stephen Merchant. The fake documentary centres on the life of Warwick Davis – ‘showbiz dwarf’ and actor. In the show, his career is slipping away, his tax bill growing, and his wife wants a divorce, so Davis decides the only way out is to allow a film crew into his home and become the star of his own reality show. The cast also boasts Johnny Depp, Sting, Liam Neeson and Helena Bonham Carter. If Gervais’ past work is anything to go by, this is a must see.

Life’s Too Short, BBC2, October. beer and Pizza Club! Having a boys night in? Why not join in Richard Bacon’s Beer and Pizza Club! The comedy chatshow returns for a second series, and each show sees three showbiz guests join Richard in his living room for a chat. Guests confirmed for the series include Justin Lee Collins, Keith Lemon and Al Murray. They’ll each bring a question, such as ‘what do you think you’ve done that no one else has done before?’ and the rest of the club will gain points for their attempts to answer it! Great guests, chat, beer and pizza – what more could you want?

Richard Bacon’s Beer and Pizza Club, ITV4, October 4th. undisClosed In the mood for something a bit darker? Philip Glenister stars alongside Hollywood actor Thekla Reuten in a four-part conspiracy thriller. It centres around Harry Venn (Glenister), a small-time solicitor, who has no choice but to dig into his dark past when he agrees to help mysterious lawyer, Gina Hawkes (Reuten) find a missing alibi witness for her client. This leads him to investigate his own brother’s death (over 20 years ago), and then it doesn’t take long for Harry to get caught up in a complex conspiracy which will reach deep into the heart of the British political system.

Undisclosed, BBC One, early October.

PhoneshoP An offspring from Channel 4’s Comedy Showcase, Phoneshop returns this autumn, with more from the ‘Kings of the High Street’. New recruit, and secret weapon, Christopher, is back to remind his colleagues that he’s there to ‘shift units, make money, and smash targets’ – but little does he know, he could be the one to keep Phoneshop at the top of its game, now that its top salesman has found himself back in jail. It’s time for the shop staff to switch on their best sales patter and keep Phoneshop’s tills a ringing.

Phoneshop, E4, Thursday October 7, 10pm.

Brother is back, and bigger than ever. It made its initial comeback with a celebrity version, seeing the likes of Kerry Katona, Amy Childs and Jedward entering the house, but now it’s the turn of the civilians. Tune in to see Big Brother set tasks for the housemates, who will provide laughs and drama aplenty. And will the house set the scene for another Big Brother romance? One thing is for sure though, you’re guaranteed to be entertained from the start to the finish!

Big Brother, Channel 5, autumn.

www.student365.co.uk

WORDS: Georgia Smith

biG brother Brand new channel, brand new house, brand new inmates (sorry, housemates) – Big

Advertisement Feature

WIN AN AMAZING 40” SONY BRAVIA TV AND BLU–RAY PLAYER Plus three must-see films out on DVD and Blu-ray this term...

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CILLIAN MURPHY CAN’T BELIEVE HOW EASY IT IS TO WIN A HOME CINEMA AND THREE BLU-RAY’S

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ored this Winter? Don’t be - spend time with some great films like these three top-class movies coming out on Blu-ray and DVD. First up is TUCKER AND DALE VS EVIL (facebook.com/tuckeranddale), a hilariously gory horror comedy, doing for killer rednecks what Shaun of the Dead did for zombies. Tucker and Dale are two good-natured, best friends on holiday when they are mistaken for murderous rednecks by a group of obnoxious, preppy college kids.

Next is POINT BLANK (facebook. com/pointblankfilm) from acclaimed

CRACK UP AT TUCKER AND DALE’S GORY, MOUNTAINSIDE ANTICS

writer/director Fred Cavaye, an adrenaline-fulled action thriller about a man on the run, desperately trying to save his wife in a race against time.

Finally, Cillian Murphy, Thandie Newton and Jamie Bell star in the nailbiting psychological thriller RETREAT (facebook.com/retreatmovie), which is coming to Blu-ray and DVD on October 17th. This edge-of-your-seat rollercoaster portrays one couple’s desperate attempt to rekindle their love despite tremendous grief and an unimaginable, apocolyptic fear bearing down upon them from which there is no escape.

RACE AGAINST TIME IN POINT BLANK, OUT OCTOBER 17TH

Point Blank © 2010 Gaumont - LGM Films - TF1 Films Production. All Rights Reserved. Retreat © 2011 Retreat Films Limited.

All Rights Reserved Tucker and Dale Vs Evil © 2010 T&D Productions Limited. All Rights Reserved

WIN YOURSELF A FAB NEW TV AND BLU-RAY PLAYER! All these excellent films are out on DVD and Blu-ray this month - and to celebrate we’re giving away a brand spanking new 40 inch Sony Bravia TV and Blu-ray player, plus a copy of each film. Plus ten runners up will each get Blu-ray’s of each movie.

You lucky ducks.

TO ENTER Simply log onto student365.co.uk , register, click through to the competition section and hit the entry button. That’s it - it’s almost as easy as simply pressing play on the remote control of a new Blu-ray player.

REVIEWS TECH KNOW HOW

COMPUTING

FRESH Technically challenged? Well let Adam Hartley guide you through all the latest gadgets, kits and equipment every student needs to survive the college term.

G

etting the best “future-proofed” tech and gadgets to help you sail through your university career can be something of a minefield. What with hundreds of netbooks, laptops, smartphones, tablet PCs, digital music systems and numerous other tantalisingly shiny, wallet-

sapping gizmos littering the shelves of your local consumer electronics emporium, even the most hardened technophile can be baffled by the glut of choice.

Luckily, we’ve done all the hard work for you, with the following guide featuring all this year’s must-have tech.

LAPTOPS: FASHION OR FUNCTION? German budget brand Medion develops powerful notebooks for those who don’t fancy blowing their entire term’s beer money on a flash-looking Sony Vaio or Apple MacBook Air. And while they might not look anything special, Medion’s machines are ideal if all you want is the fastest, feature-packed laptop at the lowest price. The Medion Akoya E6221 is an ideal 1

all-rounder, and is perfect for movie and iPlayer viewing with its high-definition, 15.6” widescreen and LED backlight display, combined with Intel’s Clear Video HD Technology application. Plus it’s currently priced at £449 (reduced from £649 as a Back to School promotion). Check out sainsburys. co.uk to get this deal and see the full tech specifications on this cheap but powerful machine.

However, if fashion is your thing, then Dell’s latest Inspiron R with SWITCH is the ultimate way to impress, as this 15” screen laptop also features a range of swappable lids in a range of colours and (barking mad) designs.

Available online from £429 at dell.co.uk/Inspiron 2

1 2

INSURING PEACE OF MIND There really is nothing worse than losing your beloved iPhone after a particularly heavy night out or having your expensive haul of tech and gadgets burgled from your house by some low-life scrote.

Latest figures indicate the average student’s possessions now total £2,650 - nearly half of which is made up of computer and gadgetry - meaning burglars

www.student365.co.uk

are having a field day in and around many universitites and colleges, looking for any opportunity to nab your expensive (and easily re-sellable) electronics equipment.

Moreover a study recently carried out by Endsleigh Insurance and the NUS, shows that four out of five students will now take a laptop or portable computer to university with them.

Endsleigh also found out that every student in the recent survey has a mobile phone, with 59% of respondents also taking a smartphone to uni.

“Students are more techsavvy than ever before, and as lifestyles become more mobile the ‘must have’ items become more portable,” noted Endsleigh spokeswoman Vicki O’Connell.

“It is important to remember

that items which are lighter and smaller are also more prone to loss or theft, and that’s why students are more likely to need to take advantage of insurance.”

NUS president Liam Burns adds: “Taking precautions against theft and damage can provide you with valuable peace of mind and ensure you are not left out of pocket at a time when money can be particularly tight.”

TECH KNOW HOW

COMPUTING

KEEP TAKING THE TABLETS Apple pretty much created the Tablet PC market with the launch of the first iPad back in April 2010, and then followed up the runaway success of its first touchscreen marvel with the iPad 2 in March earlier this year. The iPad is undoubtedly one of the best portable computers on the market, with a growing range of educational apps and games available on the iTunes App Store (see below) to ensure your 1

productivity levels never wane and to provide you with countless fun distractions and entertainment whenever and wherever you like. Plus if you cannot afford to shell out for the latest iPad 2, you might still want to consider buying an officially refurbished iPad 1, which Apple currently sell for around the £300 mark via store.apple.com/uk

If that is still beyond your means, then it’s worth considering the new £229 BeBook Live Android tablet - ideal if all you want to do is read e-books, surf the net and watch catchup TV programmes. As a more cost-effective alternative to Apple’s ubiquitous iPad, it is hard to top. Available online from mybebook.com 2

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SMARTPHONES: APPLE IPHONE 5 OR DELL STREAK 7?

For those who can afford it (or are lucky enough to have timed their mobile contract handset upgrading to sync with the start of term this September) Apple’s latest iPhone 5 is sure to be ever-so-slightly faster, smarter and downright sexier than its four aging siblings. At the time of going to press we are still in the pre-launch iPhone 5 rumour stage, but it’s pretty fair to say that this will be THE smartphone to covet in 2011 and 2012.

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If you want something with a much larger screen, which also negates the need to lug a 2

netbook or tablet around with you all of the time, then it is certainly worth considering the latest Dell Streak 7 - a 7” Android tablet which is small enough to shove into a (large) pocket, handbag or man-bag, and featuring a gorilla glass screen to ensure that there are no costly breakages. The Streak 7 is available from dell.co.uk/streak7 from £249.

In terms of apps, it’s worth checking out the latest creative apps such as GarageBand and iMovie or photo manipulation apps such as the wonderful cartoon-creating HalfTone. These 3

Or you can use your smart devices to run thousands of great education apps which are fantastic for any educational need or course requirement you might have. There are around 350,000 free lectures, enlightening videos, films and other handy learning materials freely available for iOS users on iTunes U apple.com/education/itunes-u/ - an invaluable educational resource, which literally brings the classroom to your fingertips.

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iPhone 5

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allow users to create fantastic music, movies and works of art in an instant.

TECH KNOW HOW

COMPUTING

MUST-HAVE GADGETS AND GIZMOS One bothersome aspect of packing all the best smartphone, tablet and gadget tech in your bag is the fact that these devices have a nagging habit of running out of battery power right at the moment you need to email that endof-year project to your tutor or finish off your latest masterpiece on iMovie or GarageBand. This is where IDAPT‘s i1Eco universal gadget charger is an absolute godsend. Plus it means that you no longer have to carry around multiple chargers on your travels. It works on the go, in the car and via any USB port on a laptop. And at £20 - including three different charging tips - it’s a must-buy for anybody who never wants to run out of phone juice ever again. That’s everyone then.

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For digital radio and music fans, Pure’s latest portable DAB, the Pure ONE Mini Series II is the latest version of one of the radio specialists’ most popular products. It’s only £50, looks very cool, is available in black or white and provides up to 20 hours of portable listening via Pure’s rechargeable ChargePAK B1 (which will set you back an extra £28). Plus, 2

it also works as a superb-sounding speaker for your iPhone or MP3 player. If you just can’t do without a daily fix of DAB then it’s a no brainer.

You might not yet realise it, but this year’s must-have gadget for the true geek is not actually the iPad 2. Instead it is a plastic MP3-playing rabbit called Karotz, developed by entertainment software specialists Mindscape. Karotz is described by its makers as a voice activated communicator, which, as well as doubling-up as an MP3 player and quirky alarm clock, will also read out all of your mates’ Facebook and Twitter updates, if you really cannot be bothered to read them yourself. Charming and utterly bizarre, Karotz is the ultimate home robot companion.

With ears. £179 from karotz.com/home 3

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EDIT PHOTOS TO PERFECTION

For student photographers, finding affordable but powerful editing software can be tough. But the latest version of Corel’s award winning software PaintShop offers a professional level of editing power at a price even students can manage. If you’re simply interested in touching up uni pics or are developing an interest in photography, then this program is for you.

PaintShop Pro X4 features over 75 new and enhanced features - so, of course, it’s a comprehensive bit of kit. But most importantly it’s intuitive and easy to learn, but packed full of professional level editing tools for those who want to go in-depth. And at £59.99, it’s relatively inexpensive.

So whether you’re an amateur snapper seeking to improve your shots or a budding Robert Mapplethorpe, Corel’s PaintShop Pro X4 is a great studentfriendly editing program.

3 MAKE STUDENT LIFE EASIER WITH DRAGON SPEECH RECOGNITION SOFTWARE Did you know that you can talk to your computer?

Dragon allows you to dictate to your computer three times faster than you can type - so it’s the answer to all your essay writing nightmares.

With Dragon for PC and Mac, you can save time on completing essays, taking notes and sending emails using all the major applications with your voice, plus you can now use your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad as a microphone, making it even easier to dictate.

Luckily for you, Dragon 11.5

www.student365.co.uk

Premium (for PC) and Dragon Dictate 2.5 (for Mac) have been discounted especially for students so you can buy now and save time for the things you REALLY want to do.

Dragon NaturallySpeaking Premium Student/Teacher Edition costs £79.99 inclusive of VAT *Reduced from - £99.99 Dragon Dictate 2.5 costs £119.99 inclusive of VAT - *Reduced from £149.99 These prices are available from StudentSuperstore.com until 31st October 2011.

Or to win 1 of 10 free copies of Dragon NaturallySpeaking Premium Student/Teacher Edition for PC, log onto student365.co.uk, follow the links through to the competitions section and answer this simple question.

How much faster can you dictate than type using Dragon?

• Twice as fast • Three times faster (aka lightning speed) • It’s the same speed

WIN! CARBONITE ONLINE BACKUP SUBSCRIPTIONS Lose your files, not your mind with Carbonite online backup solutions

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t university you’ll have lots of precious files – photographs of new friends, your music collection as well as your work and research saved on your hard drive. Should your computer or laptop crash, all your files could be lost.

We’ve teamed up with Carbonite, makers of online backup software for PCs and Macs to make sure you don’t lose your files. Carbonite scans your hard drive for new and edited files and automatically backs them up to secure servers.

Carbonite offers unlimited backup, so all your files can be easily restored in a few clicks should the worst happen. You can also access and view your files remotely from any computer connected to the Internet by logging into your account. There are even Carbonite apps for iPhone, iPad, BlackBerry and Android devices so you can access your files on the go.

We’ve got 25 one year subscriptions worth £41.95 each to give away. To enter simply log onto student365.co.uk and follow links through to competitions section where full entry details can be found.

For more information visit www.carbonite.co.uk

WIN! A SONY SOF TWARE BUNDLE TO BRING YOUR HOME VIDEOS AND MUSIC TO LIFE! One lucky winner will stand a chance to win a copy of Sony’s award winning Vegas Pro 10 and ACID Pro 7 production software.

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egas Pro 10 allows you to create professional looking movies - the perfect way to capture your first uni memories - while Acid Pro 7 lets aspiring musicians record, remix and restore top quality audio tracks.

There are also three chances to win a runner up bundle of Vegas Movie Studio HD Platinum 11, ACID Music Studio 8 and Sound Forge Audio Studio 10 the ultimate personal production suite at your finger tips.

To be in with a chance of winning these must-have pieces of tech for absolutely free, simply get online, navigate your way over to student365.co.uk and follow the links through to the competition section to view entry details.

T PRE

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REVIEWS

GAMING

Winter Warmers

This winter is packed full of new game releases to let you avoid the cold, dark nights and doing anything constructive, like uni work. Chris Cope recommends five games that will see have your thumbs twiddling on controllers until spring.

CALL OF DUTY: MODERN WARFARE 3

THE NEXT BIG THING

OUT ON: All platforms WHEN? November 8th Modern Warfare 3 is the latest in the worldconquering Call of Duty series. Its sophisticated RPG-esque multiplayer mode means there is no better way to bond with your housemates than to repeatedly spawnkill them from a helicopter.

Nintendo Wii U

JUST DANCE 3

SESAME STREET: ONCE UPON A MONSTER OUT ON: Xbox 360 (Kinect) WHEN? October 26th Don’t write this apparently kid-orientated game off – exclusive to the Xbox Kinect platform, it comes from the fertile mind of Tim Schafer (Monkey Island) giving it serious gaming pedigree.

OUT ON: Xbox 360 (Kinect), PS3 (Move), Wii WHEN? October 11th Ever since the Nintendo brought unselfconscious flailing into the living room, videogaming has become the pre/post-night out diversion of choice. Out of all the karaoke/dance games on the Wii, Just Dance 3 is the top dog. Features a diverse song list including rap pioneers The Sugarhill Gang, popstar Britney Spears and iPod salesman Tommy Sparks.

THE ELDER SCROLLS V: SKYRIM

RAGE OUT ON: Xbox 360, PS3, PC WHEN? October 7th Set in a post-apocalyptic wasteland, Rage involves shooting or befriending members of various clans and then racing in cars. A generic premise but it’s from iD Software, creators of Doom and Quake, so the multiplayer mode is worth getting excited over.

www.student365.co.uk

OUT ON: Xbox 360, PS3, PC WHEN? November 11th Student life isn’t all about socialising. Sometimes you need to knuckle down and concentrate on a single-player videogame. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim, sequel to Bethesda’s seminal open-world fantasy RPG Oblivion, takes place in a huge and richly detailed fantasy world full of elves, dragons, villages, and magic. Like Fallout 3, Bethesda’s other big franchise, Skyrim will give you tens or hundreds of hours of sophisticated and engrossing RPG action.

If you’ve heard of Nintendo’s Wii U console, you likely don’t have any idea what it is.

Even watching the concept video, may lead you to the conclusion it’s a tablet computer for children. But it is a console the tablet computer-thing you saw is the controller. Really.

The Wii’s bizarre looking controller is an illustration of just how far gaming has come since the days of the morbidly unergonomic Atari 2600 joystick. The Wii U controller features two analogue sticks, two triggers, a D-pad, face buttons, a camera, a microphone, stereo speakers, a gyroscope, an accelerometer, a stylus, a sensor strip and a dirty great 6.2’’ screen. That’s right - it has its own screen. The screen allows you, for instance, to stream a game straight to the controller and play it there if your housemates want to watch TV. Or you can use it in myriad different motion-based situations for Wii games. The possibilities are almost endless.

If it sounds a bit gimmicky, it’s because Nintendo are trying hard not to produce simply another Wii. The company’s strategy with its next console is to win back hardcore gamers - like U - with a console that is at least as powerful as the Xbox 360 and PS3.

But it’ll likely be simply another Wii and there’s no shame in that.

Fresh

RISING STARS

They may still be at university, but these creators are hotly tipped to be the next big thing in UK culture. Rashmi Narayan profiles three students with big futures.

THE SONGWRITER WHO: Daniel Croll WHAT: Winner of the prestigious Musician’s Benevolent Fund (MBF) Songwriting Award.

WHERE: Liverpool Institute for Performing Arts (LIPA)

THE MOVIE MAKING AUTEURS

HE SAYS: I have always loved music and grew up listening to my mother sing.

There are so many genres of music that act as a major influence in my life. Everything from rebellious rock to Celtic Irish music have all been highly influential though Damien Rice and Kate Rusby are my favourite singer-songwriters.

My style has changed a lot over the years and is mostly influenced by the people I meet, including friends and family. But I have recently incorporated African music influences.

Right now I’m working on my first release, due out in January 2012. It’s a collaboration with a lot of great artists and bands, including a group called United Vibration, who I love.

WHO: Ben Wheatley WHAT: A collaboration with his coursemates Alex Lipman and Cenay Said led them to produce and direct The Miserables, which was shortlisted for the Foreign Student Film award at the Student Academy Awards held in Hollywood.

WHERE: University of Westminster, London.

HE SAYS: There was a lot of hardwork that went into making our film. We didn’t expect it to go this far and, well, if we had won it, it would have been unbelievable. Though us getting nominated was recognition enough.

And it has only encouraged us to do even better in our next couple of films.

Over the years we have closely observed the styles of various filmmakers, absorbed their influence and fed it into our films. But the major influences in our lives have been our film professors at Westminster who have helped us with every step.

The very fact that we got nominated for a Hollywood based film award is an achievement and the publicity we’ve received has been extremely encouraging. Now we’re aiming to go even further in the near future.

THE SINGER WHO: Matt Nalton WHAT: In demand Matt has performed in front of the Queen and Royal Family, as well as sharing the stage with big names such as Michael McIntyre, Helen Mirren, Kevin Spacey and Ellie Goulding.

WHERE: Central School of Speech & Drama HE SAYS: I’ve always been involved in youth theatre, where we always put on

decent shows. But my interest in dramatics has translated into me actually having a drama career. I guess a lot of my success has depended on a certain amount of luck.

Performing in front of the Royal Family was an incredible experience. I didn’t expect something like that to ever happen.

Between rehearsing in front of the Queen and meeting celebrities, I felt so privileged.

My ultimate dream is to get an opportunity to perform on the West End stage. Until then, I’m just taking whatever offers come my way. Overall I can vouch for the fact that, apart from the enriching experience at Buckingham Palace, the road to recognition is a long one.

FRESH DIRECTION AUTUMN 2011 30 31

TRAVEL

Brrrr! Winter’s set in and there’s nothing to do, right?

Wrong! There’s no shortage of stuff happening locally and farther afield, as Rhian Westbury highlights exactly where to go to get your attending thrills.

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ometimes you just have to be there. Watching it on TV or following it via laptop won’t cut it - you have to experience the sensation of actually watching, experiencing and soaking in the live experience. If this

LIVING LIVE BEATS

sounds like you, then thankfully there’s a ton of stuff happening in the autumn and winter months to keep you occupied. Here’s a look at the major, more minor and less well known events going on around the UK and Europe that’ll keep you occupied until the New Year.

THE BIG REUNION

WEEKENDS

18th-20th and 25th -27th November; Butlins Resort, Skegness This weekender is a far more civilized option than the festival circuit, so if you don’t like the idea of mud, camping and bad toilet situations then the Big Reunion is for you. Taking place over two backto-back weekends in November, at the Butlins resort in Skegness you can get two nights’ accommodation and entrance to the sets on Friday and Saturday nights for just £165. Acts include Yasmin, The Streets and Fazer (From N-Dubz). Over 60 live acts and handpicked DJ’s will cover your nights and plenty of facilities will help keep you occupied whilst you nurse your hangover. thebigreunion.com

‘OK EVERYBODY, HANDS IN THE AIR! IT’S TIME FOR YMCA!’

WAREHOUSE PROJECT

Late September-1st January; Manchester The Warehouse Project was voted the best UK club by Mixmag in 2007 and is Manchester’s ultimate clubbing destination - but it’s only open 12 weeks a year culminating in a New Year’s Day finale. Tickets are priced at around £20 for Friday and Saturday sessions (which run until 6am) as well as midweek gigs but they sell out fast. The underground feel evokes an unlicensed rave and the sweaty coven is a far cry from the glitz and glamour of contemporary clubs. 2010 saw the club grow with a larger chill out area, cinema screens and top DJ’s. You can get to Manchester Piccadilly station from all major UK towns - and if you book in advance you can get there for under a tenner! thewarehouseproject.com

www.student365.co.uk

CHILI PEPPERS

7th-20th November; UK wide The Chili Pepper’s return for a string of arena shows in their first tour for four years, in support of their latest album I’m With You. The Californian proto funk rockers’ 10th record will have fans richly anticipating the return of their hiterhto much missed live show.Tickets are £49.50 and available from See Tickets. seetickets.com

TRAVEL

CULTURE VULTURES London fiLm festivaL

ELLE MACPHERSON

October 12-27; London This is the 55th London Film Festival, undoubtedly the UK’s biggest celebration of international cinema from the past year. Films include premiere’s of David Cronenberg’s A Dangerous Method and George Cloooney’s political drama The Ides Of March. Check out the BFI website for more details. bfi.org.uk

frieze art fair

28th-30th October; Excel Centre, London See your favourite girls from Series 7 strut their stuff on the catwalk or even join them on an open catwalk to see what it feels like to be a model, while getting treated to training sessions, pampering and salon privileges.

This really is the ultimate girl’s day out.

Tickets start from £20 up to £49 for VIP tickets. bntmlive.com

13th-16th October; Regent’s Park, London If exciting, contemporary art galleries are your thing be sure to head to the Frieze Art Fair as over 170 galleries feature within this art extravaganza. Booking is a must and the start of October a one day ticket will cost you £27 and a full four day ticket will cost you £60. To book and see more info look up the website. friezeartfair.com

RAFAEL NADAL

ATP TOUR FINALS 20th-27th November; O2 Arena, London Tennis doesn’t have to just be for the summer - the ATP World Tour finals features only the world’s top eight male players, fighting it out for the right to be crowned ATP champion. It’s sure to focus the best in tennis talent, including Roger Federer, Rafael Nadal, Novak Djokovic and Andy Murray. Go to the ATP website to grab tickets and see more info. barclaysatpworldtourfinals.com

NIGHT AT THE DOGS Throughout autumn; UK wide Greyhound racing is actually the third most popular sport in the UK after football and rugby.

What’s more it’s also a great night out for all students. With a unique atmosphere, a night at the dogs even allows for the chance to win some cash (or lose some depending on luck). With 25 tracks in Britain check the website to find your local canine circuit. bgb.org.uk

FÊTE DES LUMIÈRES

THE ULTIMATE NEW YEAR’S EVE PARTY Hogmanay frankfurt Christmas market 17th November- 23rd December in Birmingham at Victoria Square and New Street Birmingham’s Frankfurt Christmas Market is now the UK’s largest outdoor Christmas market and is hugely popular with traders and residents alike so jump on a train to Birmingham New Street/ Snow Hill which is accessible from all major cities and get a real taste of Christmas for yourself.

www.student365.co.uk

31st December; Edinburgh Make the very start of 2012 memorable and stylish by joining in on Edinburgh’s world famous New Year celebrations. There are free events, but you might want to check out the music and fireworks spectacular, featuring Primal Scream.

Tickets are £35-40 but also include access to the New Year’s street party (priced at £15), allowing you to dance the night away with around 80,000 other people under the stunning backdrop of Edinburgh Castle. edinburghshogmanay.org

7th-11th December, Lyon, France This four day event sees the city covered in lights in a religiously themed tribute to Jesus’ mum Mary. However you don’t have to be religious to enjoy this beautiful festival which features 80 light projects and draws millions of visitors every year.

The beautifully illuminated town can be reached by taking the Eurostar to Paris and getting a connecting train. fetedeslumieres.lyon.fr

BUDAPEST AUTUMN FESTIVAL 7th-16th October (dates to be confirmed) Budapest is the capital and musical centre of Hungary and the Autumn Festival hosts the countries best folk and classical music events. That includes the Budapest Festival Orchestra who were awarded the Editor’s choice Gramophone Award. You can travel to Budapest Franz Liszt International Airport from most UK airports from as little as £40, just be sure to use use a flight comparison website. www.bof.hu

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TRAVEL

NEWS

Student s r e t o r t e b o Gl Round-Up

news, offers Need the freshest travel students? and deals especially for Then look no further...

GO WEST FOR ADVENTURE

If you’re thinking of heading west and experiencing the varied experiences North America has to offer, then Trek America (trekamerica.co.uk), the leaders in taking small group adventures across the Atlantic, could help. Recently voted ‘Best Tour Operator to the USA’ at the British Travel Awards, Trek America have created tours for travellers aged 18-38.

With over 50 unique itineraries, from three-day mini-adventures to epic 64 day road trips, Trek America guarantee the adventure of a lifetime.

EAN BREAK? P O R U E A Y C N FA trip for two to pus? How does a cam Need a break from m, Rotterdam or Brussels sound? da er st Am als, Paris, Lille, M – romantic can ’t it? But the ounds good, doesn is that you could g thin at gre lly rea Direction and win this trip. Fresh amazing an d ate Eurolines have cre s three lucky winner competition where these e tickets to one of fre two b gra can fab five cities:

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AMSTERDA on . Easy to explore bridges and parks foot or bike and club wonderland ROTTERDAM – ’s best rld wo the p, Aa home to De Witte Lonely Planet) bar (according to an, rant, cosmopolit vib – LS SE US BR classy. and ry ora mp conte The hard thing is Entering is easy. y to visit! cit ich choosing wh com and click Go to student365. n mpetitions sectio Co the to gh ou thr s. tail de ry ent full to find

s. 2: Up Competitive price th Eurolines: 1: wi l ve tra on, loos -c to air s Five reason 3: Coaches have m London-Paris. fro aches s ce Co rvi 5: se it. ily m to ten da e, not miles fro e in the city centr riv Ar 4: m. roo leg and s than planes! carbon emission create loads less

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GET ONBOARD WITH BUNAC, THE WORKING ABROAD SPECIALISTS BUNAC is one of the UK’s leading travel organisation with great value working abroad and volunteering opportunities all over the world. Whether you want to work in an US summer camp, teach in Nepal, Cambodia or Peru, or take a year out and live it up in Australia, New Zealand or Canada, BUNAC’s hassle-free, CV enhancing programmes mean the hardest thing you have to do is pick your destination. For more go to bunac.org.

PLAY YOUR CARDS RIGHT WITH TOPDECK Providing unforgettable travel experiences for 18-30 something travellers since 1973, Topdeck Travel is one of the UK’s leading youth tour operators. Topdeck provide tours which cater for all styles and budgets.

Each holiday has accommodation, travel, food, guided tours and a variety of excursions included. And, as each traveller is different, Topdeck give you the free time to explore at your own pace. For more information check out topdeck.travel online.

DISCOUNT CARD GETS STUDENTS ON THE BUS With almost 400,000 new students making the trip to university this month, National Express has relaunched its ever-popular Young Persons Coach Card offe ring 30 per cent off all journeys for the next three years. The Card is available to all 16-26 year olds and anyone in full-time educ ation. And at just £10 for one year or £15 for three years, the Card pays for itself. With National Express operating coach services direct to many major universities, it’s a must for students. For more chec k out nationalexpress.com.

GET SOME AUTUMN SUN Got the post-summer blues? Why not get some autmn sunshine in Italy?

Contiki Holidays are currently offering an Italian espresso experience like no other. Walk in the footsteps of Roman emperors and throw three coins into the Trevi fountain. Enjoy traditional Tuscan hospitality and architecture in Renaissance Florence. And then finish up by wandering the tiny streets of Venice. For further information, check out contiki.co.uk.

Student Travel Insurance

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TRAVEL

➜

GET TO

the gap

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hether it’s for a whole year or for the last few weeks of the university holidays, taking time out to travel is a decision few students ever regret. The benefits are obvious - gap years impress employers while allowing you to broaden horizons and have an absolutely ace time.

However with the world being so huge, and there being so many different types of gap options out there, getting the ball rolling can seem a bit daunting. Thankfully here’s a run-down of how to get started in preparing your gap adventure.

WHAT TO DO?

Deciding to head off on an adventure of a lifetime is the easy part - the tricky element is figuring on what, where and how to do it. The good news is there are a whole host of options out there! From summer gaps to an entire year away, from volunteering to adventure packed trips and from expensive getaways to the very cheapest of trips, the UK tourist industry have it covered.

Firstly you could travel independently going it alone, although daunting has the main benefit of allowing you the freedom to www.student365.co.uk

do exactly what you want when you want.

It also caters for every budget letting you live as indulgently or as cheaply as your bank balance allows. And with so many backpackers travelling independently, you won’t be alone for long.

Volunteering allows you to do some good while really exploring what the country is all about Volunteering is another great option allowing you to do some good whilst really getting into the thick of the country’s culture and local community It also looks fantastic on your CV. The Unique Travel Company (theuniquetravel.co.uk), for example run a scheme, in Sri Lankan orphanages and schools. Costing £550 for four weeks, including accommodation and meals with local families, it is inexpensive

and guarantees a memorable experience.

Many companies aimed at young people tend to combine volunteering with adventure travel and the safety net of travelling in an organised group is one that can be very appealing especially for first time backpackers. One of the best specialists in this kind of travel are Quest Overseas (questoverseas.com) who combine language courses, ethical volunteering and exploration all in one trip. They’re pricier but considering the jam-packed itinerary, the cost is more than worth it.

At the other end of the scale comes the ‘working gap’, perfect for those with both a shortage of money and, even better, for those wanting to earn money! Working at summer camps such as Camp America (campamerica. co.uk) – which provide you with both flights and a salary - are the ideal way to get out of the UK without breaking the bank.

Finally if you want to remain career focused various companies offer internships abroad. For the future doctors out there Medforce (medforce.info) is a great starting point or for law, archaeology or care internships check out Projects Abroad (projects-abroad.org).

PHOTOS: Alnya Lawrence

Gap years are perfect for gaining independence, seeing the world and boosting your CV - but they can be intimidating to organise. Anya Lawrence breaks it down.

GAP YEAR

So now you’ve chosen what you want to do, here comes the scary bit; where to actually go? Your choice of destination ultimately stands as the most important decision in the planning of your travelling adventures so taking some time to really consider your options is vital.

AUSTRALIA ➜ With stunning beaches, Australia offers a chilled out backpacker scene and up to 300 days of sunshine a year. It is perfect for those with a long stretched love affair with the beach. A mix of cosmopolitan cities and the outback, which offers a retreat from the more touristy areas, Australia is a far cry from the culture you’ll find in Asia but no less beautiful and relatively easy to travel. Australia’s main problem is the expensive cost of living – for a dorm bed in Sydney you’re looking at £15-£20 per person per night (pppn).

However if you budget well, or follow the hundreds that seek work out there, it could well be your dream destination.

NoRTh AmeRIcA

Rather be working abroad?

➜ Being so geographically vast North America offers diversity like no other – one minute you’ll be sipping expensive cocktails in Los Angeles, the next you’ll be in the Texan wilderness with not a person in sight! With the dollar to pound currently so strong, it is the perfect time for British students to take advantage and go west.

Work, teach or volunteer in the most amazing countries on the planet with BUNAC!

Find out more today!

020 7251 3472

SoUTh eAST ASIA ➜ With Vietnam, Laos, Thailand and Cambodia all in easy reach of each other, and return flights to Bangkok costing as little as £350, South East Asia has quickly shaped itself as the budget backpacker’s FDAugust2011_95x133.indd favourite. Deserted beaches, a vibrant backpacker scene, and plenty of culture from mountain treks in Laos to home-stays in rural Thai villages; it really does tick all the boxes.

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bunac.org/getmeoutofhere

12/08/2011 original adventures since 1972

eURope ➜ Don’t let Europe’s close proximity put you off for it manages to boast everything from ski seasons and mountain trekking to city hopping and language courses. With couch surfing and youth hostels big out here traveling on a budget can be achieved easily and, with an interrailing pass in your back pocket getting around is simple. Be brave and stay away from the crowds - head to Eastern Europe intead where the likes of Montenegro and Bosnia will bowl you away and make you feel a million miles from home with their culture and beauty.

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SoUTh AmeRIcA ➜ With lush Amazon rainforest, rugged mountainous landscapes and breathtaking sights such as the Iguazu Falls and Machu Picchu, South America will take you right back to nature in an instant. Home to the mountain biking favourite ‘The Death Road’ it is also perfect for adrenalin junkies searching out their next thrill!

Geared towards tourism in a significantly lesser way than South East Asia it certainly offers the more rugged experience.

Flights are expensive but low living costs more than make up for it.

usa, canada, alaska & latin america www.trekamerica.co.uk/fresh

0844 576 1387

* Discount is valid on all tours booked by September 31st 2011, please quote code 150208 at time of booking.

FRESH DIRECTION AUTUMN 2011 38 39

16:17

TRAVEL LATTITUDE International youth development charity offering GLOBAL VOLUNTEERING

volunteering and gap year placements for 17-25 year olds

CARING

CONSERVATION

Now you’re reading the feature, and getting excited about the propsct of your gap adventure, it’s time to leap into action! With the world at your fingertips we’ve picked out some of the best online resources to nudge you in the right direction.

TRANSPORT

• interrailnet.com TEACHING

Thinking of hitting Europe by train? This site has all the interrailing info.

ACCOMMODATION

• hostelworld.com MEDICAL

OUTDOOR EDUCATION ASIA | AFRICA | OCEANIA | THE AMERICAS

DO MORE THAN JUST TRAVEL! see our website or contact us for more details.

T: +44 (0)118 959 4914 E: volunteer@lattitude.org.uk

www.lattitude.org.uk

WIN A TRIP TO EGYPT! a Win

y 9 Daxpress E t p Egy trip nter... e nline

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VOLUNTEERING

• uniquetavelcompany.co.uk

Inexpensive volunteer programmes in Sri Lanka.

• originalvolunteers.co.uk

Ethical volunteering worldwide from £70 per week.

WORKING HOLIDAYS AND SUMMER CAMPS

• bunac.org

Organisation who can help sort out all your ‘working gap’ needs.

ADVICE

• lonelyplanet.com

Invaluable travel advice and destination information.

• tripadvisor.co.uk

Travel reviews and advice from fellow travellers.

Remember whatever you choose one thing is for sure; with a suntan on your back and a huge grin permanently on your face your only regret will be not getting on a gap year sooner!

to

trips for 18 to 30 somethings

*See online for terms and conditions

In-depth site which lets you book youth hostels in every corner of the world. A must-click for adventurous travellers.

• couchsurfing.org A network of accommodating hosts offering weary and hard up individuals the opportunity to stay at their house.

THE ANCIENT RUINS OF U, MACHU PICCHU IN PER VISIT A POPULAR STUDENT

GAP IN A HOL

GAP YEAR FD TIP Learn some key phrases - locals will appreciate your language efforts.

GET ADVENTUROUS AND VOLUNTEER Lattitude Global Volunteering offer a variety of volunteering projects across the globe.

Positions are available in caring, community work, conservation, education and medicine in countries across Africa, Asia, Australasia and the Americas. Head to lattitude.org.uk for info.

GAP YEAR’S OFTEN RESULT IN AN ODD MIX OF HOLIDAY SNAPS

KEEPING TRACK OF THE PENNIES

People say ‘the world is your oyster’ - and while the cost of a gap year is a huge financial burden, be savvy when it comes to budgeting and there is no reason why this phrase cannot apply to you. Your budgeting should start immediately - begin by hunting around for flights, looking at flexible dates and keeping in mind added expenses such as visas, travel insurance and immunisations. STA Travel (statravel.co.uk) offer student fares which can cut down the cost significantly and searching on flight comparison websites such as Opodo (opodo.co.uk) will make your life a lot easier.

If you choose to go by your own steam your biggest running expenses will be food, accommodation and transport.

Stick to home-stays, hostel dorm beds and guesthouses remembering that often the streets just off of the main drag will offer accommodation at half the price.

Alternatively, if budgeting isn’t your thing there are numerous companies out there that offer all inclusive ‘gap packages’ for both gap years and summer gaps. They are ideal as you pay a flat fee at the outset and then everything (excluding flights) thereafter is paid for.

Volunteering is another way to keep things cheap with accommodation often provided.

Both workaway.info and wwoof.org list hosts who will provide food and somewhere to rest your head in return for labour.

Finally, before you set off know what budget you are working with so you can live accordingly. Sipping multiple $5 cocktails each night - although nice - will only end in disaster if you started on a limited budget in the first place! 

VOLUNTEERING ALLOWS YOU TO HELP THOSE WHO NEED IT MOST

The Four Month Gapper LUCY DUNBAR, 21, STUDIES AT NORTHUMBRIA UNIVERSITY. My four months in South America in a nutshell? The most amazing experience of my life so far! From Spanish classes in Ecuador to near death experiences down waterfalls and being ‘healed’ in the way of spit and fire by a local Shaman, it was a non-stop amazing experience. We arrived at he shanty town of Villa Maria,

Peru, and had to juggle caring for children with the construction of five houses in four weeks - all in intense heat and dust. Plus we had to sleep in one of four bunk beds squeezed into a tiny room. But then came the best part - the ‘expedition phase’.

It included ice climbing in Bolivia, sand-boarding in the Peruvian desert, sunrise and pancakes on the Salt Flats and wading through the Bolivian jungle in dugout canoes.

Topping it all though, the Inca Trail to Machu Picchu is something I’ll never forget! The experience and memories, backed up by so many amazing photographs, will remain with me for the rest of my life as it truly was such an incredible adventure. The decision to defer university for a year to take the trip remains my best yet!

Lucy travelled with Quest Overseas.

FRESH DIRECTION AUTUMN 2011 40 41

TRAVEL

BUDGET BREAKS

LINE! N O T E G ?

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BREAKING £50: BRITISH CITY BREAKS

➜ BRIGHTON Home to the UK’s biggest gay scene, a hub for independent music, flamboyant clubs and bars, and a fabulous beach, when it comes to a seaside getaway Brighton does it like no other! ✈ Getting There Both National Express (nationalexpress. com) and Megabus (megabus.com) offer coaches to London from most UK cities from £2 return. Once in London, a train TYPICALLY SUN SCORCHING DAY AT BRIGHTON SEASIDE

Need a quick student getaway on the cheap? Anya Lawrence hunts down some of the best budget options.

from Victoria to Brighton, with a 16-25 Railcard (16-25railcard.co.uk), costs around £2.45. Book in advance and online to get the cheapest fares.  Accomodation Brighton boasts a variety of centrally-located modern youth hostels with en-suites and private rooms. The best hostels include Kipps Hostel (kipps-brighton.com) and SoBo (roomsinbrighton.co.uk) for around £19.95 per person per night. ➜ NEWCASTLE There’s more to Newcastle than Cheryl Cole. After you’ve shopped ‘till you dropped, check out the coolest clubs and hippest bars and find out for yourself why students in Newcastle always seem to be enjoying life to the full. ✈ Getting There A bus to Newcastle is probably your cheapest option from wherever you’re based. Use a Young Persons Coachcard on a National Express coach (nationalexpress.com) and get

www.student365.co.uk

to the Tyne for just £18 return from London.

Book online and in advance.  Accomodation Prepare to share and it’s possible to nab yourself a comfortable bed for the night at the Euro Hostel Newcastle. For an extra £6, get a private room at the well-reviewed Metro Inns Newcastle. Both are conveniently located and found online at hostelworld.com. ➜ CARDIFF When it comes to having things to do, Cardiff seems to have it all. There are state-ofthe-art sports centres, historic sites galore and entertainment to keep you amused 24/7.

Not to forget charming Edwardian and Victorian arcades to satisfy your strongest shopping urges. ✈ Getting There From London, Victoria catch a bus to Cardiff for £10.80 return via megabus.com.. Get to London from most UK cities for £2 return with either National Express (nationalexpress. com) or Megabus (megabus.com).

PHOTOS: PJR Photography; .cubagallery.co.nz; Juan Fuentes

AWAY

STUDENT FRIENDLY AND FUN, BRIGHTON IS AN IDEAL CHEAP WEEKEND BREAK

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BUDGET BREAKS

AWAY

THE LOUVRE, PARIS HOME OF THE MONA LISA

 Accomodation The River House Backpackers is an award-winning B&B style hostel in the city centre with an excellent free breakfast from £17.99 per night. Book online at riverhousebackpackers.com.

WHY BE STUCK AT UNI WHEN YOU COULD BE CHECKING OUT THIS VIEW?

NOBODY GETS THE HUMP WHILE IN MARRAKESH

city centre offering private rooms for £23. ➜ BERLIN Übercool Berlin - with its dramatic city architecture, historical monuments, late-night bars, cabarets and arty districts - is the place to be fascinated and inspired all at once.

£150: THE EUROPEAN MINIBREAK

➜ PARIS From lazy afternoons spent sipping coffee to hours wandering the streets of Montmartre; everything about Paris’ character makes it the perfect escape.

✈ Getting There Travel during the last months of 2011, be flexible with your dates and you could book a return easyJet flight from London to Berlin for just under £50 (easyjet.com).

✈ Getting There Eurostar (eurostar.com) offer fares (for under25s), for around £19.50 each way making it the ideal way to start your Parisian adventure.

 Accomodation Providing free WIFI, breakfast and a walking tour, you can book a dorm bed at the Generator Hostel for around £10 (hostels.com/hostels/berlin). There’s also a bar on-site to help you meet new people.

 Accomodation One of the cheapest options in Paris is staying at a self-catering apartment. Feel Paris (www. feelparis.com) lists apartments with prices starting from €63 (around £55) per night for four people or £14 per person. ➜ AMSTERDAM With its infamous red light districts, romantic canals, elegant museums and coffee houses, Amsterdam is Europe’s fifth busiest tourist destination and the ideal city for relaxing and trying something different. ✈ Getting There Eurolines (eurolines.co.uk) is a great budget option for travelling to Amsterdam. Offering coaches with fares as low as £39 return from London – including your ferry crossing – you’ll have lots of cash left to spend in the city.  Accomodation Amsterdam is home to plenty of good quality budget accommodation. Visit hostelbookers. com for a range of hotels and hostels like the hip Hostel Van Gogh found slap-bang in the www.student365.co.uk

£250: THE CULTURAL GETTAWAY

➜ MARRAKESH Snake charmers, vast markets and chaotic streets; you’ll find them all in Marrakech!

When it comes to a cultural getaway, this bustling Moroccan city leads the way. ✈ Getting There With a whole host of budget airlines offering regular return flights for around £80, getting to Marrakech couldn’t be

easier! Alternatively, hitch to the city and fundraise at the same time with the Moroccan Hitch (lcdinternational.org/ england_wales/hitch.htm).  Accomodation Keep it cultural by staying at one of the many traditional Moroccan houses, known as riads.

Hostel-style riads come cheaper than privately rented ones with Amour de Riad (amour-deriad.com) offering dorm beds at £7.50 and private en-suites for £22 for two. ➜ MOSCOW Culture in Moscow is not for the fainthearted!

For a cultural break you’ll never forget, visit the Kremlin, stroll around Gorky Park, steam in a traditional house and, most importantly, test out vodka in its homeland! ✈ Getting There If you’re flexible it’s possible to find return flights for around £120 online. Compare prices on statravel.co.uk, cheapflights.co.uk and skyscanner.net.  Accomodation Happy to go relatively basic? Then you can rent an apartment with a view of the Kremlin and downtown Moscow for around £13 per night. Find other accommodation like this, plus hostels and budget hotels at kasbah.com. 

>>>MUST SEE WEBSITES • eurolines.co.uk - Operates to 500 destinations across Europe with prices at just £39 return.

• nationalexpress.com - The primary coach operator in the UK, National Express offer great student discounts to domestic and international destinations.

• statravel.co.uk - The UK’s dedicated student travel operator offer non-stop deals to uni heads.

• yha.org.uk - The Youth Hostels Association operates more than 200 Youth Hostels across the UK and offer great deals to young travels both home and abroad.

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FOOD

COOKING GUIDE

STARTING SCRATCH

Don’t fear the kitchen!

Read out foolproof guide to student cooking, grab a spatula and start whipping together cheap and easy eats.

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Watch co oking shows - th ey’re a great way to de your know velop ledge

GET COOKING ON YOUR HEA LTH If you’re a cookinophobe your first instinct might be to avoid the kitchen at all costs. You may believe that a constant diet of takeaway’s, crisps, cup-a-soups and junk will supply you with enough to get you through university. But the only thing this attitude will leave you with is weight gain and an empty wallet.

Eating constant junk at uni is simply a bad idea - an imbalanced diet will affect your sleep patterns, mood and ability to concentrate in class. www.student365.co.uk

Moreover this kind of diet, while convenient, is extremely expensive. You might think a bag of chips or instant noodles are decent value, but eat them every day and you’re spending far more than you would simply cooking a healthy, nutritious meal daily.

It’s a good idea to develop the cooking skills needed to put together quick, healthy meals that save you money We’re not recommending spending each day scoffing raw veg and fruit, but it’s a good idea to at least develop enough cooking skills to put together some quick nutritious meals that save you money.

KITCHEN-O-PHOBIA So now you’ve finally broached your fear, and stepped over the threshold and into the likely linoleum floored personal hell that is

‘the kitchen’, it’s time to think about where to get started. We recommend checking out our guide to storecupboard essentials (p.48) and our shopping page of must-have kitchen utensils and products (p.52).

Having a well stocked cupboard means you can whip up tasty, no fuss meals in no time. Even if you’re feeling lazy and couldn’t be bothered to cook, keeping your larder well stocked with crucial components means you have no excuse for not getting stuck into cooking.

However as a student your big concern is going to be cost - getting kitchen-active, stocking up on ingredients and having all the gear needed to make good grub can seem like an expensive undertaking.

But long term it is worth it and, more importantly, there are ways of getting more for your money.

For instance when heading out to buy ingredients be sure to compile a shopping list. By planning ahead you can avoid buying stuff at the supermarket you don’t actually need. Moreover don’t be too won over by supermarket bulk buying deals - getting three for two cheeses may seem like a good idea, but if two go mouldy in the back of the fridge then it will be a waste of money.

PHOTOS: IStockphoto; Via Flickr: SarahAckerman; zoonabar; NinaMatthewsPhotography; JohnnieShannon.

G

etting to university is a terrifying enough prospect without the sudden realisation - gasp! - that you’re actually going to have to do your own cooking. That’s right. No more mum means no more simply expecting food to appear, as if by magic, at breakfast, lunch and dinner.

No, instead you’re now what people call ‘an adult’ and as such, evolutionally speaking, you now have to go out, spear in hand, and hunt for dinner. Which means heading down to the local supermarket, scooping up some ingredients, bunging them into a cooking device and scoffing.

Problem is many of you - particularly those new to university - may not know a salad from a spatula, and as such may need a little help. So we’ve put together a quick, all-in-one, fresher-refresher guide to getting it together in the kitchen.

FOOD Another tip is to avoid well-known brands.

Supermarkets always have their own, cheaper, brands tucked away on the bottom shelf (inconveniently out of eye-sight) but they’re fine to buy and far cheaper. Plus it’s always an idea, when cooking, to make loads and freeze the leftovers, which avoids wasting food and also means you don’t have to cook from scratch every day. Or you can always get together with your housemates and cook together, with everyone saving money by splitting the bill and buying ingredients together.

Now that you’ve got the advice, stocked up your storecupboard and blagged or borrowed the necessary kit, it’s time to fire up the oven and get stuck in. We have four cheap and easy recipes costing less than fiver over the page, that’ll do any hard-up student in a pinch. Give em a go.

SET TO IMPRESS But first you could try these two easy cook meals below, that’ll put your newly stocked storecupboard to good use.

Many evening you’ll arrive home starving but believing you’ve nothing to cook with.

But as long as your storecupboard is stocked you can always whip something together, like this easy, filling tucker. 

TUNA AND SWEETCORN HASH Preparation time: 10 mins Cooking time: 15 mins Ingredients • 750g floury potatoes (such as King Edward) • Can of tuna • Can of sweetcorn • Two large tomatoes • Handful of grated cheddar 1. Boil

the potatoes in salted water for 15 minutes or until tender (stick a fork in the spud and if it slides in, they’re ready).

2. Drain, return to the pan and mash thoroughly. Stir in the tuna, sweetcorn and season.

3. Preheat the grill and heat oil in a frying pan. Add the potato mixture and fry for 5 minutes, until underneath is brown and crisp.

4. Arrange slices of tomato over the potato and sprinkle with cheese.

5. Grill until top is golden, cut into wedges and serve with anything. www.student365.co.uk

COOKING GUIDE

STORECUPBOARD ESSENTIALS

1

Spices and herbs - Always have a cache of herbs and spices handy to jazz up your dishes. No kitchen would be complete without basil, rosemary, paprika, coriander and curry and chilli powder.

2

Tinned tomatoes – The foundations of pasta sauces, as well as a crucial ingredient in strews, soups and casseroles, tinned tomatoes are a really crucial part of a basic storecupboard.

3

Baked Beans – The ultimate student staple, no university flat or halls kitchen is complete without baked beans. They’re easy to throw on toast for a classic meal, they can also be used in soups and stews, or can even replace kidney beans in chilli.

4

Pasta and rice – Might as well put these two carbohydrates together since they both serve the same purpose – they’re both easy to cook, cheap and the ideal accompaniment to a whole slew of dishes.

5

Tinned Tuna – No ingredient divides a student house like tuna. But for those with even an average liking for the stuff then heed our advice – the fish in a tin is a must for any student. It is a cheap supply of protein and omega 3 that can be thrown into sauces, pasta and sandwiches.

6

Stock Cubes – Speaking of sauces, forget about buying jars of tomato pasta sauce or curry sauce. Instead a simple stock cube – vegetable or chicken – combined with veg, spices, herbs and a tin of tomatoes can create great tasting sauces that are far more nutritious and cheaper.

7

Condiments – Items such as tomato ketchup, HP (or brown!) sauce, mustard, mayonnaise, chilli and soy sauce are all useful in adding flavour and texture to any dish.

8

Tinned Vegetables – Ok so really, tinned veg isn’t as good for you as fresh veg, and frozen veg is likely better, but tinned vegetables are better than no veg at all. And things like peas and sweetcorn are just fine out of a tin and can be heated up in no time.

9

Dried Fruit – Fresh fruit is great and all but it can be expensive to buy produce which quickly gets overripe. Which is why dried fruit, such as raisins and dried apricot, is great for getting an easy daily fruit kick.

10

Olive Oil – OK don’t roll your eyes – a standard bottle of olive oil is fairly cheap these days and as a cooking oil it’s healthy and far more delicious than standard vegetable oils. Or you can just buy some jelly cubes instead, up to you...

Student Paella Preparation time: 20 mins Cooking time: 30 mins Ingredients • 1 onion • 1 red pepper • 1 chicken breast • 125g frozen prawns • 100g chorizo or pepperoni • 100g frozen peas • 2 cloves of garlic • 1/2 tsp tumeric • 1/2 tsp of pimenton or paprika • 1/2 tin chopped tomatoes • 250g Basmati Rice • 600ml of veg or chicken stock

1. Heat oil in a wok, fry the chorizo, onion and peppers for five minutes.

2. Add the chicken, garlic and spices and then, after a minute, add the rice, tomatoes and stock. Stir together throughly.

3. Turn the heat down and simmer the paella for 20 minutes, giving it the odd stir to prevent the rice from sticking.

When the liquid is nearly gone, add the prawns and peas. Cook for about five minutes (or until there is no liquid left).

4. Season with salt and pepper, then cover and leave for 5-10 minutes so the flavours can absorb fully. Then serve up and nom immediately.

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WIN A BREVILLE RADIO TOASTER Great days start with toast and tunes and that’s why you’ll want to get your hands on Breville’s new, and unbelievably handy, Radio Toaster.

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his clever contraption allows you to feed both your appetite for food and music while saving space in the kitchen by doing two crucial jobs at once.

It comes with a built in FM/ AM radio, including ten preset channels, as well as a useful ‘AUX-in’ socket so you can even plug in your MP3 player. It also

boasts two bread slots, and a conveniently removable crumb tray to ensure easy cleaning (phew).

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RECIPES

FOOD

under a fiver

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P Buy ingre dients fro m your loca l ma save yours rket to elf mone y on fresh s tuff!

As a student you want meals cheap as chips and you want them now. But if you eat chips every night, you’ll likely put on a stone in a week. Instead Louise Van Weezel recommends some recipes that cost less than folding money.

Pasta bake is a good, wholehearted meal that’s ideal for serving one, but you can make loads and feast off it for a few days.

Preparation time: 10 mins Cooking time: 25 mins Ingredients • Olive oil (£1.75 for a cheap bottle) • Mug of pasta (30p) • ½ onion peeled and chopped (12p) • ½ tin of chopped tomatoes (25p) • ½ tin of tuna (40p) • 2 tbsps sweetcorn (20p) • Salt and pepper • Handful of grated cheese (20p) Total cost: £3.22 1. Boil water in a saucepan. When boiling, add salt, pasta and continue to boil for ten minutes.

2. While pasta is boiling, throw a glug of oil into a frying pan over a medium heat and then fry the onion until it turns soft.

3. Add chopped tomatoes, tuna and sweetcorn to the frying pan, season with salt and pepper, and let it simmer for ten minutes. If the mixture looks a little dry, add some of the pasta water.

4. Drain the pasta when cooked and pour back in the saucepan. Add the sauce from the frying pan and give it a good stir.

5. Put the pasta mixture into an oven-proof dish. Scatter the cheese over the top and place under grill for five minutes.

6. When the cheese has melted take the dish out, let it cool a little and then dig in.

www.student365.co.uk

ROAST TOMATO AND AUBERGINE SPAGHETTI A light, easy dish which is super nutritious, thanks to the aubergine which can help boost up your immune system.

Preparation time: 5 mins Cooking time: 25 mins Ingredients • Olive oil (£1.75) • ½ aubergine cut into cubes (50p) • ½ courgette sliced (50p) • 4 cherry tomatoes sliced in half (15p) • Handful spaghetti (25p) • Salt • Handful mozzarella sliced into cubes (30p)

SKINT SHEPHERD’S PIE This recipe is cheaper than usual as it uses mutton instead of lamb.

Preparation time: 5 minutes Cooking time: 40 minutes Ingredients • Olive oil (£1.75) • ½ onion peeled and sliced (12p) • 200 grams minced mutton (£1.25) • ½ carrot peeled and cut into small pieces (10p) • 1 large potato peeled and cut into chunks (15p) • 120 millilitres of stock (10p) • Dash of milk • 2 knobs of butter (5p) • Salt and pepper Total cost: £3.52

Total cost: £3.45 1. Preheat oven to 200 C 2. Drizzle oil over a baking tray and add the courgettes, tomatoes and aubergine, coating them in a little bit of oil. Scatter salt and place in preheated oven.

3. After ten minutes bring water to a boil in a saucepan. When boiling add spaghetti and salt. Cook for ten minutes.

4. Drain the spaghetti when cooked, pour it back in the empty saucepan. Take the roasted vegetables from the oven, pour them in the saucepan and mix it together before serving.

1. Preheat oven to 200 C. Bring saucepan with water to the boil.

2. Meanwhile, heat a glug of oil in a frying pan over a medium heat and add onion. Fry it until soft.

3. Crumble the minced mutton into a frying pan, add the carrots.Break the meat into small pieces with a spatula and fry until lightly brown.

4. Water should be boiling so add salt and chopped potato.

5. Pour the stock into the frying pan.

Stir until mixed with the meat and vegetables. Simmer for ten minutes.

6. After ten minutes, check the potatoes. When done, drain and pour them back in saucepan. Add the milk and butter and mash it until light and fluffy. Season. Spoon the meat mixture in a oven-proof dish. Cover the meat mixture with the mashed potato. Place in the preheated oven for 20 minutes.

7. Take out of the oven and dig in.

SAUSAGE AND BEAN STEW A hearty stew that’s easy and cheap to make. If you have a local market, you’ll likely get great sausages cheaper than at the supermarket. It is perfect served with boiled or mashed potato.

Preparation time: 10 mins Cooking time: 15 mins Ingredients • Olive oil (£1.75) • ½ onion peeled and chopped (12p) • 1 clove of garlic chopped (5p) • 1 spoonful tomato puree (5p) • 2 sausages (50p) • ½ tin tomatoes (25p) • ¼ tin red kidney beans drained and rinsed (25p) • ½ tin mixed vegetables drained and rinsed (25p) • 100 millilitres of veg stock (10p) • Big pinch of oregano • Salt and pepper Total cost: £3.32 1. Set the grill to medium and heat oil in a saucepan on medium heat.

Add chopped onion and garlic. Fry until soft.

2. Add the tomato puree and mix well. Chuck in the chopped tomatoes, kidney beans, mixed vegatables and stock. Mix well.

3. Pop the sausages under the grill.

Keep turning them until they are completely cooked. While doing this keep stirring the stew.

4. Add the oregano, salt and pepper to the stew and stir well. Pour onto plate and serve with sausages on top. Enjoy!

Recipe’s taken from Student Cookbook For Dummies

PASTA BAKE TUNA STYLE

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STAY ON TOP FORM WITH NURISHMENT! It’s not always easy being a student. With work pressures and late nights to juggle, it’s little wonder you sometimes find yourself running on empty.

F

ortunately, Nurishment can offer the perfect solution! There’s a reason why it’s the nation’s number one nutritionally enriched milk drink – this tasty beverage can provide a convenient boost whenever you need it most.

Containing protein plus selected minerals and vitamins, Nurishment can restore some of the vitamins and minerals your hectic schedule takes out. And let’s face it, right now your mum is probably worrying about you – at least now when she rings to ask if you’re eating well you can tell the truth without scaring the life out of her!

Plus, it’s delicious! We know you’ve probably eaten some slightly peculiar snacks during your time as a student (noodles on toast, anyone?), so why not try a filling stop-gap that actually tastes good? It won’t set you back much either – Nurishment starts from just 99p, so it’s as good for your wallet as it is for you!

There’s even a choice of formats: Nurishment Original, in its iconic can, is available in seven flavours: chocolate, strawberry, banana, vanilla, raspberry, cherry and now mango, recently reintroduced due to popular demand.

Nurishment Extra, available in chocolate,

strawberry, vanilla and banana flavours, is served in a lightweight 310ml bottle – it’s perfect for drinking on the go as you rush to your next lecture or even before a night out.

Nurishment is a great companion for exercise, too – and we don’t just mean running to the bar. Thanks to its long list of nutritious ingredients, it’s great for replenishing lost energy after a workout – just pop a can or bottle in your gym bag for a refreshing, convenient means of topping up those lost minerals.

University life can take its toll, but there’s no need to let your busy schedule get the better of you. Amidst the partying and working, make sure you take some time to relax and let your body recover – and with the help of a refreshing Nurishment, you’ll be raring to go again in no time!

Scan to access Nurishment website

For more information visit www.nurishment.co.uk

WIN!

EAR SATISFYING IPOD CLASSIC!

Our friends at Nurishment are offering you the chance to win a fantastic iPod Classic so you can gorge on entertainment on the move.

With a whopping 160GB of storage, this sleek and deceptively small marvel is like a tardis of music - it holds 40,000 songs, 200 hours of video or 25,000 photos. That’s enough to carry your entire music collection around with you and keep a day - or a lifetime’s - worth of entertainment. Its all-metal enclosure of tough anodized aluminium and stainless steel means your precious cargo is protected from any bumps and bangs. And it even plays games, with three already preloaded and more available at the iTunes Store.

To be in with a chance of winning this must-have on-the-move kit simply log onto student365.co.uk and follow the links through to the competitions section.

10

UTENSILS 1) MY KITCHEN STICK BLENDER; £29.99

KITCHEN MUST HAVES

Steve Albini, legendary producer of Nirvana’s ‘In Utero’, said: “How did people make soup before stick blenders? They are the absolute stone cold nuts.” Go ahead, google it– he really did say it! lakeland.co.uk

cook

FOR LESS

2) BREVILLE RADIO TOASTER; £33.99

With budget kitchen kit, you can still create culinary miracles.

3) LAKELAND STAY-PUT CHOPPING BOARDS; £29.99

Chopping boards are a necessity.

Getting two or three is a good idea so you don’t mix your meat, greens and fish. These ones have antimicrobial protection to help ensure they’ll be no hygiene problems while you chop. lakeland.co.uk

5) MAGNETIC SPICE RACK; £14.99

Now, unless you like your food bland, insipid and also tasteless, you’re going to want to get loaded up with a range of spices.

Once you get them, this magnetic spice rack means all your taste enhancers are close at hand. lazyboneuk.com

6) PYRA IKEA WOK; £2.69

There’s nowt better than listening to tunes while your toast grills; grab this radio toaster to discover why. amazon.co.uk

4) COOKWORKS STAINLESS STEEL KETTLE; £22.99;

Without a kettle how will you make copious cups of tea and Pot Noodles? When you get yours, why not splurge on something a bit nicer than your standard plastic monstrosity with this red boil machine. argos.co.uk

A wok is a must-have item. Check out this PYRA wok from Ikea which is no-frills, but does everything you need it to. ikea.co.uk

9) PEPPERMEISTER PEPPER GRINDER; £14.99; FIREBOX.COM

Pepper is great. Fresh ground pepper dispensed from a beer bottle is even better, try this Peppermeister grinder to find out why. firebox.com

7) ESSENTIALS MICROWAVE OVEN; £29.99

Students need microwaves – it allows the worst cooks to make something hot and heats up leftovers in seconds. dixons.co.uk

8) IKEA SLIPAD KNIFE BLOCK; £11.29

Having good, sharp knives in all sizes is crucial.

This brilliant block set features five knives in different sizes, and colours at a great price. ikea.co.uk

www.student365.co.uk

10) PIECE KITCHEN ESSENTIAL STARTER SET

If you fancy getting all your fiddly kitchen bits and pieces into one place, then a starter set is how to do it. This 20 piece set features cutlery, knives, pans, pots, baking sheets and useful essentials such as a bottle opener and tin opener argos.co.uk

Advertisement Feature

HEAT UP AN

EASY

FEAST!

Impress your new mates with quick, filling and warming dishes even if you’ve never cooked before!

When you come in from the cold after a night out or fireworks party, you and your new fresher friends will be cold and hungry. With Ye Olde Oak hamburgers you can serve up a warm, tasty and filling dish that’s ready almost in the same time that it took your sparklers to go out!

NEW LIKE YOU

Ye Olde Oak hamburgers are new on the food scene.

In each 300g tin, you’ll find two juicy hamburgers in onion gravy that taste and smell delicious. So eating well and sharing them with your mates won’t wreck your budget.

FUN LIKE YOU

When you’re cooking with them, you don’t need to just wop then in a boring old bun either. You can do all sorts of other things with them. Serve them with mash on the side, or maybe a salad. And if you fancy some baking, pop them in an oven-proof dish, add potatoes and cheese and you’ve got yourself a pie!

Whatever you do with them, Ye Olde Oak hamburgers are a cupboard must-have – versatile, fun, quick and delicious!

WI N !

GET OFF THE BUNS! If you plan to use your Ye Olde Oak hamburger as a filling, don’t just stick to buns. Try the following: Lay it on a pizza base: paste tomato puree and gravy on the base, scatter cheese and pieces of burger. Bellissima!

Lay it on ciabatta: add cheese, tomato, and, of course, your burger and then just grill to thrill. Scrummy!

Lay it on pitta bread: sprinkle water on the pitta, add the burger and gravy plus a little curry powder. Pukka!

A RUSSELL HOBBS 'MINI KITCHEN'!

Whether when making a proper meal or simply warming up a slice of old pizza found behind the sofa, the microwave is a kitchen must-have.

But what if there was a microwave that also featured two hotplates and acts as an all-in-one kitchen gem? ‘That’s crazy!’ I hear you cry - but it exists. And we have one of them to give away.

The Russell Hobbs ‘Mini Kitchen’ is a tiny marvel, with it’s microwave capabilities and two hotplates on top for grilling, roasting, baking, frying and boiling. To win just log-on to www.student365.co.uk and follow the links through to the competition section, where entry details can be found. Tasty.

Like us on Facebook! www.facebook.com/yeoldeoakhotdogchallenge

Ye Olde Oak, for happy hungry folk!

FOOD

Snack

Attack!

Hungry, starving, absolutely dying for a quick bite that won’t break the bank but will hit the spot in a flash?

Well we’ve rated some of the UK’s best snack products below, so you’ll never be caught hungry again...

PRINCES HOT POT MACARONI CHEESE Easy, cheap, tasty. Nuke it in the microwave for a few minutes and then – PING- it's done. Plus you can easily posh it up a little by stirring in cooked meat, fish, veg or herbs. Versatile and filling.

KP NUTTY NIBBLES This snack hits on an ingenious idea - why choose between nuts, biscuit and chocolate when you can have all three at the same time? Which is why this grab-bag of snackery contains all three - KP nuts, chocolate pieces and hob-nob biscuits. Fortunately they all work well together too.

MCCAIN MICRO PIZZA What is more tasty than a cheeky, cheesy slice of pizza? This one from McCain is perfect for a snack and only needs a few minutes in the microwave.

It's lovely on its own or served with a little salad on the side. But be careful - it’s addictive.

MCCAIN CHEESE & HAM TOASTIE

WIRED ENERGY BAR When knackered you’ll probably reach for a can of Red Bull or a coffee, but this oaty curiousity claims to do just the save thing, except in food form. Containing caffeine and taurine, it’s berry flavoured and does offer an energy jolt when you need it most.

MULLER RICE INDULGE Made with real whipped cream, this new range of deserts aim to make rice pudding just that bit more opulent. Quite nice and fairly inexpensive but it’s still just rice pudding.

www.student365.co.uk

WORDS: Louise Van Weezel; Ciaran McCauley

This is a new snack from McCain who appear to be moving from frozen chips into stuff with cheese on it. It ain't too bad, minute and a half in the microwave and it's done. If you want a toastie in no time then it does the job.

SNACKS

RUSTLERS HOT CHICKEN SALSA WRAP If you’re the kind of person who demands a vaguely warm sandwich, which tastes vaguely great (exponentially great if you’re hungover) and is ready in one solitary minute, then Rustlers is pretty much exactly what you’re looking for.

Simple, easy, tastes great.

LOW FAT SWEET THAI SUPER NOODLES Super Noodles is the perennial snack for the hard-up student – with two slices of toast it’s pretty much a daily dinner. However for those looking for something a bit less indulgent, this low fat variety will allow you to noodle-up while remaining guilt free.

JAFFA CAKE MINIS Are they cakes or are they biscuits? The debate will rage on, but in the meantime be careful with these deceptively addictive little gems – if you’re not cautious you’ll end up scoffing a whole bag in less time than it takes to boil the kettle.

DON’T THROW YOUR TOYS OUT OF

THE PRAM...

WORDS: Louise Van Weezel; Ciaran McCauley

Feeling fresher frustration? Well, you’re not alone & luckily there’s some much-needed knowledge right at your fingertips, with the range of For Dummies guides.

STUDENT COOKBOOK FOR DUMMIES Consider the kitchen more alien than a James Cameron movie? Then this tasty number is filled with tips, advice and delicious (and easy) recipes. Get stuck in.

STUDY SKILLS FOR DUMMIES Revise your revision plan with this fool-proof guide to memorising those crucial facts and need-to-know knowledge.

WRITING A DISSERTATION FOR DUMMIES Dissertations are intimidating so dissect them with this step-by-step guide to putting together a thesis masterpiece.

WRITING ESSAYS FOR DUMMIES Essays can be nightmarish but you can have sweet dreams of essay success thanks to this guide which gives make or break essay advice. No problem!

PASSING EXAMS FOR DUMMIES No need to sweat those examining times.Take the tried and tested advice of this guide and be on your way to a firstclass degree.

AND IF THAT wasn’t enough, For Dummies are giving away the five books on the left as well as a 32GB iPod Touch, perfect for loading up with uni tunes, ebooks and apps. Plus five runners up will receive a set of the books too. So log on to student365.co.uk and enter through the competitions section – it’s easy, dummy.

FRESH DIRECTION AUTUMN 2011 54 55

FOOD & DRINK

LOCAL BREWS

THE UNITED

DRINK-DOM Our guide to Booze Britain shows you the local bevvies students are quaffing back around the UK.

GLASGOW Drink: Buckfast Tonic Wine Why? Quite why a sweet, highly caffinated tonic wine with the consistency of cough syrup and tar has reached such cult status is a bit of a mystery. Popular with students in Northern Ireland too, its combo of caffeine and alcohol is enduringly popular and keeps the Benedictine Monks who make it rolling in profit.

EDINBURGH Drink: Whisky and Coke Why? Scots demand their whisky be drunk straight up and unpolluted by water or ice. So what do students do? They take a shot, drop a load of coke in it and sink the lot. Scots are not happy.

NEWCASTLE Drink: Brown Ale Why? A pint of the ‘Broon’ is the drink of choice on Tyneside.

Associated with traditional working class traditions and values, the ale is also a favourite of middle class students who drink it just to fit in.

MANCHESTER

BELFAST

Drink: Snakebite And Black (cider, lager and blackcurrant) Why? This purple concoction is suitable for hardy Manc students and a perfect liquid accompaniment to dancing like a maniac when Blue Monday gets played at the indie disco.

Drink: Belfast Car Bomb (Guinness with a shot of Irish whiskey and Irish cream liquor) Why? The name refers to Belfast’s, eh, colourful history and this powerful combo of Irish tipples will give you an explosive stomach at the least.

Drink: Crunk Juice (brandy and Red Bull) Why? Made famous by hip-hop stars, crunk juice is popular in the urban environs of Birmingham where students aspire to a more blinging lifestyle by taking perfectly good booze and poisoning it with energy drink.

LIVERPOOL Drink: Cheeky Vimto (mixture of blue alcopop and port) Why? Yes, in god’s name why?!

Well, as many students will respond, why not? Like many odd cocktails, it’s surprisingly tasty and is a big hit on Merseyside, as its mix of ruby red port and blue alcopop represent the perfect marriage of football rivals Everton and Liverpool. Possibly.

CARDIFF Drink: Fat Frog Why? The double F is a perennial student favourite, although calling it a ‘cocktail’ is overstating things; it’s just three different coloured alcohops mixed together to produce a lurid green and tooth rottingly sweet punch. Those Welsh merrymakers, however, like their booze by the jugful and the Fat Frog’s extra sugar gives them the energy to sing anti-English songs well into the night.

www.student365.co.uk

LONDON BRISTOL Drink: Cider Why? Out in the West Country, cider is king.

And that’s your proper scrumpy - not any of that usual cold-filtered, fizzy, faux orange stuff, but rather the kind of homepressed apple-o-hol so strong it could put you on the floor quicker than an Amir Khan right cross.

Drink: Gin & Tonic Why? London Dry Gin is the world’s most renowned kind of gin, so it’s natural the drink should represent the nation’s capital. Plus the drink may deliver an effervescent, fruity taste but it’s also expensive and leaves a stunning hangover – a bit like the city itself.

PHOTOS via Flickr: Smiley Stew; NeilT; sassface; jekortgwapo; Katielips; Bethany Ann Khan; [puamelia]; MrTimDC; IDon’tKnowMaybe; Abby Leigh.

BIRMINGHAM

for t he f l cu drinkawareocoouk

201~)ey UK milea all '!lilts rlt~

PieoM dnn~ respoIl$lbIy

TRIPLE FILTREE

-_. with a smooth outcome _.-

ACCOMMODATION

HALLS OR HOUSE?

ACCOM-MOTION

Moving to new digs can be a stressful affair, with new environs, new rooms and new neighbours. But whether you’re hitting halls or going private, Charli Plant has all the advice you need to ensure any university move goes smooth.

M

oving into university digs is a daunting yet exciting prospect. If you’re a fresher, then it’s very likely you’re moving into halls – and that can be a nervy proposition.

Moreover if you’re moving into a private house or flats, suddenly you have to deal with landlords, repairs and utility bills – and probably for the first time too. Most students will encounter both these accommodation arrangements while at university and both have advantages and disadvantages – so we’ve got some helpful advice and tips to ensure a smooth transition into wherever you’re moving. deck the halls Moving into halls means one thing – independence. When my parents dropped me off to start college, and helped me lift all my stuff and unpack into my new room before leaving, it hit me hard that suddenly I was on my own. It is both a thrilling

Keep both your door and your mind open - doing this will encourage social situations and people will see you as approachable and open and unnerving experience. But the main thing to remember about halls is that it is important to keep both your mind and your door open. Both will encourage social situations and allow people to see you as approachable. After all the biggest advantage of halls living is the opportunity to develop new friendships.

Who your next door neighbours are is down to fate, and sometimes they may be people you have nothing in common with.

This means the first few days of halls life www.student365.co.uk

can feel forced, as everybody attempts to forge some sort of friendship, but it doesn’t have to be that way. The key is to make a real effort to engage with people outside of your immediate circle.

Listen to someone who knows Southampton University graduate Bethan Jones, 22, says: “Be really bold – we got a group together, knocked on people’s doors and said ‘hey, this is our corridor, nice to meet you’. Our open mindedness opened up avenues of friendship and broke the ice. For all you know, your best friend for life could be in the room next door – so go find out.”

There is an immense amount of pressure during Fresher Week to be out partying

non-stop, but you do have a few years at university to have fun – so don’t peak to early! Instead spare some time to settle into your new lifestyle such as by customising your room with home comforts. It could be anything from photos of loved one’s, to cards or even a wind chime (a personal favourite). It’s a way of displaying a taste of your individuality and encouraging talking points if anyone drops in.

And a final tip for all those heading to halls this autumn – go there prepared with all the essentials. It’s not a good idea to be the person who is constantly asking people to borrow x, y and z. Moreover you don’t want to be wasting valuable social time

...time to find a new place to live? visit: accommodationforstudents.com PRIVATE HOUSES

HOUSEMATES

FREE CD Wow voucher! £25 off travel with STA Travel and a chance to win great prizes including Xbox Kinect and table football.

Register today to start your search

www.accommodationforstudents.com * terms and conditions apply, visit www.accommodationforstudents.com for t&c’s

PRIVATE HALLS

ACCOMMODATION

trying to find out the nearest place that sells hand soap and loo roll.

GOING PRIVATE Going private, in some ways, is even more daunting than living in halls. That is because sharing living space with other people in private accommodation inevitably means having disagreements on varying scales. So a key piece of advice when moving into a house or flat is bring a fair amount of tolerance with you as housemates, no matter how lovely and considerate, will get on your nerves sooner or later. So be prepared.

On the flip side, however, the independence of private accommodation is a step-up from halls – having your own place means more space, more privacy and not being confined to just one room.

However with great freedom comes great

‘LET’ IT BE Worried about landlords not returning your deposit? Well a new iPhone app can help.

Let, created by Imfuma, allows users to create an instant inventory of items in a house, as well as document its condition via photos and notes, so you can be protected should your landlord make a claim against you. The information is date and time recorded and stored on your app, where users can edit it to produce a professional report that will stand up in court if necessary. Let offers overall peace of mind in case your landlord tries to pull a fast one.

The app is available now for iPhones, priced £2.99, from iTunes and imfuma.co.uk.

www.student365.co.uk

HALLS OR HOUSE?

Be tolerant of housemates - no matter how lovely they will get on your nerves at some point responsibility – monthly bills such as rent and utilities, extra cleaning and making sure the property is secure from intruders are all important and require you to take charge.

It is especially important to be safety aware when moving into a property. Simon Thompson, director at Accommodation For Students (accommodationforstudents. com) started the website in 2000 while at university, having experienced first hand the

problems of finding decent digs. “Landlords have a legal obligation to provide tenants with a copy of the gas safety certificate so ask for one and check for working smoke and carbon monoxide alarms,” he advises.

Moreover private living can be expensive so find ways to save money. “It may seem like a fuss, but shopping around for energy suppliers or WiFi providers can provide considerable savings,” says Thompson. It’s also very important you make sure to insure any important gadgetry such as laptops or mobile phones. Endsleigh Insurance (endsliegh.co.uk) specialise in providing student insurance and are recommended by the NUS. If you insure your laptop or phone with them, Endsleigh guarantee you a replacement within 24 hours.

(LAND)LORD HAVE MERCY However the main difference between halls and private living is dealing with a landlord. So know your rights. For example, if there is a problem with the house then contact them immediately to fix it. Bethan Jones, a graduate, advises being tenacious: “One year I had a terrible landlord, we had to ring him multiple times to get something done. But don’t be afraid to be persistent because sometimes they can take advantage of you being inexperienced in these matters.”

And ultimately you must respect their property, rules and contract – do this and there will be no problems when it comes to claiming back your rental deposit when you move out. 

USEFUL WEBSITES

• bigyellow.co.uk

A secure place to store your belongings during the holidays, offering 25% storage discount.

They can even help arrange van hire to transport your gear from storage to your house.

• yougofurther.co.uk

A useful forum which allows students from across the UK to chat with each other prior to moving into university. Ideal for picking up local tips when moving house.

• accommodationforstudents.com

This website helps find prospective housemates by allowing groups of friends to advertise individual rooms or students to advertise their own room. It includes personal profiles with a unique, and potentially relationship-ending, ‘rate my mate’ feature.

• endsleigh.co.uk

With students being prime targets for thieves, get over to this site for all you need to know about student insurance cover.

• nus.org.uk

Find out about all the useful discounts and savings with this handy student discount card (see p.62)

• studentrecipes.com

Stuck for ideas of what to cook? This website includes a variety of recipes and meals uploaded by other students.

• studentswapshop.co.uk

Save serious money by bartering with other students across the country, or in your region, for everything from DVDs to textbooks.

WE MAKE A STRONG CASE FOR STUDENT STORAGE Here’s how it works: 

ELL WE S AND S E BOX AGING K PAC ERIALS MAT OO! T









Call us on 0800 011 4688 and pre-book your storage case.

We deliver a tough 180ltr storage case to your halls the week before you leave.

You pack your stuff inside, seal with security tag provided and confirm a timeslot for pick up.

We collect and store the case at our secure storage facility over the holidays.

You book a time slot for re-delivery to your hall on your return and a time for us to re-collect the empty case.

THE COST?

for pick-up, secure storage and re-delivery to your door.

CALL FREE - 0800 011 4688

to check on delivery slots for your halls

www.thestudentcase.co.uk A storage case not for you? We also rent standard storage rooms with a 25% discount for students. Book a room.

Bring your stuff down to us. Only pay for the time you stay.

Best value guaranteed.

FIND US

Malden Crescent, Chalk Farm, Camden NW1 2 mins Roundhouse Theatre 4 mins Chalk Farm Tube

SHOPPING

MART! SHOP S nt deal?

e reat stud Know a g et us know on Tell us! L ’s Facebook 65 Student 3 itter pages. w and T

NO pain, no O

ne of the fab things about being a student is that you get discounts and savings on some top products that your friends, in full time employment, have to pay full whack for. But to get these you’ll often need to prove that you a student. And to do this you need an NUS Extra Card.

EXTRA-ORDINARY

It’s reckoned that on average, students can save over £500 a year if they shop using their NUS Extra Card. The Card can be bought online and costs £11. To find out more about the card and grab a computer and go to nus.org.uk/en/NUS-Extra.

Your own university student card should also let you access discounts in local and www.student365.co.uk

national stores, so make sure you always have keep it handy.

ON THE HIGH STREET

If you’re shopping, take a good look at what the stores have to offer students. Lots of them offer students the standard 10 per cent off, but loads of them offer all sorts of other savings too. Here we round up some of the best deals to be found on the high street, but whatever you do, don’t forget to take your NUS Extra Card and student card with you!

DRESS FOR LESS

This term TOPSHOP and TOPMAN will be hosting special student nights where students can purchase 10 per cent

off discounted products, find other items with even bigger discounts and, in some cases, nab themselves some freebies to boot!

Miss Selfridge are another with a discount - they’re offering 20 per cent. And Peacocks are also giving students 20 per cent off all items throughout September.

Some stores are also hosting student nights which provide university goers with a fantastic opportunity to grab some great, cheap deals.

If it’s sports gear that you fancy then you need to head to JJB Sports, who are offering 10 per cent off everything you need to look the business – whether you’re toning up at the gym or spraying passes on the football pitch.

PHOTO: IStockphoto. Via Flickr: Mosseby; Ewan-M; Ian Muttoo; Living In Monrovia; Sarchi.

You may have to put in the extra effort but if you know where to look you can save

STUDENT BARGAINS

Everything a student needs, from just £149.99

OVER 80 ITEMS, 4 ROOMS

WHILST S TO C K L ASTS!!!

3 PIECE SAUCEPAN SET // FRYING PAN // DINNER PLATE // SIDE PLATE // SOUP/CEREAL BOWL // MUG // CUTLERY SET // GLASSES // SHOT GLASSES // 4 PIECE UTENSIL SET CHEFS KNIFE SET // WOODEN SPOON // PIZZA CUTTER // BOTTLE OPENER // TIN OPENER PEELER // SCISSORS // COLANDER // MEASURING JUG // SCOURER // CHOPSTICKS J CLOTHS // T TOWEL // BIN LINERS // OVEN GLOVE // BAKING TRAY // RE-SEALABLE BOXES // CHEESE GRATER // CHOPPING BOARD // THERMAL MUG

2 HOLE PUNCH // A4 LINED PADS // SCIENTIFIC CALCULATOR // DOCUMENT WALLETS BINDER // A4 DIVIDERS // 11/12 DIARY // CALENDAR // UNISAK WALL PLANNER // ERASER HIGHLIGHTERS // EXERCISE BOOK PAPER CLIPS // 4-WAY EXTENSION CABLE // STICKY NOTES // RULER // ADHESIVE // TAPE // STAPLER & STAPLES // PENCILS // PENCIL CASE BALLPOINT PENS // TIP-EX // HEADPHONES

DUVET // DUVET COVER // 1 PILLOW // PILLOW CASE // DUVET COVER // FITTED SHEET COAT HANGERS // DOOR STOP // ALARM CLOCK

BATH TOWEL // HAND TOWEL // FACE CLOTH // WASH BAG // TOOTHBRUSH 20ML TOOTHPASTE // SOAP // SPONGE // TOILET ROLL

BAR-GAIN a ton of cash while still shopping up a storm writes Jessica Hopper.

PHOTO: IStockphoto. Via Flickr: Mosseby; Ewan-M; Ian Muttoo; Living In Monrovia; Sarchi.

KEEP IT CLEAN

And if you find you spill some red wine on your dry clean only togs or can’t get a hard to shift stain out, then make your next port of call Johnson’s Dry Cleaners.

Take your items into one of their branches and they’ll give you up to 20 per cent off your dry cleaning. They even have a wash, iron and fold service available if you’re feeling extra lazy or need to fool some relatives into thinking you really are good at ironing!

you a fantastic £72 over a 24 month period. If you’ve got your eye on a new mobile, then consider the pay-as-yougo Samsung Galaxy Mini. Show 3 your NUS card and you’ll get 10 per cent off when you top up with £15.

And if you need mobile broadband you get a special deal on that two. For example, with an 18 month contract you can get 5GB of broadband for just £11.99 a month, which can save you £71.82 over the length of the contract.

holders 10 per cent off all products in store. So you can treat yourself to some new toiletries as well as the painkillers.

STUDY IN STYLE

If you’re looking for a new computer to start your studies, and opt for an Apple Mac desktop or laptop, you can save a whopping 15 per cent, thanks to the company’s education discounts. Available to any student, it’s perfect for gearing up the university term.

STAY IN TOUCH

Already well known for selling some of the cheapest phones around, 3 are offering students some fabulous deals. With an NUS Card you can get £3 off your monthly bill – saving

NO PAIN, NO GAIN

CHEAP NIGHT OUT

If you’re in need of a cure for Fresher’s flu, or something to kill off the hangover from hell, then get yourself down to Superdrug who will give NUS card

If it’s Wednesday night and you’ve got nothing to do, or maybe you just want to avoid that massive assignment, why not get yourself down to your local cinema FRESH DIRECTION AUTUMN 2011 62 63

XXXXXX SHOPPING

STUDENT BARGAINS

where Orange customers can get themselves two tickets for the price of one. Simply text ‘FILM’ to 241 from any Orange phone and show your code when buying a ticket.

If you’re not with Orange, then Odeon cinemas can help you out. They offer NUS Extra Card holders 25 per cent off student tickets so you can see the latest release for just £4.69. Alternatively, Cineworld cinemas offer NUS card holders a Cineworld Unlimited Card for £14.99 a month for 12 months and, just because you’re a student, they’ll give you an additional month absolutely free!

Plus you’re going to need a bite to eat so why not head down to your local Pizza Express, show them your NUS Extra Card and get 20 per cent off your bill every day except Fridays and Saturdays.

IN THE DRIVING SEAT

Is your old banger of a car falling to pieces and in need of fixing up? Head down to your local ATS garage and receive 10 per cent off all products and services. ATS will get you back on the road so you can drive straight back to the high street and grab yourself more discounted items.

ONLINE VOUCHERS AND DEALS

Ever wondered if you can grab yourself some deals whilst surfing the internet?

We’ve found some of the best sites out there that offer you money off discounts or buy one get one free (BOGOF) vouchers.

FOR STUDENT EYES ONLY

Dedicated to students, student365.co.uk, is a website filled to brim with vouchers, offers and competitions. Here you can find money off deals on anything from energy drinks to clothing as well as great prizes including free travel to Europe. This is the kind of shopping we like. Likewise studentdiscounts.co.uk offers thousands

of discounts on anything from finance to utilities. There’s a handy cashback service too. However to use this website, you need to buy a card from the site. It costs £5, but you can get it for free if you have a student current account with RBS or Natwest.

VOUCHING FOR YOU

Groupon (groupon.co.uk) lets you view the best offers in the city you live with vouchers offering up to 70 per cent off available online. With offers spanning 56 cities to choose from and hundreds of discounts on shopping as well as local entertainment, there’s bound to be something that will float your boat.

Similarly vouchercodes.com, as the name suggests, specialises in non-stop voucher codes and money-off deals. It also lets you

Shops don’t always advertise a student discount but always ask for one instore anyway. search for particular discounts and provides a handy tag telling you if the offer is still valid so you don’t get any false hopes.

Moreover moneysavingexpert.com, set up by financial expert Martin Lewis, does exactly what it says in its URL – saves you cash. The website is busy but sign up to the weekly emails and you’ll be sent offers right to your inbox. The website also has a forum where users can share deals, vouchers and shopping experiences.

MAKING THE MOST OF IT

So now you know where to nab your discounts and vouchers, why not make

BARGAIN HUNTERS UNITE! Get the best discounts - and even lots of free stuff - by following these easy tips.

1 Become a Freegan Raid supermarket bins for perfectly good produce after dark - but be careful, some stores don’t like it!

2 Haggle Most shops will offer a minimum of 10 per cent off an item so try your hand.

To try and get a better deal on your phone contract, tell them you’ve found a cheaper

www.student365.co.uk

contract and they may reduce their prices. Always be polite to get the best deal though.

3 Freecycling Have some old clothes or gadgets you want to get rid of?

Then host a swapping party and trade old phones, clothes and more.

4 Oggle at offers Whether it’s BOGOF or two for

the price of one offers, if you shop with a friend you can try to take advantage and save money together.

5 If all else fails-ask the parents!

Sainsbury’s supermarkets sell meal cards where parents can top up money onto their own card and transfer it to their child’s student card, so they can access it on their weekly shop.

the most of them by following these top shopping tips.

Shops don’t always advertise a student discount. Go by the phrase ‘Shy kids get nothing’ - ask the person behind the till if student discounts are offered. If they’re not, nothing has been lost and if they are you, then you can save and spread the word to fellow students.

Also don’t be scared to ask for a discount on damaged stock. Just take the item to a member of staff and politely ask if you can have it for a cheaper price. You’ll often find retailers will knock a bit off, so just ask.

And most importantly, always remember your NUS Extra Card and student card! If you get to the till and find you don’t have them you’ll be kicking yourself. It’s no card, no discount – so make sure you never leave home without. 

DAY-TO-DAY DISCOUNTS! Below, we’ve put together a list of essentials you can get but at a snip of the recommended price!

Topshop scoopneck tank top £8 each or 2 for £10 Student discount: 10% You Pay: £9.00 Topman classic crew shirt £7 each or 2 for £12 Student discount: 10% You Pay: £10.80 Play.com Beyonce ‘4’ CD £7.99 Student discount: 5% You Pay: £7.44 Play.com Hardfi CD £7.99 Student discount: 5% You Pay: £7.44 Ryman refill pad with 200pgs £1.49 Student discount: 12.5% You Pay: £1.30 Odeon Cinema ticket £6.25 Student discount: 25% You Pay: £4.69 Pizza Express Classic American £8.95 One bottle of Aspalls cider £3.95 Total: £12.90 Student discount: 20% You Pay: £10.32 Railcard: £28 Discount with NUS Card 11% You Pay: £24.92 Total Saving: £10.32

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PAIR OF I-MEGO HEADPHONES

Winning one of these great prizes is just a click away!

To be in with a chance of winning, log onto student365.com and follow the links through to the Competitions section for full entry details.

Remember - the judge’s decision is final and no correspondence will be entered into.

Fresh Direction has teamed up with i-Mego to offer the chance to win one of three pairs of its noise-cancelling Walker Junior headphones.

Worth £100, they keep out unwanted background noise for superior sound quality in any environment.

WIN! ENERGEL PENS

While they won’t write your essays for you, EnerGel pens from Pentel will make writing neatly easier. That’s because the smooth flowing, acid-free ink dries quickly, which reduces the risk of your hand smudging across the paper and making a mess of your work. We’ve got over 100 of these write-on pens to be won - but be quick, the competition is sure to be fierce!

WIN! THE NEW HIS AND HERS BOARD GAME

There are ten His and Hers games to be won.

If you’re one of the lucky winners, then expect to have some hilarious nights in. The game, worth £32.99, lets you learn how the opposite sex ticks. The gals answer questions about what the men in their lives know… and the guys try to work out things which women take in their stride. Gender-battling fun guaranteed!

WIN! A TERM’S SUPPLY OF MARLEY’S MELLOW MOOD

WIN! 10 WOWEE SPEAKER UNITS

WIN! HUGE AND STYLISH EASTPAK BAGS

Need something to keep your stuff in? Then you’ll want to park your bits in a sturdy and stylish Eastpak bag. There are three sets of bags to win, with each set including a Camo Container holdall and a black Padded Pak’r backpack. And if you’re a lucky winner, expect your bags to last forever as it comes with an awesome 30 year guarantee!

www.student365.co.uk

Whether you’re sitting around halls or reliving the highlights of fresher week, WOWee speakers will give you the ultimate sound experience.

WOWee ONE CLASSIC is a compact portable speaker unit that can connect to most consoles including your iPod, iPad, mp3 and mobile phone.

Put the speakers on almost any surface and literally feel the bass!

And we’ve got 10 of these fantastic sound units to give away!

What with parties, lectures, sports and well, more parties, life at uni can be stressful!

Well, fear not, we’ve teamed up with our friends at Marley’s Mellow Mood relaxation drinks to make sure you stay chilled out.

Made with a blend of all natural botanicals, Marley’s Mellow Mood is available as two tasty 355ml sodas (Citrus / Berry) and as a refreshing Peach, Raspberry & Passion Fruit iced tea. Plus the drinks are made by the company founded by the family of Bob Marley himself. Enter now to win a term’s supply of theses seriously chilled liquids.

WIN! A SONY VAIO C SERIES LAPTOP WITH WINDOWS 7

WIN! ESSENTIAL PNY MEMORY DRIVES

As the new academic year kicks off, don’t get left behind without a place to keep your digital data. We’re offering 10 students the chance to win both a Compact Attaché™ 8GB USB Flash Drive and a 16GB SDHC Class 10 Professional, courtesy of PNY! The Compact Attaché can store up to 2500 songs and doesn’t need a protective cap thanks to its simple sliding design. The SDHC card is ideal for both action photos and HD video, making sure you keep those student memories alive.

Prizes don’t get much better than this!

Microsoft are giving one lucky student an outstanding prize, a stylish laptop perfectly suited to student life.

Part of ‘The Collection from Windows 7’, a selection of laptop’s specially designed to suit individual needs and lifestyle. So whether its surfing online or studying hard, this laptop will do the business!

© 2011 Columbia Pictures Industries, Inc. All Rights Reserved.

WIN! BLU-RAY PLAYER AND BAD TEACHER!

To celebrate the release of hilarious hit comedy Bad Teacher (out on 31 October), Fresh Direction and Sony are offering one lucky winner the chance to win a Blu-ray player and copy of the film. Plus five runners up will also receive a Blu-ray copy of the movie. Perfect for lazy nights in.

WIN! A BOOST PARTY PACK

Get the party off to an energy fuelled start with this ultimate fun-filled prize. We’ve got 10 packs to give away containing plenty of BOOST energy drink plus loads of other stuff to slap brains awake and keep the party going until the early hours.

FRESH DIRECTION AUTUMN 2011 66 67

FASHION

E L Y T S R I E H STEAL T Get Pixie’s look for a pinch of the price with these little highstreet helpers.

This polkadot headband adds a bit of 50’s glam.

Headband, £12; Accessorize

Or you could always add a necklace.

Neclace, £15; Accessorize

Rock a smart casual with a sheer shirt for any occasion.

White Shirt, £26; Next

Add a bit of sparkle to Pixie’s outfit with a sequined collar.

Collar £35; Biba at House of Fraser

e Buy thes now!

Black shorts - perfect for any occasion.

Black Lace Shorts, £35; Lipsy

Pixie breaks the rules by taking a clutch bag out in the daytime, but she works it!

Black Clutch Bag, £10; Matalan

www.student365.co.uk

Always practical and always stylish, the brogue is a fashion must have.

Black Brogues, £16; Matalan

PIXIE LOTT

PHOTOS: Rex Features

Want to add a different look to the outfit?

Then grab this belt.

Belt, £18; River Island

it on the XXXXXX t an w t bu s on ic e yl st p the UK’s to Want the look of some of e lowdown on just how... th u yo ve gi nn Pi se ui cheap? Then let Lo

Get Olly’s dapper look with ease on the highstreet.

Olly’s trademark trilby can bring any look up to date.

Hat, £7; Matalan

For the winter a duffle coat is a must - add a jacket to Olly’s outfit for the perfect autumn look.

Duffle coat, £39.99; Republic

A simple tee is easy, affordable and will always be stylish.

T-shirt, £12; ASOS

The student essential, the watch, you’ll never be late to a lecture again.

Watch, £26, River Island

Chinos are a great way to add some style to a simple outfit.

Trousers, £16; F&F at Tesco

OLLY MURS Stylish and practical, a backpack comes in handy for anything.

Backpack £15,99; New Look

t-have s u m e h T r! footwea

These shoes can be both smart and casual - great looking and versatile.

Shoes, £39.99; New Look

FRESH DIRECTION AUTUMN 2011 68 69

FASHION

STYLE-O-METER

Hot or Not

Stay ahead of the trends and avoid a fashion faux pas, as our style-o-meter shows you what is flaming hot and what is definitely not.

HOT New term wardrobe sorted with ASOS.com ASOS.com are offering 20 per cent student discount for a limited time thanks to NUS. With over 850 brands onsite you can grab anything from the seasons cosiest coats to the most fabulous glad rags! Get online now and your new look is just a click away! nus.org.uk; asos.com

GET 20 PER CENT OFF 850 MAJOR BRANDS THANKS TO ASOS

Lady Gaga wearing student fashion 22-year-old graduate, Rebecca Short, was convinced it was a hoax when she saw the popstar in one of her designs, But turns out Lady Gaga’s stylist spotted the dress at graduate fashion week and snapped it up. Rebecca said “I never thought in a million years Lady Gaga would actually wear my dress”

Grab some bargains in Topshop and Topman

TOPSHOP OFFER 10 PER CENT OFF WITH A VALID STUDENT CARD

10 per cent Topshop and Topman student discount is available in store with a valid student card. Get down to your nearest store to get some new threads for the new university year. topshop.com

Right on time Never be late again with a new watch from amazon.co.uk. They stock a wide range and even offer a 10% NUS Student discount. amazon.co.uk

NOT Fashion on a really (really!) tight budget eBay is perfect for selling on old castoffs or grabbing a designer bargain. The eBay fashion outlet hosts brands from Kurt Geiger to H&M, Adidas to River Island, so you are bound to find something great and on-trend in your price range! fashion.ebay.co.uk

Not knowing what to wear If you’re feeling uninspired about your look then check out some street style blogs. Try hoyfashion.co.uk., facehunter.blogspot.com and stylescout.blogspot.com to get the latest info on Autumn trends and looks so you can get some great new style ideas.

Bad hair days

Our truly rubbish British weather But at least a new season means a new wardrobe. New Look are offering a 10 per cent student discount and have a great selection at really affordable prices so, you’ll be ready for whatever the weather throws at you. newlook.com

www.student365.co.uk

STYLE ICON LADY GAGA IS A FAN OF STUDENT DESIGNED FASHION

AMAZON ARE CURRENTLY OFFERING SOME GREAT BARGAINS ON WATCHES

WORDS: Louise Pinn

Bad hair days are always a killer, so treat yourself to a haircut for half the price. Check out groupon.co.uk to find discounts from some top salons in your local area. groupon.co.uk

Avaira

Living in a vivid world Here at CooperVision we understand that as a student your budget needs to stretch. If you know that you would like to enjoy the freedom of contact lenses, but are concerned about the financial implications, Avaira may be the lens for you. Utilising advanced high-oxygen contact lens material technology, this lens is perfect for students with an active lifestyle, and wonâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t break the bank.

For further information: Contact your optician or visit www.coopervision.co.uk

BEAUTY

UNI LOOKS

FRESHER FACED Stay stylish from morning till night with these musthave beauty buys

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10.30AM - RISE AND SHINE 1) Philosophy Raspberry Sorbet Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath (£14; boots.com) Wake up those senses and give your hair and body a much-needed morning boost with this award-winning top-to-toe cleanser. 2) Clean & Clear Morning Energy Skin Energising Daily Facial Scrub (£3.99; available nationwide) Forgot to take your make-up off last night? Use this amazing skin reviver enriched with fruit extracts to remove dirt, oil and impurities. 3) Help: Clear Skin (£9.99 for seven sachets; workswithwater.co.uk) 100% natural skin supplement that reduces blemishes from the inside out in 6 weeks.

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1.30AM - PUB LUNCH

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4) St Tropez Self Tan Bronzing Mousse (£20.43, available nationwide) This tanner dries in 60 seconds and develops over four hours, meaning it’s perfect to apply before leaving the house for a gradual golden glow. 5) Lee Stafford Matt Stylee Matt Fat Powder (£9.29; boots.com) Well worth popping in your bag to use on the move, sprinkle a small amount of this style reviver into your roots to absorb oil and create a super-volumised look. 6) Optrex Eyedew Dazzling Eye Drops (£4.39; available nationwide) Disguise the fact you’ve enjoyed wine at lunch with these handy drops, which contain a clever ingredient to make the whites of your eyes look even whiter!

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3.30AM - AFTERNOON LECTURE 7) Gucci Guilty Intense Pour Femme Eau de Parfum 50ml (£53.50; theperfumeshop.com) Make sure you’re the girl that everyone wants to sit next to by investing in this lilac, pink pepper and patchouli-infused scent. It’s may be a bit indulgent in terms of price, but it’s worth it. 8) Clinique Deep Comfort Hand and Cuticle Cream (£16; clinique.co.uk) This restorative hand treat hydrates your skin for 12 hours, preventing you from picking those cuticles while your lecturer drones on and on. 9) Blistex Raspberry Lemonade Blast (£1.75; superdrug.com) Don’t let chapped lips ruin your sense of style! This fruity balm is packed with coconut oil and jojoba to keep your pout looking picture perfect.

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7.30PM - STUDENT UNION DRINKS

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10) ghd Gold Classic Styler (£119; ghdhair.com) The ceramic contoured plates and rounded barrel of this cult styler means it’s easy to achieve sleek looks or voluminous curls. 11) Eylure Naturalites Upper and Lower Lashes Duo (£7.95; boots.com) Now you can achieve double the impact with these clever false lashes, which provide a dramatic look for some serious fluttering action. 12) MAC Pro Longwear Lipcreme in Extended Play (£15.50; maccosmetics.co.uk) Dark red lips dominated the runways this autumn/winter, so stay one step ahead of the fashiion trends with this foxy little make-up number.

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WORDS BY: Claire Muffett-Reece

12AM - HIT THE HAY 13) Witch 25 Cleansing & Toning Wipes (£3.05; witchskincare.com) Ideal for when you’ve had a skinful, these anti-bacterial wipes remove all traces of the day’s grime and make-up in one easy swoop. 14) Elemis Fresh Skin Dreamy Sleep Night-Time Moisturiser (£22; elemis.com/freshskin) Use this intensely hydrating treat, formulated with vitamins A, C and E, to help your skin undo all the damage it’s endured during the day. 15) Anatomicals I am Woman, Hear Me Snore Sleep Mask (£6; asos.com) After a few hours down the union you’re bound to need a good night’s kip, so block out any light and get your nut down with this fabulously named must.

Advertisement Feature

Help: your skin

from within Achieving problem-free skin is much easier than you think

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eing a student is stressful enough, thanks to endless lectures, late nights revising and a serious lack of funds getting you down. Then there’s the worry of problem skin, with flare-ups making it all-too tempting to hide away in halls rather than hitting the union and meeting new people. Luckily there’s a natural and affordable way to rid your complexion of blemishes – say hello to Help: Clear Skin…

nourish, and oligofructose, a soluble fibre to aid digestion and help eliminate toxins.

HOW DO I USE IT?

Taking Help: Clear Skin couldn’t be easier: simply dissolve one of the individual sachets into a hot or cold drink once a day for a minimum of six weeks to achieve the best possible results. It won’t affect the taste or texture of your drink so you can pop it in your morning cuppa without even knowing it’s there!

WHAT IS IT?

Help: Clear Skin is a 100% natural skin supplement that promises to reduce blemishes from the inside out in as little as six weeks! Packed with lactoferrin – derived from milk protein and scientifically supported to achieve a clearer complexion – the other natural ingredients include aloe vera to help heal, smooth and

WHY SHOULD I BUY IT?

Unlike strong medicated remedies Help: Clear Skin has no nasty side effects. It’s also far cheaper than many skincare lotions and potions, and there’s no time wasted on set routines morning and night – simply mix it in your drink and that’s it! If only writing up that overdue essay was so easy…

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CASE STUDY: IT WORKED FOR ME! Sarah Pinder, 22, suffered from angry spots and sores all over her body for years before discovering Help: Clear Skin “I always thought acne would be something I Before After would grow out of – but it never happened. As I got older my confidence levels dropped and my skin stopped me socialising with family and friends. The fact it wasn’t just confined to my face also made me feel really self conscious when it came to choosing clothes. I needed help but didn’t want to resort to medication, so a friend suggested I try Help: Clear Skin. I couldn’t believe that something so natural could have such a fast effect on my skin, but in just a few weeks I looked like a new person! I’ve since landed a new job and go out with my friends all the time, and am much more positive about the future.”

TRY IT AND SEE! Help: Clear Skin is priced at £9.99 for seven sachets and is available to buy from Boots, Superdrug, Waitrose, Holland & Barrett or online at www.workswithwater.co.uk

HEALTH

STRESS

H S E R F T A WH ?

S I H T S I HELL

their first term at ng ri du ll ba a ve ha rs Most Freshe new environment e th d fin ts en ud st e m university, but so offers advice on s en ev St ay K . ith w pe difficult to co how to beat it. coping with stress and

A

fter coping with the pressures of A-levels and actually getting into university, you might think that’s the end of the stress story, but for some students starting university, it’s the beginning of a whole new round of stress.

NEW CHALLENGES Starting at university brings a tidal wave of new experiences and challenges. For example, there’s meeting and living with other students, losing touch with old friends, not having family close by, managing money and coping with new academic demands as well as socialising – and just being homesick can have a devastating impact on your wellbeing.

It’s not just a few students that feel the fresher pressure, either. Annie Blackburn, who works for the Student Support Centre at Cardiff University, reveals: “Last year we had www.student365.co.uk

‘Remember - most freshers are worried about meeting new people and will be feeling just as nervous as you’ 851 students use our counselling service and already we have a higher rate of students than this time last year.”

NEW FRIENDS According to Chris Davies, Welfare and Communications Officer for Cardiff University, the main stress point for freshers is making new friends. “Most freshers are worried about meeting new people and, as

a result, everyone is very open,” he says. “So it’s best to remember most students will be feeling just as nervous as you.”

Chris offers some tips for freshers keen to make new mates but anxious about the process. “Firstly be approachable, even if you’re not confident around lots of people,” he recommends. “Let people come and talk to you by being friendly and polite.

“Also be understanding. There are lots of people who are different to you and have differing opinion on different issues - this is just part of being at university and meeting new people. Finally be proud of what you have achieved and who you are. Enjoy this time and make the most of it. Try new things and have as much fun as you can.”

But what if you’ve followed these tips and other issues are making you stressed? Well, the first thing you mustn’t do is ignore the symptoms which can include insomnia,

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HEALTH

STRESS

lack of appetite, a feeling of isolation and tendency to tears. (See ‘Know The Signs’ box for more).

DIANA’S STORY Diana, a fresher last year, experienced symptoms of stress but ignored them.

Unfortunately, Diana suffered as a consequence. Here she describes in her own words how she felt at the time.

“When I started at university everything was fine, but then I started not sleeping for days on end or would just crash out completely. I soon realised that my grades were suffering but I just couldn’t get out of bed in the morning. At one point, I was so cut off from everyone my flat mates thought I had moved out.”

Rather than suffer in silence, Diana should have visited her GP or a student welfare officer. Eventually Diana did go to her GP. And her situation improved immediately.

“When I saw my GP, he gave me a test and said I was severely depressed. He put me on anti-depressants and told me to tell my personal tutor and to seek counselling.

I had counselling from the Student Support Centre and I told my tutor, who was really sympathetic about the whole thing. Now I’m off the anti-depressants and getting my life back on track. I still have bad days, but I know there are people willing to listen and to help, I should never have waited so long to seek help.”

TALK IT THROUGH Professionals dealing with stress always recommend talking to someone as soon as you start to feel stressed in any way, and not

to wait until you get as desperate as Diana.

Your university employs student support staff whose job is to help you. Their details will be readily available from the university and they should be your first port of call.

Always remember, most freshers experience anxiety and stress but these feelings are nothing to be ashamed of.

Whether you’re worried about money, making friends or your workload – it’s crucual you ask for help if you need it.

University should be one of the best times of your life – not a period when you had to endure misery to get a degree. 

GET INFORMED The websites below provide advice and information on coping with stress and depression • studentdepression.org – includes information and resources to combat stress, plus real life stories from students suffering from depression.

• nhs.uk – features articles and stories on a variety of stress issues such as depression and homesickness as well as advice on overcoming these issues.

• mind.org.uk – online articles about achieving wellbeing and good mental health. Plus resources for coping with stress and depression.

• nus.org.uk – includes the NUS mental health awareness campaign and statistics relating to student stress in the UK. • thesite.org – resources and articles on topics such as relationships, health, wellbeing, drink, drugs, money, work and study.

IT’S NOT JUST YOU

‘My biggest worry was how on earth I was going to be able to save and budget my money,’ Kayleigh Morgan, Media student at University of Wales Trinity

‘I was worried about moving out, having to fend for myself and classic student money worries,’ Wynne Seaborne, Technical Theatre student at Swansea University

www.student365.co.uk

KNOW THE SIGNS Stress can affect how you feel, think, behave and how your body works.

It affects people in different ways. If you’re stressed you may have some of the following symptoms: You may feel:

• irritable • anxious • low in self-esteem • have a low mood Mentally you may:

• have racing thoughts • worry constantly • imagine the worst • go over and over things Behaviourally you may:

• have temper outbursts • drink more • smoke more • be on the go all the time • talk more/faster • change your eating habits • feel unsociable • be forgetful/clumsy • be unreasonable • struggle to concentrate Physically you may suffer from:

• headaches • muscle tension/pain • stomach problems • sweating • feeling dizzy • bowel/bladder problems • breathlessness • dry mouth • sexual problems

Students reveal their most stressful university moments…

‘I was worried about not fitting in with the other students from my course and not actually making any friends,’ Ffion Jones, Media Practice student at Bristol UWE

‘I’m not the most vocal of people so my biggest fear was having to talk to lots of new people.’

Owain Jones, Criminology, University of Glamorgan

‘My biggest stress worry was that I wouldn’t be living with likeminded people with common interests.’ Isabel Vincent, Creative Studies, Bangor University

‘My main concern was being so far away from home.

It’s scary having to do everything on your own.’ Cerys Perkins, English and Creative Writing student at UWIC

HEY, DON’T HIDE YOURSELF AWAY! Being a Fresher means you’re out most nights meeting new friends and maybe even that special someone, but if you’ve got problem skin you might be staying home alone instead

S

pots and blemishes can sometimes make you turn away from the limelight rather than walk right in front it. We don’t blame you, but now there’s a way you can quickly improve your skin and find the confidence to head down the student union more quickly than it takes a lamb to shake its tail twice.

DRINK YOUR SKIN BETTER Amazingly, the answer comes in sachets. help: clear skin is a soluble

skin supplement containing 100% natural ingredients, including praventin – a bioactive milk protein, scientifically proven to help reduce the development of bacteria responsible for many skin impurities – and aloe vera to heal, smooth and nourish skin from within.

Just add a sachet of help: clear skin to a glass of water twice a day to help see your skin improve. Quite literally you drink your way to a blemish free complexion!

What could be easier!

WIN A CLEAR SKIN We’re giving 40 people the chance to win a month’s supply of help: clear skin or help: clear skin MEN, worth around £40 each.

To enter simply log onto student365.co.uk and follow the links through to the competitions section where full entry details can be found.

TRY IT AND SEE! Help: Clear Skin costs £9.99 for seven sachets and is available from Boots, Superdrug, Waitrose and Holland & Barrett or online at www.workswithwater.co.uk.

FEED YOUR MIND WITH NEUROZAN V

itabiotics Neurozan is the most comprehensive brain health supplement of its kind and can help provide support when the pressure is on.

Exam time preparation can be supported with Neurozan to maintain your peak brain performance..

Each Neurozan capsule not only contains highly concentrated DHA fish oils, it also combines a careful blend of 25 other selected ingredients that work together to help to support all aspects of cognitive health. Other key elements of the Neurozan formula Find Neurozan at Boots, Holland & Barrett, Waitrose, chemists, GNC and health food stores priced at £9.40 (30 capsules). Neurozan Plus is available from Boots priced £17.95 (28 tablets/28 capsules).

For more information please visit www.neurozan.com

include Phosphatidylserine, which is an important component found in cell membranes, and also Co-enzyme Q10, which is an antioxidant vital to the function of optimum brain performance.

New to the range is Neurozan Plus – an advanced dual pack which combines the latest research based micronutrients for brain health with 5-HTP together with a high purity super potency 60% Omega-3 capsule. The high strength formula also includes phospholipids and amino acids, vitamin B complex and Gingko Biloba.

HEALTH

“How can I help you today?”

Q&A

“Doctor, I keep getting orgasms in class.”

to keep topping up on vitamins A, C and E as well as moisturising your skin twice daily to avoid skin issues, maintain regular teeth brushing with a specialist smokers toothpaste and use nail treatment to avoid yellowing.

Q. My face regularly breaks out in spots the size of Mount Vesuvius.

How do I prevent these pus volcanoes from regualarly erupting on my poor mug?

A. Sounds like you’re in a right spot. Ha! Geddit? No? Nevermind. Look most students have issues with the dreaded zits so don’t feel like you’re the only one walking round with a face like a well topped pizza. If the spots are fairly mild and sporadic, then wash your face twice daily with warm water and wipe spot prone areas with tissue. But if your face has a severe case then consult a GP. And don’t squeeze spots too much – often that just makes things worse.

Student Health Bodies can be embrassing but there’s no need to be shy, Dr FD has the answers to questions you always wanted to ask but were too afraid to talk about.

Q. Aaaargh! Doc, you gotta help me. I’m completely freaking out about my work load over the university year - I can’t sleep properly, my diet has disappeared and I can barely cope.

A. OK first - don’t scream at me. Aaaarrrghhing in my face isn’t going to help. Second - everyone experiences this, from newbie fresher’s to under pressure pHD students.

So all universities have developed support structures to offer mentally stressed students help and advice. If you need help with your work load talk to your tutors or class student representatives. If you need more help, then go to your student union or university medical centre, where they have all the advice and can help you chill out. Just don’t scream at them either.

Q. I have just the worst breath. It smells like a cow barn - and the cows have died. What the hell is wrong with me?

A. Don’t worry I can help – my first piece of advice is don’t stand so close to me when www.student365.co.uk

talking. Now chronic bad breath is known as halitosis. It can be caused by all sorts of things – tooth decay, gum disease, poor diet – but the main thing is to ensure your dental hygiene is good by brushing and flossing your gnashers twice a day. If your mouth pong persists cut down on junk food, eat more fruit and veg and drink more water.

If you smoke, give up. And if, after that, your breath still smells rank – check out the British Dental Health Foundation website (dentalhealth.org) and visit your dentist.

Q. I’ve been smoking since I was 16 and I’m worried about the affect on my appearance wrinkles, discoloured teeth and nails. is there anyhing I can do about these things?

A. You could give up smoking since eventually you’ll end up with something more serious to worry about than a few wrinkles. Visit smokefree.nhs.co.uk on help with giving up. Though if you must insist on sticking with the smokes, then be sure

Q. I literally drip sweat, even when it’s cold. I’m paranoid about it making me smell and preventing me from making friends at uni.

What can I do?

A. Carry a towel at all times? Nah seriously don’t sweat it (zing), it sounds like you may have hyperhidrosis which can be treated, just visit your GP to be sure. Also take a look at sweathelp.org which offers help and support.

You could also try Driclor or Anyhdrol Forte, which are special antiperspirants that help with excessive sweating and are available without perscription.

Q. Are you even a real doctor?

What qualifications do you have to dole out advice?

A. Of course I’m a real doctor - my mail order degree from the University of Guadalajara says so. 

PHOTO: IStockphoto

Q & A on

Q. I really struggle to get to sleep at night and often spend long hours awake, stressing about uni. How can I get a good night’s kip?

A. Usually students stay up all night because they’re on a pub crawl, but you’re situation is more problematic. Sleeplessness can be caused by all sorts of factors, such as an uncomfortable bed, lack of exercise or illness.

Eating last thing at night can keep you awake as well. But it sounds like you’re too anxious to drop off. If you’re stressed out, it’s best to talk to someone whether it be a friend, family member or university support staff – remember that’s what they are there for.

HEALTH

MAD SEX

Bonking

ILLUSTRATOR: Katie Mac @ www.bento-illustration.com

Whether they’re having it or not, students are obsessed with sex. Here, Kelly Holgate offers some top tips on avoiding embarrassing perils and making the most of all the good bits. All you have to do is find someone to have sex with!

H

orizontal jogging, doing the no pants dance, bumping uglies, smooshing, getting it in. These are just some of the endearing terms us young people use when referring to S.E.X. – if only the act itself could be as carefree, fun and uncomplicated. Along with realising you can afford that third Jagerbomb at the students’ union, getting your rocks

off is one of life’s most exciting experiences.

However, just like said bombs, your sexperiences as a fresher can leave you feeling happy one minute and confused the next.

Now at uni, your head is probably crammed full of text books, lectures, new roommates and course guides, so the thought of getting your leg over can bring some much needed relief.

To help you make the most of it, we bring you the ultimate lowdown on the ins, outs, ups and downs of student sex life.

From sexual health, pregnancy, relationships and contraception, we’ve got everything covered. Which means that’s one less text book to read and that you can, at last, safely dodge that awkward birds and bees conversation with your folks…

FRESH DIRECTION AUTUMN 2011 78 79

HEALTH

SEX

Great Sexpectations

Swaggering on to campus with the arrogance of Cher Lloyd, coupled with watching American Pie at least ten times, can give freshers a false sense of confidence, plus an even greater set of unrealistic sexpectations.

Yes, there may well be a gorgeous fresher, who looks like they just fell out of a Hollyoaks audition and decided to live next door to you in halls, but the likelihood of expectations aligning with reality are slim to none, and remember slim has just been deferred this year! You may hit the campus clunge jackpot or be left with only your hand as entertainment, but either way accepting that life as a fresher may resemble an episode of The Inbetweeners every now and then is a given.

My expectation at university was the romantic one of meeting Mr Right, rather

Accepting that life as a fresher may resemble an episode of The Inbetweeners is a given... than Mr Sex Right Now. The determination to make every guy who ever smiled at me my boyfriend was more offfputting than dousing myself in an entire bottle of Eau de Desperation by Katie Price. The S.E.X. part of fresher life did live up to my sexpectations though, as it was drunken, forgettable and something I still have a good laugh at now with my girlfriends.

Sexual Healing

They say that practice makes perfect, and safe sex is no different. Making sure you are protected from STDs and pregnancy should be miles ahead of a drinking session with the lads or deciding which outfit to wear to the union. A recent survey of UK women,

THE C-FACTOR? WHICH CONTRACEPTIVE WILL YOU CHOOSE?

conducted by Talkchoice.co.uk, found that more time was spent thinking about what to have for lunch, than choosing the right method of contraception, and with 15 different options to choose from it’s not a decision to be taken lightly!

The study also found that 60% of students worry about an unplanned pregnancy during university and that young women aged 1620 felt their doctor did not spend enough time discussing contraception.

Freshers are surrounded by people they don’t know and abundant alchohol, so it is really important to keep an eye on your sexual health. Young people are most at risk of contracting an STD, with the peak age for catching something nasty for women being 19-20 and men at 20-23. So it comes as a shock that a recent survey of nearly 3,000 students by Studentbeans.com showed that

over a third had never been tested for a sexually transmitted disease.

This is even more shocking stuff when 35% admitted to having a one night stand since starting university.

The biggest sex worries for me at university were staying safe and then actually getting some! However, the biggest concern for students today, according to surveys, is performance, followed by what they look like during the act. Only 20% thought about contraception! This carefree attitude goes hand-in-hand with the drink culture (the ‘ten to two you’ll do’ mentality) that university adopts coupled with feeling that every night out is like an Ibiza holiday.

These days there is no shame in getting yourself checked out for STDs, and every campus has clinics which specialise in sexual health; you may even get some free

Condoms: Protects from STDs and unwanted pregnancy.

Remember, condoms for females are available too.

The Pill: Loads of options for pregnancy prevention. Make an appointment with a nurse or doctor to find one that suits you.

The Injection: For women, a quick jab that provides pregnancy protection for up to 12 weeks.

The Implant: Pregnancy protection for up to three years, for gals.

www.student365.co.uk

Partners come and go, but once you’ve used SKYN condoms, it’ll be one relationship you’ll be keen to see last a lifetime! Using a revolutionary SKYN condom is the closest thing to wearing nothing at all. In a poll*, a majority of users preferred using SKYN, with one describing it as: “The best experience I’ve had with a condom.” All in all, SKYN condoms make doing the right thing easy and pleasurable. Go to matesskyn.co.uk for more info.

*66 per cent of 120 trialists surveyed in the US preferred SKYN.

CONTRACEPTION OPTIONS don’t be a fool, wrap that tool

Sex is great. But we yearn for the sensual intimacy of Skyn速 on skin; the kind of sexual contact that nature intended. The kind of sex you desire and deserve, and can get with Mates速 Skyn速 condoms. www.matesskyn.co.uk

HEALTH

SEX TOP 5 COURSE RELATED

CHAT UP LINES

BECAUSE YOU HAVE THREE YEARS TO GET SERIOUS WITH YOUR CAREER… LAW Girl: “It would be criminal if we didn’t hook up right now.”

Guy: “Did I tell you I’m applying for the F.B.I.? Female Body Inspector.”

JOURNALISM Girl or Guy: “Your body is hot off the press.”

MEDICINE Girl/Guy: “You look like you’re due a full body inspection.”

SPORTS SCIENCE Guy: “Come back to mine and I’ll show you my ball control.”

ART Girl/Guy: “I’m looking for a still life model, the sessions in my room in ten.”

you need to make the right choice when it comes to preventing pregnancy.

LONG DISTANCE LOVING

ONE NIGHT STANDS

Your new life at university can sometimes mean you leave your old life behind. Your long-distance lover may still want you, but what if you start to feel something for a fellow fresher? If this happens don’t beat yourself up about it. People grow apart.

You have to remember you are in your own world now and fitting every aspect of your old life into your new one at uni doesn’t always work.

Not just a Misteeq classic, but a regular occurrence at uni. The feeling of letting loose can be liberating, but replaying the night’s events and wondering why they never call can turn you in to the campus bunny boiler faster than a TOWIE spray tan. Common sense is important and you must accept that, as with all things in life, some things work out and some things don’t.

University is the experience of a lifetime; meeting new friends and having encounters with who you think is ‘the one’ so many times it’s like constant deja vu! Your first year is a rare opportunity to be a fresher, someone who can make newbie mistakes and have a fab time in the process. Embrace it with both arms and remember that your first sexual encounter at uni won’t be your last. 

THE NO PANIC, CALMER SUTRA

UNDER PRESSURE

Of course, staying protected also means preventing unwanted pregnancy. But as there are 15 methods of contraception in the UK, working out which one is right for you is tricky. Log onto Talk Choice (talkchoice.co.uk) for all the information

Coursework and choosing between value and regular noodles are all valid reasons to feel pressure, but when it comes to sex the last thing you should feel is tension. If you do find yourself being pressured, speak up. Only do something when you feel ready, and be aware

www.student365.co.uk

that drinking could mean you do something you wouldn’t do sober.

PHOTOS: IStockphoto

condoms out of it. Dr Claudia Berty, Head GP of Care UK says, “It’s good to have a sexual health check before you start university, it really shouldn’t be an embarrassing experience. It can be done at your local GUM clinic or by your GP.” Below, Dr Berty offers her safe sex tip, which may not set your pants on fire, but will keep your down below parts from burning up.

“Use a condom at all times and try to avoid casual sex. Have fun and take responsibility. You can catch STDs from oral sex, so use a condom then too.”

HEALTH

SEX

“What was your most embarrassing sexperience at university?”

TOM WILLIAMS

HOLLY ANDERSON

TOM WILLIAMS

25, Accountant, Derby “I came in blind drunk one night and ended up chilling out with three girls who lived below me in halls. After donning my beer goggles, I ended up getting off with one. The next day I was the talk of the campus due to trying to escape from her window and hanging by my belt!”

Holly Anderson

25, Investment Banker’s Assistant, London “Never in my whole 26 years and 20+ partners have I ever had sex like it. It

JACK AVISON

only lasted about 20 minutes, but he had me on top, underneath, side by side, against the wall and bent over the bed. He pushed me into the most craziest and painful positions ever! I felt like I was banging Mr Motivator.

Did I orgasm? No.”

Jack Avison

26, Substance Abuse Assistant, Nottingham “I shared a room that had bunk beds in my fresher year. I bought my gentleman friend back after a night out and started getting down to it in the top bunk, but little did I know that

ZOE JENNER

my roommate was below me, and unless he was in a coma, he would of heard EVERYTHING! Luckily, we both never mentioned it.”

NAZ OSMANOGLU

in to say “RODEO” as soon as I was in a compromising position.”

Naz Osmanoglu

25, Comedian, London Zoe Jenner

23, Receptionist, Manchester “I had a huge crush on the new guy in halls during my first year and never in a million years thought he would look my way. One night, after some bevvies, we hooked up and afterwards he wanted to hook up again. I felt like a winner! However, little did I know that the rest of the halls guys were planning on popping

“Drunkenly one night I decided it would be a good idea to sneak into a housemate’s empty room and leave a surprise on his bed. But it was occupied. In my stupor, I threatened to ‘do a poo’ on them as they were “sleeping” in someone else’s bed.

But it wasn’t a couple from another room, was it? It was my housemate’s parents staying over for graduation.

Breakfast was awkward. “

Dick and Fanny popped out for a quickie. They had a banging night. Plenty of bump and grind, really getting jiggy with it... ...but when they got home the fun really started.

At bpas we provide contraception, emergency contraception, STI testing, impartial unplanned pregnancy options counselling and treatment, should you need it.

To make an appointment call 08457 30 40 30 or visit bpas.org for more information www.student365.co.uk

When your usual contraception lets you down, remember Levonelle One Step.

Available from your pharmacist, it can be used up to 72 hours after unprotected sex.

Because accidents happen Text ‘chemist’ to 62233 in confidence to locate your nearest pharmacy.* Levonelle should not replace regular, long-term contraception. Emergency contraception and advice is available free from your GP, Family Planning Clinic or NHS Walk-in Centre. Always read the label. Contains levonorgestrel. Not 100% effective. Levonelle One Step can be used for up to 72 hours after unprotected sex, but it’s more effective the sooner you take it. *The choice of chemist is based upon your current location when sending the text.

Standard network charges apply. Some providers may require sending an additional text. Text service only suitable for people aged 16 and over.

Date of preparation: August 2011 UK.PH.WH.LVN.2011.04

A17830 Portrait Ad_297x210_C2 A0_CB_LO.indd 1

05/09/2011 16:40

STUDENT LIFE

THE GOOD

AND THE

W

ith A-level results finally out of the way, it’s time to wave goodbye to home life and start your journey as an LGBT fresher. The experience of moving somewhere new is a stressful one without also having to deal with pressure and worry over sexuality – but over the next few weeks you get an opportunity to express yourself during the free-for-all that is freshers weeks. First impressions count, and while homophobia can be an issue, university campuses tend to be one of the first opportunity’s LGBT young people get to feel free about their orientation.

When I first moved to university it was daunting – but I rarely encountered homophobia. So if you are nervous about being open and yourself, try not to be.

Moving to university likely means the first opportunity to stand out and be yourself in an environment where very few people will have a problem with it.

But it’s natural to be nervous – so let’s run down some advice for any of you feeling looking to know where to start on your uni gay scene.

Unionise Yourself

The Student Union is the base for any student’s university life, not just as a place full of useful resources and facilities, but also as the place which offers the friendliest (and mostly www.student365.co.uk

Being an LGBT fresher staring off university can be a daunting, intimidating and nervous experience – but it can also be the time of your life writes Andrew Caygill.

cheapest) nights out possible. And it’s pretty much the place to start when it comes to exploring your university’s gay scene.

It’s obviously daunting moving to a new place where you probably know very few people, but the Students Union is the place to meet new people and Freshers’ Week is the time to start. Other than getting catastrophically drunk on Jaegerbombs,

Over the next few weeks you get an opportunity to express yourself during the free-for all that is freshers week Fresher’s Week is all about meeting new friends who share similar interests to you. And it’s the ideal opportunity to get involved with your university’s LGBT groups and societies.

As part of the LGBT community, it is really important to get join these societies as they play a huge role in supporting and defending local rights of LGBT members. And, just as importantly, they are a great way of meeting

like-minded people.

Elliott Read, the LGBT officer at the University of Nottingham, certainly recommends getting involved. “Definitely come along to freshers week early on in term and make friends,” he says. “Since being at university I’ve found that my LGBT friends understand issues I’ve faced in my life better than my straight friends ever really can, so they’ve become a massive part of my support system.”

Although getting involved in the scene can be nerve-wracking, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone in that regard.

“LGBT events such as bar crawls can seem very intimidating to begin with, but everyone is in the same boat at the beginning of term.

Everyone just wants to make friends – so give it a shot!”

Elliott’s view underlines just how important events such as Fresher’s Week are, as they allow you to get yourself involved and make yourself know to both the LGBT community and straight community at university. So sign up for the club during Fresher’s Week and do some research into the events the society is doing to see how you can get inolved.

Unfortunately not every university has an LGBT society or club (for a full list go to www.studento.com which offers links to all the information you need). But if you happen to be at a uni with no LGBT club,

GAY

THE EXPERIENCE

why not set one up? While being an awful lot of hard work, it would be incredibly fulfilling to create awareness and promote your local LGBT community.

Just speak to your Students Union about how to go about setting up a society and they can get you started. You’ll be surprised at how quickly your society will grow, since LGBT students will surely appreciate the opportunity to get involved in such a worthwhile support network.

Society Life

However if you don’t want to get actively involved in society work, you can still take advantage of the support and facilities LGBT societies offer.

“We provide workshops on coming out and safe sex,” explains Elliott, “as well as a ‘buddy system’ in which students can be allocated a committee member with whom they can go to LGBT socials. We also have welfare representatives who hold office hours when students can come for advice and talk about any problems they are having.”

Moreover Elliott and his team have also kickstarted several campaigns. “We have perviously worked on campaigns such as ‘Donation, Not Discrimination’ [seeking blood donation equality for men who have sex with men], as well as campaigns around World Aids Day. We also recently passed a motion at Students Union Council to introduce gender neutral toilets in the every main building on campus for transgender students who do not define within the gender binary.”

Overall it’s worth bearing in mind – people won’t come looking for you to help you out when you need advice. For that you have to know who to talk to, and those in an LGBT society or the LGBT officer of your university

are ideal if you need support or help.

Apart from support, assistance and campaigning, LGBT societies are also simply great fun to socialise in, with most holding regularly nights out and gatherings. Bar crawls and club nights are fairly standard but, if drinking isn’t your thing, most societies also hold non-alcohol centric events.

Some of the events Elliott’s society have organised include a ‘Queer Cafe’ in which members held a bake sale to raise money for charities including Broken Rainbow and Nottingham Gay and Lesbian Switchboard.

“We also do film screenings, LGBT History walks, lunches, talks etc,” continues Elliott.

“There is also a meet and greet, which is usually our most well attended event, where we introduce the LGBT committee and play ice-breaking games so people can get to know each other.”

A final word – if you haven’t chosen your university yet, you may want to do some research on which uni’s are the most gay friendly.

For a full list of LGBT university societies check out studento.com/ university-guide/university/lgbt-studentsocieties.htm. It’s a quick and easy way of finding out if you’re local university has an LGBT society and is also completely full of

USEFUL LINKS

NATHAN HERON, 20, Psychology Student at Teesside University.

“Being a fresher was quite a daunting thing for me, because I didn’t know how people on my course, my new hall mates or anyone else would react to my sexuality. Luckily for me, there was a Facebook group for Fresher’s taking my course, as there is for many university courses, so I began my course knowing some people.

Similarly there were pages for halls, which I didn’t know about.

“Through friends on my course I was introduced to the gay scene in the town of my University. I hadn’t looked up if there was a scene or not, or whether my University had a LGBT society/group within it.

“Check out the University and societies they have, to meet people with similar interests, whether it’s sport societies, or film etc. Research your town’s gay scene, if it is your type of thing. But mainly be yourself and enjoy your time at University.”

useful links and information.

Another piece of advice is to keep an eye out for what Pride events occur in the area, because they tend to occur all-year round.

Also be sure to roam Facebook for groups who can assist you with your research.

And remember - getting involved in your local university gay scene should be any LGBT fresher’s first port of call when they land on campus. It offers a perfect introduction to the LGBT scene away from your home, a community in which you can be completely comfortable in your own skin and a social life which is impossible to beat. So whether you’re new to university or have been too shy to get involved be sure to join up, make friends and start your LGBT uni adventure – because there’s nothing quite like it. 

1 LGBT Youth (Scotland)

5 LGBT Community

www.lgbtyouth.org.uk

www.lgbt.co.uk

2 LGBT Advice www.lgbtadvice.co.uk

6 Unison LGBT

3 Stonewall LGBT Charity

7 LGBT History

www.stonewall.org.uk

4 Transgender Support www.lauras-playground.com

www.unison.org.uk/out/index.asp lgbthistorymonth.org.uk

8 LGBT Health www.lgbthealth.org.uk

FRESH DIRECTION AUTUMN 2011 86 87

STUDENT LIFE

MONEY

LINE! GET ON dent

tures, stu More fea information d advice an ble on ila a v a is 65.co.uk t3 n e d tu s

THE

MONEY

TRAP O nce your tuition fees and maintenance loans have cleared into your bank account, you may think that your balance looks pretty healthy. And for now it does, but remember this amount has to last you until the end of term. And to do this, you’ll need a budget!

CREATE A BUDGET

To get started all you need is a pen and a sheet of paper. Divide the paper into two columns and label one column ‘Income’ and the other ‘Expenses’. Then in the ‘Income’ column write in the amount of money you actually have and in the ‘Expenses’ column note down all the essential items you expect to pay out for.

Rent is likely to be your biggest outgoing, but you’ll also need to add in things like food and drinks, books, toiletries, travel and laundry charges.

Once you’ve included everything you can think of, add it all up. Deduct this total from the amount in your ‘Income’ column and you’ll be able to see how much you www.student365.co.uk

Don’t let your money situation get too tight to mention. Follow Katie Dowling’s top bugeting tips and find out how easy it can be to live within your means and avoid falling into the dreaded debt trap. have left to spend on other things such as socialising and buying clothes.

There probably won’t be too much left over, so it’s important you don’t overspend on the items in your ‘Expenses’ column and then don’t spend over the amount that’s left for having fun with.

This is your budget and you’re in control of it. Follow the rest of the tips here to spend less on your essential outgoings so that you have more money to enjoy yourself with without going into debt.

GET ORGANISED

So now you have a budget, you need to get organised. One of the simplest things you can do to stay on top of your weekly spend is to move your rent/hall fees for the whole term into a separate account. Then set up

a direct debit so that the rent goes out on time and you won’t have to worry about it.

By removing your rent from your main bank account, you’ll know exactly how much you have left until the end of term.

Now divide this amount by the number of weeks in your term and you’ll know exactly how much you have to spend per week, per month. Simples!

ADD TO YOUR FUNDS

Another way to avoid debt is to top up your budget with money earned from a part-time job. It’s now reckoned that around half of all undergraduates work part time while they study. Opting to work and study makes financial sense, but try not to work for more than 15 hours a week so that you have time for your

Ditch the car and save yourself £££

The Facts!

According to The AA the average fuel price for unleaded petrol around the UK is £1.29* and rising.

Cycling increases health, makes you more alert and can even improve your sleeping.

It’s a well know fact that people who commute to work or university via bike are late less, less stressed and more alert.

C

M

Y

Today’s bikes generally last longer, ride better, are more comfortable and are lighter than in past years.

CM

MY

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There really is no good reason not to buy a bike.

CMY

K

*Fuel price based on unleaded fuel, cycle prices taken from an average UK service charge plus parts.

Information about health is taken from NHS.UK.

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STUDENT LIFE

MONEY

studies. On this basis, most students are able to supplement their weekly spend by around £70 to £100 a week.

Another way to boost your income is to sell books, clothes and other unwanted stuff online. Use ebay.com and amazon. com and start selling now.

You may also find that you are eligible for a welfare or hardship fund. Make an appointment with your student welfare officer to see if you’re eligible.

account can provide extra funds as well as savings. Check out the box at the bottom of the page to see how your bank is measuring up in the student market.

WATCH WHAT YOU SPEND

As you spend, keep a tab on your finances.

Get an online bank account and check it regularly. Read your statements too and check your receipts. Only ever take out just what you need from cash machines. Doing all this helps you keep control of your finances rather than the other way round.

SPEND LESS

ONLINE £££ ADVICE Helpful sites for budgeting and managing your money: • studentcalculator.org.uk • studentfinance.org.uk • thestudentroom.co.uk/ • thesite.org • moneysavingexpert.com • a pple.com/itunes – search for student budget apps to download.

www.student365.co.uk

MANAGE ANY DEBTS

DON’’T MONEY WORRY CREATING A BUDGET CAN STOP YOU GOING INTO DEBT

supermarkets’ own brand or value ranges.

Don’t forget the local market for cheap produce. Save even more by making your own sandwiches and topping up your water bottle from the tap or filling a flask with tea/coffee.

• Quit smoking: if you smoke, give it up!

You’ll notice that your bank balance improves as well as your health!

• Go second-hand: not everything has to be brand spanking new! You can get excellent bargains on books, clothes, computers and other items by buying them in charity jobs, second-hand shops and also online – think ebay.com and amazon.com.

• Check your bank out: make sure you are getting the best deal possible from your bank. Sometimes changing your bank

Hopefully, if you manage your spending you won’t need an overdraft. But if you do, make sure it’s low interest. Try hard to avoid signing up for a credit or store card. If you must have one, then opt for one that comes with a zero per cent interest deal and that you’ve paid off any debt on it before the deal period ends. Remember to include any interest you have on cards/overdraft in your Expenses column on your budget sheet.

DON’T SUFFER ALONE

If you do find yourself unable to manage your finances, there are people who can help you get back on track. Both your university and bank will have student finance advisers. Make an appointment with one ASAP. They’ll offer you expert advice and most importantly stop your debts spiraling out of control.

Bank box

Below we’ve listed three of the UK’s major banks and what they offer students. Go to student365.com for a comprehensive comparison of all banks. 

HOW THE BANK’S BALANCE UP Here’s how student accounts from three major UK banks measure up.

ARRANGED OVERDRAFT INTEREST RATE

UNARRANGED OVERDRAFT FEES

OTHER PERKS

HSBC

Up to £3,000 a year

N/A

3% above HSBC Base Rate

25% off Lonely Planet Travel Guides and two years worldwide travel insurance

LLOYDS TSB

Year 1: £1,500 (tiered) Years 2 & 3: Up to £1500 Year 4 & 5: Up to £2,000

8.2%

8.2% + £15 a month

NUS Extra card and YHA membership for three years

8.9%

£22 every five working days

Up to 75% cash back on mobile phones through phones 4U

BANK

OVERDRAFT DETAILS

BARCLAYS

Year 1: £200 initially, then increases can be requested Years 2,3,4 & 5: Up to £2,000

PHOTOS: IStockphoto

Now you know how much you have to spend per week, it’s sensible to make what you have left last longer. While you’re a student there are lots of ways you can optimise the funds you have, including the following: • Discounts and vouchers: these can help you save significant sums on anything from haircuts to energy drinks.

Download them online from student sites including student365.co.uk and studentbeans.com.

• Discount cards: these can help you get money off your travel expenses as well as entertainment and clothing. Discounts cards include the NUS Extra Card (nus. org.uk/en/nus-extra), the 16-25 Railcard (16-25railcard.co.uk) and the Coachcard (nationalexpress.com/coach/offers/ StudentCoachDeals.cfm).

• Pre-paid cards: these only let you spend the money you put down on them and so stop you spending money you don’t have. Get online and go to prepaycreditcards.com for more info.

• Pay-as-you-go: get a pre-pay mobile so that you don’t run up massive bills and check your tariffs to maximise free minutes/texts.

• Get cooking: making your own meals, rather than buying ready-made ones, can save you cash too. Try out the recipes in this magazine, grab yourself a secondhand cookbook or check-out studentcook. co.uk. Buying ingredients in bulk can save you money too and always opt for

STUDENT LIFE

DROPPING OUT

ARE YOU

THE ONE IN SEVEN? Nearly one in seven students drop out of university, many of them freshers. If you think you might become one of them, Rashmi Narayan offers advice on making sure that this is the right course of action for you

A

fter working hard to get the grades needed to get into university, many students find themselves dropping out just months into their degree course. In total, nearly a quarter of undergraduates fail to complete their degrees, and thousands more transfer to other universities or to do other qualifications.

So why does this happen, and what do you need to think about if you find yourself

seriously considering packing it all in and dropping out? There are lots of reasons for dropping out. Below are the three main reasons as well as some facts to consider if these reasons match yours for moving on.

TOO MUCH,TOO FAST Living in halls, being away from friends and family and coping with new academic and social demands is sometimes too much for some freshers. It’s understandable, and a common reaction to being in a new environment, but it’s not necessarily the right reason to consider leaving uni.

If you find yourself feeling homesick and overwhelmed by your new environment, make an appointment with your tutor or a

student welfare officer. Chat to them about how you’re feeling. Sometimes just sharing your worries can help and talking to a professional used to dealing with such issues can be a lifeline.

Jim O’Connell, Vice President for Graduates at Oxford University, believes that a lot of students aren’t aware of the large number of advisers and councillors that most universities have to offer to students for support. So make sure that whatever you do, you speak with an adviser or counsellor first.

Also, don’t be rash and rush into things!

Give yourself plenty of time. Some people take longer than others to adjust to new surroundings, but after a few months find they settle in just fine and wonder why

FRESH DIRECTION AUTUMN 2011 90 91

STUDENT LIFE

DROPPING OUT

IF YOU’RE THINKING ABOUT DROPPING OUT, DISCUSS HOW YOU FEEL WITH YOUR MATES FIRST

they ever thought about leaving at all.

Another good idea is to talk to students in the years above you as well. They’re still at the same institution as you, so what is it they like about the place? Find out how they felt as fresher and why they’re still studying here.

(Take a look too at our article on fresherrelated stress on page 74 for more advice.)

WHY AM I HERE? Sometimes, students find that the university or course they worked so hard to get onto wasn’t quite as expected. For example, the university might be more remote than they thought or the course much more practical than anticipated. If you find that it’s the

‘Once the second semester started everything changed and I decided to stay... it was the best choice of my life...’ university, rather than the course, that you’re not getting on with, go and talk with a student welfare officer. Explain what it is you don’t like. They may well be able to tell you that other students have felt the same way, but that the feeling passed or got much weaker – it was really just a case of letting time pass and getting used to things.

If it’s the course that’s not living up to your dreams or you are struggling with its demands, visit your tutor or course director.

Before you go, write down just what it is about the course that’s not working for you. www.student365.co.uk

Then discuss these issues. It may be that the part of the course you’re not enjoying just lasts for a few weeks and that the things you really want to learn about are going to be studied later on in the term.

Giving it time is something that student Ana Maria did. ‘It was very hard for me to stay focused because I didn’t like my modules,’ Ana Marie says. ‘But once the second semester started everything changed and I decided to stay. Now when I look back it was one of the best choices of my life. I had to pass that boring period, but it was worth it.’

If after getting advice from the experts and giving it some time, you still find you have itchy feet, it is possible to change course in your current university or move to a new university altogether. Before you do the big drop though, find out from a welfare adviser if there are any financial implications and also what’s required re transferring in terms of deadlines etc.

MONEY’S TOO TIGHT Students, especially freshers, are often worried about money (think debts, loans, expenses and budgets), but managing your money can actually be easily done. Again, talk with a student welfare officer or make an appointment with your bank’s student finance person. They can help you get sorted, give you info on hardships funds and help you create and manage a budget.

Remember too that dropping out won’t make your money worries vanish in the mist.

Whoever you owe money to now, you’ll owe money to when you leave. And sometimes, dropping out can cost you even more. For example, you may need to repay tuition fees, loans, grants and still pay for accommodation.

Student Chloe Zhang who left her journalism course at the University of Westminster for a similar course at City University lost – for various reasons – around £2,500. So before you drop out, check out what you might still have to pay for. 

SHOULD I STAY, OR SHOULD I GO NOW? If you’re seriously considering dropping out, don’t make the decision alone. The sources listed below can all help ensure you make the right decision for you: * University welfare, advice and guidance centres: qualified advisers and counsellors at your university are on hand to help you make the right choice. Don’t forget your tutors either, they can often help out with issues like this. * Struggling Students’ Guide: offers helpful information and advice on how to avoid dropping out, making the right choice and post-university options.

Find it on thestudentroom.co.uk

FROM UNIVERSITY TO ETERNITY So, you’ve made the decision to drop out, but what are you going to do next?

• Taking a gap year • Applying for an apprenticeship • Looking for a job • Starting up your own business.

Your first port of call should be with a student welfare officer or counsellor. They’ll be able to tell you what paperwork is involved, the timelines and also if your finances will be affected by your decision. You also need to

Make sure that you have thought your options

consider exactly what it is that you want to do when you drop out. There are a good

through thoroughly and that you have all the facts and paperwork you need to make your

number of next-step options available to you including:

new choice become a reality. To find out

• O pting for another course, taking a part-time or distance learning course

more about these options go to: ucas.com/students/nextsteps/advice.

FRESH DIRECTION AUTUMN 2011

Have you started at full-time university and wondering if it was the right choice for you?

If you’ve decided that full-time university isn’t for you, The Open University might be able to help.

If you have successfully completed some study at higher education level elsewhere, you could transfer credit gained and count it towards an OU qualification meaning that you can reduce the number of credits you need from OU study to achieve your qualification in less time.

Learn in your own space and time as we’ve taken distance learning to a whole new level with our uniquely flexible approach that fits around you and your life. Our innovative learning materials such as downloads, DVDs and podcasts bring learning to life in a compelling way, allowing you to study when and where you like – at home, at work or on the move.

By doing your degree with The Open University you could: • Study for free if you earn under £16,8451 • Get your career going at the same time as getting a top quality degree • Have a choice of curriculum other unis can only dream of • Be part of one of the top UK universities for student satisfaction2 • Be part of the largest UK university with over 250,000 students.

“Switching to The Open University was the best decision I’ve ever made.

There is a huge amount of support from the course tutors, other students and staff. I wish that I had just started here originally.”

Nicola Reid, switched to a BSc (Hons) at The Open University

Degrees available in the following subjects: Arts and Humanities

Languages

Business, Management and Finance

Law

Computing and ICT

Psychology

Education Engineering and Technology Environment, Development and International Studies Design and Innovation Nursing and Healthcare

Mathematics and Statistics Science Social Sciences Social Work and Social Care Sport and Fitness Working with Children and Young People

Don’t give up on getting your degree

www.openuniveristy.co.uk/fdswitch 0845 366 6054 Quote XAMLAA

INSPIRING LEARNING

1 Depending on what you study and where you live. 2According to the National Student Survey 2010.

The Open University is incorporated by Royal Charter (RC 000391), an exempt charity in England and Wales and a charity registered in Scotland (SC 038302).

19268 PIE T4 UD 02 Uni Drop Outs A4 Press.indd 1

13/9/10 14:01:32

LAST WORD

CHECKLIST

The Final Countdown Ready, set, g o? the checklist Tick all b you’re truly r oxes and eady to jump into universit y life.



Made sure your student loan, aka your lifeboat through university, has been lodged in your bank account?



Bought all the textbooks necessary to actually, you know, complete your degree?



Got a discount card, such as an NUS Extra Card, yet? As a perennially skint student, grabbing bargains is crucial.











Set up direct debits or methods for paying your TV license, gas and electricity bills, internet and rent? Because being evicted halfway through term is a real downer.



Delight? Because no student cupboard would be complete without them. 

around, your clothes can smell bad real quick. 

www.student365.co.uk

Got bedding such as a duvet, sheets and pillows yet? You’d be surprised how many students forget to get these, and simply assume they’ll appear on their bed as if by magic.



Thought about whether your loan will last you? You may have to get a part-time job.

If so, talk to a uni career advisor or go to your SU to see if they’ve any studentfriendly work available.



Thought about getting your gear insured?

Having your laptop, smartphone, game console, TV and other gadgets stolen is no fun at all.



Set out a budget for the term? It’s worth doing even if you already smashed your budget by downing too many shots during freshers’ week.

Set the TV recorder to save every episode of must-watch student favourites such as Jeremy Kyle, Neighbours and Masterchef?

Figured out how to turn the washing machine on? Or found a laundrette? Without mum

Unpacked all your boxes from home? Or have you merely crammed everything into a cupboard to be forgotten about for the next nine months?

Got your new bedroom properly covered with overtly cool posters indicating you are a cultured individual with a unique sense of taste? Even though they’re the same posters every other student has?

Stocked up with instant noodles and Angel

Registered yourself with a GP yet? The start of term means fresher’s flu will be taking hold, so get set up with a doc pronto. And while you’re at it, get set up with a dentist too.



Registered for Student 365, the number one student website? It’s a shameless plug, but go on it’ll only take a second!

Fresh Directions Dragon ad:Layout 1

9/9/11

20:19

Page 1

Life’s so much easier with Dragon!

Did you know that you can talk to your computer?

Dragon allows you to dictate to your computer three times faster than you can type - it could be the answer to all your essay writing nightmares.

Luckily for you, the newly launched Dragon NaturallySpeaking 11.5 Premium (for PC) and Dragon Dictate 2.5 (for Mac) have been discounted especially for students – so now you can save time for the things you REALLY want to do. Whether you have lecture notes that need typing up, an urgent essay with a tight deadline or you are researching online, Dragon is the solution that will enable you to achieve more, faster than ever before – simply by talking (which we know you’re good at..)

Speak your thoughts; then watch your words appear on screen up to three times faster than typing.

You can now use your iPhone, iPod Touch or iPad as a remote, wireless microphone for your computer. Dragon simply communicates with your iPhone via your Wi-Fi connection – so just pick up your phone and talk!

It’s up to 99% accurate. Dragon learns to recognise your voice with minimal training and delivers increasingly accurate recognition results the more it’s used. Plus, it never makes a spelling mistake!

Dragon works with all major applications, email and social networking sites. Simply say “Post to Twitter” or “Post to Facebook” and it’s done without ever touching your keypad!

Dragon can help you quickly and easily transfer ideas from your mind onto paper – a basic task that is often tiresome, difficult or even painful, especially if you have dyslexia or RSI.

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You can also access Dragon Dictation and Dragon Search, free apps which can be downloaded for the iPhone, iPad and iPod Touch.

Or try FlexT9 for Android, a four-in-one keyboard experience that enables you to Speak, Trace, Write or Tap input. What’s more, Dragon is available in multiple European languages.

So don’t waste any more time when you could be having fun.

SPECIAL DRAGON STUDENT PRICING - prices available from StudentSuperstore.com, offer valid until 31st October 2011.

Dragon NaturallySpeaking 11.5 Premium for PC

Dragon Dictate 2.5 for Mac

(Reduced from £99.99)

(Reduced from £149.99)

£79.99 incl. VAT

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