Introduction

AN INTRODUCTION TO THE WELCOME AND ORIENTATION GUIDE

Making the transition to university

Whether you left school or college years ago and are returning to study, or you left last year, you will find studying at university is different to what you have previously experienced. The aim of this guide is to help you make a smooth transition into a new learning environment. It will provide you with general preparation and settling-in advice, as well as study tips and guidance.

On your degree course, you will be learning in much larger groups than you have done before, and the people in your classes will change from one module to the next. It is important that you prepare yourself for these differences.

There are a range of things you can do to help familiarise yourself with our systems before you start. This will ease the pressure during the first few weeks of term and give you a real advantage in settling in as a student. You will find a suggested list of key activities to undertake later in this guide. They include:

– Visiting the campus before you start, if you haven’t already done so. – Sorting out accommodation, if you are planning to move away from home to study. – Planning travel arrangements to and from campus.

Whether you are beginning Level 3 (foundation year) or Level 4 (first-year undergraduate), it is completely normal to experience some concerns, worries and anxieties. Rest assured, everyone is feeling the same - so do not think you are different or alone! This guide will help you to identify what you need to do, when and how. By following advice in this guide, a lot of the uncertainty should be eased.

If you have any questions about beginning your UEL journey, during your preparation or settling-in period, our friendly staff at The Hub can help. No issue is too big or too small. Whether it is a course-related enquiry, a question about status letters or ID cards, or a more personal issue such as mental health, disability or your finances, talk to people at The Hub first. Our Hub team are experts on support provision. They will either provide you with an immediate answer, refer your query to the appropriate professional service team for resolution, or book you an appointment with a specialist advisor.

To get in contact with The Hub, phone: +44 (0) 208 223 4444 or visit myportal.uel.ac.uk.. On campus, there are also face-to-face Hub helpdesks situated on the ground floor of the East Building at Docklands campus, the ground floor of University House at our Stratford campus, and the front reception desk at University Square Stratford (USS).

Further contact details for where you can get support and advice are in the Contact section at the back of this handbook.