Postgrad Guide by University of Nottingham Students' Union

WELCOME BACK TO STUDENT LIFE

S When you return to university to study at postgraduate level you might feel a bit like you’ve done it all before. And perhaps you have, as societies, sports clubs, representation and campaigning all had their place in your undergraduate experience. While that may be the case, your experience of the Students’ Union can be very different as a postgraduate. Most of you have already spent at least three years as a student, so now you might be more interested in taking control of your academic experience, getting involved at a democratic level or just having the chance to party on a school night. The coming year is the perfect opportunity to really get the absolute most out of student life – so don’t let it slip by!

REMEMBER: YOU CAN FIND LOADS MORE INFORMATION ABOUT THE UNION, ACTIVITIES AND EVENTS IN THE WELCOME GUIDE AND ACTIVITIES GUIDE. FIND THEM IN YOUR WELCOME PACK OR ON THE WELCOME WEBSITE WELCOMETONOTTINGHAM2014.CO.UK

DON’T MISS A SINGLE UPDATE! F: UofNSU T: UoNSU I: UoNSU welcometonottingham2014.co.uk

HELLO!

SETTLING IN

A warm welcome, postgrads! I’m Anas Elhag, your Postgraduate Officer, and I’m delighted to welcome you to our thriving and vibrant postgraduate community. Moving to a new city – if you have not lived here before – and starting a postgraduate degree might sound a bit daunting, but I guarantee that very soon you will feel at home. Remember, you can always get in touch with me if you want to chat. Tweet me or drop into our office in the Portland Building if you have any questions, problems or just want to know what activities are available to you. Anas Elhag Postgraduate Officer supgofficer@nottingham.ac.uk @UoNSU_Postgrad

THE FIRST WEEK WEEK ONE Week One isn’t just for 18-year-old undergraduates – in fact, we have our very own Postgraduate Week One Committee. They’ll ensure there are loads of events across the week for you to meet other postgraduates old and new. We’ll have a wide range of events available, so be sure to check them out! You’ll find plenty of events suitable for everyone such as film screenings, days out, meals and ice skating trips, as well as trips to bars and club nights. Ultimately, Week One is what you make of it. It provides some ideal occasions to meet likeminded students and potential new friends – perfect if you’re new to Nottingham. For all things Welcome just take a look at welcometonottingham2014.co.uk.

“Getting involved as a postgrad is a fantas tic opportunity to be able to try out some activ ities that you never mana ged to do as an unde rgrad. It’s also a great way of having things to do in the evenings when you first move to a new city and don’t really know anybody.”

Jenny Eyley, Ph

D Chemistry

WELCOME FAIR Even if you haven’t decided whether you’d like to join any student groups this year, don’t miss out on Welcome Fair. As well as stalls for societies and sports club s many of our Students’ Union services will be there, plus plenty of local businesses and sponsors who’ll be handing out freebies. The fair will be held from the 22nd to the 24th of September on University Park campus. For date s on other campuses, take a look at your events calendar.

EVENTS Take a look at the Week One calen dar or welcometonottingham2014.co.uk for a full list and details of events. For an outline of postgrad uate-only events, see below. All tickets for postgraduate events will be sold on the SU website (su. nottingham.ac.uk) or at Reception in Portland Building. Sunday 21st - Postgrad Welcome BBQ Monday 22nd - Postgrad night out at The Bodega Tuesday 23rd - Postgrad Bingo in The Den Wednesday 24th - Postgrad nigh t out at Vodka Revs Thursday 25th - Postgrad and Matu re Student Buffet Committee (to be confirmed - check website) Thursday 25th - Postgrad Karaoke in the Atrium (Jubilee Campus) Friday 26th - Postgrad night out at Long Island

GET INVOLVED! t opportunity to try Another year at university is a grea ts. spor or ies hobb , ities new activ n’s activities are less You might feel the Students’ Unio couldn’t be more you but , grad post a as relevant to you out from the time take to wrong; they’re an ideal way as a chance to well as , dule sche uate grad post stressful continue building your CV. tional media Whether you’re looking to gain voca ages and rent diffe all experience, meet people of we really do have fun, of bit a have ly simp or nds backgrou . yone something for ever

of “By joining the Ice Skating Society, my network the of one friends was increased and I discovered best places in Notts, the National Ice Centre, and also some nice places around it. It also helped me to stay fit and healthy.” Samuel Ong, MSc Mechanical Engineering

ACTIVITIES Postgraduate stu dy provides a gr eat opportunity advantage of ev to take erything the stu dent experience offers. We have absolutel y loads of societie s, sports clubs an volunteering op d portunities with a broad range of with most of ou members, r societies having at least some mem over the age of 21 bers . Many of them also have a rang commitment lev e of els, meaning yo u can get involve - or as little - as d as much youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;d like. Remember you can easily sign up online at any tim your course. Take e during a look at the Ac tivities Guide fo your Welcome Pa und in ck or head to th e SU website for information on more the societies and student groups su.nottingham.ac available: .uk.

YOUR VOICE There are many ways to get your voice heard within the Students’ Union, most of which you can discover more about in the Welcome Guide. One that is of particular interest to postgraduates, though, is the Education Network. In the Network you have your own team of dedicated reps, the Postgraduate Education Reps, who act as 'head' Postgraduate Course Reps. They also lead on campaigns to make positive changes to your academic experience, gathering widely felt issues from the Course Reps and working on these with the Postgraduate Officer. Change It! is another way to voice your views and make change happen. Take a look at the Welcome Guide for more information or visit the Students’ Union website: su.nottingham.ac.uk/changeit

ACADEMIC COMMUNITY FUND The Academic Community Fund is available for Postgraduate Course Reps to use for social events where course feedback can be gathered. We hope this’ll help to create a better academic community within some of the University’s schools and departments. Think your school or department should be running such an event? Get in touch with your Course Rep!

SHAPING YOUR UNIVERSITY

EXPERIENCE

In the past year th ere have been man y positive change for our postgradu s ate students, with campaigns, Cour Rep lobbying an se d more leading to the implementat of postgraduate-o ion nly study space, sta ndardised fees fo postgraduates wh r o teach and demon strate and much, much more. Take a look at th e Students’ Union ’s Success Timeli to see what we’ve ne been up to and ge t ideas for what yo might like to chan u ge this year: uons u-success.co.uk.

NOT SURE WHO YOUR COURSE REP IS, OR INTERESTED IN RUNNING FOR A POSITION YOURSELF? EMAIL: SUCOURSEREPS@NOTTINGHAM.AC.UK

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