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How to fill in your spare time

Thu 11 July 2024 - 12:36

By UCAS in First year

I know the score, you’re at university and you’re there to study. Whilst you’re at uni, it can be a good idea to do something productive to fill the time in between studying. Here are my top ten suggestions to fill in any spare time you have!

1. Get a part-time job. A part-time job would be considered reasonably easy to a) apply and get, and b) to work around your studies. Not only will it fill your time, but you’ll be able to earn some money to fund your studies and social life.

2. Start a new hobby. Picking up a new sport or hobby is a productive way to spend your time. You will be channeling your energy into learning a new skill, and university is the perfect opportunity to do this.

3. Join a new society. Societies at unis often hold socials to help people make friends and socialise. Join a society that you wouldn’t normally join, you might surprise yourself by enjoying meeting new people with different interests to you. If you don’t...

University Tales: My first week (and a bit)

Thu 10 January 2019 - 14:50

By Itunu in First year

Journey to Uni
 
Early in the morning on the 17th of September I was up and ready to start the 2hour journey to the University of Birmingham. I didn’t feel nervous or scared I just felt ready. Ready to finally leave my home town and go to University. 
I arrived, set up my room, met my housemates and chilled with my family. When my family left the morning after I expected to be hit with an overwhelming sense of loneliness but it didn’t come- I felt at home. 
 
 
 
...

Do you need to take an English test to study at university in the UK?

Thu 10 January 2019 - 16:22

By UCAS in International students

By Petra Olsson from Cambridge English Language Assessment

In 2015, the UK’s Visa and Immigration service (UKVI) changed its rules affecting the English language tests needed to work or study in the UK. Many students have found the new rules complicated and are not sure if they need to take a Secure English Language Test (SELT) or another kind of English test. This quick guide outlines the key facts about who needs to take a SELT and, more importantly, who doesn’t!

What are the different types of English...

Can you get financial help from grants, scholarships and bursaries?

Thu 11 July 2024 - 09:31

By money.co.uk in Money

You have to pay student loans back with interest after you graduate, but there are several other ways to help you pay for university that do not need to be paid back.

Universities offer help to support students with financial difficulties, to award achievements or to attract gifted students.

You can’t get Maintenance Grants or Special Support Grants when you start uni any more, but you may be able to get additional financial support in the form of scholarships, bursaries or grants:

Scholarships are awarded based on your academic achievements or abilities. They often cover all of your tuition fees for one year or more.

Bursaries are usually given as instalments each term or a one-off lump sum to help you out if you are struggling...

How to find a job

Thu 25 July 2024 - 11:25

By money.co.uk in Money

There are lots of resources on the internet that can help you find a job, successfully apply for it and perfect your interview technique.

• UCAS careers advice covers everything from writing your CV to how to get into specific industries.
• The BBC website features videos to help you prepare for finding a job.

What industry should you work in?
Your degree could help you get a job in particular industries. For example, a maths degree could make it easier to get a job in accountancy. Here is some advice on what careers suit your degree.

The five highest paid industries for graduates are:

• Investment banking (average salary £43,500)
• Law (£37,000)
• Financial...

Preparing for Exams

Thu 20 June 2024 - 10:11

By Anna J in Applicant

Hello!
 
I hope you're okay and not too stressed with exams and revision etc. I've done 2 exams so far this year and so I thought I'd share my top tips on how I prepare the day of my exam.

Morning and afternoon exams are obviously very different, and I know that everyone has one they prefer. Personally, I like morning exams much better because I feel fresher and more energised in the morning and so I'm able to concentrate for longer - most of the time anyway!!

So here is what I do on the day of the exam to help me feel prepared and calm.
 
1) Confidence
I'll be the first to admit that I'm not the most self-confident person in the world. My motto for confidence is "fake it till you make it" and that works pretty well most of the time!
For both my exams so far, I've woken up early before college so I can...

What's it like at a music conservatoire?

Wed 3 July 2024 - 12:00

By Charlotte Stevenson in UCAS advice

If you’re thinking of studying at a conservatoire there are many things to consider before you apply. advice to get you started but in this blog post we get an inside look at applying to a conservatoire and of conservatoire life from Charlotte Stevenson, who studies at Leeds College of Music.

What has been the most enriching part of studying at a conservatoire?

Being able to access resources that allowed me to open up my own knowledge has been one of the most enriching parts of studying at music college. Most of my hours are individual tuition based, so being able to teach myself has been a huge part of picking up skills such as proof reading and elements of music business – the resources such as the library and practice room were what allowed me to do this.

What made you decide to study at a conservatoire over a university?

...

Get to know a uni better at an open day!

Fri 26 July 2019 - 09:07

By UCAS in UCAS advice

Open days are a great opportunity for you to check out a university, before you apply or accept a place. Not sure how to find them or how to prepare? We’ve got it covered in four simple steps!

1. Make a shortlist
There are hundreds of unis and colleges in the UK and there might be a fair few that offer the type of course you’re interested in. Put a shortlist together of the unis or colleges you’d like to visit, by searching for courses in our search tool. Once you’ve done that, search for open days to see if you there are any you can attend.

2. Plan ahead
So, you’ve found a uni you want to attend and arranged to head off to an open day? Get an idea of what you want out of the day. Whether it’s seeing specific departments, or meeting particular course tutors, make sure you have a plan in mind to get...

Should I pay off my student loan early?

Thu 30 May 2024 - 15:12

By money.co.uk in Money

While your student loan is likely to be one of the cheapest loans you will ever get, it can also be a burden you may want to clear as soon as possible. We weigh up if it is worth paying off your student loan early.

Why pay off your student loan early?

Student loans of a sizeable amount will take years to pay off – especially when you factor in interest accruing on the amount you owe.
Repaying it early will speed up the process so that you have one less debt to worry about. It will also mean you end up paying less interest in the long-run.
This might be especially attractive if you have had the debt for a while or just want to...

Revision Techniques

Wed 3 July 2024 - 13:38

By Anna J in Applicant

Hello!

I'm sorry this post is a bit later than I originally intended. Revision seems to be taking over my life!
 
Continuing my little series on revision, today I want to talk about revision techniques. For a lot of people (myself included), it can be really boring when you feel like you're constantly doing the same thing, and when all your revision looks the same as well! Does not make it fun when you come to go over it again!
 
So I thought I'd share what I like to do, and ways in which I try and test myself and how I (attempt) to make it more interesting - because let's face it, revision is not the most fun activity!
 
Mind Maps
This is potentially my favourite technique and I think I might have a slight fixation with them! Sometimes they're really detailed and other times brief but I feel...

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