This document provides information about life as an undergraduate university student. It discusses expectations for a high quality education that prepares students for later life. Campus facilities include libraries, computer rooms, labs, and lecture theaters, as well as social spaces. Accommodation and finances are also addressed, noting the higher costs of student housing and availability of advice and loans. Assessments increase in later years and include coursework, exams, a practicum module, and dissertation. Career management modules provide help with CVs, action plans, and securing work placements for further experience and skills. The careers service also offers assistance with employment opportunities. Proper time management is important, especially for balancing coursework with practicum commitments in the third year.

1. By Kathryn Harrop
University of Bolton Undergraduate
kh23hss@bolton.ac.uk

2. LIFE AT UNIVERSITY

3. What can I expect?
 You can expect to get a
high quality education
that will prepare you for
later life.
 You can take the time to
develop skills in an
environment that offers
help.
 You can also expect to
meet people from all
over the world and make
friends, learning about
their cultures.

4. What is campus like?
 There are many different
aspects to being on
campus.
 Facilities include libraries
and computer rooms, labs
for carrying out studies
and lecture theatres.
 Also includes social spaces
(both indoor and outdoor)
for taking a break.

5. Accommodation and Finance
 Information on both of
these will available on
campus throughout the
academic year.
 It would be a good idea
to start saving up as soon
as possible: will need
money for graduation as
you may have to leave
home for job
opportunities.
 You will be given advice
on managing money and
time during your degree.

6. Accommodation and Finance
 Living in student
accommodation will
obviously be more
expensive than living at
home.
 Staying at home could be
better in a lot of cases.
 Advice on managing
money is available.
 Student loans broken
down into instalments –
can help with budgeting.
 Keep a log of all money
going in and out of your
bank.

7. Any questions so far?

8. WIDER DEGREE

9. What kind of assessments can I
expect?
 For the second and third
years, the assessments
increase in
requirements.
 Mixture of coursework
and exams; about half a
semester each except in
some cases.
 Third-year Practicum
module and dissertation,
run across both
semesters.
 1st and 2nd year modules
useful – give good
practice for later
modules.
 All modules can help you
to decide your future
career.

10. Planning ahead
 You should start thinking about your topic for the
dissertation as soon as possible.
 You can link it to your intended career.
 Numerous forms must be completed and signed off
within first few months of module.
 Includes ethics forms (MUST be signed off before data
can be collected – will be rejected otherwise).

11. Dissertation
 Have to keep logs
throughout module of
meetings with supervisor.
 Should think about it as
soon as possible – ideally
during the summer before.
 Small scale dissertation in
2nd year for practice.
 Initial report due a few
months into module.
 1500 words
 Finale Report due in April
– between 6000 and 10,000
words.
 Methods modules in 1st and
2nd years useful for
practice.
 Can be qualitative or
quantitative.
 Use SPSS to analyse data.

12. Any questions?

13. CAREERS

14. Career Management and Practicum
modules
Career Management
 Writing CVs, updating
existing CVs.
 Completing action plans to
see where you are in your
goals and where you want
to be.
 Seeing what you need to do
to get there.
 Evaluating your skills and
where you can improve.
Practicum
 Finding a work placement.
 Updating action plans and
skills audits based on
experience with modules –
should hold onto
documents from CM
module.
 Gaining work experience
and improving your skills –
increases employability.

15. Documents from Career
Management module
 Hold onto action plans
and skill audits, as you
will be required to hand
in updated copies for the
Practicum module
 Paperwork needs to be
handed in before you can
start a placement.
 Keep them somewhere
safe, such as webmail.
 Saves time for finding a
placement.

16. Careers Service
 Located on campus.
 Offers a variety of help
and advice.
 CVs, finding jobs,
volunteer work.
 Can help with finding
you a work placement.
 Especially useful in 3rd
year when planning for a
career.

17. Practicum module: work
experience
 Available in the Psychology
module; if going onto
different pathways you
would have to check.
 Similar to CM module as
described before.
 What makes one person
more employable than
another?
 After handing in
paperwork, you have to
find a placement and
complete 60-70 hours
work experience in an
appropriate setting.
 Signed off by supervisor
every four weeks or so.
 At the end of module, you
have to write a review of
what you have learned.

18. Time management
 During 3rd year and with
the Practicum module,
there would be many
demands on your time.
 Normal studies (lectures,
seminars, essays, exams
etc.)
 Practicum (in placement
and feedback).
 Dissertation
 Part-time work may not
be possible due to this –
even more useful to
budget money.
 Help may be offered to
this with children
(childcare etc.)

19. My own experience
 Breaking down study into small, manageable pieces so
that deadlines can be met.
 Didn’t do CM in 1st year, would have been helpful when
starting Practicum module, especially with the
documents.

20. Thank you for listening!