This document provides information about student life at university. It discusses what to expect when arriving at university, including different teaching methods, assessments, time management, and maintaining a work-life balance. A sample daily schedule is presented, along with example course timetables. The document also covers settling into accommodation, fresher's week events and student unions, student health resources, estimated weekly spending, and advice from current students.

1. STUDENT LIFE
Dan Wilde and Danny Shelton

2. Todays talk
• What to expect when you
arrive
• Accommodation
• Essential things to take
• Fresher’s week
• Students Union
• Student spending

3. Arriving at
university
• Everyone is in the same boat
• Different teaching methods –
fieldwork, lectures, seminars
• Assessments and deadlines
• Independent study
• Time management
• Healthy work/life balance

4. A day in the life…
08.00 – 09.00 Get ready for university
09.00 – 12.00 Fieldtrip
12.00 – 13.00 Lunch & watch daytime TV
13.00 – 14.00 Lecture
14.00 – 15.00 Food shopping with flat mates
15.00 – 16.00 Go to the library
16.00 – 17.00 Lecture
17.00 – 19.00 Diving - Coxside
19.00 – 20.00 Dinner
20.00 – 21.00 Go to the library and get
lecture notes and check emails
21.00 – 22.00 Go out to a comedy night
22.00 – … Get back home and go to sleep!

5. Example timetables
2011/2012 Week 16 Adult Nursing
9:00 9:15 9:30 9:45 10:00 10:15 10:30 10:45 11:00 11:15 11:30 11:45 12:00 12:15 12:30 12:45 13:00 13:15 13:30 13:45 14:00 14:15 14:30 14:45 15:00 15:15 15:30 15:45 16:00 16:15 16:30 16:45 17:00 17:15 17:30 17:45
Mon Practical – clinical skills ward
Tues Practical – clinical skills ward
Wed Manual handling – clinical skills ward
Thur Seminar Seminar Lecture Tutorial
Fri Lecture Lecture
2011/2012 Week 16 Education Studies
9:00 9:15 9:30 9:45 10:00 10:15 10:30 10:45 11:00 11:15 11:30 11:45 12:00 12:15 12:30 12:45 13:00 13:15 13:30 13:45 14:00 14:15 14:30 14:45 15:00 15:15 15:30 15:45 16:00 16:15 16:30 16:45 17:00 17:15 17:30 17:45
Mon
Tues Lecture Lecture Lecture Lecture
Wed Lecture Lecture
Thur Seminar
Fri Seminar Lecture Lecture
2011/2012 Week 16 Environmental Science
9:00 9:15 9:30 9:45 10:00 10:15 10:30 10:45 11:00 11:15 11:30 11:45 12:00 12:15 12:30 12:45 13:00 13:15 13:30 13:45 14:00 14:15 14:30 14:45 15:00 15:15 15:30 15:45 16:00 16:15 16:30 16:45 17:00 17:15 17:30 17:45
Mon Fieldwork Lab time
Tues Diving
Wed
Thur Lecture Lecture Lecture Lecture Lecture Lecture
Fri Practical Practical Lecture

6. Settling into your accommodation

7. Types of student
accommodation
• Live at home
• Halls of Residence
• Cluster flats
• Shared house

8. Typical weekly prices of student
accommodation
Accommodation Halls of Residence Shared House Cluster flats
type
Weekly price Standard room: £65 – £85 Standard room:
£81 – £92 (doesn’t necessarily £97
En suite room: include bills) En suite room:
£110 – £118 £108
Studio flat: Studio flat:
£133 £129
Positives • On or close to • More space for Same as Halls of
campus less money Residence
• Lots of students • Car parking
Negatives • Expensive • Not all bills are Same as Halls of
• Small rooms included in rent Residence
• Neighbours that
complain about
noise

9. Moving out of home
• Everyone makes friends!
• New house mates
• Annoyances!
• Cooking for yourself
• Some properties include
bills and some don’t – you
need to check before you
sign agreements
• Washing your own clothes
• Feeling homesick

10. Student safety
• Security staff on campus
• Secure halls
• Be sensible – don’t walk
around on your own at
night
• Get contents insurance

11. Fresher's Week and the SU

12. Freshers’ Week
• Go to the Freshers’ fair and
sign up to new clubs
• Induction to your course
• Pick up your NUS card
• Sign up with the medical
centre
• Go to all the themed nights –
fancy dress is a must!
• Pick up all the freebies

13. Get involved with
the Students Union
• The SU is the hub of the
university
• It’s more than a bar and
nightclub
• A place for advice, to relax
and organise events – e.g.
climate change march in
London.
• Lots of things to try – live
music, beer festival, comedy
nights and many more…

14. Clubs and Societies
• Over 100 sports and
societies to choose from
• Societies reflect the
diversity of student’s
interests – music,
debating, dance etc.
• If there isn’t one that you
like – start your own one
up with 20 friends.

15. Clubs and Societies

16. Student health and
wellbeing
• Academic personal tutor
• Medical centre
• Free dental treatment
• Councillors
• Multi faith chaplaincy
• Labplus for science and
engineering students
• SUM:UP in the library
• Disability Assist
• Security staff on campus 24
hours a day

17. Student spending

18. What will I spend
my money on?
• Accommodation
• Bills (electric, internet, water)
• Travel
• Food/toiletries
• Clothes
• Mobile/landline
• TV and TV licence
• Books and stationery
• Photocopying/printing
• Clubs and societies
• Social life
• Plus many more…

19. How much do students spend?
Item Weekly spend
Rent (inc. bills) £
Mobile £
Clothes £
Food/toiletries £
Books/stationery £
Travel £
Clubs/societies £
Social life £
WEEKLY TOTAL £

20. How much do students spend?
Item Weekly spend
Rent (inc. bills) £102.50
Mobile £5
Clothes £15
Food/toiletries £35
Books/stationery £5
Travel £7
Clubs/societies £5
Social life £30++
WEEKLY TOTAL £204.50

21. Before getting to
university
• Apply for funding in plenty of
time
• Do a budget planner
• Ensure you have enough
money on arrival –
recommended £250
• Bank account/online banking
• Check out student bank deals
• Learn to food shop
• Save any money you can
now!

22. What our
students
say

23. Student Case Study – Lindsey Cooper
How easy is it to make friends?
“I was so shy when I came to
University and had struggled making
friends at college but I was amazed
how many friends I made during first
year (and are still making!). Ask any
students and they’ll tell you that
people you meet at University
become an extension to your family”.
Did you miss home?
“I sometimes miss home and it’s Do you share the cooking with
perfectly normal to miss home when housemates?
you first move away. There are so
many things to distract you when you “We cooked together a lot during the
get to University, you soon forget first year, it meant that we were
that you were missing home. When a guaranteed at least one decent meal
visit my parents now – I get each week! If you’re splitting the cost
Plymouth sick!” between you it works out so much
cheaper to cook for a group and
really isn’t that much effort”

24. Summary
• Don’t forget to apply for
funding in plenty of time
• Enjoy the new experience –
don’t stay in!
• Avoid missing lectures
because you had a “late
night”
• Don’t get Fresher's flu
• Be sensible with your money
• Keep healthy.

25. Are you ready to
be a student?
All stand up! Sit down if you
have never…
•Slept in past midday
•Borrowed money
•Eaten food past its use by date
•Stayed awake for over 24 hours
•Stayed in your pyjamas all day
•Put a traffic cone on your head

26. Congratulations!
You are well
on your way
to becoming a
student!

27. Wednesday 27 June
Saturday 20 October

28. Saturday 31 March
Saturday 9 June