Blogs > Living in London > What I wish I knew about University | What to do Before Starting University
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Starting University is both a daunting and exciting experience but is a new, exciting chapter in your life! It’s the best time to learn, meet new people, discover new passions and interests and feel like an adult. In this blog post, we’re going to go through some of the key points you should know before starting your journey into University whether it’s about academics, extracurriculars or your social life, we’re going to delve into all of it…
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Whether you’re moving to a new city for University or staying home, knowing your way around is crucial and how you can save money doing so! Check out our neighbourhood guides to help you get to know your new local area 🏡
If you’re in London, consider purchasing an 18 plus Oyster Card to have discounted fares on the tube likewise if you’re using other train services like Greater Anglia buying the Railcard for a year saves you 1/3 for students!
As well as savings you can plan your journey and routes around the city using apps like TFL Journey Planner to find the best routes and modes of transport to use. Plus you can check out both the Night Tube and Night Bus services available in London to help ease your routes and plan efficiently whenever you’re out.
Once you have your University timetable, create a schedule dividing your hours in the week from classes and lectures to revision and studying time to relaxation and times to go out. Some of the best ways to do this is using the Eisenhower Matrix. This is where you rank your tasks based on their importance and when to complete by which is best for understanding what your priorities are! From this you can easily manage your time by knowing which tasks to complete first and when instead of multi-tasking them all at once!
For a daily schedule also check out our downloadable revision timetable
Working a part time job on the weekends can be a great way to make a small income! Some good examples of this can be working a part time job at your University, in a Society, retail and as a barista. Part time opportunities within your society is also a great way of working with your passions and with fellow society members to gain practical skills like leadership and teamwork!
For more info about how to make an income whilst at Uni, check out our other blog post here 👈
Planning where to study is a vital step to becoming familiar with the area your University is at. For example, consider getting a membership at the British Library and Senate House Library if you’re a student in London. Both are free for students and offer a range of books, resources, cafes, e-library, study rooms, computers and more!
Don’t forget to use the space at your campus too whether it’s the student libraries or student cafes, and check out if you can book study rooms if you’re with a group!
Plus if you’re a student in London, take advantage of the greenery and parks available to work in groups with and other spaces like the Barbican Centre, bookshop cafes and nearby coffee shops which you can benefit from as a customer through Loyalty apps and discounts!
As well as using student discounts, using loyalty apps and schemes can save a lot of money throughout your time as a student and onwards! For example consider using the Costa, Cafe Nero, Sainsbury Nectar Card or Tesco Clubcard apps to save money on your groceries and daily coffees! For furniture, clothes and other more expensive purchases try checking out local charity shops for something second-hand its a great alternative whilst being cheap and sustainable!
To maximise your savings check out this blog post for more and our free student budget calculator to help manage your money
Before starting University, its helpful to check which modules and classes you’ll be attending in your first term, any tasks or readings to complete which will help familiarise yourself with the content! Check what equipment you might need too, whether a laptop or tablet works best for your course, and to maximise your savings on this check out the sales available at the start of the academic year!
Take advantage of the welcome events, freshers week and introduction sessions in your first few weeks at University. This is your time to visit and understand societies there, how to get involved and what suits you best! A great part of your University experience is becoming a member of a society and meeting new friends through your passion. Plus, you can try out volunteering opportunities at your University to expand your network and contribute to a good cause! Once you’ve found yourself at home in your favourite society, new opportunities like taking a role in the leadership positions, managing the events or social media is a great way of contributing and helping out with something you love.
Starting University can easily seem like a scary experience but it’s important to remember that everyone’s in the same position as you! Meeting new people with a shared common interest in societies is a great first step. You’ll also have the perfect chance to meet new people at Welcome Fairs and events in your first couple of weeks meeting people on your course and on campus.
Paying for bills is expensive as a student so living in a student house can help split up the cost, and to make sure everyone pays their share, you could use Resooma. Resooma simplifies your bills into one monthly payment and splits it equally between you and your housemates, so that everyone pays for their part! You can get a free quote here today!
On top of this, you’ll get a FREE 12 month Tastecard and £10 gift voucher when joining us!
All your utility bills in one monthly payment, split between housemates
Get a quote
All your utility bills in one monthly payment, split between housemates
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