Students - Back to Uni Tips, Tricks and Chat

kiss_me_now9

cybertortoise wrote: »

I am starting induction on the 28th Sept. I actually started the same course last year but had to defer due to unforeseen circumstances.


My tips are:
~ Do not buy books at the campus store that they recommend for your course without checking first. Our course had a bundle of 3 books at a great price. I actually only needed one of them for my first year, and another one wasn't even listed on the recommended reading list.
~ Buy a flask and take your own coffee
~ Look for books online rather than at the campus shop. I needed one that was over £100, bought it online for £49.
~ Wait! Don't buy every book straight away, get to the library or see if there is an ebook version available via the uni library. Same book mentioned above was reduced to £39 at the campus shop only 6 weeks in.
~ Do not go mad spending money. A person on the same course as me spent all of their student finance(and I mean all of it) in the first 2 weeks and had to ask for an extension to pay the rent on their uni accommodation.


Hopefully this will help someone.

I would add to this re books check how much of the book you're expected to need and who wrote it...

I bought a book in my first few weeks that I used religiously across my three years (APA manual; all Psychology students will be aware of it) and another that I used once for one seminar in week 8.

I also was told to buy a book that was written by one of my lecturers for a specific module that actually was basically a compendium of other, more well written books on the subject.

Prothet_of_Doom

Molly41 wrote: »

Don't forget to get your TV licence for your student halls - one for each room x

Don't forget, to watch everything on catch up and save your money for beer.

Poppy9

Summary of things to buy/not buy from a parent:

1. washing up bowl for not only doing odd bit of laundry but in case of sickness!
2. Washing tablets as easier/pods as easier to use for them.
3. Bin liners for the bins in their room
4. Mattress protector and if a crap mattress a cheap memory foam topper (added warmth too if room cold)
5. Fleece blankets to go over and under in bed and to sit in communal areas!
6. No more than 2 plates/cups/cutlerly. 1 saucepan, pyrex bowl. Sharp knife and chopping board
7. A few ready meals for first few days and some longer life staples like tins of beans/cereal/long life milk.
8. Check what size bed before buying bedding
9. Check if accommodation has desk lamp/iron/ironing board etc - DD accom. did for first 2 years not that she ever used iron.
10. Large plastic storage boxes are good for clothes, books etc. and can often fit on top of wardrobes
11. An overnight bag for trips home
12. A laundry bag/basket - Ikea blue bags are good.
13. An extension lead - they won't have many sockets!
14. If in private accommodation a spare light bulb!!
15. Loyalty card key fobs for your account
16. Some booze/goodies for getting to know new flatmates
17. A thermos flask to take a hot drink to library or if they have breaks between lectures but not enough time to walk back to accommodation
18. Also start saving the plastic boxes chinese takeaways come in. I filled a dozen of them up with them with portions of homecooked food. They are just the right size for 1 portion and the boxes small enough to fit compactly into freezer.
19. Clothes airer

Do show them how to use online food shopping and vouchers. Do help them work out an amount of money they have "free" each week.


Register with Student Beans and Unidays for discounts. Plus railcards are free with some bank accounts and you don't have to stay with the bank after you have the card.


Check if they need contents insurance. I found www.cover4students.com cheaper than adding to home insurance plus it covers iPhone and only has £10 excess.

Former_MSE_Andrea

URGENT! Help fight the Government’s student loan U-turn that means many will pay more
Tell us when you've Emailed your MP

Poppy9

Is this only for English students. Is there any point in Welshies emailing their MP?

Poppy9

Welsh students loan cancellation

You can make a £5 voluntary repayment to get £1500 cancelled.