1.18 Life at University
Starting university can be an exciting and fulfilling experience, but it can also bring its own unique difficulties and worries, particularly regarding moving away from home, living with others, meeting new people and being more independent.
You might be worried about cooking and cleaning for yourself, getting on with new housemates, making friends or being homesick or lonely. Often students are concerned about money and finding part-time jobs whilst studying - whether you have already studied at university before, you are commuting to campus from home, or if this is your first time living away from home, it is completely natural to have these concerns.
Take a look at the video below for some tips to support your wellbeing at university.
This is an additional video, hosted on YouTube.
The University of Exeter has lots of support in place regarding university life to help you focus on your studies to your best ability.
Accommodation
The ResLife Team is here to welcome you to Cornwall, your new home away from home. The team is made up of students studying at Falmouth University and the University of Exeter. The primary goal is to help you make the most of your university life, and this year they have teamed up with the SU and Events teams to host a social calendar of events and activities for students living in halls of residence, both on and off campus, as well as acting as a friendly and familiar face in halls for signposting you to relevant wellbeing and support services. A great way to make new friends and feel at home, you can keep up to date with everything they’re doing on Facebook and Instagram.
There is an email address that you can use for any practical questions about your accommodation, worries about living with others and questions about living in Falmouth, Penryn and the wider area which is halls.help@fxplus.ac.uk.
Finances
As a student, you can be thrown into the world of budgeting and bills and it can be hard to wrap your head around. Money can be a really stressful thing to have to think about, especially if you have rent or bills overdue and you’re not sure where to get the money from. Our Students Union webpages have some great advice and support regarding budgeting, student finances and financial hardship, including a handy budgeting spreadsheet!
Hear from University of Exeter students about budgeting tips here:
This is an additional video, hosted on YouTube.
Part-time jobs can be useful to university students as a way to boost your income - just make sure you balance your time so you can complete your studies and enjoy the social aspects of university life! Our CareerZone can offer help with CVs and job applications and offers a dedicated part-time job service to help you gain experience and earn money whilst studying. Handshake lists all the latest jobs on campus and in the local area.
Do you have any worries about starting university? Are you a seasoned student with advice for others? Share in the Forum below any concerns you may have or any tips you can share for living away from home, meeting new people, budgeting and being more independent! To post, simply click 'REPLY.'