Checklist for moving in to university

Your first days at university can be overwhelming, there are so many things you need to do and places you want to see. So here is a checklist of things you may want to/need to do and bring with you to university.

1) Moving in to accommodation:

• Bring all clothes you may need throughout the year.
• Don't worry about bringing pots, pans, toasters and kettles. The likelihood is that either someone else has brought them, see if you can share, or you can buy some with your new flatmates and split the cost.
• Don't worry too much about bringing food with you, do a food shop when you arrive. At least this will help make space in the car for more important things and it is a chance to explore what shops are around.
• Bring some home comforts in case you feel homesick.
• Don't forget to buy or bring things like bedding, lamps, and decorations such as, wall posters (check your accommodation's policies on wall hangings).
• Bring all equipment you may need throughout the year for your course of study (e.g. laptop with all necessary programs, printer, folders and portfolios, notebooks, drawing tablets and more).
• Bring some things to keep you entertained (e.g. games, DVD's etc.)
• Take some stuff for laundry, such as detergent and conditioner (you may have your own washers and dryers in your flat or there may be a communal one, make sure you know whether you have to pay for it and how to pay for it).
• Don't forget to bring bathroom necessities (toilet paper, bleach, toothbrush/paste, soap, body wash, shampoo etc.)

2) After moving in:

UoB Student Union venue: Sub2

• Speak to your new flatmates and try to make friends with them (you have to live with these people for the whole of the first year)
• Explore the town/city. Find out what there is around to keep you entertained and look out for grocery shops.
• Have a last meal with your parents/guardians. It's a nice way to say goodbye for a while and it means you don't have to worry about food for another night!
• Do a food shop.
• Don't worry too much about buying all the suggested books on your reading list, not all of them are needed. Attend a few lectures first and work out which ones you need and which ones you don't. Alternatively, ask people in the years above which books they found more helpful.
• Attend a university tour or explore the university yourself and make sure you know where all the important things are.
• Attend student/freshers events. This is a good way to settle in and make more new friends.
• Check your timetable and know where you need to be.
• Enjoy yourself!

Open Days

Attending open days is a crucial part in choosing your university. Open days are days where the university opens its doors to prospective students, so they can look into their desired department, the available facilities, accommodation and more.

Open days help the prospective student research the universities to see if the choice is right for them. Many students have their heart set on a university based on the information given on the website, but when they visit the university decide it's not the right one for them. It is a chance to judge for yourself what the university is like rather than relying on hearsay. Additionally, it is a chance to not only look at the university but also the town/city you will be spending three years of your life in.

When I was choosing universities, I attended all of the open days I could. I would sometimes visit the university two or three times before making a serious decision. It was quite scary walking around the buildings trying to think "Can I really see myself being here? Studying here? Living here? Having the time of my life here?" For me, the choice was an easy one. The University of Bedfordshire offered me everything I needed, good facilities, societies and sports, up to date equipment, supportive tutors, good students union, a nearby train station and more.

There are some things you should think about when attending open days:

Look at the accommodation. This is where you will be spending most of your time. Question whether you feel the accommodation is in a liveable area. Is the price of the accommodation something that you can afford? Will you need to compromise in some areas? (e.g. en-suite bedrooms or double bed bedrooms are more expensive than single non en-suite bedrooms. Is it really important you have an en-suite?).

Luton Town Centre

Explore the town/city. Whilst you're attending the open day visit the town/city and decide whether you feel it has enough things to keep you happy/entertained over the next three years. Where are the nearest grocery shops? What is there to do on the weekends? Are there enough places to get a part-time job?

Ask as many questions as you can. At the open day event there will no doubt be questions running through your mind. Ask them. It doesn't matter what the question is, or whether you ask them to a member of staff or a student. They will answer the best they can. A good area to ask question is at the university's Student Information Desk, they will either answer the question or point you in the direction of those who can,

Visit the facilities. Visit as many facilities as you can, the available computer rooms, study areas, library, your department, cafeteria and more. These will be the things you will use over the next three years. Make sure they suit your needs.

Memorable Moments.

Throughout the course of university, there are many memories that you will make and hold with you.

Throughout this year of study there have been so many memorable moments for me, it is difficult to pick one. These range from making new friends throughout the whole year, taking on new and exciting opportunities within the university (PAL, Course Representative, Student blogger), attending award ceremonies, going on my first holiday with friends, and passing my second year of study.

From all the good memories it is difficult to choose a favourite or a specific highlight. However, an example would be attending my second freshers week and meeting new people who eventually came to be some of my good friends. Those memories made in that week will most likely stay with me and it still makes me smile when I think about it.

There were also some challenges. For example, within the course of study, there was a particular assignment that almost all students found challenging. Despite this, when we were working on the assignment, it brought people within the class closer together. We felt as though we could laugh about the difficulty and get through it together. It is a positive memory that was created from a challenging topic.

The memories you make at university are ones that will stick with you for a long time. It is an exciting time and I can't wait to make more and potentially better memories in my final year. I hope you all enjoy your time.

PAL

Peer Assisted Learning (or PAL) is a programme that is run by the university to help new first year students settle into life at university. The PAL sessions are led by second and third year students, known as PAL leaders.

The PAL scheme is relatively new in the Language and Communication department, as it was introduced at the beginning of the academic year 2014/2015. As a result of this, in my first year the PAL programme was not running. However, due to being a PAL leader I am disappointed that it was not introduced into the department sooner as I believe it would have helped me settle into university life faster and easier.

There are many benefits of becoming a PAL leader such as, volunteering experience (with certificate), boosting confidence and communication skills, new friendships and more.
In my experience as a first time PAL leader, it was rewarding to be able to help new students find their way around the university and settle in. Myself and other PAL leaders were able to tailor the sessions based on the students needs (for example, how to structure an essay, presentation practice, revision sessions, what activities are available in the areas, and more).

From being a PAL leader, I have been able to view the successes of the scheme (such as, passing on information that I struggled to find in my first year, and getting support from fellow students as well as tutors).

How the course is taught.

In the Department of English Language and Communication there are 2 main methods of teaching; lectures and seminars.

The most regular method of teaching in the department is through lectures. Lectures are traditionally a more teacher led approach to teaching rather than student led. However, due to the department being a relatively small department, there is usually an allowance for student participation, for example, asking questions, influencing the length of detail or teaching style and more. The lectures run for approximately 2 hours per session.

Seminars are not used as often on the department but are still a good method. Seminars allow for more student participation (for example, the student may influence the topic of study or practice task). Seminars usually run for around an hour, however this can be influenced by the student. Students may request seminars for extra support, however the tutor is not always free to do these due to their busy schedule so they may propose a counteroffer.

Every student will have meetings with their PAT (Personal Academic Tutor). All students are assigned a PAT at the beginning of the year. Your PAT is there for academic support. There are mandatory meetings once a semester, where your PAT will check up on you and your progress. However, you may speak to your PAT at any time, if you contact them by email or visit them during their office hours.

Additionally, there are facilities to help aid student study. There is a IT suite within the department with up to date programmes that you may need to use during your course of study. Furthermore, the university library is constantly expanding and adding new and up to date literature. There are academic liaisons to help you find the best resources in your study.

How to pick the right university.

It's a big decision to narrow down your university choices to your top two. So how do you do it?

When I was picking which universities I wanted to attend, I concentrated on which university offered the best course, course units, the location (for me it was important to be a distance from home to develop independence but close enough to travel back when I wanted to), and finally, the reputation of the course at the university.

So what should you consider?

The course. First and foremost it is all about what course you will be studying. There is no point spending £9,000 a year on a course that you don't really want to do at a university you chose because you thought it was nice. When you're considering the course, make sure you know what kind of units you will be taking to see if it's the best fit for you. Additionally, make sure you know and understand what kind of assessments you will be given. Will they be mostly exams? Written assignment? Portfolio tasks? Practicals? Presentations? Or other types of assessments?

Bedfordshire on map of England.

The location. For many, the location is an important factor in choosing which university you want to attend. Some people want to stay near the comfort of home, others may wish to move as far away as they can. Whatever you wish to do, make sure the location is right for you. The Luton campus has a train station located an approximately 10-15 minute walk away, so travel is no hassle.

The reputation. Many people find the reputation of the university and/or the course important. People often want a university that is recognisable on their CV. The linguistics (including TEFL) course at the University of Bedfordshire is currently ranked number 6 on the Complete University Guide. However, it is important to note that reputation at a university isn't always the most important factor, as you will get the same degree at all universities.

The support. Taking the amount of support each university provides is a good thing to consider. With the English Language and Communication department being a relatively small department, it means that the amount of support and concentration on the students is large, Additionally, there are many university services designed to help students for example SiD (The student information desk) and PAD (Personal Academic Development) and more.

The University of Bedfordshire: Luton.

Be a part of university.

Want to get involved at university? There are many ways you can do this. In my first year, I chose not to get involved in university and as a consequence I found that I was missing out on things that my friends were doing. In my second year, I chose to get involved and be a part of university, so I became a PAL Leader, a Course Representative and a Student Blogger. You can do this too!

There are many things you can do to be a part of university and get involved in. You can like me do volunteering schemes such as PAL and Course Representatives. If these don't appeal to you there are more volunteering opportunities available on the BedsSU website.

If you don't want to volunteer you can work in the university. You can do this like myself by applying to be a student blogger or work for the Student Union. Alternatively you could get a job in the campus centre (For instance in the cafe or Costa).

You can get involved in the university by joining societies and sports teams. There are many to choose from. If the sport/society you want to join doesn't exist, the BedsSU have funding available for you to make your own.

Get involved and have a good year.