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.

Stress

It is that time of year where everyone has their final assignments to write up and exams to revise for. This time of year, stress is very common among students. So how do you control your stress levels?

1) Start your work early. If you start your work/revision early, it means that you get to do it at a steady pace rather than feeling pressured to do all the work at once in a short space of time.

2) Take breaks between your work. Don't sit in the same place all day doing work, this could make your stress worse. Instead, take regular breaks between working sessions, perhaps a short walk outside, see some friends, Whatever works for you.

3) It's not all about work. Yes the work is important, however you need time for yourself and time to relax. So, when you can take some time away from the work and try not to think about it too much.

4) Lead a healthier lifestyle. Studies show that during stressful periods, if you eat healthier and get regular exercise, or spend time outside in some fresh air, your stress levels could be radically reduced.

5) Talk to someone about it. It's not good to keep the stress bottled up to yourself. Talk to someone, it doesn't have to be a professional, it could just be your friends or maybe even your family. Sometimes they can give helpful advice or help take your mind off things.

6) If your stress is really bad, seek help. There are many places that can give you professional help with stress. There are even services in the university that can help you. Ask at SiD for more details.

Hopefully, you won't find yourself feeling too stressed but if you do, I hope this helps. Try to stay relaxed and good luck!

University Accommodation

The university accommodation is run by Student Village. Student Village offer many different halls of residence; Fitzroy Court, Wenlock Court, Lea Halls, University Halls, Guildford Halls, and John Street. (Details on each of halls can be viewed here.

Wenlock Court

In my first year, I stayed in Wenlock Court situated approximately 2 minutes away from the University.  Staying in university accommodation was ideal for me as it gave me the independence and confidence needed, not only for my course, but for dealing with adulthood in general. That's not to say that I wasn't scared moving away from home; I was terrified. However, the fear quickly passes when you meet and get to know your new flatmates, who may even become your close friends.

Fitzroy and Wenlock Court single bedroom

It is important to try and interact with new people around you as soon as possible. You don't want to be the one that's left out after they've all already made new friends. But, at the same time respect the fact that some of these people are going to be scared, maybe more scared than you. You don't want to be too pushy and make a bad impression.

There may be some things you want to consider before choosing your accommodation; Is it important to you whether you have an en-suite or not? Can you afford the monthly price of the selected accommodation? How close is it to your place of study? How many people do you want to share with? Who do you want to share with?

All accommodation has free Wi-fi, the utility bills are included, a social area (excluding University Halls), contents insurance, on-site laundry, and 24 hour security and CCTV.

Any further details can be found here

#6 in Linguistics

The Complete University Guide have released the 2016 university tables.  In the subject guides, the University of Bedfordshire has been ranked number 6 in linguistics (including TEFL) in the UK. This is a huge achievement for the department as in the previous year, the university was ranked 14th in linguistics in the UK.

The Complete University guide, first launched in 2007, measures factors such as, student satisfaction, completion rates, graduate prospects, spend on academic services, the spend on student facilities, and more.

The tables are available to view here: http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/league-tables/rankings?s=Linguistics

Further information about how The Complete University Guide ranks universities in the UK is available here: http://www.thecompleteuniversityguide.co.uk/guardian-league-tables/


Well done to all staff and students on the department.

Balancing university life, social life, and work life.

Spending £9,000 per year on an education is a lot of money, so it's important to make sure you receive the £9,000 worth. However, it is recognised that a student will want to have an active social life and hold down a part-time job to help pay for additional expenses such as rent. So, how do you balance the three?

Plan your time. A good idea may be to keep a diary. Here you can write all your activities for the day. For example, when you have lectures, when you are planning on doing some of your assignment, what your work hours are, and what spare time you have to socialise. Working things out this way will help you make plans with friends easier, so you don't have to feel left out or stressed because you forgot you had some work to do.

Keep work hours to a minimum. If there is the option to not work, this would be advised. However, it is recognised that many students will need a part time job to be able to afford certain costs such as rent and a food shop. It is therefore suggested that during the term time you keep your work hours as low as you can get them and then over the holidays (Christmas, Easter and Summer), pick up extra hours. When you get a job make sure your employers are aware that you are a student. This will help avoid difficulties if you need time off for an exam and so on. Another option that many students consider is to have a seasonal contract. This is where you only work during the holidays, allowing you to concentrate on your studies.

Have short breaks between work. Whilst working on assignments, have short breaks between working on them. During the breaks, visit some friends and go to town, or what ever you feel like doing to maintain your social life. However, make sure that you do come back to working on your assignment as the longer you leave it, the harder and more stressful it becomes.

Don't be afraid to say no. Often there is a social stigma where if you have work to do and your friends invite you out that you should say yes. However, it is ok to say no once in a while, especially if you are nearing a deadline. If you want to go out with your friends, ask to reschedule so you can join in. Often your friends will agree.
The same idea works for your part time job. If your place of work asks you to stay on longer or pick up extra hours, don't be afraid to say no. Overtime is 100% voluntary in ALL companies. You can not get into trouble for saying no. This being said, if you feel you may need the hours but can't do them on the day you are being requested to, try to negotiate a day that is suitable for the both of you.

How does University differ from school and college?

You may have heard stories about how university life differs from school and college and what to expect when you arrive.  You may also be wondering whether these stories are accurate or not. Hopefully this blog will answer any remaining questions you have.

How many lessons will you have?
Unlike in school or college, you will not have a full day of lessons, where you are stuck in the same building all day unable to leave.  On the Department of English Language and Communication, the amount of lectures/seminars you have will depend on the amount of units you take.  They usually consist of a straight 2 hour lecture/seminar per unit.  This means that depending on the timetabling, you may only have to be in the university for 2 hours a day.

Example of what your timetable may look like. Please note that you may not have to attend all these lectures, only the ones of the unit(s) you take.

What is the difference between a lecture and a seminar?
Typically speaking, a lecture is where the tutor stands at the front and delivers the content of the lesson, whilst you take notes. Interaction in lectures is minimal. Whereas, seminars are more interactive and it gives you a chance to get involved, ask questions and more.  However, on the Department of English Language and Communication, the classes tend to be small, as a result the lectures tend to be more interactive than other, larger departments.

Do the lecturers care if your attendance is low?
There tends to be a rumour that at university, lecturers are somewhat impartial to your attendance. However, that is just a rumour, every student will have a Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) who will encourage you to attend lectures and check on your progress throughout the academic year.

What are the assessments like?
There are many different types of assessments, the most common are:

• Written assignments: Your lecturer will set a topic or question that you will have to provide a written essay for.  There is usually a word limit with a 10% leeway.  This means that if the word count for the essay has been set at 2,000 you can write 200 words more or less. You may be asked to submit a paper or digital copy.  The main difference you may experience from school or college is that all essays must have an appendix containing references. Don't fret, this will all be explained and demonstrated before your first assignment.
• Presentations: Just like you may have experienced at school or college, you may have to participate in presentations.  These will be assessed presentations and you will be marked on your presentation skills as well as the content in the presentation.
• Exams: Likewise to school and college, you may have to complete some exams. The exams will be monitored by the lecturers and exam conditions (no electronic devices, no speaking etc) will be in place.

You may have other assessment types such as, portfolio tasks, practical assessments, teaching assessments and more.

Looking for Accommodation

It’s that time of year where many of you will be considering accommodation for the next academic year.  There are so many options available but the question is; which is the best one?

Some students choose to stay in university accommodation throughout the course of their degree.  However, this option is not for everyone. Many other students will be considering a house share with friends, but this is not always an easy option.  There are many things that need to be considered when taking this approach.

• Firstly, establish who you will be moving in with and make sure everyone is in agreement.  There is nothing worse than having a friend invite someone to move in with you when you do not necessarily know the person or get along with them.  Furthermore, a good tip is to make sure that you do not have too many people to move in with.  This can make looking for a house or flat difficult and expensive.  Usually 2-4 bedroom houses are easier and cheaper to look for.

• Secondly, if you are moving in with a couple make sure you have a plan in case of an issue.  You do not want one person of that couple moving out and not paying any rent, resulting in costing you more money.  Make a plan to have a spare bedroom that they can stay in, in case of a break up, or agree for them to continue paying rent until the end of the contract.  If moving in with a couple is avoidable, it is advised that you do not move in with them.

• Thirdly, make sure all tenants agree on a budget.  Set two separate budgets, one for a house/flat that includes bills in the rent (you could probably afford to splash out more on rent) and one for a house/flat that does not include bills in the rent.  Do not forget to take other costs (broadband, TV license, gas, water, electric, and more) into account.

• Finally, start looking for houses/flats early, but do not jump straight into the first one you view.  Request viewings for as many as possible and choose the right house together.  Furthermore, do your research on the landlords or estate agents you choose to go with.  They may look good to start with but you do not want to get stuck with a company/landlord that will rip you off.  Ask around any friends you know that have previously looked for houses, or look on the internet for trusted reviews.

Good Luck!

Volunteering

Volunteering in the field of your choice is highly recommended at university.  However, you may be asking yourself why it is so highly recommended.

Volunteering opens up a large number of opportunities.  It may be common knowledge that employers look favourably among people who have volunteered, whether they volunteered in the field they have chosen to work in or not.  It shows that you have given your free time to help a company and other people for nothing in return; it shows dedication; it shows that you want to learn; and it shows that you have a strong work ethic.  These are all qualities that employers look for.

Volunteering allows you to try out your "dream job".  If you volunteer in the field that you have chosen to work in, not only does that look more favourable to an employer but it also allows you to try it out and see what the job is actually like, and what it actually involves you doing.  Whilst you're there you may decide that it is the career for you.  However, you may not like it and decide that it is not the right career for you.  This will allow you to look for other career opportunities before it is too late.

There are vast amounts of places to volunteer. Within the field of English Language there are many places and careers that are available.  If you are interested in teaching English, why not volunteer at a school, or if you wish to teach to foreign learners look for an education centre that will allow you to do so.  Other opportunities include, Speech and Language therapy (Private, NHS, adult based, or child based), Forensic Linguistics, Neurolinguistics and more.

Make sure you know what you need to do.  Many placements will require you to have a security check (especially if you choose to volunteer with children and/or vulnerable people).  Some organisations/companies will pay for this but others may require you to pay for your own, check with the placement prior to agreeing to the placement. Furthermore, make sure you know and understand the duration they require you to volunteer for. Many placements require a few hours a week for a minimum of 6 months. However this may vary.

Make sure you have proof of your work there. Most placements will give you a certificate to show that you have volunteered for a certain amount of time.  Be sure to ask about this when signing up. Furthermore, it may be a good idea to get contact details of someone you worked with for a reference on your CV.

Good Luck!

Why choose The University of Bedfordshire?

The University of Bedfordshire is an exceptional place of study for the course in English Language and Communication.  Located in the centre of Luton, it has many opportunities for students, including volunteering opportunities in local language teaching centres and more.

No need to get disrupted or desperately search for a computer in the library as, the Department of English Language and Communication has a study area known as The Language Centre.  The Language Centre consists of a small seating area with tables, where small groups can sit to study or even have a chat, and a computer room that is available for students in the department, that come equipped with all the programmes you may require (for example Microsoft Word, PowerPoint etc; and most recently, a phonetics keyboard has been installed).  The staff encourage all students to use this centre regularly.

The department have a partnership with the world-leading research facility CRELLA (The Centre for Research in English Language Learning and Assessment).  This means that the department are always up to date with new and recent research.

The class sizes in this department are small (range between 20-30 students).  This allows for all students and lecturers to get to know one another.  This is a benefit as the lecturers are able to view your strengths and weaknesses and then help you accordingly.

The teaching quality is outstanding and has regularly been scored top marks by students completing the National Student Survey in their final year of study.  As well as in the lectures, they work closely with you outside the classroom and regularly check up on you to make sure you are not having any troubles. It is considered to be a very caring environment; especially during a time when you have to face your new found independence.

Rooms in Fitzroy and Wenlock Court.

The student accommodation, owned by Student Village, is across the road from the university, making it ideal for students. There is no worry about having to wake up early in order to get transport or walk for miles to the university.  There are several kinds of accommodation to choose from, en-suite and shared bathroom, shared accommodation and studio flats.

What more could you want from a university?