Prepare for uni: Budgeting, how to make friends and what to take to uni

Summary

UCAS Streetview's Robbie James welcomes students to their new journey, addressing common concerns like managing first-day nerves, accommodation, dining, budgeting, and available support. The video features insights from students and experts, sharing experiences on making friends, adjusting to university life, and essential items to bring. It also covers student finance, budgeting tips, and the importance of student unions, offering a comprehensive guide to starting university.

Takeaways

• 😄 Start with a positive attitude: Embrace the excitement of new beginnings and making your room your own.
• 🏠 Embrace the community: Living in a dormitory can be beneficial for socializing and making friends quickly.
• 👀 Be proactive in meeting people: Attend social events and engage in activities to connect with others.
• 🛍️ Pack smart: Essential items like a rice cooker, extension cables, and personal items like family photos can make your space feel more comfortable.
• 💰 Budget wisely: Apply for student finance early and use tools to estimate living expenses in your city.
• 📈 Learn from mistakes: Early budgeting errors can be a learning opportunity to manage finances better.
• 📚 Adapt to new learning styles: University education is different, with larger classes and more resources, requiring you to unlearn and relearn.
• 🏢 Utilize student union facilities: They offer spaces for studying, socializing, and even job opportunities.
• 👩‍🏫 Reach out to professors: Even in large classes, professors are accessible for one-on-one communication.
• 🤝 Join societies and clubs: They are a great way to meet people with similar interests and can be a source of enjoyment.
• 👉 Seek support when needed: Universities offer a range of support services for students, including mental health and budgeting advice.

Q & A

What is the main purpose of the UCAS Streetview video?

The main purpose of the UCAS Streetview video is to address common concerns and questions that students might have when starting university, such as managing nerves, accommodation, budgeting, and available services and support.

How does the video approach the topic of first-day nerves?

The video addresses first-day nerves by sharing experiences of students and experts, highlighting that it's normal to feel excited and a bit scared, and that there is a supportive community ready to help newcomers.

What advice is given for making friends at university?

The advice given for making friends includes being proactive by knocking on doors, participating in Freshers' activities, joining societies, and taking advantage of taster sessions offered by various clubs.

What essentials did the students in the video consider important for their university life?

The students mentioned essentials such as a rice cooker and air fryer for cooking, extension cables for charging multiple devices, a speaker, and personal items like pictures of family and friends for comfort.

How do students in the video manage their budget?

Students manage their budget by using online tools to estimate average spending in their city, creating Excel spreadsheets to track weekly expenses, and learning from initial mistakes like overspending on food.

What changes in the learning environment do students experience when transitioning to university?

Students experience a shift from smaller class sizes and more teacher interaction to larger lectures with less direct communication. However, they also find a higher standard of teaching and more resources available.

How do students feel about reaching out to professors at university?

Students generally feel comfortable emailing their professors and find them helpful, but they also mention that large class sizes can make it overwhelming to speak up in class, making one-on-one communication more effective.

What role does the student union play in the university experience?

The student union provides a space for socializing with a bar, study lounges, and computer areas. It also offers services like career departments and student ambassador schemes, and is a starting point for part-time job opportunities.

Why do students choose to live on campus and what are the benefits?

Students choose to live on campus for convenience, as it offers proximity to classes, easy access to stores and facilities, and a sense of community. Living on campus also makes it easier to be punctual for classes and to engage in campus activities.

What support is available for students who are not living on campus?

For students not living on campus, the advice is to socialize as much as possible by joining societies and participating in campus activities. This helps them to integrate into the student community and make friends.

What advice is given for international students who may not be able to bring certain items like a toaster or microwave?

International students are advised to take part in trips organized by universities and student unions to local places to purchase necessary items like homeware and food, ensuring they have everything they need without having to bring it from their home country.

Outlines

00:00

😀 Starting University: Navigating the First Steps

The video script introduces Robbie James and UCAS Streetview, focusing on the initial concerns and questions new students may have when starting university. It discusses managing nerves, accommodation, dining, budgeting, and available support services. Robbie admits he doesn't have all the answers but has gathered insights from students and experts. The video features interviews with a careers advisor, student ambassador, admissions expert, and a student named Connor, who shares his first-day experience and the importance of making new friends. The script also touches on the social aspect of university life, including joining societies and the Freshers' week activities.

05:00

🏠 Accommodation and Socializing at University

This paragraph delves into the topic of university accommodation, with students discussing their experiences and preferences for living on or off campus. It highlights the convenience of on-campus living, proximity to classes, and availability of nearby stores. For those living off-campus, the importance of socializing through societies is emphasized. The paragraph also explores the variety of student societies, including niche ones like figure skating, and the support systems available at university, such as wellbeing teams and therapy dogs. It concludes with personal stories of overcoming homesickness and the value of the friendships formed during university.

10:03

💼 Student Life: Finances, Work, and Freshers' Week

The final paragraph addresses the practical aspects of student life, including budgeting, student finance, and the process of adjusting to university. It offers advice on applying for student finance early and using budgeting tools to manage expenses. The paragraph also discusses the learning environment at university, the importance of reaching out to professors, and the role of student unions in providing study spaces and social venues. Additionally, it provides insights into finding part-time jobs on campus, the significance of Freshers' week for making friends and joining clubs, and the administrative tasks involved in enrolling at university. The paragraph ends with reassurance for international students and a reminder that universities offer support for various needs.

Keywords

💡UCAS Streetview

UCAS Streetview is a platform or segment within the UCAS (Universities and Colleges Admissions Service) that provides insights into university life, presumably through a street-level perspective. It is the context within which the video is set, aiming to address common questions and concerns of prospective students. In the script, Robbie James introduces the segment, indicating its purpose to explore the student journey.

💡First-day nerves

First-day nerves refer to the anxiety or apprehension one might feel when starting a new experience, such as the first day at university. The script acknowledges this common emotion and suggests that the video will provide guidance on managing these feelings, as part of the broader support for new students.

💡Accommodation

Accommodation in the context of the video refers to the living arrangements for students at university, which can be a significant concern for those moving away from home. The script touches on this by mentioning it as one of the many questions new students might have, highlighting the importance of comfortable and suitable living conditions.

💡Budgeting

Budgeting is the process of planning and managing one's finances. The script discusses the importance of budgeting for students, especially when they are living independently for the first time. It includes advice on using tools to estimate expenses and personal anecdotes about learning to manage money effectively.

💡Student finance

Student finance encompasses the various financial support systems available to students, such as loans, grants, and scholarships. The script mentions the application process for student finance and the importance of starting early, indicating its relevance to funding a student's education and living expenses.

💡Freshers

Freshers is a term used to describe new students, especially in the context of the first few weeks at university, which are often filled with orientation activities. The script discusses the Freshers' experience, including the importance of attending taster sessions for societies and making the most of this time to meet new people.

💡Societies

Societies in a university setting refer to clubs or organizations that students can join based on their interests. The script highlights the diversity of societies available and the opportunity they provide for students to explore new hobbies, make friends, and become part of the university community.

💡Student union

A student union is an organization that represents the interests of students and provides various services and facilities. In the script, the student union is mentioned as a place with a bar, study lounges, and other amenities, emphasizing its role as a social and practical hub for students.

💡Wellbeing

Wellbeing in the context of the video refers to the emotional and physical health of students. The script mentions a wellbeing team and resources available to students, such as wardens and therapy dogs, indicating the university's commitment to supporting students' overall health during their studies.

💡Homesickness

Homesickness is the feeling of missing one's home, family, and familiar surroundings. The script discusses how students might experience homesickness when they first move to university, but also how they can overcome it by making friends and settling into their new environment.

💡Part-time job

A part-time job is employment that usually involves working fewer hours than a full-time job, allowing students to earn money while studying. The script suggests that part-time jobs can be found through student unions or university career departments, providing a way for students to support themselves financially and gain work experience.

Highlights

Robbie James introduces UCAS Streetview, addressing common questions new students have about university life.

Students share their experiences about managing first-day nerves and settling into new accommodation.

Connor describes the excitement of moving in and making the room personal, with a humorous note about his mother's emotional reaction.

The importance of a welcoming and active corridor for helping introverted students adjust to university life.

The emphasis on making new friends as a top priority upon arrival at university.

Mention of university facilities and social venues as places to meet new people during Freshers' week.

The variety of societies available for students to join, enhancing the university experience.

Practical advice on packing essentials for university, including a rice cooker and air fryer to avoid monotonous meals.

The recommendation to bring extension cables due to the high demand for charging devices among students.

Emotional support from family photos for homesick students during their transition to university life.

Cameron and Connor discuss the process of applying for student finance and the importance of early application.

Budgeting tips from students, including the use of tools to estimate city-specific expenses.

The challenge of managing a budget, with personal anecdotes about learning to prioritize necessities over luxuries.

The contrast in teaching styles and class sizes between school and university, and how to adapt to the changes.

The role of student unions in providing study spaces, social venues, and support services.

The benefits of living on campus, including proximity to classes and facilities.

Advice for students not living on campus to actively socialize and join societies to integrate into the university community.

Resources available for international students to purchase necessary items locally, reducing the need to bring them from home.

The support systems in place at universities, including wellbeing teams and therapy dogs, to assist students in need.

The value of friendships formed at university and how they contribute to a sense of belonging away from home.

Students sharing their personal highlights of university life, emphasizing the social and personal growth aspects.

The reassurance that everyone is in the same situation when starting university, reducing the pressure to fit in immediately.

Encouragement for students to reach out for help and advice, emphasizing the availability of support at ucas.com.

Transcripts

(upbeat music)

- Hello, I'm Robbie James, and this is UCAS Streetview.

Now when you start the next step of your journey,

you're probably gonna have lots of questions

like how do I try and manage those first-day nerves?

Where do I stay?

Where do I eat?

How do I budget?

What services and support is available to me?

Well, I don't really know the answers to those questions,

but thankfully we've been speaking to some students,

and hearing from some experts around the UK who do.

(upbeat music continues)

What are your thoughts on your accommodation?

(upbeat music continues)

Clearly less said, the better.

Joining us from the studio,

we have a careers advisor, a student ambassador,

and an admissions expert to answer all your questions.

How were those first few days for you, Connor?

- Oh, exciting.

Definitely exciting.

It's a new place, you gotta move in,

make the room your own, all that kinda stuff.

- And mum was crying, of course.

- Were you?

- I might have shed one tear.

Yeah, just a little one.

- It was scary.

- I got lucky, I had quite a good corridor.

Everyone was really active in knocking on everyone's doors.

- The general attitude at the start of the year

for everyone is that they want to meet new people,

they want to speak to people,

and so that makes it a lot easier, especially for someone,

if you're a bit more introverted, or if you struggle

then everyone's gonna have a good attitude,

and they're gonna be nice to you.

- The most important thing when you arrived,

what was kind of the of your list

that you needed to get done?

- I wanted to make new friends.

I wanted to see new people.

Am I the only one who's lost?

Or are we in the same boat or not?

- There are plenty of facilities about.

Get people out like bars and places,

and then you start to meet people, especially in Freshers,

first few weeks everyone's going everywhere, every night,

you're always doing things.

- Usually the first week of every year

all the societies will do kinda taster sessions.

You can just go and see what it's like.

I've done loads of those.

I did West African drumming, pole dancing, great fun.

Kendo, ridiculous numbers of societies.

- People always say this, you just will meet people,

and you think, how on earth am I gonna do that?

But you just do, just walking around talking to people.

- What were your essentials?

Do you remember that day of packing

and coming to university?

What was the first thing you put in your suitcase?

- I put a rice cooker and air fryer,

'cause they were most essential.

'Cause I don't wanna be cooking pasta

and everything every day.

- Honestly, my mom made this huge list,

I just followed it.

- Lots of extension cables, that's a big one.

You're gonna be plugging in way more than you think.

You're always gonna have mates

who are gonna wanna charge stuff.

- Yeah, so don't worry about books, stationary,

just bring extension cables.

- A speaker.

- Lots and lots of pictures of my family,

my friends, my animals.

- Really think about what essentials do you use

on a daily basis, and it's never too late to buy it

once you arrive here.

- Okay, we're gonna talk all things money,

that includes budgeting, that includes student finance,

and thankfully I have Cameron and Connor to help me.

I presume you guys both applied for student finance?

How was that?

- Yeah, yeah, I mean sometimes it's quite a long process.

I'd say get in there early, you need to fill in all sorts

of forms, and get your parents to do stuff as well.

But also when it comes to budgeting and stuff,

there's a lot of tools out there you can get,

you put in where you're living the city,

and they average what people tend to spend in that city.

So that's quite a good one.

- How do you find managing the budget?

- Pretty good.

- Oh, the first one was the worst.

I blew up 200 pounds or something on food,

and it's like, oh I need to get my act together.

- I said, today am I going to buy the expensive shoe,

or am I going to eat?

Choose food over everything.

- Even shoes?

- Yes.

- I learned the hard way from the first week

I didn't have any money because I spent all of them.

My parents were like,

you have to learn to budget your money.

So making a sheet in Excel,

and budgeting my money for every week.

- My best advice would probably be don't go shopping

when you're hungry.

- That's a good one.

- That is always a bad move.

- So we've spoken about managing your money,

and starting student life.

Let's now dive in a bit more to the student experience

with those that know it best.

A lot of things change, your environment changes,

accommodation changes,

also does the kind of actual learning aspect change as well

to anything you've done before?

- Yeah, it's entirely different from what I've done before.

So you have to unlearn, relearn.

Really, really exciting.

And it could be challenging sometimes, yeah.

- It's very different in that, obviously,

you're going from having teachers that communicate with you,

not necessarily one on one,

but in little groups, 30 people in a class,

so to having a lecture that's 200 people,

and there's very little interaction there.

But obviously I'd say,

the standard of teaching's a lot higher,

and you have a lot more resources available.

- Yeah and it is a bit of an upscale, isn't it?

If you're going to uni in terms of the amount of people

they have that you are with.

How do you kind of manage that?

Do you still reach out, and you can send emails,

and stuff like that?

- Yeah, I think our uni's pretty good with that.

I always feel comfortable emailing my professors,

and I think they're pretty helpful with that.

But I feel like, because the classes are so big,

it gets a bit overwhelming to speak up in class,

so I think it helps to just speak

with the professors one on one.

- I wanna talk about student unions,

because they're quite important.

Why? What do you use the student union for?

- The student union in Belfast has a bar,

and there are plenty of lounges for studying.

It's really good.

There're computers, computer areas,

and then obviously the bar is very good for night time

for going out for drinks and stuff.

- So ours is right in front of where I have my lectures.

So if I'm in between lectures I'll just go there for lunch,

and get lunch in the shop, so it's kind of handy.

- Why did you choose to live on campus?

- That was the best decision of my life.

Living on campus is the easiest thing for any student.

There's a lot of facilities that make it easier.

You late for class, it only takes you up to five minutes

to get to your class.

You need to eat, there are stores close by.

- What advice would you give to people

who are deciding to not live on campus?

- Try to still socialize with other students

as much as possible.

For instance, by joining societies, that's what I did.

So I joined the media society,

also in my third year I joined figure skating society,

so I actually started figure skating on a local ring.

- It's a niche society as well.

Is that the most niche society here at NT?

- No, I don't think it is.

I mean, I think there were actually up to 100 students

in the ice rink every week, so yeah it was very popular.

- Have have we got any nicher societies than figure skating?

- I don't think so.

- No? - I think that's pretty niche.

- It's niche, and it's a good one.

Now, finally, we are asking where and who you can turn to

for help and support.

Well, there are loads of people that can help you.

So students, experts, over to you.

And in terms of the support that you have available here

as well, is there plenty of places and people

that you can reach out to?

- Yeah, definitely.

We've got a whole wellbeing team,

we've got wardens that you can go to

if you're having any issues,

and we have a therapy dog called Ralph.

- There's a lot of information online,

and I also called and just spoke to people from NT

to just get extra information that I needed,

they're always happy to help, so...

- It feels quite lonely at first if you don't know

where to look, and where to go really.

You find the most help in your friends.

Everyone is going through the same thing.

You can't really just pop home for the weekend,

if you live far away, so you're kind of forced to stay here,

all of your friends are in the same boat,

so you're kind of all in it together, which makes it easier.

- And you've come quite a few miles down South

from County Durham, which is where you are from.

What's that been like?

Getting to grips of being away from home?

- It was hard at first.

It was really difficult.

I got very homesick,

but then I kind of found a group of friends,

and settled in a little bit more,

and throughout my three years I've just felt more

at home than ever.

- Good thing is, you get to speak with your family,

you have phones now, it's not as it used to be

in the olden days when you'd have to send mail letter, and-

- Yeah, you don't have to do that three weeks.

- Exactly, you don't have to do three weeks.

- The biggest thing I was thinking about in my first year

was that everyone is in the same boat.

So not to be worried about people thinking

that you're gonna be a little bit odd or anything like that,

because you will find the people that you're supposed

to be friends with.

- I'm gonna put you both on the spot a bit here.

What is your one highlight of university so far?

It can be anything.

- Oh, you have to come back to me on that.

- Honestly, just hanging out with my flatmates.

In our accommodation we had a clubhouse,

we would just be playing snooker there, or table tennis,

and they have all sorts of stuff, so...

- I've given you a bit of time, Callum.

- Yeah, I've got, it's not a moment per se,

but I think it's just the people I've met.

I've met so many great people in university

that I will stay with for the rest of my life,

and it's really changed my outlook

on a lot of things in general.

- So I didn't actually go to university,

I did an apprenticeship, but it looks like so much fun.

Tell me about it.

What was your experience like when you went off to uni?

- Yeah, very, very similar to everything

that everyone covered in that video.

It will be the most exciting time of your life.

You'll meet so many new friends,

you'll join so many new societies, and sports clubs.

It really, really is such a sociable time for people.

- So did you find that making friends,

obviously everyone in the video said

that they found it really easy,

would you say that was the same for you, Tom?

- Yeah, definitely.

There's so many opportunities for you to make friends,

your flatmates, your course mates, joining sports clubs,

and societies, and even just meeting people

in students union spaces,

the bars the guys we're speaking about.

So there's plenty of opportunities for you.

- I think one thing that a few students touched upon

in the video that is important to think about as well

is that cost of living piece.

And students a bit worried about those finances

and budgeting.

What kind of advice and support is available on campuses

for students?

- So every university knows that this is for a lot of people

the first time away from home,

especially if the international students,

could be the first experience within the UK.

So every university and students union

will have different wellbeing advisors,

and advisors that they can help with things like budgeting,

mental health, living away from home.

So there will be a good, good support network for you

once you're there.

- What about getting a job at uni?

Is that something that you would recommend

that most people usually do that?

- Yeah, so I got a job in my first year,

absolutely loved it, and that led to the job

that I'm in now with the students union.

So students unions will be a good starting place

for you to look, so they'll run their clubs, and the bars,

and everything like that on campus.

So that's a good starting point.

But also a lot of universities will have

student ambassador schemes too,

and that is really, really good, and quite flexible too.

So yeah, those are good schemes to look for.

- And if someone wants to get a part-time job, not at uni,

is there people that can help them?

Do universities have job boards and things like that

that students can use?

- Yeah, so a lot of universities will have

career departments, either within their faculties,

or as a university-wide thing.

So they can definitely help you and point you

in the right direction.

- I have a lot of students that ask about Freshers week,

big part of the joining university experience.

What would your advice be there?

- Definitely attend the Freshers fair.

That will happen within the first two weeks, I'd say.

There you'll have every sports club, every society

that you can have a look, see what takes your fancy,

join new clubs, and that's a really, really great way

of making friends.

Not every sports clubs and society

would be massive partygoers, and out, and things like that.

So a lot of them will run sober socials,

and so those are great ways and great alternatives too

if you're not into that drinking culture.

- So I think a lot of the students in the video spoke

about the social side, but what about the kind of admin side

of joining university?

So, kind of enrolling, getting your ID card,

those types of things.

Are there processes for that?

- Yeah, absolutely.

And like you said, quite a big admin task.

A lot of it will be done online before you actually move

to your university.

So that'd be things like uploading your passports,

uploading your rights to settle,

your visas, things like that.

And once you get to university,

you'll probably just need simple ID card,

pick up your university ID, and that's where you'll be able

to log in to the intranet, your student account,

and things like that.

- What about moving into hall?

So is there a way to get to know your flatmates

before you get there?

I think that's a big concern for a lot of students

living with people they've never met before.

- Yeah. So a lot of universities will have certain schemes,

a lot of students unions will also have certain schemes

that you can meet your flatmates and form group chats

with them before.

So that's a great way to meet them.

Also it's a great way to decide who's bringing what.

So you don't all turn up with seven toasters,

four microwaves.

You can sort of spread that out evenly.

- What about for international students

that obviously can't bring a toaster, a microwave, etc.

What is in place for those guys?

- Yeah. So a lot of universities, and again,

lot of students unions will be running trips

in the weeks just before that they start.

So they can go out to local places,

buy what they need to buy, and that can be from homeware,

but also like the food shop,

so everything's there with them,

so they don't have to bring it over.

- And I think one of the most important things for students

as well is about not panicking.

If you are moving a long distance away from home,

be it internationally, or across the UK,

as one of the students said in the video,

you can go buy it, you can go pick it up from somewhere,

it doesn't mean you've gotta drive seven hours back home,

or take another flight because you've forgotten

your favorite towel.

Get a new towel, it'll be fine.

- So there we have it.

If you have any other questions about clearing,

or results day, or preparing to leave school,

please reach out to us for all the help

and advice you need at ucas.com.

And good luck.

I believe in you.