New students
What happens after Introdutory Week?
After the Introductory Week, it's week 1 and teaching starts. The second and third year students will have arrived, so the campus will be much busier! Formal teaching sessions – lectures, seminars and practical sessions – begin.
For every module that you choose there will be information about the learning outcomes, the assessments, assessment criteria, required and further optional readings, lectures and seminars. This will either be provided to you in a module handbook or through Minerva VLE. For most modules there will also be additional information that you should check regularly on Minerva VLE.
Being at university is an immense privilege and you owe it to yourself to work hard and to do your best. The rewards are incalculable and will last for the rest of your life.
What’s expected of you?
University is very different from learning at school or college. The sorts of skills that you are expected to develop and demonstrate are not the same and you will probably find that the teaching and learning are not at all alike. You’re more likely to be rewarded for demonstrating intelligent thinking rather than your ability to remember facts and figures. You should try to show that you recognise that in a complex and complicated world problems are unlikely to have simple explanations or solutions.
You will have up to 15 hours of contact time with lecturers and tutors each week and university staff will not direct what you do and when. You must take responsibility for your own learning and for developing your own academic skill. Staff will help you – but you are expected to use the time outside of lectures and classes to read widely on the subjects that you are studying and to develop your ideas. You should prepare for your lectures and classes in advance by reading about what’s to be covered and afterwards you should regularly review and reflect on what you have learned – this is the best way to become more intellectually confident and more informed. In class you should participate, rather than remain passive – you will learn more if you are engaged.
Organise your time (remember that you have access to your own on-line calendar) – attend when you’re supposed to, arrive on time, complete set work in good time and do it in a thoughtful and intelligent way that addresses the questions asked or problems set. If you are ill or unavoidably absent from the University you must inform your tutor and the module co-ordinator. If your absence means that you miss a deadline you must provide verifiable evidence of the cause e.g. a doctor’s note.
It is important to check when deadlines for assessed work are at the start of the year and plan your time so that nothing is late, (you will lose marks if it is) and that it has not been rushed. Staff are not likely to be sympathetic if your explanation for late submission or request for an extension to the deadline for an assessed piece of work is because you have several pieces of work due in around the same time. In addition, issues like transport problems, paid work commitments, computer/printer difficulties etc. are not accepted as valid excuses.
Becoming more informed also means keeping up to date with developments in the world and in the disciplines that you are studying. Learn to become more familiar with relevant academic journals, (these are regular publications containing articles, book reviews and discussions – usually contributed by academics – relevant to the debates in their, and your, subject areas). Journals are stocked in the library. You should also regularly read a quality newspaper: The Guardian, Financial Times, The Independent, The Daily Telegraph and The Observer. Do not waste your time with cheap journalism, tabloids or magazines. Occasionally listening to or watching a good quality news or documentary can help keep you more informed: Channel 4 News, Newsnight on television; Today, PM, Six O’clock News, The World Tonight on Radio 4 are best for this.
Some hints and tips from students
The following hints and tips have been provided by current students when asked, with the benefit of hindsight, to list ‘Three things I wish I’d known’ before the start of Introductory Week and before their studies began.
Finance and domestic
- Have a student bank account sorted before you come.
- Be aware of extra costs – bus pass, deposits, internet.
- It’s much easier and cheaper to pair up with someone for food cooking and shopping.
- No matter how hard you try, your kitchen will always be a mess!
- If you’re working, do not take too many hours as time is precious and the work can build up.
Social life and settling in
- Find out more about the area you will be living in because this makes it easier to settle in when you arrive.
- Intend to join a society.
- Enjoy the experience that is Fresher’s Week. It is the easiest time to meet new people.
- Loads of people lived at home – it’s not as bad as it seemed!
- Socialise early, everything is an opportunity.
- Everyone is going through the same thing.
- Get out and just meet and talk to everyone possible – but be sensible. Do all the work and reading in plenty of time.
Study related issues
- Buy at least one key text book – comes in very useful throughout your degree.
- Start essays and assignments early, wish I had.
- Make use of the resource room books and journals as opposed to just the main library.
- You must have a USB stick.
- Start essays early, books on the topics will not be available in the week of the deadline. Start early on your research and remember to proof read it.
- Always check the module handbook to prepare for practical sessions.
- It’s important to read around the topic – helps understanding and makes it easier at exam time.
- Talk to the lecturer if you are having any problems or don’t understand the topic before the exams etc.
- Student support has helped immensely with funding and learning aids.
General
- There is help when you need it. It’s available, just ask.
- The university gives students a lot of info, students are very well informed.
- This is a friendly university!
Food and nutrition
If you are concerned about cooking for yourself for the first time, the Food Standards Agency’s “Fresher Food: A student survival guide to food” at the following link is a valuable resource:
http://www.food.gov.uk/northernireland/nutritionni/niyoungpeople/fresherfood/
Included in the guide are:
- healthy recipes
- how to get the most out of your diet
- cooking and storage advice
- budgeting tips
- hygiene information
