I’m Izabell, and I am in my final year of studying BA Journalism at the University of Roehampton!
September is approaching fast, and I know that starting university can be overwhelming. That’s why I have conducted my top tips for first-year students to make navigating uni life a little bit easier.
Check out your university’s social media pages!
Roehampton frequently updates its social media accounts with useful information for you, including things like freshers’ events, campus updates and general events. I recommend following your campus’s social media accounts as well as their student union pages. Key ones for Roehampton on Instagram include @roehamptonsu, @uni_roehampton and @theunionbar.
Learn how to budget
Start navigating your finances early on so you don’t have to worry about it when classes start. Plan what you need to buy early on and keep up to date with how much you’re spending each week. Things like meal plans are a great way to budget, as they help curb impulse buying, which leads to lower expenses. I found student apps such as UNiDAYS and Student Beans always helped me get student discounts at shops or when I went out to eat. I checked the app frequently to see if there were any cheaper deals they might have for students.
Freshers’ Fair
Attending the Freshers’ Fair is a great way to see what societies are available at university. The fair usually has society stands, games and even free items. Make sure to check out all the societies and speak to the people running them. I attended all the Freshers’ Fairs during my three years of uni and would win memorabilia from different brands through their games.
Grow in independence
At university, you grow to become more independent. It’s useful to know how to do simple tasks for your basic needs, such as cooking and laundry. Learning this pre-move-in date is a step in the right direction. I found TikTok a great place to look up easy meals to cook at uni, as well as simple things, such as asking friends what meals they were cooking to get more ideas.
Get to know your flatmates
If living on campus, it’s important to know the people you’re living with. It can be daunting meeting strangers you’ll be living with for the rest of the year, but everyone’s in the same boat. I’d recommend starting a flat group chat to contact each other easily.
Explore your campus
Get to know the area you’ll be spending the next 3-4 years in. It’s the best way to familiarise yourself with the environment and build your confidence in the location. I’d recommend figuring out where your local shops are before moving in, so you don’t need to worry on your arrival. I did this by looking at the Roehampton map. I also found looking on Google Maps helpful as it would tell me what shops were closest to campus as well as how to get there.
Finally, ask for help if you need it
There’s no shame in getting help at university. Students are encouraged to make use of the campus’s facilities, and support is always available if needed. Talking to friends, family or university staff is encouraged. A problem shared is a problem halved!