5 Tips to Settle Into Student Life at University
We understand that starting university can be daunting, so we’ve put together some helpful tips for you to settle into your new student life.
1. Budgeting
As boring as it may sound, a strict budget and control over your outgoings is a crucial part of getting through university. Learn how much you need to spend on necessities and how much you’ll have left over. Try and put the money you’ll need on one side, so it’s ringfenced, and then separate the rest (maybe by setting up another student bank account, or savings). This will force you to stay in budget as you won’t be able to spend money meant for your rent and food on leisure by accident.
You can use Save the Student rent calculator to work out your outgoings and what you’ll have left to spend on yourself.
2. Start a meal plan
Getting into the habit of planning meals and meal prepping for the week is a great way to save time and money. It will help you stay in budget and focus on your university work. Fueling your body and mind with the nutrition it needs, without the stress of what your next meal is going to be.
Of course, you’ll want to try out the local restaurants and food bars so don’t plan too many meals ahead. This helps avoid food wastage and spending more than you need to.
3. Ask for help when you need it
Your university will have many different support services for various issues you may face. Whether it’s social, academic, or personal, it’s expected that you may encounter a few problems throughout your time at university. Searching your university website should lead you in the direction of help, just as approaching a member of staff on campus would.
Your university is keen to make your experience a positive one and support you. Even if you think the issues you’re facing feel small, be sure to approach the right people and get the help you need. Nipping something in the bud early is the best way to fix any problems before they become too daunting or out of control.
4. Take care of your mental health
As enjoyable, exciting, and interesting as student life can be, it also comes with certain challenges. These can include meeting new people from different backgrounds, working in groups, meeting deadlines, and coping with homesickness. Balancing work and social life while staying on top of things academically can also have an impact on your mental wellbeing.
Dealing with these things can be difficult but making sure you speak up is one of the most effective ways to handle stress and anxiety in these situations. Try and find a friend to open up to or contact your university’s support channels that will provide any financial or mental support you may need.
5. Join a society that matches your interests
Whether you’re looking to continue with a hobby you already have, or try out a new one, there are plenty of societies to join at university. Societies are a great way to wind down, meet new, interesting people, and take a much-needed break from studying. They’re free to join, often occur weekly and have many students sign up, making it a good way to build friendships.
You can make extra cash during the year by signing up to become a Research Helper and taking part in paid research. We have varied research projects that pay a minimum of £40 for an hour of your time and most of our research sessions can be done from home. With new research projects always becoming available, it’s worth signing up and applying to any projects that catch your eye.
Want to find out more about taking part in research?
We offer a range of research methods to help organisations understand how to improve their services. Other examples of paid research you can take part in are online surveys, focus groups, and usability research.
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