3uuNqq6T

1"[{\"id\":394,\"headline\":\"Personal statement checklist #1 Getting started\",\"abstract\":\"When it comes to your personal statement, one of trickiest things is knowing where to start. Here are some key tips on how to start pulling it together. \",\"body\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eWhen it comes to your personal statement, one of the trickiest things is knowing where to start. But help is at hand.\\u0026nbsp;Here are some key tips on how to start pulling what you need together before you start writing.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e1. Decide what you want to study\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eA personal statement will be impossible to write until you know what you want to study, because it needs to focus around your chosen courses.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eHowever, while doing your research and making your decisions (you can start \\u003ca href=\\\"http://university.which.co.uk/search/course\\\"\\u003ecomparing courses and options\\u003c/a\\u003e right here on Which? University), be mindful of your statement right from the start.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nRead everything you can about the course itself, including details of the modules and what sort of thing you\\u0026rsquo;ll be learning \\u0026ndash; it\\u0026rsquo;ll help you to work out if it\\u0026rsquo;s the right type of course for you and get you thinking about how your interests or experiences fit\\u0026nbsp;in with\\u0026nbsp;that path.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eIf you leave thinking about that until the end, you might then discover that you are not as well-suited to it as you first thought.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/personal-statements/examples-of-how-to-write-a-personal-statement\\\"\\u003ePersonal statement examples\\u003c/a\\u003e - see typical answers from students for inspiration\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e2. Select your five choices (or up to five)\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eIn most cases it\\u0026#39;s best to make full use of all five Ucas\\u0026nbsp;choices. But if there is only one course that interests you and only one university you wish to attend, then it does mean you can focus your statement totally on that one choice.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/choosing-a-course/help-i-dont-know-what-course-to-choose-what-do-i-do\\\"\\u003eHelp! I don\\u0026#39;t know what course to choose\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e3. If your five choices are the same course or similar\\u0026hellip;\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eIf you\\u0026#39;re applying for five criminology courses or five civil engineering courses, it will make writing your personal statement much easier as you can tailor everything you put in there to your course choice.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.which.co.uk/tools/personal-statement-builder/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003e\\u003cimg alt=\\\"Personal Statement Builder | Which? University\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/697/content_personal-statement-promo__2_.png\\\" style=\\\"width: 615px; height: 387px;\\\" /\\u003e\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e4. If you have chosen a mixture of courses\\u0026hellip;\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eIf you\\u0026#39;ve chosen three degree courses in computer science and two in computer games technology, then things become more complicated. In this case you will need to compose or blend your statement very carefully so that all five admissions tutors will feel it is relevant to his or her specific course.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAlways picture the person reading the statement at the other end \\u0026ndash; will it make sense to them, bearing in mind they \\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/ucas-application/can-universities-see-where-else-i-apply-to-and-could-this-affect-my-chances\\\"\\u003ewon\\u0026rsquo;t be able to see where else you\\u0026rsquo;ve applied?\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eIf you\\u0026rsquo;re thinking of applying for totally different courses, like three degree courses in law and two in maths, or five courses that are \\u003cem\\u003eall \\u003c/em\\u003edifferent,\\u0026nbsp;consult \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/personal-statements/writing-a-personal-statement-for-multiple-courses\\\"\\u003eour guide to writing a personal statement for multiple courses\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nIt might just be possible to write a very clever statement that somehow engages with both or all of your course choices simultaneously, or you could just be honest and explain what lies behind your choices. But this is a risky strategy.\\u0026nbsp;If in doubt, consult an adviser or the universities themselves for some guidance - they might warn you not to do it, but equally they might be able to suggest a way around it.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/personal-statements/writing-a-personal-statement-for-multiple-courses\\\"\\u003eWriting a statement for multiple courses\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e5. Top tips for medics, dentists and vets\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eIf you are applying for medicine, dentistry or veterinary medicine, for each of which you can only apply to a maximum of four courses, you can use your fifth choice for a different course if you wish. There is nothing to lose by doing this, but it\\u0026#39;s important to keep your personal statement totally focused on your main choice. However, you\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cspan style=\\\"line-height: 1.6;\\\"\\u003eshould also\\u0026nbsp;spend time researching your fifth option carefully, in case you need it.\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThere are no hard and fast rules about the \\u0026#39;fifth choice scenario\\u0026#39;. Some courses at some unis, for example in the\\u0026nbsp;biomedical science field, may be happy to consider you, especially if they can\\u0026nbsp;detect a subtle reference to some relevant interests within your statement.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nOthers might agree to consider you if you send a separate statement directly to them. But it\\u0026#39;s wise to ask them first, as some will show no mercy and will reject you.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eThis is especially the case if you tried to apply for another professional course as your fifth choice,\\u0026nbsp;like\\u0026nbsp;radiography or\\u0026nbsp;physiotherapy. They\\u0026nbsp;will expect total commitment to their own profession and a flat rejection is probably on the cards if you put them as a fifth choice.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eIn all of these cases, don\\u0026rsquo;t make assumptions. Do your research, check it out or seek advice.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/personal-statements/personal-statement-subject-guides-admission-tutor-tips\\\"\\u003eTailor your statement to a subject\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{form_asset}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e6. If your choices include joint or combined courses\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eIf you are applying for joint honours or a combined degree \\u003cspan style=\\\"line-height: 16.6399993896484px;\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026ndash;\\u003c/span\\u003e such as psychology and marketing \\u003cspan style=\\\"line-height: 16.6399993896484px;\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026ndash;\\u003c/span\\u003e it\\u0026rsquo;s important to engage with both subjects in your statement. In this particular case, the two subjects also have some quite strong connections with each other, so it will be even more effective if you draw some links between them.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eIf some of your choices are single honours and others are joint or combined, or if they are all joint but some of the combinations are different, then once again it\\u0026rsquo;s more about blending your statement in a way that will appeal to everyone who reads it.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eAs head of admissions at Bournemouth University, Karen Pichlmann, says: \\u0026#39;Be thoughtful of the reader.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eHaving problems with that opening line? \\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"http://university.which.co.uk/advice/personal-statements/personal-statements-the-killer-opening\\\"\\u003eHow to write a killer introduction to your personal statement\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\",\"pull_quote\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eA personal statement will be impossible to write until you know what you want to study, because it needs to focus around your chosen courses.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T16:56:49.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2012-09-04T10:13:10.000Z\",\"slug\":\"personal-statement-checklist-1-how-to-get-started\",\"published_on\":\"2015-07-31T10:37:45.000Z\",\"author_id\":null,\"contributing_author_id\":1,\"cached_category_list\":\"personal_statements\",\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"Personal statement;; UCAS application\",\"audience\":\"General\",\"intro_text\":\"Struggling to know how to get started with your personal statement? Here are some handy tips to help you start putting it together. \",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":446,\"headline\":\"Quick guide to student finance if you're from Wales \",\"abstract\":\"If you’re a Welsh student off to uni, read our guide to what loans and grants are on the table, whether you're studying in Wales or elsewhere in the UK...\",\"body\":\"\\u003cem\\u003eNote, the below applies to Welsh students studying in Wales for the 2019/20 academic year and is subject to approval by the National Assembly for Wales (Source: Student Finance Wales, January 2019).\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nWhether you\\u0026rsquo;re studying in Wales or further afield, Student Finance Wales handle everything relating to student finance for Welsh students.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nMake sure you apply for finance early to guarantee it arrives by the start of term. While the 2019/20 deadline for new students has not been confirmed, the \\u003cstrong\\u003edeadline for the past two years has been around mid-May \\u003c/strong\\u003eto ensure finance arrives in time for the start of the autumn term.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nRemember, you can apply for student finance up to nine months after the beginning of your course.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eNot from Wales but studying at a Welsh university?\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;Learn about financial support for tuition fees and living costs if you\\u0026#39;re from \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-finance/quick-guide-to-fees-and-finance-if-youre-studying-in-england\\\"\\u003eEngland\\u003c/a\\u003e, \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-finance/quick-guide-to-fees-and-finance-if-youre-studying-in-scotland\\\"\\u003eScotland\\u003c/a\\u003e or \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-finance/quick-guide-to-fees-and-finance-if-youre-studying-in-northern-ireland\\\"\\u003eNorthern Ireland\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eTuition fees and loans\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nWelsh students can be charged up to \\u0026pound;9,000 a year in tuition fees by universities and colleges in Wales for a full-time degree course.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nHowever, if you\\u0026#39;re a Welsh student and you choose to study in England, Northern Ireland or Scotland, the maximum fee you could pay rises to \\u0026pound;9,250 a year.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{infogram:870005cf-be61-486e-bec4-5b4466fa5d7e}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nYou can take out a \\u003cstrong\\u003eTuition Fee Loan\\u003c/strong\\u003e to cover your tuition fees. This is paid directly to your institution which means you don\\u0026rsquo;t have to worry too much about finding the money for these upfront.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThe Tuition Fee Loan isn\\u0026rsquo;t income-assessed, and is only repaid once you\\u0026rsquo;ve graduated and you\\u0026rsquo;re \\u003ca href=\\\"#repayments\\\"\\u003eearning above a certain threshold amount\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAccording to Student Finance Wales, if your tuition fees are more than the Tuition Fee loan available (eg you\\u0026rsquo;re applying to study at a privately funded university or college), you\\u0026rsquo;ll need to make up the difference. This is where you might want to seek out any\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-finance/what-types-of-extra-funding-are-available-to-help-you-at-university\\\"\\u003ebursaries or other scholarships\\u003c/a\\u003e your university offers (or those provided by companies, charities etc).\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{form_asset}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eWhat about my living costs?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nThere are several options available to help with living costs while at university, such as your accommodation, books, travel, or specialist course equipment (and maybe \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-life/top-unis-for-nightlife-which-university-student-survey\\\"\\u003ea night out\\u003c/a\\u003e here or there too). They boild down to a\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cstrong\\u003eMaintenance Grant\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;and a \\u003cstrong\\u003eMaintenance Loan\\u003c/strong\\u003e.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThe following is in accordance with the Welsh government\\u0026#39;s decision to provide Welsh students the equivalent of the National Living Wage while studying, regardless of whether they\\u0026rsquo;re studying at a Welsh institution or elsewhere in the UK.\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eMaintenance Grant\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eAll eligible students\\u003c/strong\\u003e can claim a minimum \\u0026pound;1,000 grant to assist with the living costs of going to university. This is regardless of household income, nor does this have to be paid back.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eStudents from lower income households\\u003c/strong\\u003e will be eligible to receive higher grants. The maximum amount available (for students from households with an income of \\u0026pound;18,370 or less) will be \\u0026pound;10,124 for Welsh students studying in London and \\u0026pound;8,100 for those studying in the rest of the UK.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThese higher grants will be means-tested in order to assess how much students should receive, so they have the appropriate support.\\u0026nbsp;Again, this does not have to be paid back.\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eMaintenance Loan\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nYou can also apply for a Maintenance Loan to top up what you receive in grants. This will need to be paid back later and is also means-tested.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eExample of what you could receive\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eSo to confirm, what you\\u0026rsquo;ll receive in grants and loans will depend on:\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003ehousehold income\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003ewhether you\\u0026rsquo;re living at home or not while studying\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eif living away from home, whether this is in London or elsewhere in the UK\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eAccording to official statistics, the average household income in Wales is \\u0026pound;25,000. A student from this household would receive the following, depending on their study circumstances:\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eliving at home: \\u0026pound;5,930 in grant, \\u0026pound;1,910 in loan\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eliving away from home, studying outside London: \\u0026pound;6,947 in grant, \\u0026pound;2,278\\u0026nbsp;in loan\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eliving away from home, studying in London: \\u0026pound;8,643 in grant, \\u0026pound;2,887 in loan\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\nIf your household income is below this average, you\\u0026rsquo;ll be eligible for a higher grant and therefore a smaller loan (and vice versa if your household income is higher than the average).\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{infogram:4e1d3382-3b92-4bc5-8698-85b8bf987496}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nHowever, you\\u0026rsquo;ll always be eligible for more in maintenance support if you\\u0026rsquo;re living away from home in London (\\u0026pound;11,530), than if you were living elsewhere in the UK (\\u0026pound;9,225) or with your parents (\\u0026pound;7,840). The only thing that household income affects is the grant-to-loan ratio that makes up this total.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThis is just a rough guide,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.studentfinancewales.co.uk/undergraduate-students/new-students.aspx\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003esee what you can get on the Student Finance Wales website\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{calculator}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eExtra grants\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nThere are a number of further, non-repayable grants available depending on individual circumstances. Part-time students should note that course intensity (ie the % of time spent studying compared with a student on an equivalent full-time course) may factor into how much they can get.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nHere\\u0026rsquo;s a quick rundown of what further financial assistance is on the table:\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eChildcare grant (CCG)\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eWhat and who\\u0026rsquo;s eligible?\\u003c/strong\\u003e To cover cost of childcare (up to 85% of the total cost).\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eHow much can you get? \\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u0026pound;161.50 a week maximum for one child, \\u0026pound;274.55 max for two or more children.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eAny conditions? \\u003c/strong\\u003eAmount depends on household income, children and other dependants. Students who receive the \\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.studentfinancewales.co.uk/undergraduate-students/new-students/student-finance-available-in-201819.aspx#.Woa8kujFKUk\\\"\\u003etax credits or grants listed here\\u003c/a\\u003e may not qualify.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eParents\\u0026rsquo; Learning Allowance (PLA)\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eWhat and who\\u0026rsquo;s eligible? \\u003c/strong\\u003eTo help with course costs if you have dependent children.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eHow much can you get?\\u003c/strong\\u003e \\u0026pound;1,557 per year maximum for full-time students.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eAdults Dependants\\u0026rsquo; Grant (ADG)\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eWhat and who\\u0026rsquo;s eligible?\\u003c/strong\\u003e If you have a partner or another adult financially dependent on you.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eHow much can you get? \\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u0026pound;2,732 per year maximum for full-time students.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eAny conditions? \\u003c/strong\\u003eYou can only apply for this once. The dependent adult in question must not be earning an income over \\u0026pound;3,923.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eDisabled Students\\u0026rsquo; Allowances (DSAs)\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eWhat and who\\u0026rsquo;s eligible? \\u003c/strong\\u003eTo cover any additional study-related costs you may incur because of your disability. This can include a mental health condition or specific learning difficulty too.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eHow much can you get?\\u003c/strong\\u003e This depends on the type of support you need. For full-time students, a general allowance of \\u0026pound;1,894 per year maximum is available. \\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.studentfinancewales.co.uk/undergraduate-students/new-students.aspx\\\"\\u003eSee more\\u003c/a\\u003e about what\\u0026rsquo;s available depending on support.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nLearn more about these grants \\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.studentfinancewales.co.uk/undergraduate-students/new-students.aspx\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eon the Student Finance Wales website\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eIs there any other support I can get from my university?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nExtra money you never need to pay back is also on offer directly from universities or colleges, primarily scholarships and bursaries. These are awarded for lots of different reasons, from personal circumstances to academic achievement. We asked students who secured extra funding \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-finance/applying-for-university-bursaries-and-scholarships\\\"\\u003efor their top tips\\u003c/a\\u003e, including where they looked.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nContact your university\\u0026rsquo;s student support services department (or equivalent) for more information, including how and when to apply by. If you don\\u0026#39;t meet the conditions for those they offer, expand your search to those provided by companies, charities and organisations.\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-finance/what-types-of-extra-funding-are-available-to-help-you-at-university\\\"\\u003eWhat extra funding is there to help you at university?\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"repayments\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eHow do student loan repayments work in Wales?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nThe Welsh repayment system works the same way \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-finance/quick-guide-to-fees-and-finance-if-youre-studying-in-england#repayments\\\"\\u003eas it does in England\\u003c/a\\u003e \\u0026ndash; learn more here about what you\\u0026rsquo;ll pay and when.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T16:58:30.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2012-09-04T10:15:31.000Z\",\"slug\":\"quick-guide-to-fees-and-finance-if-youre-studying-in-wales\",\"published_on\":\"2019-01-07T15:39:08.000Z\",\"author_id\":null,\"contributing_author_id\":6,\"cached_category_list\":\"finance\",\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"wales\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"university\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"Student loan;; bursaries and scholarships;; Tuition fees;; wales;; funding;; maintenance loans;; maintenance grants;; grants;; student finance wales\",\"audience\":\"General\",\"intro_text\":\"If you’re a Welsh student off to uni, read our guide to what loans and grants are on the table, whether you're studying in Wales or elsewhere in the UK...\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":454,\"headline\":\"Should I choose university halls? Top tips from students\",\"abstract\":\"Living in uni halls of residence is a great choice for most undergraduates. Get expert advice from students who have already made the move on to campus.\",\"body\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eWe\\u0026#39;ve also got advice to help you \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-accommodation/should-you-choose-catered-or-self-catered-accommodation\\\"\\u003eweigh up all accommodation options\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;from \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-accommodation/student-accommodation-private-accommodation\\\"\\u003eprivate rental accommodation\\u003c/a\\u003e to \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/clearing-results-day/student-accommodation-living-at-home\\\"\\u003eliving at home\\u003c/a\\u003e. Plus, \\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/what-should-you-do-if-you-dont-get-a-place-in-student-halls\\\"\\u003ewhat to do if you miss out on a place in halls\\u003c/a\\u003e...\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eApply early\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eAccommodation is usually allocated on a first come, first served basis \\u0026ndash; and some unis can\\u0026#39;t guarantee all first year students a place in halls. If you have specific preferences, get your choices in early so that they can be considered.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAlso, be aware that unis often have deadlines for applying well ahead of your course start date (around the start of August), so don\\u0026rsquo;t leave it until the last minute to make your application.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cspan style=\\\"color: rgb(50, 53, 55); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244); \\\"\\u003e{av:3611625}\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eShared bathrooms aren\\u0026rsquo;t that bad!\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nFor some, availability of an en suite bathroom is their dealbreaker. But are you really willing to sacrifice more money and being farther away from university if you can\\u0026rsquo;t get one?\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"color: rgb(50, 53, 55); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244); \\\"\\u003e{av:3611675}\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eDon\\u0026#39;t worry if you don\\u0026#39;t get your first choice!\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eApplications are typically made online. You usually put down a number of preferences \\u0026ndash; your preferred accommodation residence as well as your preferred type of room (standard, en suite, catered, etc).\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAccommodation officers will do their best to match you to your preferences. Keep in mind that some residences will be very oversubscribed, so you\\u0026rsquo;re not guaranteed to get your first choice.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cspan style=\\\"color: rgb(50, 53, 55); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244); \\\"\\u003e{av:3611702}\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eDon\\u0026rsquo;t overlook the cheapest halls\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eDifferent types of accommodation comes in a range of different shapes and sizes \\u0026ndash; and, accordingly, varying price ranges. If your student budget is looking tight, going with the cheapest or basic halls option can free up some cash to go towards other \\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.google.com/url?q=https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-finance/whats-the-average-cost-of-living-at-university\\u0026amp;sa=D\\u0026amp;ust=1528968532611000\\u0026amp;usg=AFQjCNFbsm3N1Fv1XN54hj25qKU12SL3LQ\\\"\\u003eliving costs\\u003c/a\\u003e \\u0026ndash; this might be worth considering if you\\u0026rsquo;ll be going home at weekends a lot.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"color: rgb(50, 53, 55); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244); \\\"\\u003e{av:3611748}\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{calculator}\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eClose to uni is ideal\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eLocation is another important factor to weigh up when choosing accommodation, and often impacts how much you\\u0026rsquo;ll pay. This can be something many students under-appreciate once they move off-campus and have to travel in for class (an extra cost to consider, after your first year).\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nMost halls will be located on or close to campus, but this can vary from university to university. Some halls may be farther into town (including private halls operated by third-party providers) or simply farther away from where lectures take place if it\\u0026rsquo;s a large campus.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nDo some research into where your lectures will take place and what your timetable may look like. If you don\\u0026rsquo;t mind waking up a bit earlier and you can walk (or cycle) to class, you could save some money living further away from the action.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cspan style=\\\"color: rgb(50, 53, 55); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244); \\\"\\u003e{av:3611781}\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eThere can be cheaper options\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eWhile rent is inclusive of bills, and contracts are slightly shorter than in the \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-accommodation/student-accommodation-private-accommodation\\\"\\u003eprivate rented sector\\u003c/a\\u003e, living in university halls is still overall likely to be the more expensive accommodation option overall. Note, some private landlords include bills in their rent (but check this before you agree to anything).\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nWhile living in halls in your first year can make the transition to living away from home easier \\u0026ndash; as well as putting you in the heart of things, on campus \\u0026ndash; if you\\u0026rsquo;re happy to rent a private house or flat with other students, your housing office can help match you up with students or find a spare room in a property.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nCheck out \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-accommodation/choosing-the-right-housemates-for-second-year-of-university#firstyearlookingforhousemates\\\"\\u003eour tips for finding housemates to rent\\u0026nbsp;with in first year\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"color: rgb(50, 53, 55); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244); \\\"\\u003e{av:3611860}\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eFactor in hidden costs\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eDo your research, apply early and think about issues such as location, \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-accommodation/should-you-choose-catered-or-self-catered-accommodation\\\"\\u003ecatering\\u003c/a\\u003e and extra costs \\u0026ndash; you\\u0026rsquo;ve got a much better chance of picking the first-year accommodation that\\u0026rsquo;s right for you.\\u0026nbsp;Try to visit different halls of residence at \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/open-days/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-university-open-days\\\"\\u003euniversity open days\\u003c/a\\u003e to get a feel for the atmosphere. Chat to current students living in these to find out the pros and cons. Would they choose the same halls if they had the chance to choose again? \\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eAnd if you don\\u0026#39;t manage to get a place in halls, don\\u0026#39;t panic! Here\\u0026#39;s how to seek \\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/what-should-you-do-if-you-dont-get-a-place-in-student-halls\\\"\\u003ealternative accommodation\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cspan style=\\\"color: rgb(50, 53, 55); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244); \\\"\\u003e{av:3611889}\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T16:59:09.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2012-09-04T10:15:38.000Z\",\"slug\":\"choosing-university-halls-top-tips-from-students\",\"published_on\":\"2018-06-17T14:58:49.000Z\",\"author_id\":null,\"contributing_author_id\":5,\"cached_category_list\":\"accommodation\",\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"accommodation;; Student life;; Student accommodation\",\"audience\":\"General\",\"intro_text\":\"You’ll probably have a couple of halls options to pick from when sorting out first year accommodation. What can you learn from these university students’ experience when choosing halls?\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":484,\"headline\":\"Open day questions: biological sciences students\",\"abstract\":\"Are you interested in studying one of the biological sciences? Use our list of open day questions to get the answers you’re looking for.\",\"body\":\"\\u003ch3\\u003eAbout the course\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWho will be teaching me? Do my lecturers still practice in the field of medical research?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWhat modules are optional on this course? Is it better to specialise early on?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eCan I choose modules outside this course?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWhat skills will I learn on this course?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eEquipment and facilities\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWhat books and equipment should I buy?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eHow much time contact time do we have per week and how is this structured?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eHow much time do we get in the labs?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eAre the labs modern / state-of-the-art? What areas does the department specialise in?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003ePlacements and field trips\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eAre there any research trips I can go on, or vacation projects I can get involved with?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWill I need to do an industrial placement? Do I organise this, or will the university arrange it?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eDo I need to do some work experience before I start this course?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eAssessments\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWhat is the split between individual exams and group work?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eDo I need to complete a dissertation or research-based project?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eCan I choose the subject of my research?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eIf I do a placement, will I be marked on it?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eMy prospects\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eHow does this course help me get a job? What sort of jobs have previous graduates gone on to do?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWhat percentage of graduates continue into PhD-level study? Can I get funding from the university if this is what I want to do?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eDoes the uni have links with industry so I can look for jobs?\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eNext:\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/open-days/open-day-questions-medical-studies-students\\\"\\u003eQuestions to ask if you\\u0026#39;re a medicine student\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/choosing-a-course/help-i-dont-know-what-course-to-choose-what-do-i-do\\\"\\u003eDon\\u0026#39;t know what course to choose?\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T16:50:39.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2012-09-20T14:46:10.000Z\",\"slug\":\"open-day-questions-biological-sciences\",\"published_on\":\"2013-06-03T10:00:00.000Z\",\"author_id\":3,\"contributing_author_id\":2,\"cached_category_list\":\"open_days\",\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"Questions to ask;; Open Days;; Finding the right course\",\"audience\":\"General\",\"intro_text\":\"Studying one of the biological sciences – from botany to zoology – will involve some lab work, but how much? Use our list of open day questions to get the answers you’re looking for.\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":489,\"headline\":\"Open day questions: linguistics, literature and classics students\",\"abstract\":\"Interested in the study of poets, philosophers or the literary greats, but not sure what it'll be like? Here are the top open day questions to ask to find out.\",\"body\":\"\\u003ch3\\u003eAbout the course\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWhat are the core texts / periods for this course?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWill I need to do reading over the summer?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eDo I need to have an A-level (or equivalent) in English?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWhat\\u0026#39;s the split between ancient and modern texts?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWhat\\u0026#39;s the split between prose, drama and poetry?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eHow many hours of teaching will I get a week? Will that be in lectures, seminars or tutorials?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003cem\\u003eAncient language courses\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eDo I need to learn another language to do this course?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eDo I need to have an A-level (or equivalent) in Greek or Latin?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWill I have to learn Greek or Latin as part of the course?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eEquipment and facilities\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eHow much reading is involved per week?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWhat is a reading week? Do I have one?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eAre all the library resources available online?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eShould I buy all the books on the syllabus?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eAre there multiple copies of texts available to borrow in the library?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eHow much will I have to spend on printing?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eDo you have specialist facilities - for example, language or phonetics labs?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eAssessments\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWhat is the split between exams / coursework / group projects?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eDo I need to complete dissertation or research-based project?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eHow will I decide on a subject for my dissertation? Will I have help?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWill I get the opportunity to do modules in any other faculties?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eProspects\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWhat employment opportunities does this course usually lead to?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWhat have graduates on this course gone on to do?\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eNext:\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/open-days/how-to-get-the-most-out-of-university-open-days\\\"\\u003eHow to get the most out of university open days\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"/search/course?utf8=?\\u0026amp;c%5Bsubject_l2%5D%5B%5D=Q300\\u0026amp;c%5Bsort_fact%5D=relevance\\u0026amp;commit=Apply+changes\\\"\\u003eSearch for English and more courses\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T16:51:51.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2012-09-20T14:58:21.000Z\",\"slug\":\"open-day-questions-linguistics-literature-and-classics\",\"published_on\":\"2013-06-03T10:00:00.000Z\",\"author_id\":3,\"contributing_author_id\":2,\"cached_category_list\":\"open_days\",\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"Questions to ask;; Open Days;; Finding the right course\",\"audience\":\"General\",\"intro_text\":\" Interested in poets, philosophers or the literary greats, or studying how language actually works? Check out these questions you can ask on your open day visit…\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":500,\"headline\":\"Keeping checks on university standards – an insider look\",\"abstract\":\"You’ll be regularly assessed as part of your degree studies, but ever wondered who’s assessing the assessors? QAA is there to do just that – here’s what’s involved. \",\"body\":\"The Quality Assurance Agency for Higher Education (QAA) is the independent body entrusted with monitoring, and advising on, standards and quality in UK higher education. Universities and colleges must pass their reviews to get government support, including student loan funding.\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eQuality assurance explained\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nEvery university or college carries out its own quality checks on a regular basis. QAA conducts an independent review of each of them at least once every six years, to check that they meet the expectations of the UK Quality Code for Higher Education (Quality Code). Review teams are typically made up of five people. One reviewer is always a student, and all will have professional expertise in UK higher education.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAfter each of these review visits, QAA publishes a detailed report stating our findings and recommendations for improvement. If anything isn\\u0026#39;t right, the university or college is asked to draw up an action plan, and we return later to check that progress is underway.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAll reports are available for anyone to look at, so it\\u0026rsquo;s a good idea to check out the latest reports for any universities or colleges. This will tell you what they perform well on and the areas highlighted for improvement.\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eBefore you go to university or college\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nSo how do you use this information before you head off to university? Here\\u0026rsquo;s how it can help:\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eHelping you to make the right choice\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nChoosing the best university or college for your studies can seem like a daunting prospect: no two universities or colleges are the same.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nQAA institution reports give you official information about the quality of teaching and academic standards at each UK university or college. They can help you make the right choice \\u0026ndash; inspiring some questions to ask at a \\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/top-questions-to-ask-at-a-university-open-day\\\"\\u003euniversity open day\\u003c/a\\u003e, for instance, or as extra questions to ask at an \\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/checklist-university-and-degree-subjects-you-might-be-interviewed-for\\\"\\u003eentry interview\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nYou\\u0026rsquo;ll be able to see:\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003ewhat the university or college generally does well\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003ewhere it needs to improve\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003ea judgement on whether it has met nationally agreed expectations\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eLook for the quality mark\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nQAA has two marks to look out for which show that a higher education provider has had a successful review by QAA. This means that you can be confident that providers displaying these marks have been subject to rigorous external scrutiny. Look out for the Quality Mark on the websites of universities or publicly funded colleges of further education.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eWhat about when you are at university or college?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nIf you\\u0026rsquo;re not happy with the quality of teaching, facilities or course structure once you\\u0026rsquo;re at university, there are steps you can take.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThe first thing you should do is to raise it with your university or college \\u0026ndash; they will have their own internal procedure for dealing with complaints.\\u0026nbsp;If you\\u0026rsquo;re still unhappy with the outcome, you have two options:\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e1.\\u003c/strong\\u003e If the complaint relates to how you have been treated as an individual you should contact the \\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.oiahe.org.uk/\\\"\\u003eOffice of the Independent Adjudicator\\u003c/a\\u003e (in Scotland, the \\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.spso.org.uk/\\\"\\u003eScottish Public Services Ombudsman\\u003c/a\\u003e) to ask them to review your complaint\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e2.\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;If your concern is about a serious systemic or procedural problem related to academic standards, quality or the provision of information at this university or college, you should contact QAA through our Concerns Scheme. You will be asked to supply documentary evidence, including a letter showing the outcome of your internal complaint.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eWhich? University provides guest spots to external contributors. This is from QAA,\\u0026nbsp;an independent body set up to safeguard standards and improve the quality of UK higher education.\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eNext:\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eDiscover \\u003ca href=\\\"http://university.which.co.uk/advice/what-do-university-league-tables-really-tell-you\\\"\\u003ehow useful the league tables are when\\u0026nbsp;choosing a course\\u003c/a\\u003e?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWhich university tops \\u003ca href=\\\"http://university.which.co.uk/advice/university-league-tables-alternative\\\"\\u003ethe alternative league tables\\u003c/a\\u003e?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T16:43:58.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2012-10-05T08:28:43.000Z\",\"slug\":\"keeping-checks-on-university-standards-an-insider-look\",\"published_on\":\"2014-10-05T08:18:24.000Z\",\"author_id\":3,\"contributing_author_id\":48,\"cached_category_list\":\"choosing\",\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"University reviews;; University complaints\",\"audience\":\"General\",\"intro_text\":\"You’ll be regularly assessed as part of your degree studies, but ever wondered who’s assessing the assessors? QAA is there to do just that  – here’s what’s involved. \",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":566,\"headline\":\"A-level trends for popular degree courses revealed\",\"abstract\":\"Find out what A-level combinations were taken by previous students on your desired course, and what grades they achieved. \",\"body\":\"Thinking about applying for a place at university? You\\u0026#39;re probably busy researching the different courses and universities on offer \\u0026ndash; and of course, the \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/ucas-application/the-real-story-behind-entry-requirements\\\"\\u003eentry requirements\\u003c/a\\u003e and points you need in order to get to be considered. But it\\u0026#39;s also worth looking at which A-levels students on different degree courses actually took, and the grades they actually achieved.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nCareer and education-choice expert, bestCourse4Me.com (bc4me), looks at typical A-level combinations* \\u0026ndash; and grades achieved \\u0026ndash; by students who go on to take popular degree courses. This could help to match you to the right degree course. \\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eSee what you can study at uni with your A-levels \\u0026ndash; \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/a-level-explorer\\\"\\u003etry our A-level Explorer\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eActual qualifications vs entry requirements\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nWhat\\u0026#39;s really revealing about looking at the actual qualifications students achieved is that they can be very different from the entry requirements listed by a university department. As well as on the bC4Me website, you\\u0026#39;ll also find them on \\u003ca href=\\\"/search/course\\\"\\u003eWhich? University course pages\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nMeeting the quoted entry requirements is key to application success \\u0026ndash; but looking at these in combination with actual achievements data will arm you with extra knowledge:\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003ehow flexible (or inflexible) a university might be when it comes to the stated entry requirements.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003ean idea of the typical academic background of your potential peers.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003ehow broad (or narrow) typical A-level subject combinations studied are.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/ucas-application/what-are-university-entry-requirements\\\"\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eWhat are university requirements?\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nWe\\u0026#39;ve been looking at four popular university subjects to show you these stats in action \\u003cspan style=\\\"font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 13.3333330154419px; line-height: 14.2666654586792px;\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash;\\u003c/span\\u003e it makes for very interesting reading.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eAspiring medics\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nIf you are thinking of studying clinical medicine, it probably isn\\u0026rsquo;t a big shock to hear that you need to have excellent A-level grades across \\u003ca href=\\\"/subjects/chemistry\\\"\\u003echemistry\\u003c/a\\u003e, \\u003ca href=\\\"/subjects/biology\\\"\\u003ebiology\\u003c/a\\u003e, \\u003ca href=\\\"/subjects/physics\\\"\\u003ephysics\\u003c/a\\u003e and \\u003ca href=\\\"/subjects/maths\\\"\\u003emaths\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThe bC4Me data shows that 99% of students accepted on a clinical medicine course had a chemistry A-level, 95% had a biology A-level, 71% had an A-level in maths and 33% physics. In all of these subjects, grade A is the key: 90% of recent clinical medicine students had A grades in biology and maths,\\u0026nbsp;and 82% of students also had A grades in chemistry.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nHere, there are only minimal differences in subjects and grades accepted by different universities are fairly minimal.\\u0026nbsp;However, we can see that some universities, such as \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/search/institution?i%5Bgeography%5D=aston_university_birmingham\\\"\\u003eAston University\\u003c/a\\u003e** do accept a higher percentage of B grades in chemistry and biology than average for clinical medicine courses - but that As, as elsewhere, are most prevalent.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/a-level-choices/what-a-levels-do-you-need-to-become-a-doctor\\\"\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eWhat\\u0026nbsp;A-levels do you need to become a doctor?\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003ePsychology applicants\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nThe most popular A-level held by students accepted on to psychology courses is \\u0026ndash; wait for it \\u0026ndash; \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/a-level-choices/what-a-levels-do-you-need-to-study-psychology\\\"\\u003epsychology\\u003c/a\\u003e!\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nBut you might be surprised to hear that only 77% of students on a psychology course had a psychology A-level. Other likely subjects studied (between 20% and 30% of psychology students, no less) include biology, English lit, sociology and history. The spread of grades in these subjects are pretty evenly distributed, too, from As through to Ds across all UK universities offering this subject.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nComparing student achievement across universities reveals sharper grade distinctions. 77% of students on psychology courses at \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/search/institution?i%5Bgeography%5D=de_montfort_university\\\"\\u003eDe Montfort University\\u003c/a\\u003e had an A-level in psychology, with grades ranging between grades A (8% of students) down to E (4%).\\u0026nbsp;Psychology students at \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/durham-university-d86\\\"\\u003eDurham\\u003c/a\\u003e, however, were more singly aligned, achieving mainly A grades in all A-levels. And somewhere in the middle, \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/coventry-university-c85\\\"\\u003eCoventry University\\u0026#39;s\\u003c/a\\u003e psychology students mostly had Bs and Cs in the two most popular A-level subjects for that course \\u0026ndash; sociology and psychology.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/a-level-choices/what-a-levels-do-you-need-to-study-psychology\\\"\\u003eWhat A-levels do you need to study psychology at university?\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eThe English literati\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nFor an \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/subjects/english-language-and-literature\\\"\\u003eEnglish studies degree\\u003c/a\\u003e, top A-levels taken are English literature (68%), history (40%), English language (30%) and psychology (24%) - with A and B grades being the most common achieved in those subjects.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nBut, depending on where you want to study, the bc4me data shows that there\\u0026#39;s usually flexibility when it comes to the subjects you choose. Check with the individual university you\\u0026#39;re applying to for specific course information - but broadly speaking, English students come with A-levels ranging from art and design, religious studies and media studies to drama and theatre studies.\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/a-level-choices/what-a-levels-do-you-need-to-study-english\\\"\\u003eWhat A-levels do you need to study English at university?\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{form_asset}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eEconomics enthusiasts\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nIf you\\u0026#39;re thinking about studying economics, you might assume that economics A-level (or equivalent) is a must, but it\\u0026#39;s actually maths that\\u0026#39;s the most popular A-level taken by students who go on to take an \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/subjects/economics\\\"\\u003eeconomics degree\\u003c/a\\u003e, and is regularly listed as an entry requirement.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n76% of economics students had a maths A-level versus 69% with economics. That\\u0026#39;s followed by A-levels in business studies (26%), history (21%) and physics (21%) - with A grades the most frequently achieved grade overall.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nBut economics students have also studied a wide variety of other A-levels, including all of the other sciences, computing, English lit, psychology, government and politics, all sorts of languages \\u0026ndash; you name it. The trick here is to make sure you check your preferred university\\u0026rsquo;s stats on bC4me to see which A-levels it specifically accepts.\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/a-level-choices/what-a-levels-do-you-need-to-study-economics\\\"\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eWhat A-levels you need to study economics at university?\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThe moral of the story is: \\u0026lsquo;do your research!\\u0026rsquo;. Digging into the actual A-levels and grades attained by previous students who were accepted on to your chosen course \\u0026ndash; and applying accordingly \\u0026ndash; could give you the edge over your fellow students come offer time. Good luck!\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eAbout the author\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nWhich? University provides guest spots to external contributors. This is from bestCourse4Me.com, a free and independent website designed to show you the link between what you study, what you earn and the jobs you can get.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n*The data supporting this article is from 2013\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n**Individual university entry data is from 2018\\u003c/em\\u003e\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T16:05:14.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2013-02-04T17:51:38.000Z\",\"slug\":\"a-level-trends-for-popular-degree-courses-revealed\",\"published_on\":\"2018-06-05T06:00:00.000Z\",\"author_id\":3,\"contributing_author_id\":26,\"cached_category_list\":\"a_level\",\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"university entry requirements\",\"audience\":\"General\",\"intro_text\":\"In this guest post, career and education choice experts take a look at typical A-level combinations – and grades achieved – by students who go on to take popular degree courses...\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":true,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":569,\"headline\":\"10 ways to cut your costs at university\",\"abstract\":\"Worried that your maintenance loan and savings won’t quite cover your living costs at university? Current students reveal their top tips to save cash…\",\"body\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eNow you\\u0026rsquo;ve applied for student finance and you know \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-finance/student-fees-and-finance-for-where-you-live\\\"\\u003ewhat you\\u0026rsquo;re eligible for in maintenance support\\u003c/a\\u003e, you\\u0026rsquo;ll start to have an idea of what your student budget is going to look like. You may supplement this with:\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-finance/how-do-i-find-out-which-bursaries-and-scholarships-are-available\\\"\\u003ebursaries, scholarships or other support\\u003c/a\\u003e based on your individual circumstances\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003esavings from \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/career-prospects/four-reasons-to-get-a-part-time-job-at-college\\\"\\u003esummer and weekend\\u003c/a\\u003e before moving to uni\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003ea helping hand from family, such as covering your phone bill or food shop while at uni\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-finance/having-a-part-time-job-at-university-students-views\\\"\\u003eworking part-time once at uni\\u003c/a\\u003e or taking part in paid research\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nBut even with this, your income may not quite match your outgoings (particularly rent, bills and study expenses \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-finance/what-your-tuition-fees-wont-cover\\\"\\u003enot covered by your tuition fees\\u003c/a\\u003e). See \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-finance/whats-the-average-cost-of-living-at-university\\\"\\u003ewhat students spent on these on average\\u003c/a\\u003e, or \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/student-budget-calculator\\\"\\u003etry our student budget calculator\\u003c/a\\u003e to get a breakdown of your living costs tailored to your university.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nIf that\\u0026rsquo;s the case, you\\u0026rsquo;ll need to pull out a few tricks to make ends meet. Fortunately, some recent students have kindly shared their tried-and-tested money tips to cut your costs as a student.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e10 tips to cut your living costs at university\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cem\\u003eThe following tips come from our annual survey. \\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-life/which-university-student-survey-the-results\\\"\\u003e\\u003cem\\u003eSee which universities students rated\\u0026nbsp;top for nightlife, student union and more.\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e1. A student travelcard is a must\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cspan style=\\\"color: rgb(50, 53, 55); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244);\\\"\\u003e{av:17372775}\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThe sooner you get an idea of your weekly routine, the sooner you can decide whether to buy a weekly, monthly or even termly travel ticket to get around at uni. This is nearly always the cheaper option than buying individual single tickets. See more about this below.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAlso, think about how often you plan to visit home. If you\\u0026rsquo;re going to get the train or coach when you do, a student railcard can greatly reduce this cost. The same goes if you\\u0026rsquo;ll be travelling to any placements as part of your course (check if there is any support available to specifically subsidise transport costs for this).\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.which.co.uk/money/money-saving-tips/getting-a-great-deal/10-tips-for-finding-cheap-train-tickets-a6jzf2z3f1lc\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eHow to save money on train tickets\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e2. Get your books second-hand\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cspan style=\\\"color: rgb(50, 53, 55); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244);\\\"\\u003e{av:17372886}\\u003c/span\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eYou\\u0026rsquo;ll no doubt be presented with a long list of books that you\\u0026rsquo;ll need to buy as part of your course. Most tutors will insist you buy them all, but it might be worth checking how many are mandatory (and how many are nice-to-haves). You don\\u0026rsquo;t want to spend loads on something that will just gather dust on your shelf.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nFind out if any necessary books are available in your library to borrow, or if the relevant bits are available online for free to download.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e3. Food shop in the evenings\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cspan style=\\\"color: rgb(50, 53, 55); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244);\\\"\\u003e{av:17372929}\\u003c/span\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eThis is a great tip, but be careful: campus shops are best saved for convenience purchases (ie if you have a sugar craving or need something quick), rather than your entire food shop.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nFind out what supermarkets are in your local area. Our \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/location\\\"\\u003ecity guides\\u003c/a\\u003e include student comments on what amenities are available in the local area.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nShop around for the best deal on different items. Some supermarkets may offer to match the price if you find an item cheaper elsewhere.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{calculator}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e4. Go out on student nights\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cspan style=\\\"color: rgb(50, 53, 55); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244);\\\"\\u003e{av:17372973}\\u003c/span\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eYou\\u0026rsquo;ll soon discover which clubs and bars run their big student nights in the week. Weekends are often more expensive and busier, as this is when non-students go out too. Sometimes you can get in free or for less if you put your name on a guestlist or arrive before midnight.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nDon\\u0026rsquo;t be afraid to suggest an evening in with a film if money is tight or you\\u0026rsquo;re just not all that up to it. There will nearly always be another time to go out.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e5. Reduce your energy bills\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eThis only really applies to those who are renting privately - if you live in halls, energy will already be factored into your accommodation cost.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{youtube:VPGJuetB1fE:480:270}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThink about ways you could reduce energy use for cheaper bills, such as\\u0026nbsp;cooking with housemates or putting on a jumper rather than ramping up your thermostat.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-accommodation/student-survival-guide-electricity-and-gas-bills\\\"\\u003eStudent survival guide: electricity and gas bills\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eWe\\u0026#39;d also recommend shopping around for a good-value energy supplier and switching to them, so long as you\\u0026#39;re allowed (check with your landlord, or take a look at your tenancy agreement if you\\u0026#39;re not sure). Find out more by heading to \\u003ca href=\\\"https://switch.which.co.uk/\\\"\\u003eWhich? Switch\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ca href=\\\"https://switch.which.co.uk/\\\"\\u003e\\u003cimg alt=\\\"\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/764/content_Advice_-_Students_switch_suppliers.jpg.png\\\" style=\\\"width: 616px; height: 411px;\\\" /\\u003e\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e6. Earn easy extra money\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cspan style=\\\"color: rgb(50, 53, 55); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244);\\\"\\u003e{av:17373064}\\u003c/span\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eYou\\u0026rsquo;d be surprised what opportunities are out there for students to earn some easy money (completely legally and above board of course!). These aren\\u0026rsquo;t necessarily your typical retail or waiting jobs either! These might involve answering some quick questions online for small amounts at a time, which can add up quite nicely.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nBut be wary of any ads that look too good to be true. If you\\u0026rsquo;re unsure, run it by your university\\u0026rsquo;s student services. It could be a scam preying on naive students overly keen to make a quick buck!\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e7. Get involved in uni research\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cspan style=\\\"color: rgb(50, 53, 55); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244);\\\"\\u003e{av:17373100}\\u003c/span\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eYou may also find ads around campus posted by students looking for participants in experiments or studies, as part of their course.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nDon\\u0026rsquo;t be put off by the scary word \\u0026lsquo;experiment\\u0026rsquo;. These aren\\u0026rsquo;t necessarily the medical kind you see at the start of gory zombie movies. It might just boil down to a scenario where you try to perform a task and you\\u0026rsquo;re observed while doing so \\u0026ndash; no needles or elecotruction involved at all!\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e8. Don\\u0026#39;t be tricked by supermarket offers\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cspan style=\\\"color: rgb(50, 53, 55); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244);\\\"\\u003e{av:17373370}\\u003c/span\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eTry to plan your meals for a week and stick to a shopping list, rather than do your shop on an empty stomach. If you go in unprepared and hungry, you\\u0026rsquo;re more likely to make impulse purchases, be swayed by a supposed \\u0026lsquo;deal\\u0026rsquo;, or buy too much of something (that will end up going to waste).\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThere may be some items you can split the cost of with housemates if you\\u0026rsquo;re all likely to use it, such as milk or bread. It saves you all buying the exact same items, which all go out of date at the same time.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nYou might want to buy certain items that don\\u0026rsquo;t have an immediate expiry date in bulk (eg rice) or household items such as toilet paper, as this can be cheaper in the long-run.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{form_asset}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nYou\\u0026#39;ll likely save lots of money cooking for yourself rather than getting takeaways all the time, but we also acknowledge that you need to treat yourself occasionally...\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nCooking is also a great way to bond with your new housemates, too.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"http://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-life/freshers-survival-guide-cooking-and-food-mistakes\\\"\\u003eStudent cooking and food mistakes to avoid\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e9. Always ask about student discounts\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cspan style=\\\"color: rgb(50, 53, 55); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244);\\\"\\u003e{av:17373480}\\u003c/span\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eThis applies to restaurants, shops, exhibitions, museums and other events. Don\\u0026rsquo;t be intimidated or feel like you\\u0026rsquo;re being cheap by asking \\u0026ndash; it\\u0026rsquo;s widely recognised that students aren\\u0026rsquo;t exactly rolling in money.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nWhen paying for tickets online, check if they offer a student discount too. Note, you might need to take your NUS card or student ID to the event as proof.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e10.\\u0026nbsp;Get on your bike\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cspan style=\\\"color: rgb(50, 53, 55); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244);\\\"\\u003e{av:17373533}\\u003c/span\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eIf you\\u0026rsquo;re studying in a small city or town, you might not have to rely on public transport so much. You may be able to get by on foot or by bike \\u0026ndash; both excellent and simple forms of exercise.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAgain, it really depends on your comings and goings. In first year when you live on campus, this will depend on how often you plan to go into town for nights out or for a part-time job.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nHow far you need to travel (and your costs) may go up suddenly in second year, if you move off campus and rent a house or flat in town. Keep this in mind when discussing with your future housemates where you want to live. Sure, being in the heart of town will make journeys home from nights out easier, but you\\u0026rsquo;ll still need to get to campus most days for classes.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-accommodation/choosing-the-right-housemates-for-second-year-of-university\\\"\\u003eChoosing housemates for second year\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-life/which-student-city\\\"\\u003eCheck out our guide to choosing the right student city\\u003c/a\\u003e, or \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/location\\\"\\u003ebrowse our city guides\\u003c/a\\u003e to learn more about the most popular student cities (including things to do and the best areas to live in).\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eAre you ready to manage your money at uni? Test yourself...\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{riddle:158116}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eMore wise words from students: \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-life/freshers-survival-guide-tips-from-first-year-students\\\"\\u003efreshers share their tips to survive first year of uni\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T16:01:30.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2013-02-05T16:43:08.000Z\",\"slug\":\"student-finance-cut-your-costs-at-university\",\"published_on\":\"2018-06-11T08:00:00.000Z\",\"author_id\":3,\"contributing_author_id\":5,\"cached_category_list\":\"finance\",\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"Student life;; Student money;; Money saving;; budget;; student finance;; money;; living costs;; student budget\",\"audience\":\"General\",\"intro_text\":\"Worried that your maintenance loan and savings won’t quite cover your living costs at university? Current students reveal their top tips to save cash…\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":599,\"headline\":\"Applying for student accommodation: Q\\u0026A\",\"abstract\":\"How do you apply for student accommodation? When do you apply for student accommodation? We’ve got all the answers for you. \",\"body\":\"Where you live at uni can feel like a bewildering choice, with lots of options to choose from. Do you want private halls or uni halls? Do you want a place in the city-centre, or on campus? \\u0026nbsp;That\\u0026rsquo;s before you look into when you\\u0026rsquo;re meant to apply and how. But don\\u0026rsquo;t worry, we\\u0026rsquo;re here to help.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nHere\\u0026rsquo;s a round-up of things to do and look out for when it comes to making your uni accommodation application.\\u0026nbsp;We\\u0026rsquo;ve got\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/choosing-university-halls-top-tips-from-students\\\"\\u003etips on choosing halls\\u003c/a\\u003e from current students, plus we\\u0026rsquo;ve weighed up the pros and cons of \\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/how-to-pick-the-right-student-accommodation-for-you\\\"\\u003eother student accommodation options\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eStudent accommodation: what should you look for?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nWhen you\\u0026rsquo;re looking at accommodation options offered by the uni you\\u0026#39;re hoping to go to, it can be tempting to go straight for the halls with the biggest bedrooms, the ensuite bathrooms or the ones that you\\u0026#39;ve heard throw the best parties in Freshers\\u0026rsquo; Week.\\u0026nbsp;But you could be missing out on other options that will suit you better, such as private halls, or living at home. Whatever your choices, take the time to think about the following factors:\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eCost\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nDifferent accommodation comes in a range of different shapes and sizes \\u0026ndash; and, accordingly, varying price ranges. In halls, for example, costs start from around \\u0026pound;60 per week for a basic room a bus ride away from campus to as much as \\u0026pound;150 per week for a self-contained studio flat within the student village.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nBefore you start looking at rooms, you need to work out what you can, realistically, afford. Contract lengths are usually around 40 weeks (you don\\u0026rsquo;t have to pay for halls during the summer holidays \\u0026ndash; but you will through Christmas and any other holidays). If you were to pay \\u0026pound;100 a week for 40 weeks, that adds up to \\u0026pound;4,000.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;To put this into perspective, the maximum non-means tested maintenance loan you\\u0026rsquo;d get from Student Finance England in 2017-18 was \\u0026pound;3,928 or \\u0026pound;5,479 for students studying in London (another good reason to means-test what you\\u0026rsquo;re able to get too).\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nIf you\\u0026rsquo;ve got another source of income to factor in (savings, a \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-finance/having-a-part-time-job-at-university-students-views\\\"\\u003epart-time job lined up\\u003c/a\\u003e, the bank of mum and dad?), this will increase your options. But make sure you don\\u0026rsquo;t forget about all the other things you need to budget for.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eLocation\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nLocation is another important factor to weigh up when choosing accommodation, and often impacts on how much you\\u0026rsquo;ll pay. Student digs further away from the campus tend to be slightly cheaper, cities more expensive \\u0026ndash;and London is in a price bracket of its own! You should consider:\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003ethe proximity to your lectures/the campus:\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;Is it walking distance / within a short bus or train ride?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003etransport links:\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;Will you be well connected to both the campus and the town / city?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003ethe local area: W\\u003c/strong\\u003ehat\\u0026rsquo;s the area like surrounding your halls? Do you want to be slap-bang in the city centre, or part of a student village?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eFacilities\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nNext on your checklist, the facilities:\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eCatered or self-catered accommodation: \\u003c/strong\\u003eThis is mainly something to think about when it comes to university halls (although, if you choose to live at home, it might be something you can negotiate for). Catered accommodation in halls will mean that your breakfast and dinners are sorted (saving you trips to the supermarket as well as time spent cooking and washing up), but self-catered accommodation gives you more flexibility and allows you to cook the foods you like. Here\\u0026rsquo;s more info on the \\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/should-you-choose-catered-or-self-catered-accommodation\\\"\\u003ecatered vs self-catered debate\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eBathrooms: \\u003c/strong\\u003eCould you manage with sharing a bathroom, or do you really need your own ensuite?\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eWhat extras are included?\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/strong\\u003eAre all the bills covered or any there any one-off payments you\\u0026#39;ll need to factor in? Is there a regular cleaner for example? In halls, you might have a uni bus pass or access to the uni gym included\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eSpecial requirements\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nYou\\u0026rsquo;ll usually be able to specify any special requirements, such as a disability or dietary requirement, as part of your application, which will be taken into consideration when halls are allocated.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{form_asset}\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eWhat are the main pros and cons of halls?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cmeta charset=\\\"utf-8\\\" /\\u003e\\u003cb id=\\\"docs-internal-guid-86b54967-d2fd-6249-b915-16f0167a8156\\\"\\u003eWho would know better about student accommodation than students themselves?\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/b\\u003eOur video reporter hit uni campuses to ask students about their experiences of living in halls.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eWatch now:\\u003c/strong\\u003e Pros and cons of student accommodation\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{youtube:Poplp8HtCT8:480:270}\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nYou can also read more \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-accommodation/choosing-university-halls-top-tips-from-students\\\"\\u003estudent thoughts about halls\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-accommodation/choosing-university-halls-top-tips-from-students\\\"\\u003e \\u003c/a\\u003eon our site.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003ePrivate halls, living at home and more \\u0026ndash; your halls alternatives\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eIf traditional uni halls don\\u0026rsquo;t sound like your cup of tea, or you make a late application to halls and miss out, there are alternatives and you might even find they suit you better.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nFor example, if you\\u0026rsquo;re really worried about money and you\\u0026rsquo;re going to a local uni, you could consider living at home. You might also prefer the idea of private rented accommodation \\u0026ndash; if you\\u0026rsquo;re a mature student who wants something away from the loud hustle and bustle of halls for example. There are also private halls available \\u0026ndash; the set-up is very similar to uni halls, but the accommodation is owned by a private company as opposed to the uni.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nWe asked the National Union of Students (NUS) to give us an overview to help you \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-accommodation/how-to-pick-the-right-student-accommodation-for-you\\\"\\u003emake an accommodation choice that works for you\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eWhen can you apply for student accommodation?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nIt varies from uni to uni, but usually you can apply once you\\u0026rsquo;ve accepted an offer. Some universities will allow you to apply for accommodation even if they\\u0026rsquo;re your \\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/the-smart-way-to-choosing-your-first-and-insurance-choices\\\"\\u003einsurance option\\u003c/a\\u003e, although many will only open applications to you if they\\u0026rsquo;re your firm choice.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAlthough you can\\u0026rsquo;t apply while you\\u0026rsquo;re still \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/ucas-application/waiting-for-uni-offers-how-to-keep-your-head\\\"\\u003ewaiting for your offer\\u003c/a\\u003e, it is worth doing your research in advance so that you can make your application as soon as they open. Accommodation is usually allocated on a first-come, first-served basis \\u0026ndash; and some unis can\\u0026#39;t guarantee all first-year students a place in halls.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAlso be aware that unis often have deadlines for applying well ahead of your course start date (around 1 August), so don\\u0026rsquo;t leave it till the last minute to make your application.\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eHow do you apply for student accommodation?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nApplications are typically made online. You usually put down a number of preferences \\u0026ndash; your preferred accommodation residence as well as your preferred type of room (standard, ensuite, catered etc).\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAccommodation officers will do their best to match you to your preferences, but some residences will be very over-subscribed, so you\\u0026rsquo;re not guaranteed to get your first choice.\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T16:07:43.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2013-05-02T13:47:13.000Z\",\"slug\":\"applying-for-university-accommodation\",\"published_on\":\"2018-04-16T15:00:00.000Z\",\"author_id\":3,\"contributing_author_id\":5,\"cached_category_list\":\"accommodation\",\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"accommodation;; Student accommodation;; Halls of residence\",\"audience\":\"General\",\"intro_text\":\"You’ve done your Ucas application, your offers have come in, but now there’s another important application to do – your student accommodation. So how does the process work?\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":604,\"headline\":\"Clearing 2018: 10 tips from students to help you through\",\"abstract\":\"Are you about to face university Clearing? We asked previous students to give us their top Clearing tips. Keep calm with our helpful Clearing guide.\",\"body\":\"\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cem\\u003eWhat is Clearing? \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/clearing-results-day/the-survivors-guide-to-clearing\\\"\\u003eRead our ultimate guide to Clearing 2018.\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n1. Persistence pays off\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"color: rgb(50, 53, 55); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244);\\\"\\u003e{av:28837149}\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e2. Be prepared\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244); color: rgb(50, 53, 55); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px;\\\"\\u003e{av:28838236}\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/clearing-results-day/clearing-2015-five-things-you-can-do-to-get-a-headstart\\\"\\u003eHow to get a headstart on Clearing\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e3. Be an early bird\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"color: rgb(50, 53, 55); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244);\\\"\\u003e{av:28839539}\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/clearing-results-day/a-level-results-day-grades-what-to-expect\\\"\\u003eWhat to expect on results day\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e4. Keep an open mind\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"color: rgb(50, 53, 55); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244);\\\"\\u003e{av:28842451}\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e5. Speak to the right people\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"color: rgb(50, 53, 55); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244);\\\"\\u003e{av:28842832}\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e6. Sell yourself\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"color: rgb(50, 53, 55); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244);\\\"\\u003e{av:28843004}\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/clearing-results-day/ucas-clearing-how-to-call-universities\\\"\\u003eHow to call universities in Clearing\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e7. Hang on in there\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"color: rgb(50, 53, 55); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244);\\\"\\u003e{av:28843538}\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e8. Keep calm and carry on\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"color: rgb(50, 53, 55); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244);\\\"\\u003e{av:28843894}\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"http://How to call universities in Clearing\\\"\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eHow to appeal an A-level grade\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e9. Get all the help you can\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"color: rgb(50, 53, 55); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244);\\\"\\u003e{av:28844183}\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/clearing-results-day/where-to-go-for-help-with-clearing-2013\\\"\\u003eWhere to go for help in Clearing\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e10. Don\\u0026rsquo;t make a rash decision\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"color: rgb(50, 53, 55); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244);\\\"\\u003e{av:28844337}\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cspan style=\\\"color: rgb(50, 53, 55); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244);\\\"\\u003e{av:28844392}\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/clearing-results-day/clearing-2013-how-to-make-your-university-course-decision\\\"\\u003eHow to make a university course decision in Clearing\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e{{downloads}}\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T16:22:15.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2013-06-18T09:16:07.000Z\",\"slug\":\"clearing-2013-how-to-apply\",\"published_on\":\"2018-06-25T09:00:00.000Z\",\"author_id\":3,\"contributing_author_id\":9,\"cached_category_list\":\"clearing\",\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"Applying to uni;; UCAS Clearing;; Results day\",\"audience\":\"General\",\"intro_text\":\"Clearing can be a daunting prospect. Here are some wise words from 10 students who've survived to tell the tale...\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":617,\"headline\":\"Clearing 2018: how to call universities \",\"abstract\":\"Wondering what questions will be asked during Clearing? Prepare for your Clearing phone call with our Clearing checklist. \",\"body\":\"\\u003cem\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eWhat is Clearing? \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/clearing-results-day/the-survivors-guide-to-clearing\\\"\\u003eRead our full guide to Clearing 2018\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/em\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eYour Clearing call \\u003cem\\u003ecould \\u003c/em\\u003ebe an interview\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nWhen calling a university, the conversation might just involve confirming your grades and checking that there\\u0026#39;s still have a spot available on the course you\\u0026#39;re interested in. On the other hand, you may find yourself on the receiving end of some tricky questions designed to test out your suitability for the course.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAn engineering student at Aston University found the \\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/the-survivors-guide-to-clearing\\\"\\u003eClearing process\\u003c/a\\u003e very straightforward: \\u0026lsquo;Called them, told them about my qualifications and got a place in less than 15 minutes.\\u0026rsquo;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nBut for a tourism student from London South Bank University, bagging his Clearing place was a bit more involved: \\u0026lsquo;I had a 30-minute telephone call which included filling out the application form and an informal interview.\\u0026rsquo;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eWatch now:\\u003c/strong\\u003e Finding a university in Clearing\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{youtube:Mr8jeE0dGoU:480:270}\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eHow universities view Clearing phone calls\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cspan style=\\\"color: rgb(50, 53, 55); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244);\\\"\\u003e{av:32488137}\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cspan style=\\\"color: rgb(50, 53, 55); font-family: Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; line-height: 18px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244);\\\"\\u003e{av:32488207}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{form_asset}\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003ePreparing for your Clearing call\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eDo your research\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nOur course and \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/search/institution\\\"\\u003euniversity profiles\\u003c/a\\u003e can help with this. You don\\u0026#39;t necessarily need to know a course\\u0026#39;s male-to-female ratio off by heart, but you should know what modules it offers and perhaps what some of their graduates have gone on to do, for instance. When asked why you want to study \\u003cem\\u003ethat\\u003c/em\\u003e course, this sort of information can feed perfectly into your answer. All of this will show that you\\u0026#39;ve done your homework about them and are serious about applying (as opposed to simply trying to grab whatever you can).\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nPlus, it\\u0026#39;s as much about whether they are a good fit for you as you are for them. Read the student comments on their profile to see what current students feel you should know and what their experience has been like.\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eMake notes\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nFor each university you\\u0026rsquo;re planning to phone, have a list of notes or bullet points to hand about why a certain course or university appeals to you. Plus, think of a couple of question to ask them to really demonstrate that you\\u0026#39;re keen.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nHaving some pointers to glance at can help steer what you say (especially if you\\u0026#39;re nervous), cover the important bits and make a positive impression straight away.\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003ePractise your answers\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nTo help you prepare for questions you might be asked, think back to what you were asked at any admissions interviews you attended. You can also read \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/clearing-results-day/how-might-your-clearing-phone-call-go\\\"\\u003eour guide to common Clearing call questions\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;to see the difference between a good and bad answer to the same question.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nPractise saying these out loud so they sound natural rather than too rehearsed.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eWatch now: \\u003c/strong\\u003eHow I survived results day\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{youtube:yTItQn-3kLM:480:270}\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eYour Clearing call checklist\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nOrganisation is key when it comes to make the call. Here are some essential tips:\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eBefore the call\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eHave your Ucas number and your grades close to hand.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eHave a pen and paper next to you, to write down names, numbers and times to call back.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eKeep your notes with what you want to say and your list of numbers nearby.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eRe-read and print out your personal statement, so you can refer to that too.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eHead to a quiet room where you won\\u0026#39;t be disturbed.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eKeep your phone charged!\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nDuring the call\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eIn the busy Clearing period you might find you\\u0026rsquo;re on hold for a while \\u003cspan style=\\\"line-height: 16.6399993896484px;\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash;\\u003c/span\\u003e be patient and don\\u0026rsquo;t panic if you can\\u0026rsquo;t get through straight away.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eIf it\\u0026#39;s engaged, don\\u0026#39;t waste time \\u003cspan style=\\\"line-height: 16.6399993896484px;\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash;\\u003c/span\\u003e move on to your next option and try again later.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eGet names, emails and direct phone numbers in case you have to re-connect or follow up. \\u0026lsquo;Universities often involve extra staff to cover the Clearing period so it\\u0026rsquo;s important to know who has provided information if you need to ring back,\\u0026rsquo; careers adviser Stella Barnes explains.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eSpeak clearly and confidently \\u003cspan style=\\\"line-height: 16.6399993896484px;\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash;\\u003c/span\\u003e and don\\u0026#39;t be afraid to be honest about why you think you didn\\u0026#39;t achieve your grades, if asked.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eSell yourself \\u003cspan style=\\\"line-height: 16.6399993896484px;\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash;\\u003c/span\\u003e why should the tutor give you a place on the course? Use examples to demonstrate your enthusiasm for the subject area, and make specific references to something about that particular course you uncovered during your research.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eAs a politics student at Coventry University sums up: \\u0026lsquo;Treat it like speed-dating; if they can\\u0026#39;t offer you what you are looking for, move on!\\u0026#39;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAfter the call\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eAfter you\\u0026rsquo;ve got your verbal offer from the university you want to go to (and you\\u0026#39;re\\u003cem\\u003e sure\\u003c/em\\u003e about going there!), head straight to Ucas Track to do all the necessary paperwork/ electronic admin.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eSort out accommodation. Some institutions will set aside space in campus halls for students coming in through Clearing. However, if\\u0026nbsp;your university can\\u0026#39;t guarantee you this, they\\u0026#39;ll at least be able to point you in the right direction to\\u0026nbsp;private\\u0026nbsp;landlords and letting agents in the area.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eUpdate your student finance body to tell them where you\\u0026#39;ll be heading to. Depending on where\\u0026nbsp;you\\u0026#39;ll be studying, you might get a little more in \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-finance/student-fees-and-finance-for-where-you-live\\\"\\u003efinancial support\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e​If you find yourself heading\\u0026nbsp;to a city you know little to nothing about, \\u003ca href=\\\"http://university.which.co.uk/location\\\"\\u003echeck out our city guides\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;and discover\\u0026nbsp;things to do, student neighbourhoods, public transport, living cost info and more. It may also be worth putting your new uni into \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/student-budget-calculator\\\"\\u003eour student budget calculator\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;to see what your living costs may look like.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e{{downloads}}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T16:23:09.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2013-07-29T14:49:38.000Z\",\"slug\":\"ucas-clearing-how-to-call-universities\",\"published_on\":\"2018-07-30T10:00:00.000Z\",\"author_id\":3,\"contributing_author_id\":5,\"cached_category_list\":\"clearing\",\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"clearing;; UCAS Clearing\",\"audience\":\"General\",\"intro_text\":\"Calling universities is a crucial part of the Clearing process. But before you pick up the phone, here are some top tips from admissions tutors, careers advisers and students…\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":645,\"headline\":\"Personal statement advice and example: psychology\",\"abstract\":\"Struggling to write your psychology personal statement? Get some invaluable tips directly from psychology admissions tutors.\",\"body\":\"If you\\u0026#39;re writing a psychology personal statement, describing\\u0026nbsp;your personal insights into the subject or how you\\u0026#39;ve pursued your interest outside the classroom will impress\\u0026nbsp;over quoting Freud or Milgram (which might sound a little pretentious).\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThat\\u0026#39;s what psychology admissions tutors told us when we asked them what they\\u0026#39;re looking for in your personal statement - here are some more of their pointers to help you get started and there\\u0026#39;s also an example og .\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nSkip to:\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"tutors\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#tutors\\\"\\u003eAdvice from psychology tutors\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#appeals\\\"\\u003eHow to demonstrate why it appeals to you\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#else\\\"\\u003eWhat else to include in psychology statements\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#example\\\"\\u003ePsychology personal statement example\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003ePsychology tutors tell it like it is...\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nThe tutors we spoke to didn\\u0026#39;t hold back when it came to telling us what they \\u003cem\\u003edon\\u0026#39;t\\u003c/em\\u003e want to see:\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eA lack of understanding: \\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u0026quot;Some applicants display a misconception of what psychology is. We want to know that you understand the importance of scientific elements of the course and the importance of statistics and experimentation.\\u0026quot;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eNot enough engagement with the subject:\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026quot;Some applicants are rejected because of a lack of commitment to the subject, especially in cases where it appears that they\\u0026rsquo;ve applied for a mixture of courses rather than five psychology ones.\\u0026quot;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eMaking it \\u003cem\\u003etoo \\u003c/em\\u003epersonal:\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026quot;Some applicants expand\\u003cem\\u003e \\u003c/em\\u003etoo much on personal circumstances such as mental health issues or life events. Studying psychology may not necessarily help, so don\\u0026#39;t overplay personal stories.\\u0026quot;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eGetting the tone wrong: \\u003c/strong\\u003edon\\u0026rsquo;t just say you \\u0026quot;want to help people\\u0026quot;\\u0026nbsp;and don\\u0026rsquo;t use inappropriate language like \\u0026quot;less fortunate people\\u0026quot;.\\u0026nbsp;Also, avoid inserting sophisticated language or phrases if you don\\u0026rsquo;t fully understand them \\u0026ndash; \\u0026quot;straightforward language is never a bad thing\\u0026quot;.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"appeals\\\"\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.which.co.uk/tools/personal-statement-builder/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003e\\u003cimg alt=\\\"Personal statement builder | Which? University\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/689/content_personal-statement-promo__1_.png\\\" style=\\\"width: 615px; height: 387px;\\\" /\\u003e\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eDemonstrating why psychology appeals to you\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nSo what should you include in your psychology personal statement? Dr Alice Jones, an admissions tutor at Goldsmiths University of London, wants applicants to show, with evidence, how they\\u0026#39;ve developed their interest in psychology through independent learning.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThis could include books or publications you\\u0026#39;ve read. These don\\u0026#39;t have to be psychology textbooks or the works of Freud, Milgram or Zimbardo, but ideally something you\\u0026#39;ve researched for yourself. Make sure you explain what each example has prompted you to think about and why.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nIt doesn\\u0026#39;t have to be a book or even something you\\u0026#39;ve read with your eyes, either. Anything that shows you\\u0026#39;ve extended your learning beyond the classroom, through journals, websites, podcasts, lectures and so on, will impress.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"else\\\"\\u003eIf you mention an interest in a particular career path, ensure you demonstrate some understanding about how you will get there, too - an awareness that you\\u0026#39;ll need to pursue postgraduate training, for instance.\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eFive things to include in your psychology statement\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nThe University of Bristol highlights five\\u0026nbsp;elements of a strong, academically-focused psychology statement:\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e1.\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u0026nbsp; Ensure that it is well-structured and\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/personal-statement-checklist-2-how-to-get-writing\\\"\\u003ewell-written\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e2\\u003c/strong\\u003e.\\u0026nbsp; Give details of any specific interests or ambitions you have that relate to the content of the course.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e3.\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u0026nbsp; Demonstrate your enthusiasm for psychological research as a focus for academic study.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e4\\u003c/strong\\u003e.\\u0026nbsp; Provide evidence of when you have pursued your interest in psychology outside the classroom (see above!)\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e5.\\u003c/strong\\u003e Give examples of non-curricular activities you are involved in which indicate the contribution you are likely to make to university life. Any\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/personal-statements-how-to-make-your-work-experience-really-count\\\"\\u003erelevant work experience\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;you have under your belt is also worth talking about. But if you haven\\u0026#39;t gained experience in the field directly, think creatively -\\u0026nbsp;there might be ways to link observations from your part-time job, voluntary work or extra-curricular activities to psychology.\\u0026nbsp; One successful applicant finished her statement with a short paragraph about her Saturday job on a supermarket fish counter, describing the satisfaction she got from knowing how to gut and fillet a mackerel.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"example\\\"\\u003eLinking her experience to psychology in an innovative but relevant way was a lot more interesting than just saying it had improved her teamwork or communication skills which are a bit broad.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eExample of how to write about why psychology appeals to you\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nSee an example of how to write about why psychology appeals as a course to you from careers adviser Cerys Evans:\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/personal-statements/personal-statement-advice-psychology-students\\\" target=\\\"_self\\\"\\u003e\\u003cimg alt=\\\"Example of how to write about why psychology appeals to you as a course\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/848/content_personal_statement_example_pyschology_615a.png\\\" style=\\\"width: 615px; height: 689px;\\\" /\\u003e\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nFor more personal statement advice and examples, see our articles on \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/personal-statements/examples-of-how-to-write-a-personal-statement\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003ehow to write a personal statement\\u003c/a\\u003e,\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/10-things-to-put-in-your-personal-statement\\\"\\u003e10 things to include\\u003c/a\\u003e and our \\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/ucas-personal-statement-dos-and-donts\\\"\\u003evideo tips from tutors\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;(featuring a computer science professor from the University of Warwick...). You can also\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"http://university.which.co.uk/search/course?utf8=%E2%9C%93\\u0026amp;c%5Bq%5D=computer+science\\u0026amp;commit=Go\\u0026amp;c%5Bsort_fact%5D=relevance\\\"\\u003ecompare computer science courses with our course search tool\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T16:53:55.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2013-10-14T16:01:14.000Z\",\"slug\":\"personal-statement-advice-psychology-students\",\"published_on\":\"2017-07-05T09:00:18.000Z\",\"author_id\":3,\"contributing_author_id\":1,\"cached_category_list\":\"personal_statements\",\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"L\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"Personal statements;; Psychology\",\"audience\":\"General\",\"intro_text\":\"Impress admissions tutors by getting the tone of your psychology personal statement spot-on. Here are some top tips on how to do so (no reverse psychology required)…\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":669,\"headline\":\"Personal statement advice: sports science\",\"abstract\":\"Writing a sports science personal statement? Find out how to win over admissions tutor with an impressive personal statement. \",\"body\":\"One way to win over sports science admissions tutors is to dig into the detail of the course itself and focus your personal statement accordingly (and make sure you avoid Muhammad Ali quotes...).\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eSports science degree courses: read the smallprint\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nSport degrees come with \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/choosing-a-course/why-do-some-courses-sound-similar-but-have-different-names\\\"\\u003emany different titles and flavours\\u003c/a\\u003e,\\u0026nbsp;ranging from those that are very science-based to those approaching sport from a cultural, development or management angle. So it\\u0026rsquo;s important to give lots of thought to the kind of course that most closely meets your personal needs and expectations. Choose carefully and focus your personal statement accordingly.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nDon\\u0026rsquo;t judge a course just by its title either, because there are often distinct differences between courses with the same name. Even courses with the word \\u0026lsquo;science\\u0026rsquo; in the title will vary considerably in the level of scientific knowledge they expect.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{av:43271072}\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eSports science personal statement pointers\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nDurham University\\u0026#39;s website has a really helpful checklist for students applying for its sport, exercise and physical activity degree and suggests focusing your statement around questions such as:\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWhy do you want to study it?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWhat specifically interests or excites you about the subject?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWhat have you read, seen or heard about recently that intrigues you about the subject?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWhat current issues do you want to learn more about?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eIs there a specific part of the course that interests you?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWhat are your own achievements and ambitions?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWhat relevant experience, skills or qualities can you offer?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\nThe\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.bases.org.uk/\\\"\\u003eBritish Association of Sport and Exercise Sciences\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;says that the qualities graduates find most helpful in their subsequent careers are time management, communication, organisation, negotiation and presentation skills so, if you can demonstrate any of those, all the better.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nBut don\\u0026#39;t waste space quoting famous sports stars who have inspired you. As Bournemouth University\\u0026rsquo;s admissions tutor said: \\u0026#39;I\\u0026rsquo;m really fed up of Muhammad Ali quotes\\u0026#39;...\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eShow your personality in your sports science statement\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nAdmissions tutors Tom Webb and Jo Corbett at the University of Portsmouth really want to hear your voice and personality come through in your statement. Think about some of these questions:\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWhat makes you different?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWhat part does sport play in your life and why is it important to you?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eDo you know where you want to be in five years\\u0026rsquo; time? If so, don\\u0026rsquo;t be afraid to say.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWhat experience of sport do you have?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eIs your personality running through your personal statement? Studying and working in sport is often about interacting with people and being a \\u0026#39;people person\\u0026#39;.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\nRemember\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026ndash; don\\u0026#39;t overlook that this is also a science course. You\\u0026#39;ll need to demonstrate your awareness of this, particularly if you\\u0026rsquo;re applying for a sport degree that involves rigorous scientific study.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eAll sport and no science won\\u0026rsquo;t impress\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nWe also had some great advice from the Sport and Exercise Science degree at University of Bath, which they themselves stressed is very much \\u0026lsquo;a science course in which sport is just the context in which you study science\\u0026rsquo;. Their advice once again is that your statement needs to focus around the specific courses you\\u0026rsquo;re applying for, and to answer the question: \\u0026lsquo;why do I want to study this subject further at degree level?\\u0026rsquo;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nSo while you might be very tempted to write several paragraphs about all your sporting achievements, you\\u0026rsquo;ve got to ask yourself why it\\u0026rsquo;s relevant. As far as this particular course at Bath is concerned, all sport and no science won\\u0026rsquo;t impress.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nSome of your sporting successes could also be covered in your reference, saving precious space in your personal statement to talk more about science. Another approach might be to write about scientific issues that relate to your own performance.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nBath also gave us a tip for applicants who might want to apply for two or more different types of sport course within your five UCAS choices. Their advice is \\u0026lsquo;can you write a personal statement that covers them all?\\u0026rsquo; It\\u0026rsquo;s perfectly possible to do this. The secret is not to write 50% on one course and 50% on the other; but to blend your content in a way that makes 100% of your statement highly relevant to both courses.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{form_asset}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eNext:\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/ucas-personal-statement-dos-and-donts\\\"\\u003eMore personal statement pointers\\u003c/a\\u003e: video tips from tutors\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/personal-statements-the-student-guide-to-selling-yourself\\\"\\u003eSelling yourself in your statement\\u003c/a\\u003e: top tips from students\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T16:56:11.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2013-11-29T15:40:09.000Z\",\"slug\":\"personal-statement-advice-sports-science-students\",\"published_on\":\"2017-08-03T08:00:00.000Z\",\"author_id\":3,\"contributing_author_id\":1,\"cached_category_list\":\"personal_statements\",\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"sporty\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"L\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"Sports science;; Sport\",\"audience\":\"General\",\"intro_text\":\"Writing a sports science personal statement? We've been asking sports science tutors what they're looking for in your personal statement – here's what they told us...\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":673,\"headline\":\"Personal statement advice: dance \",\"abstract\":\"Writing a dance personal statement? We asked admissions tutors what they're looking for – here's what they told us. \",\"body\":\"\\u003ch2\\u003eWhat to include in your dance personal statement\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eConvey your passion for dance... : \\u003c/strong\\u003etutors really want to get a sense of your passion and love of dance through what you say in your personal statement. But demonstrate it with examples and experience, don\\u0026#39;t just say you\\u0026#39;re passionate. In fact, try to convey your passion without actually using the word \\u0026#39;passion\\u0026#39;.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e... Minus the clich\\u0026eacute;s:\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;De Montfort University stresses the\\u0026nbsp;importance of not resorting to the clich\\u0026eacute;s that so many students come out with \\u0026ndash; like \\u0026#39;I was born to dance\\u0026#39; or \\u0026#39;I come alive on stage\\u0026#39;.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eEvidence of your interest in dance:\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;according to De Montfort, selectors want to see your \\u0026#39;genuine enthusiasm for all aspects of performance and an appreciation for each of the factors that contribute to it\\u0026#39; along with some examples of how your own experiences or wider reading about dance have fed into this.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eRelevant extra-curricular experience:\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;if you\\u0026rsquo;re involved in a dance group or you\\u0026rsquo;ve had first-hand experience of planning and performing a production, for instance, describe and reflect on what you learned from this.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eYour analytical abilities\\u003c/strong\\u003e: tutors want to hear about about performances you\\u0026rsquo;ve watched and - crucially - how you\\u0026#39;ve analysed them yourself or developed an opinion about the overall interpretation, or how a specific element of it made an impact on you and why.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eAny wider experience of \\u0026lsquo;movement disciplines\\u0026rsquo;:\\u003c/strong\\u003e For its dance and drama with physical theatre course,\\u0026nbsp;Edge Hill University is looking for you to demonstrate your wider experience of \\u0026#39;movement disciplines\\u0026#39;, which could include sport, martial arts, circus skills or \\u0026#39;dance in any style\\u0026#39;.\\u0026nbsp;It could therefore add further\\u0026nbsp;impact to your statement if you can link any activities like these to what motivates\\u0026nbsp;you to study your chosen course.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cspan style=\\\"line-height: 18.9090900421143px;\\\"\\u003eFor more personal statement advice, see our\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003cem\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/personal-statements/10-things-to-put-in-your-personal-statement\\\" style=\\\"line-height: 18.9090900421143px;\\\"\\u003etop 10 things to include\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"line-height: 18.9090900421143px;\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal; background-image: initial; background-attachment: initial; background-size: initial; background-origin: initial; background-clip: initial; background-position: initial; background-repeat: initial;\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash;\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"line-height: 18.9090900421143px;\\\"\\u003e plus our\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003cem\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/personal-statements/personal-statement-checklist-2-how-to-get-writing\\\" style=\\\"line-height: 18.9090900421143px;\\\"\\u003epersonal statement checklist\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"line-height: 18.9090900421143px;\\\"\\u003e\\u003cem\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/em\\u003efor everything you need to get writing.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"line-height: 18.9090900421143px;\\\"\\u003eAnd here\\u0026#39;s more on\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003cem\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/ucas-application/how-important-are-auditions-for-getting-on-to-performing-arts-courses\\\" style=\\\"line-height: 18.9090900421143px;\\\"\\u003epreparing that all-important audition piece\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"line-height: 18.9090900421143px;\\\"\\u003e.\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr style=\\\"line-height: 18.9090900421143px;\\\" /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eNext:\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/ucas-application/how-important-are-auditions-for-getting-on-to-performing-arts-courses\\\"\\u003ePreparing for auditions\\u003c/a\\u003e: what to expect and top tips\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/personal-statements/ucas-personal-statement-dos-and-donts\\\"\\u003ePersonal statement dos and don\\u0026#39;ts\\u003c/a\\u003e: video tips from tutors\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T16:54:53.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2013-12-03T11:36:41.000Z\",\"slug\":\"personal-statement-advice-dance-students\",\"published_on\":\"2017-08-03T08:00:00.000Z\",\"author_id\":3,\"contributing_author_id\":1,\"cached_category_list\":\"personal_statements\",\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"arty\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"W\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"Performing Arts;; Auditions;; Dance\",\"audience\":\"General\",\"intro_text\":\"Writing a dance personal statement? We asked admissions tutors the dos and don’ts of personal statements – and that means steering clear of clichés… \",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":676,\"headline\":\"Should you choose an accredited course? \",\"abstract\":\"Studying a course that's been accredited by a relevant body could give you a headstart when it comes to getting a job within that particular industry. \",\"body\":\"\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ca href=\\\"http://university.which.co.uk/search/course?utf8=✓\\u0026amp;c[studymode_type_tags__and__some][]=accredited\\u0026amp;c[sort_fact]=relevance\\u0026amp;commit=Apply+changes\\\"\\u003e\\u003cimg alt=\\\"Search for accredited courses on Which? University\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/146/content_accredited.jpg\\\" style=\\\"width: 300px; height: 263px; float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-right: 10px;\\\" title=\\\"Search for accredited courses on Which? University\\\" /\\u003e\\u003c/a\\u003eIf you head to the \\u003ca href=\\\"/search/course?utf8=✓\\u0026amp;c%5Bstudymode_type_tags__and__some%5D%5B%5D=accredited\\u0026amp;c%5Bsort_fact%5D=relevance\\u0026amp;commit=Apply+changes\\\"\\u003ecourse search here on Which? University\\u003c/a\\u003e, you\\u0026#39;ll notice that you can search for courses that specifically feature course accreditation \\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash;\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e simply select \\u0026#39;accredited courses\\u0026#39; from the search dropdown box.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAn accredited course is one that has been approved by a professional body.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nSo, for example, an accountancy degree may be accredited by the Institute of Chartered Accountants or Association of Chartered Certified Accountants (ACCA).\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eWhat are the benefits of accredited courses?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eAccredited courses count towards professional qualifications or registration with a professional body - which can benefit you in your career and, in some cases, be a legal requirement of the profession.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eProtected titles\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nSome job titles are legally protected, meaning you cannot use them unless you are registered. You can\\u0026#39;t professionally describe yourself as an architect unless you are on the Register of Architects, for instance.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eBoost your career\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nThe right professional qualifications and registrations can help make you more desirable to employers and clients \\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash;\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e whether that\\u0026#39;s a case of being offered a higher salary bracket, the chance of a promotion or just getting your foot in the door in the first place.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eBeing a member\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nProfessional bodies aren\\u0026#39;t just there to keep unqualified people out: they also offer help and support throughout your career through things like training courses and lectures and preparing you for employment within that profession.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAccording to aerospace engineer Jeremy Collingridge: \\u0026#39;Professionalism in my industry comes from technical skill, team communication, commercial direction, integrity and responsibility. Being a member of the Institution helps me develop in all of these.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nStudent membership of an institute means you can start taking advantage of these benefits while you\\u0026#39;re still studying towards your qualification. Emily Bullen, who joined the Institute of Chemical Engineers at university, told us: \\u0026#39;I only needed to pay \\u0026pound;15 for the duration of my degree. This gave me access to lectures, \\u003cem\\u003eknovel\\u003c/em\\u003e (an online library for engineers) and \\u003cem\\u003eThe Chemical Engineer\\u003c/em\\u003e magazine.\\u0026#39;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eWhat else is required?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nAlthough accredited courses are a great start towards professional status, they aren\\u0026#39;t the only requirement. You may have to take extra training after your degree, or demonstrate your professional experience.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThere will usually be a formal assessment before you are awarded a professional qualification. This may involve exams or an interview with a review board.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eDo you need to do an accredited course?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nYou shouldn\\u0026#39;t be concerned about the quality of a course just because it \\u003cem\\u003eisn\\u0026#39;t \\u003c/em\\u003eaccredited \\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash;\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e not all degree courses are.\\u0026nbsp;Accredited courses are only really necessary if there is a professional qualification in the industry you plan to work in \\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash;\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e where they can help you to get ahead in your chosen career.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nSome areas of study \\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash;\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e such as\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"/search/course?utf8=✓\\u0026amp;c%5Bq%5D=accountancy\\u0026amp;commit=Go\\u0026amp;c%5Bstudymode_type_tags__and__some%5D%5B%5D=accredited\\u0026amp;c%5Bsort_fact%5D=relevance\\\"\\u003eaccountancy\\u003c/a\\u003e, \\u003ca href=\\\"/search/course?utf8=✓\\u0026amp;c%5Bq%5D=medicine\\u0026amp;c%5Bstudymode_type_tags__and__some%5D%5B%5D=accredited\\u0026amp;c%5Bsort_fact%5D=relevance\\u0026amp;commit=Apply+c\\\"\\u003emedicine\\u003c/a\\u003e,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"/search/course?utf8=✓\\u0026amp;c%5Bq%5D=engineering\\u0026amp;commit=Go\\u0026amp;c%5Bsort_fact%5D=relevance\\\"\\u003eengineering\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;or\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"/search/course?utf8=✓\\u0026amp;c%5Bq%5D=actuarial+science\\u0026amp;commit=Go\\u0026amp;c%5Bsort_fact%5D=relevance\\\"\\u003eactuarial science\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"font-size: 10pt; line-height: 107%; font-family: Arial, sans-serif; font-weight: normal;\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash;\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e will be more likely than others to have accredited courses on offer.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eHow\\u0026nbsp;can you find accredited courses?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nDetailed course information on university websites should indicate whether a course is accredited. We also include accreditation information course pages right here on Which? University (start \\u003ca href=\\\"/search/course?utf8=✓\\u0026amp;c%5Bstudymode_type_tags__and__some%5D%5B%5D=accredited\\u0026amp;c%5Bsort_fact%5D=relevance\\u0026amp;commit=Apply+changes\\\"\\u003esearching for accredited courses here\\u003c/a\\u003e).\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAlternatively, if you\\u0026#39;re not sure where you want to study but know which industry you want to get into, consult the website of the relevant industry body. Most offer a directory of courses they accredit.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eNext:\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/career-prospects/what-employers-think-about-sandwich-courses-and-work-experience\\\"\\u003eSandwich courses and work experience\\u003c/a\\u003e: the employers\\u0026#39; view\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/career-prospects/getting-a-graduate-job-degree-internship-myths-realities\\\"\\u003eGetting a graduate job\\u003c/a\\u003e: myths and realities\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T17:00:02.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2013-12-11T10:59:29.000Z\",\"slug\":\"accredited-courses\",\"published_on\":\"2013-12-16T10:00:00.000Z\",\"author_id\":3,\"contributing_author_id\":21,\"cached_category_list\":\"finding\",\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"A;; H;; K;; M\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"Finding the right course;; Accredited courses;; Course accreditation\",\"audience\":\"General\",\"intro_text\":\"Studying a course that's been accredited by a relevant body could give you a headstart when it comes to getting a job in your chosen industry. Find out more here…\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":781,\"headline\":\"Five ways to stay connected with home friends\",\"abstract\":\"Don't float away from friends and family when you move to uni. Try our mix of retro and modern tips to stay in touch.\",\"body\":\"And though everyone around you will say that you\\u0026#39;ll make new friends at uni \\u003cmeta charset=\\\"utf-8\\\" /\\u003e\\u003cb id=\\\"docs-internal-guid-aa4d3927-dec9-b075-a1e9-5e7d247cd08e\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/b\\u003eand you will \\u003cmeta charset=\\\"utf-8\\\" /\\u003e\\u003cb id=\\\"docs-internal-guid-aa4d3927-dec9-b075-a1e9-5e7d247cd08e\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash;\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;sometimes you need to see or hear a familiar face from home (\\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/preparing-for-university/freshers-what-to-expect-in-your-first-university-term\\\"\\u003eespecially in that crazy first term\\u003c/a\\u003e).\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nWhile WhatsApp, FaceTime and Skype will do for a quick chat or when you\\u0026#39;re on-the-go, here are a few slightly different ways to stay connected with friends (and family too), when they\\u0026#39;re hundreds of miles away:\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eLetters or postcards\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eWhat\\u0026#39;s your favourite emoji? The monkey covering its eyes? Hearts? A\\u0026nbsp;good old fashioned thumbs up? Whatever it is,\\u0026nbsp;go old-school and write\\u0026nbsp;a letter instead.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nWithout the delete button at your disposal, you\\u0026#39;ll find yourself thinking more about what you say\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cmeta charset=\\\"utf-8\\\" /\\u003e\\u003cb id=\\\"docs-internal-guid-bc8c2102-ded5-2917-cdf1-5e1683b9eef6\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash; \\u003c/b\\u003eyou might surprise yourself!\\u0026nbsp;Plus, there\\u0026#39;s something way more touching and personal about reading a message in someone\\u0026#39;s\\u0026nbsp;actual handwriting, than a text.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nTechnophobe parents and grandparents may appreciate this tip, too.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003ePlan a visit early on\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nFor those studying further away from home, the only time you can go back to visit may be during the holidays due to the cost and timings \\u003cmeta charset=\\\"utf-8\\\" /\\u003e\\u003cb id=\\\"docs-internal-guid-75e9adca-ded7-1197-2693-2dc9e93adca8\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash;\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;that could be 10 weeks away from the moment you arrive at uni. If you are planning a trip home, \\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.which.co.uk/money/money-saving-tips/getting-a-great-deal/10-tips-for-finding-cheap-train-tickets-a6jzf2z3f1lc\\\"\\u003echeck out our guide to save money on train tickets\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nGetting a visit from friends (or going to visit them at their uni) before then can give you something a bit sooner to look forward to, especially if you\\u0026#39;re feeling homesick. Put something in the diary as early as you can to help break up the term.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nYou\\u0026#39;ll need the first few weeks to settle down, so perhaps plan a visit or a trip somewhere around week four or five in your first term. This will give you a boost for those final weeks of term, ahead of any deadlines and exams you face.\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-life/looking-after-your-mental-health-and-wellbeing-at-university\\\"\\u003eLooking after your mental health and wellbeing at uni\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{calculator}\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eCatch up on your TV shows together\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nIf you and your friends are complete TV geeks, schedule a regular slot to watch the latest episode of your favourite show each week.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nYou don\\u0026#39;t want to huddle yourself away in your room and not socialise with those around you at uni every single evening; but the occasional hour or two catching up on your current TV obsession (and with mates while you do it) won\\u0026#39;t hurt.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nSoftware and sites like\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://rabb.it/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eRabbit\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;can help make sure you\\u0026#39;re all at the exact same moment of the show or movie you\\u0026#39;re watching (internet connection permitting). It will feel like they\\u0026#39;re right there beside you (and there\\u0026#39;s no risk of letting slip spoilers while waiting for them to catch up).\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{form_asset}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"line-height: 1.2;\\\"\\u003eCare\\u0026nbsp;packages\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nAnother more traditional option, if you see something in a shop or online that your friend would love, buy it and put together a care package to send to them.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nYou can make it as cheap and cheerful as you like, provided the sentiment is there. Make something\\u0026nbsp;if you\\u0026#39;re a dab hand at arts and crafts or baking, or simply throw in their favourite sweets and some old pics you\\u0026#39;ve printed out. Just make sure any food items won\\u0026#39;t go off and to wrap anything delicate so it survives the trip.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nWhen your friend gets it, it will be like a mini-Christmas to celebrate your friendship!\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003ePloughing through your student loan? \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-finance/student-finance-cut-your-costs-at-university\\\"\\u003eCut your living costs in 10 easy steps.\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eShare playlists\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nThis is a great one for friends who bond over the same music. Rather than send a message to tell them that a cherished song just came on your Shuffle, compile and share an ongoing playlist through Spotify or whatever streaming service you use.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nIt might be an artist you both love, or a completely new band you\\u0026rsquo;ve discovered who you think they\\u0026#39;d like \\u003cmeta charset=\\\"utf-8\\\" /\\u003e\\u003cb id=\\\"docs-internal-guid-401b8551-deac-fb22-7716-7100cdfd3588\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash;\\u003c/b\\u003e they might be a\\u0026nbsp;little-known band making it big in your uni\\u0026#39;s local scene.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nYou\\u0026rsquo;ll both be grateful for the tune recommendations when it comes to late nights studying in the library.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-life/freshers-survival-guide-tips-from-first-year-students\\\"\\u003eHow to survive first year of university, according to students\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T16:35:40.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2015-09-07T11:19:20.000Z\",\"slug\":\"5-unique-ways-to-stay-connected-with-home-friends\",\"published_on\":\"2018-06-05T08:46:59.000Z\",\"author_id\":15,\"contributing_author_id\":52,\"cached_category_list\":null,\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"Student life;; homesickness;; social life;; friends;; socialising\",\"audience\":\"General\",\"intro_text\":\"One of the toughest parts of going to university is moving far away from your friends. While they are only a call away, it's not quite the same, is it?\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":788,\"headline\":\"Five things to do now to boost your personal statement\",\"abstract\":\"Struggling to find something to say in your personal statement? Here are five simple things you can do right now to add to your personal statement.\",\"body\":\"Hit a mental block writing your personal statement?\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nRather than regretting those hours you\\u0026#39;ve spent playing \\u003cem\\u003eCall of Duty\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;(when you could have been doing something a little more Ucas application-friendly...), pick yourself up and try one of the below ideas to generate some useful experience you can refer to.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eBefore you hit submit, check that you\\u0026#39;ve\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/personal-statements/10-things-to-put-in-your-personal-statement\\\"\\u003eincluded these essentials\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;- as opposed to\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/personal-statements/10-things-not-to-put-in-your-personal-statement\\\"\\u003ethese throwaways\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;-\\u0026nbsp;in your personal statement.\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e1. Get involved at school\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nSpeak to friends and teachers to see what you might be able to get involved in as part of your school or college community, or try your school\\u0026rsquo;s newsletter, intranet and noticeboards. This could be anything from a student council rep or prefect, to a position of responsibility in a club you\\u0026#39;re part of, mentoring younger students or helping out at events.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nRemember: to make it count on your \\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/ucas-application\\\"\\u003eUcas application\\u003c/a\\u003e, you need to be able to reflect critically on your experience, not simply list that you did it. What skills have you developed? What did you achieve? How does this help to illustrate that you\\u0026#39;re a strong applicant for the course?\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e2. Pick up new skills (fast)\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nAre there any supplementary skills you could add to your arsenal to make you a stronger applicant for a course? Don\\u0026#39;t take on something completely new for the sake of it, or venture too far from your existing interests; but extending your subject knowledge into a new avenue can be beneficial.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nIf you\\u0026#39;re applying to a \\u003ca href=\\\"http://university.which.co.uk/subjects/computer-science\\\"\\u003ecomputer science course\\u003c/a\\u003e, for instance, try getting to grips with the principles of a new coding language, or get yourself along to an university taster lecture to get a new take on a subject you\\u0026#39;re familiar with (or perhaps one you\\u0026#39;re not!).\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.which.co.uk/tools/personal-statement-builder/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003e\\u003cimg alt=\\\"Personal statement builder | Which? University\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/683/content_personal-statement-promo__1_.png\\\" /\\u003e\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e3. Reframe your current experience\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nAre you applying to a \\u003ca href=\\\"http://university.which.co.uk/subjects/business-and-management-studies\\\"\\u003ebusiness course\\u003c/a\\u003e but have more experience in \\u003ca href=\\\"http://university.which.co.uk/subjects/drama-and-theatre-studies\\\"\\u003edrama and theatre\\u003c/a\\u003e than corporate organisations? Your experience isn\\u0026#39;t redundant if you\\u0026#39;re able to reflect on how the skills you developed relate back to the university subject you\\u0026#39;re applying to.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nIt\\u0026#39;s about how you explain this experience in your personal statement.\\u0026nbsp;In the example above, a business applicant with experience in musical theatre can talk about how they have extensive experience working in a group, working to a deadline; and communicating material in a convincing manner.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nFramed properly, an experience which isn\\u0026#39;t directly related to the field you\\u0026#39;re applying to could make an admissions tutor sit up and take notice.\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/personal-statements/personal-statements-how-to-make-your-work-experience-really-count\\\"\\u003ePersonal statements: make your experience count\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e4. Volunteer\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nVolunteering is a good opportunity to show some initiative and gain new skills, fast; these can include mentoring, event organisation, project-planning, working in a team and more. Plus, it\\u0026#39;s a noble pursuit that you should get lots out of.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cspan style=\\\"line-height: 20.8px;\\\"\\u003eAre there any issues which you rant about regularly, or have a particular passion for? See what related local events or groups are around you and get involved in making a change.\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nYou\\u0026#39;d be surprised just how many volunteering opportunities pop up when you begin looking; from activities attached to local schools and hospitals to religious, sporting and other community events, you\\u0026#39;re bound to find something near you.\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e5. Get reading\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nGet ahead by educating yourself about the field you\\u0026#39;re applying to, above and beyond what you\\u0026#39;re learning in your sixth form studies. Research on university websites or speak to your subject teacher about any must-read books or texts designed to bridge the gap between your current and degree-level studies.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nPlus, there are thousands of specialist blogs, websites, Reddit subreddits, YouTube channels and Twitter handles you could follow, to kill time and further connect with a subject. Pick a few to follow to get a comprehensive overview, keep up on the latest news and gain different perspectives. You never know; something you watch or listen to might be a useful example to refer to in your personal statement (or pop into your head if your mind goes blank in a\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/ucas-application/university-interviews-how-to-prepare\\\" style=\\\"line-height: 20.8px;\\\"\\u003euniversity interview\\u003c/a\\u003e).\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e{form_asset}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eSome final things to consider\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eAt this point you shouldn\\u0026#39;t really be scrambling around to find opportunities for experience and skills to put in your \\u003ca href=\\\"http://university.which.co.uk/advice/personal-statements\\\" style=\\\"line-height: 20.8px;\\\"\\u003epersonal statement\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u0026nbsp;Be confident in the experiences you\\u0026#39;ve gained to date - it\\u0026#39;s about finding ways to make your experience and achievements\\u0026nbsp;relevant to the courses you\\u0026#39;re applying to, by reflecting what you\\u0026#39;ve learned or gained from it.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e​If you continue to\\u0026nbsp;find yourself feeling unenthusiastic at this stage,\\u0026nbsp;have a serious think about your chosen options - go back and revisit the reasons you\\u0026#39;re applying to this subject.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T16:35:01.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2015-10-26T16:58:28.000Z\",\"slug\":\"5-things-you-can-do-right-now-to-boost-your-personal-statement\",\"published_on\":\"2017-07-10T08:49:17.000Z\",\"author_id\":15,\"contributing_author_id\":52,\"cached_category_list\":null,\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"Personal statements;; Personal statement;; UCAS application;; Work experience;; writing a personal statement\",\"audience\":\"General\",\"intro_text\":\"Struggling to find something to say in your personal statement? Here are five simple things you can do to boost your experience, skills and confidence.\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":793,\"headline\":\"Open days: five mistakes to avoid\",\"abstract\":\"What should you definitely NOT do at a university open day? \",\"body\":\"Open days are a great opportunity to decide if a university is the right fit for you, but can take you outside your comfort zone: a huge, unfamiliar campus, the nagging feeling to make a positive impression\\u0026hellip;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nIf this is your first one, you could turn up wishing you\\u0026#39;d approached things differently. Instead, avoid these five open day mistakes.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"http://university.which.co.uk/advice/open-days/printable-open-day-questions-subject-checklists\\\"\\u003eTop open day questions to ask for your subject\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e1. Don\\u0026#39;t\\u0026nbsp;wear something inappropriate\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nWhile there\\u0026#39;s no need to dress formally (though smart is advisable if you attend a \\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/ucas-application/university-interviews-how-to-prepare\\\"\\u003euniversity interview\\u003c/a\\u003e), we\\u0026#39;d suggest going for something that gives off a good impression and feels appropriate to the type of event you\\u0026#39;re attending.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThink about comfort. Open days usually involve lots of walking around, so wear appropriate footwear for those campus tours. Check the weather forecast of your destination before you leave, especially if the university is further afield.\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e2. Don\\u0026#39;t be late\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nWith hundreds of students and their families attending any given open day, universities put in a lot of work to organise a schedule so the day runs smoothly.\\u0026nbsp;They\\u0026#39;ll let you know where you need to be and when, with some idea about the activities. This way you can plan your journey properly, ideally with a little bit of spare time in case of delays.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAnd while it might sound stupid, make sure you know which campus you\\u0026#39;re going to. Many universities have more than one, some of which are in the same town (and others which aren\\u0026#39;t!) which can confuse things.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eWho should you take to an open day? \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/open-days/who-should-you-take-to-an-open-day\\\"\\u003eWe weigh up your options...\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e3. Don\\u0026#39;t be shy\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nAn open day isn\\u0026rsquo;t just a lot of people talking at you. It\\u0026rsquo;s a chance to meet those within the university community face-to-face and ask any questions you have. They won\\u0026rsquo;t remember every name and face; but if you have a good question and establish a rapport, you might just stick out which will be helpful if you get in touch with them later on.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nEven if you\\u0026rsquo;re shy or even a little intimidated by your surroundings, try your best to be outgoing and friendly, rather than stick exclusively to your family.\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/open-days/top-questions-to-ask-at-a-university-open-day\\\"\\u003eTop questions to ask at an open day\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e4. Don\\u0026#39;t arrive without a clue\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nThink beforehand about what you want to get out of the day: what are the things to find out that could help you decide if this is the right university, and course, for you?\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nOur \\u003ca href=\\\"/search/institution\\\"\\u003euniversity profiles\\u003c/a\\u003e and \\u003ca href=\\\"/courses\\\"\\u003ecourse search tools\\u003c/a\\u003e are a good place to start your research and jot down some questions to ask on the day. Look up the university and course to find out what other students have to say about everything from the facilities to the nightlife, as well as building up a picture of the content and modules offered on the course.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{form_asset}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e5. Don\\u0026#39;t leave early\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nBy the afternoon, it will have felt like a very long day: the early start to get there in time, all those talks, the walking tours of campus...\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nBut resist the temptation to skip the last few activities of the day and stay until the very end.\\u0026nbsp;This may be the only time you\\u0026rsquo;ll get to see the university in person before you apply (or even move there). The same goes for the local area; it might help you figure out \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-life/which-student-city\\\"\\u003ewhat you want in a university city\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nIf you\\u0026#39;re going by public transport, try to book an open ticket so you don\\u0026rsquo;t have to rush for a specific train or bus and miss something. Book tickets early to get the best deals. If you\\u0026#39;re going to a lot of open days around the country by train, \\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.which.co.uk/money/money-saving-tips/getting-a-great-deal/10-tips-for-finding-cheap-train-tickets-a6jzf2z3f1lc\\\"\\u003eread our guide to save money on train tickets\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/open-days/5-things-you-cant-leave-an-open-day-without-doing\\\"\\u003eDon\\u0026#39;t leave an open day without doing these...\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T16:53:02.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2015-11-13T09:55:41.000Z\",\"slug\":\"5-open-day-mistakes-to-avoid\",\"published_on\":\"2018-06-06T08:45:39.000Z\",\"author_id\":15,\"contributing_author_id\":52,\"cached_category_list\":null,\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"Open Days;; University open days;; Uni open days\",\"audience\":\"General\",\"intro_text\":\"Heading to a uni open day soon? Don't end up making one of these mistakes...\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":795,\"headline\":\"Ucas reference writing: common challenges\",\"abstract\":\"Find the answers to the most common problems and questions teachers face when writing a Ucas university reference for a student.\",\"body\":\"If you already know the \\u003ca href=\\\"http://university.which.co.uk/advice/teacher-resources/ucas-reference-writing-a-beginner-s-guide\\\"\\u003ebasics of reference writing\\u003c/a\\u003e, then it\\u0026#39;s time to move on to some of the challenges. Here are three of the most common issues that you might face as a referee\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026ndash;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;and how to deal with them.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong style=\\\"line-height: 20.8px;\\\"\\u003eTeachers:\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"http://university.which.co.uk/advice/teacher-resources\\\"\\u003eexplore more of our resources to help your students\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eHow to\\u0026nbsp;write a reference... for a student who isn\\u0026#39;t doing well academically\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nThis is a quandary that many referees face: the difficulty of writing a positive reference for someone who has had a bumpy start to sixth form, whose attitude is questionable or who hasn\\u0026#39;t coped well with their studies.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nOur tips? Aim for a holistic approach concentrating on the positives and drawing out all the student\\u0026#39;s strengths, not just their academic achievements.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nSo, you might highlight effort if attainment is poor; introduce \\u003ca href=\\\"http://university.which.co.uk/advice/personal-statements/hobbies-and-your-personal-statement\\\"\\u003eextra-curricular activities\\u003c/a\\u003e, if relevant; mention any challenges they\\u0026#39;ve faced away from education (with their permission); and, for improving students, illustrate how far they\\u0026#39;ve come and the progress made.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eHow to write a reference...\\u0026nbsp;for a student you don\\u0026#39;t know very well\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nYou may find that you have to write about a student that you don\\u0026rsquo;t know very well. Perhaps a student is very shy or on a one-year course, or maybe you\\u0026#39;re picking up a new class.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nEither way, it is possible to address this:\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e1.\\u0026nbsp;Talk to the student\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\nFind out what they would like you to include, what they would want an admissions tutor to know or what they feel they have achieved.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e2. See where else you could gather information\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\nPerhaps they volunteer in a setting relevant to their chosen course, or perhaps they are quiet at school but more confident at work. You could quote other people who can comment on their suitability or their skills.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e3. Talk to your colleagues\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\nTeaching or support staff may have additional information that you could include; perhaps a student has opened up to a colleague who can add a bit more depth to the reference.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e4. Consider whether a temporary reference would be appropriate\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\nIf you support students on a one-year course, it is acceptable to write a temporary reference outlining what you have learned about a student and then send a full reference direct to the universities in the spring.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e5. Avoid keeping it brief\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\nIt might be tempting to write a short reference if you feel you have little to say about a candidate, but tread carefully with this. Sometimes what\\u0026#39;s left unsaid can be as important as what is said.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cspan style=\\\"color: rgb(50, 53, 55); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5212px; line-height: 17.2817px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244);\\\"\\u003e{av:104714042}\\u003c/span\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"line-height: 1.2;\\\"\\u003eHow to write a reference... for a student\\u0026#39;s\\u0026nbsp;application to study\\u0026nbsp;a subject you\\u0026#39;re unfamiliar with\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nIt\\u0026#39;s fairly likely that you\\u0026#39;ll know something about degree courses linked to your subject, but it\\u0026#39;s much harder if a student decides to opt for something a little, or very, different.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cspan style=\\\"color: rgb(50, 53, 55); font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Helvetica, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11.5212px; line-height: 17.2817px; background-color: rgb(244, 244, 244);\\\"\\u003e{av:104714211}\\u003c/span\\u003e So, if you\\u0026#39;re a childcare tutor and your student decides to apply for \\u003ca href=\\\"http://university.which.co.uk/subjects/psychology\\\"\\u003epsychology\\u003c/a\\u003e,\\u0026nbsp;or you\\u0026#39;re a personal tutor whose student applies for a course you know little about, what then?\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e1. Talk to the student\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\nYour student should have researched the course thoroughly to determine whether it is a suitable choice. Discuss what they\\u0026#39;ve learned from their research, which skills and qualities they believe they need to demonstrate and, if it\\u0026#39;s a vocational course, what insights they\\u0026#39;ve developed into the profession.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e2. Talk to your colleagues\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\nIf you feel you need more information, you could approach a colleague who has closer links with the subject, or try a careers adviser at your institution.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e3. Do a bit of background research yourself\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\nFind out more by looking up courses right here on\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"http://university.which.co.uk/courses\\\"\\u003eWhich? University\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;- we\\u0026#39;ve got detailed information on\\u0026nbsp;course outlines and subject requirements.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eMore on Ucas references:\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/teachers/help-your-students-get-into-uni/ucas-reference-writing-a-beginner-s-guide\\\"\\u003etop tips for successful reference writing\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T17:09:31.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2015-11-13T14:17:55.000Z\",\"slug\":\"ucas-reference-writing-common-challenges\",\"published_on\":\"2015-11-19T10:45:54.000Z\",\"author_id\":15,\"contributing_author_id\":53,\"cached_category_list\":null,\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"references;; Ucas reference;; Writing a Ucas reference\",\"audience\":\"Teacher\",\"intro_text\":\"Whether you're writing your first or your 500th, some Ucas references will be trickier to put together than others. This guide tackles some of the typical issues.\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":828,\"headline\":\"Top unis for nightlife: Which? University Student Survey 2018\",\"abstract\":\"Which university has the most buzzing nightlife in 2018? Students rank the bars, clubs and music venues on their doorstep, in our latest student survey…\",\"body\":\"We surveyed more than 10,000 undergraduates in the \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-life/which-university-student-survey-the-results\\\"\\u003eWhich? University Student Survey 2018\\u003c/a\\u003e to find out how they rate the pubs, bars, clubs, music venues, theatres and more, on their doorstep.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eWhich universities have the best nightlife?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nThe top-end of the nightlife category is significantly less crowded this year with 10 universities being rated highly by students.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nHere they are, in\\u0026nbsp;alphabetical order. Click to read why students rated them highly plus tips for where you should head if you find yourself on a night out there:\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#UniversityofLeeds\\\"\\u003eUniversity of Leeds\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#UniversityofLiverpool\\\"\\u003eUniversity of Liverpool\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#LiverpoolJohnMooresUniversity\\\"\\u003eLiverpool John Moores University\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#UniversityofManchester\\\"\\u003eUniversity of Manchester\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#ManchesterMetropolitanUniversity\\\"\\u003eManchester Metropolitan University\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#NewcastleUniversity\\\"\\u003eNewcastle University\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#NorthumbriaUniversity\\\"\\u003eNorthumbria University\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#NottinghamTrentUniversity\\\"\\u003eNottingham Trent University\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#UniversityofStrathclyde\\\"\\u003eUniversity of Strathclyde\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#UniversityofSussex\\\"\\u003eUniversity of Sussex\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eNote, while union bars on campus are usually only for those who study at that university, you won\\u0026rsquo;t be restricted when it comes to places and venues in town. So if you\\u0026rsquo;re a Liverpool University student, check out the comments from Liverpool John Moores University students too \\u003cb id=\\\"docs-internal-guid-e0fa7438-7fff-b19b-a2e4-807d2d659f71\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash;\\u003c/b\\u003e they\\u0026rsquo;re just as relevant.\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nIf a great night matters to you when making your university decision, you\\u0026rsquo;ll want to head up north: seven northern universities made up our top 10, plus one Scottish university.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThe cities of \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/location/newcastle\\\"\\u003eNewcastle\\u003c/a\\u003e, \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/location/liverpool\\\"\\u003eLiverpool\\u003c/a\\u003e and \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/location/manchester\\\"\\u003eManchester\\u003c/a\\u003e all saw their main two universities rated highly. That\\u0026#39;s\\u0026nbsp;a solid indicator you\\u0026rsquo;re in for a good time, regardless of which uni you choose here. In fact, \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/newcastle-university-n21\\\"\\u003eNewcastle University\\u003c/a\\u003e and \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/northumbria-university-n77\\\"\\u003eNorthumbria University\\u003c/a\\u003e were rated overall joint-top last year, so they have some competition on their heels.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nBut if you don\\u0026rsquo;t want to head too far up north \\u003cb id=\\\"docs-internal-guid-e0fa7438-7fff-b19b-a2e4-807d2d659f71\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash;\\u003c/b\\u003e perhaps you don\\u0026rsquo;t want to stray far from home \\u003cb id=\\\"docs-internal-guid-e0fa7438-7fff-b19b-a2e4-807d2d659f71\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash;\\u003c/b\\u003e you don\\u0026rsquo;t have to deprive yourself of a good time. \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/nottingham-trent-university-n91\\\"\\u003eNottingham Trent University\\u003c/a\\u003e and \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/university-of-sussex-s90\\\"\\u003eSussex University\\u003c/a\\u003e are holding the fort down for the midlands and south, respectively, when it comes to hotspots once the sun sets.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nIt\\u0026#39;s interesting to note that no capital cities were highly rated despite what you would expect of large, populated cities such as\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/location/london\\\"\\u003eLondon\\u003c/a\\u003e or \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/location/cardiff\\\"\\u003eCardiff\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{form_asset}\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eWhat students said: tips and recommendations\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nWe asked students where they would take a friend visiting them for a night out in their uni city. This is what they said\\u0026hellip;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"UniversityofLeeds\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eUniversity of Leeds\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection https:=\\\"\\\" id=\\\"UniversityofLeeds”\\u0026gt;\\r\\n\\u0026lt;h3\\u0026gt;University of Leeds\\u0026lt;/h3\\u0026gt;\\r\\n\\u0026lt;strong\\u0026gt;\\u0026lt;a  data-cke-saved-href=\\\" university-of-glasgow-g28=\\\"\\\" university.which.co.uk=\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cimg alt=\\\"University of Leeds - Which? University Student Survey 2017: Nightlife\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/678/content_leeds.PNG\\\" /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch4\\u003eFeeling fruity?\\u003c/h4\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;Fruity is the biggest student night and plays mostly classic tunes.\\u0026#39;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eSecond year student, University of Leeds | 2016\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;Fruity Friday in the student union, all you will ever need.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eSecond year student, University of Leeds | 2016\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;Fruity \\u0026ndash; best night out in the union, cheesy music!\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, University of Leeds | 2017\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;[Fruity is] on every Friday and plays really good music. After summer exams, it\\u0026#39;s free.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFourth year student, University of Leeds | 2016\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch4\\u003eNot a club fan?\\u003c/h4\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;[I would take a friend visiting me at uni on a] pub crawl \\u0026ndash; it gives a better feel of the area and is less overwhelming.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, University of Leeds | 2017\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;There\\u0026rsquo;s the Otley Run, which is a pub crawl consisting of about 18 pubs running from Headingley into town. They are often themed and a great way to socialise with other people on your course or in your society.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eSecond year student, University of Leeds | 2016\\u003c/em\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch4\\u003eJazz fan?\\u003c/h4\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;As a jazz musician, there are plenty of venues. I would start in Headingley, taking them to the Head of Steam, which is a laid back but fun start. I\\u0026rsquo;d move on to LS6 for a more upbeat live music scene, then onto Smokestack which is [a] lively and cheap place to have a great time.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, University of Leeds | 2017\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eRead about\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/university-of-leeds-l23\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eUniversity of Leeds\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;or\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/location/leeds\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003estudent life in Leeds\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"UniversityofLiverpool\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eUniversity of Liverpool\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection http:=\\\"\\\" id=\\\"UniversityofLiverpool”\\u0026gt;\\r\\n\\u0026lt;h3\\u0026gt;University of Liverpool\\u0026lt;/h3\\u0026gt;\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u0026lt;h3\\u0026gt;\\u0026lt;a  data-cke-saved-href=\\\" university-of-liverpool-l41=\\\"\\\" university.which.co.uk=\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cimg alt=\\\"University of Liverpool - Which? University Student Survey 2017: Nightlife\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/482/content_liverpool.jpg\\\" /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch4\\u003eThere\\u0026#39;s still one main place to head to...\\u003c/h4\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;Concert Square is really good for a decent night out as all the clubs and bars are within a 30-second walk of each other \\u0026ndash; Baa Bar, Level, Mccooleys, Medication, Soho etc.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eSecond year student, University of Liverpool | 2016\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;The nightlife is the best that I\\u0026#39;ve ever seen. It beats Malia, Leeds, Newcastle and probably loads others. In Liverpool, Concert Square is the centre of the nightlife on most nights, as this then branches off into the bigger clubs down the streets adjacent to it.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, University of Liverpool | 2016\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;[There are] different places to go, each unique with a vibrant \\u003cmeta charset=\\\"utf-8\\\" /\\u003e\\u003cb id=\\\"docs-internal-guid-2c07c495-7fff-458e-7719-aeff817daa60\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash;\\u003c/b\\u003e and almost continental \\u003cmeta charset=\\\"utf-8\\\" /\\u003e\\u003cb id=\\\"docs-internal-guid-2c07c495-7fff-458e-7719-aeff817daa60\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash;\\u003c/b\\u003e atmosphere.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nFirst year student, University of Liverpool | 2016\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;Concert square \\u0026ndash; all the main clubs are there and there are many student nights. There\\u0026rsquo;s also takeaways and food nearby to have before and after a night out.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, University of Liverpool | 2017\\u003c/em\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch4\\u003eBest of both worlds\\u003c/h4\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;I would take them to the William Gladstone (named \\u0026#39;Pub of the Year\\u0026#39;) for its reflection of Liverpool\\u0026#39;s historical heritage. Then for clubbing or for music I would take them to the Cavern Club or Concert Square for its diverse available venues.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, University of Liverpool | 2017\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;The nightlife in Liverpool is simply amazing, having the diversity of London areas while still retaining expectation of northern prices.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, University of Liverpool | 2016\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eRead about \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/university-of-liverpool-l41\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eUniversity of Liverpool\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;or\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/location/liverpool\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003estudent life in Liverpool\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"LiverpoolJohnMooresUniversity\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eLiverpool John Moores University\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection http:=\\\"\\\" id=\\\"LiverpoolJohnMooresUniversity”\\u0026gt;\\r\\n\\u0026lt;h3\\u0026gt;Liverpool John Moores University\\u0026lt;/h3\\u0026gt;\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u0026lt;h3\\u0026gt;\\u0026lt;a  data-cke-saved-href=\\\" liverpool-john-moores-university-l51=\\\"\\\" university.which.co.uk=\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cimg alt=\\\"Liverpool John Moores University - Which? University Student Survey 2017: Nightlife\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/487/content_liverpool_john_moores.jpg\\\" /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch4\\u003ePut the cab money away\\u003c/h4\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;The nightlife in Liverpool is fantastic and definitely one of the best parts of the city. Always something different to do every night.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, Liverpool John Moores University | 2016\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;There are places everywhere and from the John Moores Mount Pleasant campus, the centre of town is at most a 10 minute walk \\u003cmeta charset=\\\"utf-8\\\" /\\u003e\\u003cb id=\\\"docs-internal-guid-75273ede-7fff-2a4c-a27f-fe1f6996f5ad\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash;\\u003c/b\\u003e so no need to waste money on taxis really!\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, Liverpool John Moores University | 2016\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;Liverpool has a huge variety of clubs/pubs etc which are all very close to each other. Most are within walking distance (so no need for excessive taxi rides like Birmingham and similar places).\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFourth year student, Liverpool John Moores University | 2016\\u003c/em\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch4\\u003eNot to go on about Concert Square or anything, but...\\u003c/h4\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;All the clubs and bars are centred around Concert Square so there\\u0026rsquo;s a huge variety in one area. You can dip in and out of all the different bars depending on your taste and what offers they have on. Because it is all centred around one place, it feels very safe with police and club bouncers, so I feel confident walking [around] as two girls on their own. Liverpool is a lovely place and has a great student environment.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, Liverpool John Moores University | 2016\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eRead about?\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/liverpool-john-moores-university-l51\\\"\\u003eLiverpool John Moores University\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;or \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/location/liverpool\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003estudent life in Liverpool\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"UniversityofManchester\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eUniversity of Manchester\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection http:=\\\"\\\" id=\\\"UniversityofManchester”\\u0026gt;\\r\\n\\u0026lt;h3\\u0026gt;University of Manchester\\u0026lt;/h3\\u0026gt;\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u0026lt;h3\\u0026gt;\\u0026lt;a  data-cke-saved-href=\\\" university-of-manchester-m20=\\\"\\\" university.which.co.uk=\\\"\\\"\\u003e\\u003cimg alt=\\\"University of Manchester - Which? University Student Survey 2017: Nightlife\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/485/content_manchester.jpg\\\" /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch4\\u003eThe Northern Quarter boasts a lot\\u003c/h4\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;First I would take them to the Northern Quarter and pick out one of the many restaurants in the area that are reasonably priced. [We\\u0026rsquo;d] go to one of the cocktail bars nearby to start off the night, then head nearer the student area (near and around the Palace Theatre) and go to one of the pubs around there. After this, I would take them to one of the popular student clubs, so FAC251, Fifth or 42s because they are cheap but fun.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, University of Manchester | 2017\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;I\\u0026#39;d take them around the Northern Quarter as it\\u0026#39;s filled with vintage shops, cute tea rooms and amazing bars!\\u0026#39;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, University of Manchester | 2017\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;Northern Quarter. Great food, live music, good bars, good clubs.\\u0026#39;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, University of Manchester | 2017\\u003c/em\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch4\\u003eLike a laugh?\\u003c/h4\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;The comedy scene in Manchester needs more recognition because it\\u0026#39;s great.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, University of Manchester | 2017\\u003c/em\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch4\\u003eAlso, this was quite sweet to read...\\u003c/h4\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;42s nightclub because it has good music and nice people.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, University of Manchester | 2017\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eRead about\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/university-of-manchester-m20\\\"\\u003eUniversity of Manchester\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;or \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/location/manchester\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003estudent life in Manchester\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"ManchesterMetropolitanUniversity\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eManchester Metropolitan University\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"ManchesterMetropolitanUniversity”\\u0026gt;\\r\\n\\u0026lt;h3\\u0026gt;Manchester Metropolitan University\\u0026lt;/h3\\u0026gt;\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u0026lt;section http:=\\\"\\u003e\\u003cimg alt=\\\"Manchester Metropolitan University - Which? University Student Survey 2017: Nightlife\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/488/content_manchester_metro.jpg\\\" /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch4\\u003eStrapped for cash? Not a problem, whatever you\\u0026rsquo;re looking for\\u003c/h4\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;Font is a really cheap cocktail bar that has a friendly vibe and good music. Footage is a good cheap pub and also shows football matches. Revolution has happy hour deals on Oxford Road.\\u0026#39;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eSecond year student, Manchester Metropolitan University | 2016\\u003c/em\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch4\\u003eRight at the heart of things\\u003c/h4\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;The nightlife around MMU is amazing. There are so many clubs, bars and pubs to choose from. Student club nights and events are run every single day of the week, in various locations. It is very social and MMU is right in the centre, making everything easy to get to.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, Manchester Metropolitan University | 2016\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;MMU campus has a billion different clubs, pubs and music venues on its doorstep. There are more clubs than I can count and a pub on every corner. Huge variety of types, no matter what you\\u0026#39;re into you\\u0026#39;ll find a club/pub/venue for you within walking distance. Amazing.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, Manchester Metropolitan University | 2016\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;Manchester is the biggest city in the UK outside of London (and its a hell of a lot cheaper than London) and MMU is right in the heart of the city nightlife. There must be hundreds of pubs, clubs and venues within even half a mile of the university, and there is something that caters to everyone.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, Manchester Metropolitan University | 2016\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;I love Manchester. It has a great music scene - from shopping for records on Oldham Street to gigs at numerous venues and venues, in particular in the NQ [Northern Quarter] of MCR [Manchester]. I personally love the NQ.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, Manchester Metropolitan University | 2016\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eRead about \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/manchester-metropolitan-university-m40\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eManchester Metropolitan University\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;or\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/location/manchester\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003estudent life in Manchester\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"NewcastleUniversity\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eNewcastle University\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"NewcastleUniversity”\\u0026gt;\\r\\n\\u0026lt;h3\\u0026gt;Newcastle University\\u0026lt;/h3\\u0026gt;\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u0026lt;section http:=\\\"\\u003e\\u003cimg alt=\\\"Newcastle University - Which? University Student Survey 2017: Nightlife\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/479/content_newcastle.jpg\\\" /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch4\\u003eFind yourself behind bars\\u003c/h4\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;[Go to] Sinners \\u0026ndash; there\\u0026#39;s a cage and they play hella cheesy music.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, Newcastle University | 2017\\u003c/em\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch4\\u003eNostalgic in Newcastle\\u003c/h4\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;I would take them to Bierkeller and get them to sing cheesy songs from the 2000s while dancing on the tables, because we\\u0026#39;re millennials and singing to Take That and [doing] the macarena has been ingrained in our psyche.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, Newcastle University | 2017\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch4\\u003eThe \\u0026#39;trebles\\u0026#39; are still a thing\\u003c/h4\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;I\\u0026#39;d take them to a few trebles bars \\u0026ndash; [it\\u0026rsquo;s] free entry and three trebles for a fiver. Then we could go to a club nearby \\u0026ndash; you can walk everywhere in the city centre \\u0026ndash; and we\\u0026#39;d probably go to Quids In at Illegitimate. It\\u0026#39;s cheap, highly populated with students and a great time.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, Newcastle University | 2017\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/newcastle-university-n21\\\"\\u003eRead about Newcastle University\\u003c/a\\u003e or \\u003ca href=\\\"http://university.which.co.uk/location/newcastle\\\"\\u003estudent life in Newcastle\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"NorthumbriaUniversity\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eNorthumbria University\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"NorthumbriaUniversity”\\u0026gt;\\r\\n\\u0026lt;h3\\u0026gt;Northumbria University\\u0026lt;/h3\\u0026gt;\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u0026lt;section http:=\\\"\\u003e\\u003cimg alt=\\\"Northumbria University - Which? University Student Survey 2017: Nightlife\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/480/content_northumbria-newcastle.jpg\\\" /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch4\\u003eBoredom is impossible, plus it\\u0026rsquo;s friendly on your wallet\\u003c/h4\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;Taxis to and from accommodation are dead cheap, and so are the drinks and entry fees. Remember to put your name on guest lists! Loads of different bars with no entry fees (to save money) eg Sinners, Bierkeller, Gotham (for killer trebles), Sam Jacks\\u0026hellip; The list goes on! I LOVE the nightlife here. You will never be bored and you can be confident there will ALWAYS be something on every single night of the week.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, Northumbria University | 2016\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch4\\u003eEverybody\\u0026rsquo;s welcome\\u003c/h4\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;For nightclubs the best place for student deals are places around the Bigg Market or Digital on a Monday. However I prefer places like Rusty\\u0026#39;s, which is an area known as the \\u0026#39;Pink Triangle\\u0026#39; where all the gay bars are, and which I think has the best music.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, Northumbria University | 2016\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;A very friendly and safe gay scene.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, Northumbria University | 2016\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;Powerhouse is open until 4am \\u0026ndash; longer than all the other places \\u0026ndash; and is a good way to finish the night.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, Northumbria University | 2017\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch4\\u003eDon\\u0026#39;t worry if you\\u0026#39;re not into clubbing\\u003c/h4\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;I would take them along the Quayside as it has a range of different restaurants and bars with a very good atmosphere and scenery.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, Northumbria University | 2017\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;There are lots of different theatre/concert venues such as the Theatre Royal, City Hall, the Sage Gateshead, Metro Radio Arena and the O2 Academy, which cater for all different tastes and budgets.The Gate and Stowell Street (Chinatown) are really great places to go for a meal as there\\u0026rsquo;s a lot of selection and it\\u0026rsquo;s very close to the centre of town if you want to go out clubbing afterwards. ZaZa Bazaar is a great place for really cheap student meals.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, Northumbria University | 2016\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;There\\u0026rsquo;s a huge variety of nightlife around Newcastle \\u0026ndash; from the bars on Northumbria campus, the cheap trebles bars, a huge gay bar scene and various pubs and clubs, varying in prices, types of music and styles. There\\u0026#39;s pretty much something for everyone, and everything is within walking distance.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, Northumbria University | 2016\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/northumbria-university-n77\\\"\\u003eRead about Northumbria University\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;or \\u003ca href=\\\"http://university.which.co.uk/location/newcastle\\\"\\u003estudent life in Newcastle\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"NottinghamTrentUniversity\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eNottingham Trent University\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"NottinghamTrentUniversity”\\u0026gt;\\r\\n\\u0026lt;h3\\u0026gt;Nottingham Trent University\\u0026lt;/h3\\u0026gt;\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u0026lt;section http:=\\\"\\u003e\\u003cimg alt=\\\"Nottingham Trent University - Which? University Student Survey 2017: Nightlife\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/491/content_nottingham_trent_bridge.jpg\\\" /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch4\\u003eOne place came up a lot\\u003c/h4\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;Rock city! Best night out for students.\\u0026#39;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, Nottingham Trent University | 2017\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;Rock City [is] a great alternative club and live music venue.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, Nottingham Trent University | 2017\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;My all-time favourite place to go is Rock City as it has different rooms with different music to suit everyone. It also has cheap drinks and deals!\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, Nottingham Trent University | 2016\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;I would take [a friend] to Rock City because it\\u0026#39;s a fun and lively night out.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, Nottingham Trent University | 2017\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eRead about \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/nottingham-trent-university-n91\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eNottingham Trent University\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;or \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/location/nottingham\\\"\\u003estudent life in Nottingham\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"UniversityofStrathclyde\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eUniversity of Strathclyde\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"UniversityofStrathclyde”\\u0026gt;\\r\\n\\u0026lt;h3\\u0026gt;Strathclyde University\\u0026lt;/h3\\u0026gt;\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u0026lt;section http:=\\\"\\u003e\\u003cimg alt=\\\"University of Strathclyde - Which? University Student Survey 2017: Nightlife\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/493/content_glasgow_metro.jpg\\\" /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch4\\u003ePerfect location\\u003c/h4\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;Strathclyde is right in the middle of the busy Glasgow nightlife so there\\u0026#39;s something to suit everyone. The union is one of the best in Scotland.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eSecond year student, Strathclyde University | 2016\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;The nightlife around Strathclyde is some of the best you\\u0026#39;ll find in Scotland. It is in the centre of Glasgow so it is really just everything that the centre of Glasgow has to offer.\\u0026#39;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, Strathclyde University | 2016\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;Strathclyde is close to the centre, which is good for getting home after nights out. There are lots of lovely small music venues for smaller artists and many different pubs for different tastes.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eSecond year student, Strathclyde University | 2016\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;We also have a student pub called Todd\\u0026rsquo;s Bar in the middle of the student accommodation. There are about another 20 pubs that sponsor different clubs, so there is almost definitely someone from Strathclyde in these other pubs at some point (Bar Home being a very good example).\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFourth year student, Strathclyde University | 2016\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch4\\u003eWhat\\u0026rsquo;s your trivia knowledge like?\\u003c/h4\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;The union is good on quiz nights. Great atmosphere and cheap drinks, good food too.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, Strathclyde University | 2016\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eRead about?\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/university-of-strathclyde-s78\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eUniversity of Strathclyde\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;or \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/location/brighton\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003estudent life in Glasgow\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"UniversityofSussex\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eUniversity of Sussex\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"UniversityofSussex”\\u0026gt;\\r\\n\\u0026lt;h3\\u0026gt;University of Sussex\\u0026lt;/h3\\u0026gt;\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u0026lt;section http:=\\\"\\u003e\\u003cimg alt=\\\"University of Sussex - Which? University Student Survey 2017: Nightlife\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/484/content_brighton.jpg\\\" /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch4\\u003eThe famous Lanes aren\\u0026rsquo;t just for shopping\\u003c/h4\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;While West Street is probably the most infamous street for a night out, don\\u0026rsquo;t underestimate the Lanes \\u0026ndash; great little pubs run amok down there and lots of them have a great atmosphere. You might not get a student discount or deals there, but the service is top notch.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eSecond year student, University of Sussex | 2016\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;The great thing about nightlife in Sussex is that while there are clubs for typical student nights, there are also numerous quaint pubs in Brighton, as well as lovely smaller music venues for a more personal gig experience.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eSecond year student, University of Sussex | 2016\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch4\\u003ePart of a sports club? It has its extra benefits\\u0026hellip;\\u003c/h4\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;The nightlife is really good in Sussex. Apart from it being quite expensive at times, there are ways to get around it. The sports societies are able to get decent deals with local clubs.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eFirst year student, University of Sussex | 2016\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch4\\u003eVariety by the sea\\u003c/h4\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;Brighton is a 20-minute bus ride from uni, and has the most varied nightlife anywhere in the UK! It has everything from Irish pubs to LGBT+ bars, and whatever you could want in between. Coalition and The Haunt are particular favourites.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eSecond year student, University of Sussex | 2016\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;Brighton is full of rad clubs and venues. And of course, it\\u0026#39;s by the sea and you\\u0026#39;ve got the pier and that. Everyone loves the pier.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eSecond year student, University of Sussex | 2014\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eRead about\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/university-of-sussex-s90\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eUniversity of Sussex \\u003c/a\\u003eor \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/location/brighton\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003estudent life in Brighton\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-life/which-university-student-survey-the-results\\\"\\u003eRead the full results of the Which? University Student Survey 2018\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;including who came top for student union, sports scene and more.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eAbout the Which? University Student Survey 2018\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nWe asked students to score their university on how diverse the local nightlife is, as part of the annual Which? University Student Survey. Each year, Which? commissions this independent survey of current higher education students in the UK to find out more about their experience of university.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nWe surveyed a total of 5,081 students from over 127 institutions this year, merging findings from our 2017 and 2016 surveys to give an overall sample of 10,754 students. The survey sample used to analyse the nightlife category was as follows: third years responding to the 2018 survey; second and third years responding to the 2017 survey; and all respondents to the 2016 survey. Our minimum threshold was 30 respondents per university \\u003cmeta charset=\\\"utf-8\\\" /\\u003e\\u003cb id=\\\"docs-internal-guid-00cb0d1f-7fff-6603-7455-b20b39682e8f\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/b\\u003estandard for our surveys that use this linear plotting technique, and is based upon empirical testing of a range of sample sizes we carried out in 2014.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nStatistical differences between groups of universities were identified as follows. For each measure, a mean score on the 1-10 scale was calculated for each university. Analysis of variance was used to establish whether there were any significant differences between the means, and then a linear plotting technique was used to identify significant breaks between the means of groups of universities. The groups with the highest mean scores were reported as \\u0026#39;highly rated\\u0026#39;.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAll surveys were conducted by YouthSight on behalf of Which?, in March/April of the respective year.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003ePlease note, student comments in this feature range from 2014-2018.\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T17:07:29.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2016-06-13T15:44:12.000Z\",\"slug\":\"top-unis-for-nightlife-which-university-student-survey\",\"published_on\":\"2018-10-19T00:01:29.000Z\",\"author_id\":15,\"contributing_author_id\":52,\"cached_category_list\":null,\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"Student life;; University nightlife;; Which? University Student Survey;; night life;; clubs;; bars;; social life;; 2018\",\"audience\":\"General\",\"intro_text\":\"When the sun goes down, will your university keep you entertained for three years? Or will your options run dry before the end of your first term? \",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":832,\"headline\":\"Entry requirements and alternatives to A-levels\",\"abstract\":\"BTECS, the IB, Access to HE courses... A-levels aren't the only qualification to take your students to university. Explore the alternatives here.\",\"body\":\"Nearly 100,000 18 year-olds applied to university in 2015 with qualifications other than A-levels. Choosing a different qualification can offer an alternative way to study \\u0026ndash; as a teacher, you can help students consider their preferences for learning and assessment.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nSo which other qualifications could your students choose as a stepping stone to university? Here\\u0026#39;s an overview of what\\u0026rsquo;s on offer\\u0026hellip;\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eBTECs and\\u0026nbsp;vocational qualifications\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nIt is becoming increasingly common for students to apply to university with a mixture of A-level and BTEC qualifications. If the academic and exam focus of A-levels isn\\u0026#39;t right for a student you\\u0026#39;re advising, then how about a vocational qualification at level 3 (level 6 on the Scottish Credit and Qualifications Framework)?\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nBTEC qualifications are widely available in sixth forms and colleges, but you might encounter CACHE qualifications, City and Guilds Tech Levels or Cambridge Technicals too. These qualifications tend to link to a broad job area, rather than an academic subject \\u0026ndash; think engineering, not maths; health sciences, not biology.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eWho would they suit?\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nVocational courses like these might suit students considering university or work-related options in future. Students will still spend time in the classroom, but they should also get the chance to apply their learning. There\\u0026#39;s a focus on coursework and assignments over exams. As a general rule, students will need GCSEs at grade C to get a place.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{av:124057811}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eSo are there any limitations?\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nSome universities are more \\u0026#39;BTEC-friendly\\u0026#39; than others.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;Some of our universities consider vocational qualifications like BTECs in certain circumstances. However, for many courses they are not considered suitable preparation,\\u0026#39; advises The Russell Group.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026#39;Where BTECs are accepted, it is likely that you will be required to achieve very high grades, for example three Distinctions. You may also be required to have studied the BTEC in combination with other qualifications such as A-levels.\\u0026#39;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nStudents will need to check which BTEC qualification they will be studying. Qualifications include extended diplomas, diplomas, subsidiary diplomas and certificates. Some are worth more Ucas points than others.\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWhat the Russell Group says about BTEC qualifications:\\u0026nbsp;read the \\u003ca href=\\\"http://russellgroup.ac.uk/for-students/school-and-college-in-the-uk/subject-choices-at-school-and-college/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eInformed Choices guide\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eRead our guide:\\u0026nbsp;how\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/ucas-application/can-you-get-into-university-if-youre-studying-btecs\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003euniversity admissions tutors view\\u0026nbsp;BTECs\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eFind out more\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"http://qualifications.pearson.com/en/qualifications/btec-nationals.html\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eBTEC\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.cache.org.uk/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eCACHE\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.cityandguilds.com/techbac\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eCity and Guilds\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.ocr.org.uk/qualifications/by-type/cambridge-technicals\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eCambridge Technicals\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"line-height: 1.2;\\\"\\u003eAccess to Higher Education (HE) Diploma\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nFor students looking for a route to university but without the necessary qualifications, the Access to HE Diploma might be worth considering. Our \\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/ucas-application/access-to-he-explained-the-alternative-route-into-university\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eAccess to HE guide for students\\u003c/a\\u003e explains more.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eWho would it suit?\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nTypically, Access students are 19+ and most have had a break from study. Unlike most of the two-year options explained here, this course is offered as a one-year intensive programme and can be taken part-time.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nEntry requirements vary, but may require some GCSEs initially, particularly in English and maths. Students are taught how to study as well as developing subject knowledge.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nStudents will mainly be assessed by coursework, alongside other assessment methods, including essays, presentations, laboratory work, research projects and exams.\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eAre there any limitations?\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAccess courses are widely accepted by universities, but it is always recommended to check individual university entry requirements before choosing a specific Access to HE Diploma.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThe Access to HE Diploma award now appears on the Ucas Tariff. Students achieving all distinctions will gain equivalent points to students gaining three A-levels at grade A.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eFind out more\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.accesstohe.ac.uk/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eAccess to HE\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eInternational Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nFor students who want breadth of study, the International Baccalaureate has lots to offer. Students cover six subjects, three at higher level. The programme is academically challenging but encourages personal development too.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nShare this university applications guide to the \\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/ucas-application/international-baccalaureate-ib-students-top-tips-for-applying-to-university\\\"\\u003eIB diploma with your students\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eWho would it suit?\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThe IB Diploma can be a great choice for all-rounders, as students are expected to study one from each of the following groups:\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eStudies in language and literature\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eLanguage acquisition\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eIndividuals and societies\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eSciences\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eMathematics\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eThe arts\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nStudents also pick a second subject from a group of their choosing. Assessment is based around coursework and final exams.{av:124057715}The breadth of learning means that students should be well-prepared for their university studies. The International Baccalaureate Diploma is widely accepted by universities in the UK and around the world.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eAre there any limitations?\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nStudents will have fewer free periods and more tutor contact time than most A-level or BTEC students. This option can be demanding, so make sure students are ready for the challenge.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eFind out more\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.ibo.org/programmes/diploma-programme\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eIB Diploma\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eWhat else is there to consider?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nThese aren\\u0026#39;t the only qualifications that could lead students to university.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nLook out for \\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.cie.org.uk/programmes-and-qualifications/cambridge-advanced/cambridge-pre-u/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eCambridge Pre-U\\u003c/a\\u003e, the Foundation Diploma in Art and Design, and Highers and Advanced Highers in Scotland.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eNext:\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eAdvice on how to \\u003ca href=\\\"/teachers/develop-your-skills-as-an-adviser/teachers-improving-careers-advice-skills\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003edevelop\\u0026nbsp;your skills as an adviser\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eOur \\u003ca href=\\\"/a-level-explorer\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eA-level Explorer tool\\u003c/a\\u003e can generate ideas for\\u0026nbsp;students taking other qualifications, too\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eFind out if students can \\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/ucas-application/can-you-get-into-university-if-youre-studying-btecs\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eget into uni with a BTEC\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T16:33:27.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2016-06-24T11:34:39.000Z\",\"slug\":\"alternatives-to-a-levels\",\"published_on\":\"2016-06-24T11:21:14.000Z\",\"author_id\":3,\"contributing_author_id\":53,\"cached_category_list\":null,\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"A-level choices;; A-levels;; BTECs;; International Baccalaureate;; Access to HE diploma;; Teacher resources\",\"audience\":\"Teacher\",\"intro_text\":\"Although A-levels are the most common choice for 18 year-olds applying to university, they aren't the only option out there. \",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":834,\"headline\":\"The Complete Guide to Oxbridge Applications\",\"abstract\":\"Are your students applying to Oxbridge? Our free, downloadable guide explains the process and what to expect in Oxford and Cambridge interviews and tests.\",\"body\":\"When applying to Oxbridge it\\u0026#39;s crucial for you and your students to know exactly what they are looking for. Our free, downloadable guide takes you through this competitive process.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{{downloads}}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nWhat are Oxford and Cambridge looking for and what happens in interviews and tests? Download our free guide to find out\\u0026hellip;\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eWhat\\u0026#39;s inside?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eIs Oxbridge for you?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWhat are they looking for?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eOxford versus Cambridge \\u0026ndash; how to choose\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eThe collegiate system and choosing a college\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eStudent views on each university\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eInterviews and test \\u0026ndash; what to expect\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eNote:\\u003c/strong\\u003e to download a PDF file, you\\u0026rsquo;ll need Adobe Acrobat Reader software.\\u003c/em\\u003e\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T17:05:05.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2016-06-24T12:28:58.000Z\",\"slug\":\"oxbridge-applications-oxford-university-guide\",\"published_on\":\"2016-06-24T12:24:15.000Z\",\"author_id\":10,\"contributing_author_id\":10,\"cached_category_list\":null,\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"Oxbridge;; Teacher resources;; Oxford;; Cambridge\",\"audience\":\"Teacher\",\"intro_text\":\"If you’ve got exceptionally bright and motivated students, you may be encouraging them to apply to Oxbridge. Our guide has everything they need to know...\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"pdf\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":839,\"headline\":\"Careers resource: The Getting Into Uni Guide\",\"abstract\":\"A useful downloadable guide with timelines to help students understand the university application process and more, created in collaboration with The Student Room.\",\"body\":\"To get into university students will need to fulfil the entry requirements specified by the institution they are applying for. These can vary across universities and colleges.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eEntry requirements can consist of:\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eexam grades eg A-levels or equivalent\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003ewhether they\\u0026#39;re suited to the course, this can be outlined this through their personal statement\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eadmissions tests (though this usually depends on the course)\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003einterviews -\\u0026nbsp;students may be asked to interview to determine\\u0026nbsp;their suitability\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eextra requirements eg health, financial and DBS checks\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eWhat else does the guide cover?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003ea month-by-month calendar for Year 12 and Year 13 students of what to do and when\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003einformation on how to research\\u0026nbsp;courses and universities\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eguidance on how the Ucas application process works - including advice on writing your personal statement\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003esimplifying student finance for students\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003etips for revision, exams and results day\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eadvice on finding accommodation and what to pack for university\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003efreshers\\u0026#39; week survival guide\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eHow to use this\\u0026nbsp;guide in school\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eTake your\\u0026nbsp;Year 12 and Year 13 students through this handy guide in\\u0026nbsp;tutor time, designated PSHE sessions or with a\\u0026nbsp;group teaching session.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nPick one of the following key questions to discuss as a class or with individual students.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eKey questions with short answers:\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eWhat subject shall I choose? \\u003c/strong\\u003eThere are more than 30,000 degree courses on offer, covering everything from accounting to zoology. Students can learn more by reading the guide and visiting the Which uni \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/exploratory-widgets/a-level-explorer\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eA-level explorer tool\\u003c/a\\u003e and\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/courses\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003ecourse search\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eWhat\\u0026#39;s my study style?\\u003c/strong\\u003e Degrees come in many shapes: full\\u0026nbsp;or part-time,\\u0026nbsp;sandwich placement or year abroad, live at home or away.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eCan I afford uni?\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;Yes, you should be able to, but may need to take out student loans. Fees are up to \\u0026pound;9,250 a year in England while Scottish, Welsh and Northern Irish students pay less. Loans are repayable only after graduation. You\\u0026rsquo;ll need to budget for living\\u0026nbsp;costs, too.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eWhat else can I gain?\\u003c/strong\\u003e Think about what uni could offer in terms of extra-curricular activities, work experience, societies, sports and meeting new people.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eWhat careers are open to me after uni? \\u003c/strong\\u003e89% of graduates are in employment or further study after six months. According to job search engine Adzuna, university graduates can earn an average of \\u0026pound;500,000 more in a lifetime.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"option1\\\"\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eReady for the full guide to help answer these questions?\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{{downloads}}\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T16:18:15.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2016-06-27T12:18:05.000Z\",\"slug\":\"the-getting-into-uni-guide-download\",\"published_on\":\"2017-08-03T08:00:00.000Z\",\"author_id\":10,\"contributing_author_id\":10,\"cached_category_list\":null,\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"university;; student;; Student loan;; Applying to uni;; Teacher resources;; student finance;; freshers\",\"audience\":\"Teacher\",\"intro_text\":\"The Getting into Uni guide is a practical resource for students and teachers packed with straightforward, impartial advice covering everything students need to know when applying for uni.\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"pdf\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":845,\"headline\":\"Degree courses where work experience is essential\",\"abstract\":\"We explain which degree courses class work experience as an essential entry requirement.\",\"body\":\"Work experience helps students to gain valuable experience to prove their suitability for vocational degrees, as well as transferable skills for all Ucas applications.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThe following courses will expect to see evidence of \\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/career-prospects/work-experience-internships-10-ways-to-get-the-most-out-of-them\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003ework experience\\u003c/a\\u003e on university applications, but even if a student is applying for a course not listed here, work experience will enhance their application.\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eNHS-funded healthcare courses\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nFor courses such as nursing, midwifery, physiotherapy, occupational therapy and healthcare science, universities look for evidence of work experience or voluntary work in a health or social care setting. They may even ask for experience in more than one setting, so applicants understand the scope of the role.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nIt is equally important that students use their work experience as a means of checking that a caring job is right for them, so encourage them to reflect on this before submitting an application.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nIn addition, applicants have to demonstrate that they share the values and behaviours of the \\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/about/working-health/nhs-constitution\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eNHS Constitution\\u003c/a\\u003e. Work experience is the best way to provide evidence of these values for a Ucas application.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nNHS Trusts offer a limited number of placements in their local hospitals (search individual NHS Trust websites for these) \\u0026ndash; but they stress that this experience does not involve giving direct patient care.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nRemember that there are many settings where students can get general care experience or develop communication skills, all of which will be useful to them.\\u0026nbsp;Think about placements at:\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eNursing or residential homes\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eSchools\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eMental health units\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eCharities that help people with physical or learning disabilities.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eMedicine\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nWhen applying for a medicine degree, universities look for work experience that demonstrates:\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eSelf-motivation and resilience\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eAbility to reflect on and learn from life experiences\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eAbility to communicate and interact effectively with others\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eAn understanding of the values of the NHS Constitution.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\nAgain, be creative and open-minded when searching for placements. Universities stress that these experiences do not necessarily have to come from health and social care settings. General care experience can be more valuable than just observing in a hospital or GP surgery.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eTeaching\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nFor teaching degrees, universities often ask for 10 days or more experience in a school. This is often easier to set up in a school that students, or their siblings, attended \\u0026ndash; so start by applying to any schools where they already have contacts.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ca href=\\\"https://getintoteaching.education.gov.uk/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eGet into Teaching\\u003c/a\\u003e offers a School Experience Programme where students can use a Freephone number to enquire about possible local placements. The website also provides useful information on arranging placements.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAny experience gained with children and young people will be useful, so talk to students about volunteering in youth clubs or within a scout or guide group, too.\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eSocial Work\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nIt\\u0026#39;s likely that universities will expect applicants to have some direct experience of working in social care for social work degrees.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThis experience does not have to be gained in a local authority social services department. The \\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.basw.co.uk/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eBritish Association of Social Workers\\u003c/a\\u003e suggests this can be gained in youth clubs, advice services and voluntary agencies.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nFor work experience involving contact with children or vulnerable adults, students may need a \\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.gov.uk/disclosure-barring-service-check/overview\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eDisclosure and Barring Service\\u003c/a\\u003e (DBS) check and should leave ample time to arrange this.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eCourses where work experience may be needed\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nSome degrees that lead to being qualified for a profession or specific area of work - such as accountancy, architecture, civil engineering, media production and town and country planning \\u0026ndash; may also expect students to have work experience.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nFor these, universities like to see applicants who have had some experience that demonstrates their interest in and suitability for a specific career. They may also look for commercial awareness - some understanding of how a business or profession operates on a daily basis and the reality of what it may be like to work in their chosen career.\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eUseful skills that work experience provides\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nWork experience helps students to improve many key transferable skills. Universities will be looking for the following skills in all potential degree students:\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eSelf-management\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eOrganisational skills\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eCommunication skills\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eLeadership\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eTeamwork\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eProblem solving, analytical skills and critical thinking.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\nThese are skills that can be gained from most types of work experience, such as shop, bar and restaurant work, and should not to be undervalued by your students! So talk through all their work experience \\u0026ndash; both related and unrelated to their field of study.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eNext:\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/career-prospects/work-experience-internships-10-ways-to-get-the-most-out-of-them\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003e10 ways students can get the most out of work experience\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"/teachers/develop-your-skills-as-an-adviser/helping-students-find-worthwhile-work-experience-placements\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003ePractical ways to help students secure work experience\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T16:24:01.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2016-06-27T16:37:30.000Z\",\"slug\":\"work-experience-getting-onto-degree-courses\",\"published_on\":\"2017-06-27T16:26:03.000Z\",\"author_id\":3,\"contributing_author_id\":64,\"cached_category_list\":null,\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"Teacher resources;; Work experience;; Medicine;; Teaching training;; Social work\",\"audience\":\"Teacher\",\"intro_text\":\"Work experience is an important feature of any strong university application. For certain degree courses, though, it's an essential entry requirement.\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":861,\"headline\":\"The current graduate marketplace\",\"abstract\":\"Find out which degrees lead to the highest salaries and how much job opportunity is there for graduates. \",\"body\":\"These are all questions your students will want to know the answers to.\\u0026nbsp;As a teacher, it\\u0026#39;s useful to have an understanding of the graduate marketplace.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nUniversities run an annual survey called the Destination of Leavers of Higher Education Survey (DLHE) survey to find out how new graduates are faring after leaving university. This data gives us an insight into the broad themes in graduate employment, which we\\u0026#39;ve distilled here.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nFor a more detailed breakdown of the most in-demand subjects, take a look at our article on \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/teachers/introduce-higher-education-options/degrees-in-demand-by-employers-better-job-prospects\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003ewhich degrees are in demand\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eWhat is the current picture like for recent graduates?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nThe early unemployment rate for 2014 graduates was 6.3%; the lowest since before the recession began in 2009. A graduate unemployment rate (after six months) below about 6.5% usually signals that the jobs market for graduates is favourable and stable. So, the economic environment for university leavers appears to have recovered from the long downturn that began nearly a decade ago.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eWhat are graduates doing after six months?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nIn 2014, 353,725 first degrees were awarded to UK domiciled graduates:\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eThe majority \\u0026ndash; 76.7% - of first degree graduates were in work after six months, mainly in full-time employment alone, but with some working part time and some combining work with study (usually for professional qualifications, such as law or accountancy exams).\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eJust over 12% were solely in further study, mainly on one-year courses, taking Masters or training to be teachers.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eOf these, about one in eight went on to longer doctoral study, usually taking three to four years to qualify for their PhDs.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eAre salaries going up or down?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nThe recovery from recession has been slow and shallow for graduates and nowhere has that been more visible than in salaries. Pay growth has been very weak over the last few years for all workers, and salaries for new graduates have been no exception.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eThe average starting salary for a first degree graduate from 2013/14 who was working full time was \\u0026pound;20,637.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eSix years ago, this figure wasn\\u0026rsquo;t much different. The average graduate starting salary for those who left university in 2007/8 (just before the recession) was \\u0026pound;19,724.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eHowever, there is a significant variation between subjects. On the top end of the scale, materials science, dentistry and medicine graduates all start on salaries well over \\u0026pound;28,000.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eOn the lower end of the scale, average starting salary for graduates in dance was below \\u0026pound;15,000.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eLocation also makes a difference. Graduates in London enjoyed an average starting salary of \\u0026pound;23,095, compared to those in the North East, who average \\u0026pound;19,683 on graduation.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eWhat are the most common jobs for graduates?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nThe majority of graduates who went into employment went into jobs at professional or managerial level. Jobs in health (14.6%), business and finance (9.8%) and marketing and PR (7.5%) were the most common.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nBusiness, finance and marketing jobs represent a hugely important part of the graduate employment market \\u0026ndash; they offer a very diverse range of roles that are theoretically open to graduates from any discipline.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nJobs classified as \\u0026lsquo;marketing\\u0026rsquo; are a particularly fast-growing and changing part of the market, also with a wide-ranging number of roles. These range from wholly online, highly specialist computing jobs to lobbying and advocacy jobs and data-driven work in market research and Big Data analytics to traditional advertising and design jobs.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAnd that\\u0026#39;s not to discount jobs in engineering and computing, an important part of the employment market, accounting for 8.6% of 2013/14 graduates together, and one where employers report that they have significant difficulties filling roles because there are not enough engineers, surveyors and programmers to meet demand.\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eWhich degrees are most likely to guarantee a job?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nThe degrees with the lowest rates of unemployment are - as always - medicine, dentistry and nursing, where there are often significant staff shortages. Students also have the reassurance that the number of university places available is designed to be linked directly to workforce needs.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nOther subjects with low unemployment rates include pharmacy, operational research, medical technology, undergraduate teacher training, building, sports science and planning. Many of these subjects are also linked to parts of the jobs market where employers are currently experiencing difficulty in recruiting enough graduates. The graduate roles currently reported as being hardest to fill include surveying; mechanical engineering; nursing; software development; accountancy technicians; civil engineering; and design and development engineering.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nIf you have capable students looking to enter these areas, they should find opportunities available for them.\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eHow will students on more general degrees fare?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nMuch of the jobs market for graduates is open to graduates from any discipline. Although some of the most in-demand and best-paid roles need a specialist degree, many of the more generalist jobs have excellent pay and progression opportunities.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nEconomic conditions may change between making a degree choice and graduation, but most degrees are flexible enough to adapt to a changing employment environment. Even in the most difficult economies, most graduates find work quickly, and most of that work is good quality and well-rewarded.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThankfully, that is unlikely to change in the near future.\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eNext\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eFind out \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/teachers/introduce-higher-education-options/degrees-in-demand-by-employers-better-job-prospects\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003ewhich degrees are in demand?\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eRead about the \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/career-prospects/top-universities-graduate-starting-salaries\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003etop universities for graduate starting salaries\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eHere are the \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/career-prospects/top-degree-subjects-for-graduate-starting-salaries\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003etop 10 degree subjects for graduate starting salaries\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T17:06:23.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2016-07-12T09:27:22.000Z\",\"slug\":\"current-graduate-marketplace-job-opportunities-graduating\",\"published_on\":\"2017-07-12T09:15:47.000Z\",\"author_id\":3,\"contributing_author_id\":7,\"cached_category_list\":null,\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"Getting a graduate job;; Teacher resources;; Graduate salary;; Graduate employment;; Graduate\",\"audience\":\"Teacher\",\"intro_text\":\"How much job opportunity is there for graduates? Which degrees lead to the highest salaries, and are average graduate starting salaries going up or down?\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":863,\"headline\":\"Advising students about GCSE choices: the basics\",\"abstract\":\"Our quick guide will help you understand the facts about GCSE choices and advise your students.\",\"body\":\"GCSEs are important - both to the individual student and to your school, which will be judged on its results and on how well different groups of students perform at GCSE. So the stakes are high! GCSEs are also the essential currency to enable progression on to \\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/a-level-choices\\\"\\u003eA-levels\\u003c/a\\u003e, \\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/ucas-application/can-you-get-into-university-if-youre-studying-btecs\\\"\\u003eBTECs\\u003c/a\\u003e and other post-16 courses.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nMost schools offer GCSEs as a two-year programme in Years 10 and 11. But, \\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/gcse-choices-university/gcse-shake-up-what-the-changes-mean-for-you\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003erecent curriculum changes\\u003c/a\\u003e and the extra challenge of the new GCSEs, especially maths, has led more schools to introduce a three-year GCSE programme from Year 9 for at least some subjects.\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eHow many GCSE subjects is best?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nMost students will do nine or 10 subjects depending on how your school organises its curriculum. In order to secure the best grades it\\u0026rsquo;s best not to overload students; more than 10 can be counterproductive.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nEqually, unless there are specific educational or health circumstances involved, fewer than eight leaves little scope for choices and narrows experience. It would also need to be explained if and when a student applies for university.\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eGCSE curriculum changes explained\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nGCSEs are undergoing significant changes in grading, difficulty and content. New GCSEs in English and maths were introduced in 2015 and, by September 2017, all subjects will be reformed or discontinued.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eHow new GCSEs are graded\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nGrading is on a scale of 9 to 1:\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eGrades 7, 8 and 9 are equivalent to A / A* BUT fewer students will get a 9 compared with the 7-8% in the past who achieved A*s.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eThe threshold for Grade 7 is equivalent to that required for an A grade.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eAchieving at least Grades 5 or 6 is essential to pursue A-level programmes in most institutions.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eInitially the same proportion of students will be awarded a grade 4 and above as achieved C or above in the old system.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eA Grade 4 is equivalent to the lower end of the grade C and a Grade 5 is being seen by many as the new benchmark for what is termed a \\u0026lsquo;good pass\\u0026rsquo;.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eWhat else is different?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nNew GCSEs are more difficult too - there is more content and no coursework or controlled assessment - except in creative and practical subjects. Qualifications are linear, with examinations usually at the end of two years of study.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nMake sure you are aware of these changes and the implications for students. Check out the \\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/ofqual\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eOfqual website\\u003c/a\\u003e, exam board websites and the Which? University guide to \\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/gcse-choices-university/gcse-shake-up-what-the-changes-mean-for-you\\\"\\u003eGCSE changes\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eWhat\\u0026#39;s compulsory?\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eEnglish (language and/or literature)\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eMaths\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eScience (combined \\u0026ndash; two GCSEs as minimum)\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eOptional\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eArts (e.g. drama, music, art)\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eDesign and technology (e.g. electronics, food and nutrition)\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eHumanities (e.g. geography, history, RS)\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eModern foreign languages (e.g. French, Spanish)\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\nStudents have to be offered choices within each of these four areas and some schools make some of them compulsory. However, students do not actually have to choose one in each category unless a school requirement.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nFor example, excellent linguists may wish to take two languages and this may mean, depending on the number of subjects a school wishes them to follow, they might not select an arts or a design and technology option.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eOther options include\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eComputing\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003ePhysical education\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eClassical civilisation\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eCitizenship\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eWhat about the EBacc?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nThe \\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/gcse-choices-university/whats-the-english-baccalaureate\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eEnglish Baccalaureate\\u003c/a\\u003e (EBacc) is a performance measure to assess the percentage of students in each school who study and achieve good grades (probably Grade 4 or 5 in future) in English, maths, sciences (includes computing), a language and a humanities subject. It\\u0026rsquo;s a good idea to ensure that as many students as possible have access to a programme which offers them the EBacc subjects.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eHow important are GCSEs when applying to uni?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nGCSE choices and grades are relevant to university admissions. Tucked away in admissions requirements on uni websites you will find details of GCSE expectations - these are most demanding for subjects like medicine or veterinary science but many courses will have some basic minimum requirements.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nFor example, this is what University College London (UCL) states in its admissions requirements:\\u0026nbsp;{av:125777853}\\u0026nbsp;So, \\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/gcse-choices-university/how-important-are-gcse-choices-when-it-comes-to-university\\\"\\u003emaking the right GCSE choices\\u003c/a\\u003e is vital for students who know what they wish to study later on or who have a career in mind. Go through these steps together:\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eMake them aware of the requirements for A-levels in your school.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eShow them how to check university website information.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eDirect them to check that their choices meet any requirements and to confirm when submitting their choices that they have done the appropriate research.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eNext:\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eSee our advice page for students on \\u003ca href=\\\"http://university.which.co.uk/advice/gcse-choices-university/gcse-shake-up-what-the-changes-mean-for-you\\\"\\u003eGCSE changes explained\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eSee \\u003ca href=\\\"http://university.which.co.uk/teachers/develop-your-skills-as-an-adviser/advising-about-gcse-choices-what-to-include-in-your-programme\\\"\\u003eAdvising about GCSE choices: what to include in your programme\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eHere\\u0026#39;s why your \\u003ca href=\\\"http://university.which.co.uk/advice/gcse-choices-university/how-important-are-my-gcse-grades\\\"\\u003eGCSE grades are important\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T16:02:44.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2016-07-14T09:22:06.000Z\",\"slug\":\"how-to-advise-students-about-gcse-choices\",\"published_on\":\"2017-07-14T09:09:43.000Z\",\"author_id\":3,\"contributing_author_id\":51,\"cached_category_list\":null,\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"gcse choices;; gcse grades;; BTECs;; EBacc;; Teacher resources;; GCSE students\",\"audience\":\"Teacher\",\"intro_text\":\"Get to grips with the key issues around choosing GCSEs. This introductory guide will help you understand the facts and advise your students effectively.\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":868,\"headline\":\"Eight apps you need to survive uni\",\"abstract\":\"Do you have these apps downloaded? Keep organised, fit, on budget and entertained with these apps.\",\"body\":\"\\u003cp dir=\\\"ltr\\\"\\u003eOur pick of\\u0026nbsp;free student-friendly\\u0026nbsp;apps are below, along with\\u0026nbsp;some helpful tips and links to other expert advice from our technology experts\\u0026nbsp;here at\\u0026nbsp;Which?...\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e1. Stay in shape -\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"http://uk.wahoofitness.com/apps/7-minute-workout\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eWahoo 7\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cimg alt=\\\"\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/509/content_Wahoo-7.jpg\\\" style=\\\"width: 400px; height: 267px;\\\" /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cp dir=\\\"ltr\\\"\\u003eIt\\u0026#39;s tough at the best of times to motivate yourself to go for a run,\\u0026nbsp;especially\\u0026nbsp;when it\\u0026#39;s raining (or just\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cem\\u003elooks\\u003c/em\\u003e like it might rain).\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nWahoo 7 has 12 high intensity workouts you can do anytime at home\\u0026nbsp;(which means you won\\u0026#39;t be seen huffing and puffing around campus). Be prepared for a gruelling few minutes though!\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ca href=\\\"https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/7-minute-workout/id650762525\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eDownload from\\u0026nbsp;iTunes\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;and\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.wahoofitness.sevenminworkout\\u0026amp;hl=en_GB\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003ePlay Store\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul dir=\\\"ltr\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eNeed new headphones? \\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.which.co.uk/reviews/headphones/article/how-to-buy-the-best-headphones\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eHow to find a\\u0026nbsp;pair that will last...\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e2. Essaying made easy -\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.refme.com/uk/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eRefME\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cimg alt=\\\"\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/510/content_RefME.jpg\\\" style=\\\"width: 400px; height: 267px;\\\" /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cp dir=\\\"ltr\\\"\\u003eA\\u0026nbsp;lifesaver when it comes to pulling\\u0026nbsp;together all your essay references with just hours to go before deadline.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nSimply scan the barcode of a book and RefME will write the citation for you. You can even turn printed text into digital text with your smartphone camera and save as a quote, sparing\\u0026nbsp;your fingers some extra work.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ca href=\\\"https://itunes.apple.com/app/id553222694\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eDownload from\\u0026nbsp;iTunes\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul dir=\\\"ltr\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eAvoid \\u0026#39;Blue Screen of Death\\u0026#39;:\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://blogs.which.co.uk/technology/laptops-2/the-best-tech-and-laptops-for-students/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003ebest tech and\\u0026nbsp;laptops for students\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e3. Don\\u0026#39;t be out of pocket -\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.splittable.co\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eSplittable\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cimg alt=\\\"\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/511/content_Splittable.jpg\\\" /\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nSplitting household bills\\u0026nbsp;can be both awkward and a headache, especially when bills arrive at different times and you\\u0026#39;re all on different schedules.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThis handy app outlines what everyone owes and makes sending payments easy\\u0026nbsp;- it could save you a row or two!\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ca href=\\\"https://itunes.apple.com/app/apple-store/id969196240?mt=8\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eDownload from iTunes\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;and\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.locatable.Splittable\\u0026amp;hl=en_GB\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003ePlay Store\\u003c/a\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eKeep up on your shows: \\u003ca href=\\\"https://blogs.which.co.uk/technology/tv-services/five-ways-to-watch-sky-tv-without-a-sky-subscription/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003ehow to watch Sky TV without a\\u0026nbsp;subscription\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2 dir=\\\"ltr\\\"\\u003e4. Socialising sensibly -\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.drinkaware.co.uk\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eDrinkaware\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cimg alt=\\\"\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/512/content_Drinkaware.jpg\\\" style=\\\"width: 400px; height: 267px;\\\" /\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nWe\\u0026#39;ll spare you the student and alcohol stereotypes, but if you are on a night out, this is a handy way to be aware of how many units of alcohol you rack up. You might be shocked with the result.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nTrack your progress in the calendar;\\u0026nbsp;learn how many minutes you\\u0026#39;d have to run the next day to burn off that last round and find cheaper and healthier alternatives.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nDownload from\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=uk.co.drinkaware\\u0026amp;hl=en_GB\\\" style=\\\"line-height: 1.6;\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003ePlay Store\\u003c/a\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul dir=\\\"ltr\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eSwap daiquiris for smoothies:\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.which.co.uk/reviews/blenders/article/how-to-buy-the-best-blender\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eblenders that won\\u0026#39;t go bananas\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2 dir=\\\"ltr\\\"\\u003e5. Get on top of life -\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.any.do\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eAny.do\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cimg alt=\\\"\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/513/content_Anydo.jpg\\\" style=\\\"width: 400px; height: 267px;\\\" /\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThis is the Rolls-Royce of To-Do lists, with slick graphics and the ability to sync\\u0026nbsp;across all your devices. You\\u0026#39;ll be productive, organised and on top of everything you need to do, wherever you are.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ca href=\\\"https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/any.do-to-do-list-task-list/id497328576?mt=8\\\" style=\\\"line-height: 1.6;\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eDownload from iTunes\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"line-height: 1.6;\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;and\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.anydo\\u0026amp;hl=en_GB\\\" style=\\\"line-height: 1.6;\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003ePlay Store\\u003c/a\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul dir=\\\"ltr\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eYour uni soundtrack:\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://blogs.which.co.uk/technology/music-streaming-2/which-is-the-best-music-streaming-service/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003ethe best music streaming services\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2 dir=\\\"ltr\\\"\\u003e6. The back-up -\\u0026nbsp;Tiny Scanner\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cimg alt=\\\"\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/514/content_Tiny-Scanner.jpg\\\" style=\\\"width: 400px; height: 267px;\\\" /\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cspan style=\\\"line-height: 1.6;\\\"\\u003eSo your student loan went in, you splurged a little too much and now you can\\u0026#39;t find the receipt in the bombsite that is your\\u0026nbsp;room.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThe Tiny Scanner app acts as a portable document scanner, turning images into PDFs. Ideal for receipts, copying notes, saving a page from a library book and more.\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ca href=\\\"https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/tiny-scanner-pdf-scanner-to/id595563753?mt=8\\\" style=\\\"line-height: 1.6;\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eDownload from iTunes\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"line-height: 1.6;\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;and\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.appxy.tinyscanner\\u0026amp;hl=en_GB\\\" style=\\\"line-height: 1.6;\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003ePlay Store\\u003c/a\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eKeep\\u0026nbsp;scanned docs organised:\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.which.co.uk/reviews/cloud-storage/article/how-to-choose-the-best-cloud-storage-service\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003echoose the right\\u0026nbsp;cloud storage\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cspan style=\\\"line-height: 1.6;\\\"\\u003e{form_asset}\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e7. Learning a language -\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.duolingo.com\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eDuolingo\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cimg alt=\\\"\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/515/content_Duolingo.jpg\\\" style=\\\"width: 400px; height: 267px;\\\" /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cp dir=\\\"ltr\\\"\\u003eGoing travelling during the holidays or on an Erasmus scheme at uni?\\u0026nbsp;Or just want to pick up a new skill to go on that graduate CV?\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nDuolingo is the easy way to learn a language\\u0026nbsp;in bite-size chunks\\u0026nbsp;whenever you have a spare moment, whether you\\u0026#39;re learning from scratch or just need a refresher.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ca href=\\\"https://itunes.apple.com/app/duolingo-learn-spanish-french/id570060128?mt=8\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eDownload from\\u0026nbsp;iTunes\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;and\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.duolingo\\u0026amp;hl=en_GB\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003ePlay Store\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul dir=\\\"ltr\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eFlight cancelled or delayed?\\u003c/strong\\u003e \\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/travel\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eSee what you\\u0026#39;re entitled to...\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2 dir=\\\"ltr\\\"\\u003e8. Revision made easy -\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://imindmap.com\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eiMindMap\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cimg alt=\\\"\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/516/content_mindmap.jpg\\\" style=\\\"width: 400px; height: 267px;\\\" /\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cspan style=\\\"line-height: 1.6;\\\"\\u003eNo one enjoys revising for exams\\u0026nbsp;at the end of the year. One of the trickiest parts can be knowing where to start.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\niMindMap does what it says on the tin, helping you create a neat digital brainstorm. This way you can clearly see what you need to cover and find the motivation to begin.\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ca href=\\\"https://itunes.apple.com/gb/app/imindmap/id503812755\\\" style=\\\"line-height: 1.6;\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eDownload from iTunes\\u003c/a\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul dir=\\\"ltr\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eLosing sleep over exams?\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://blogs.which.co.uk/technology/app-review/top-sleep-tech-for-a-sound-slumber/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eTry this smart tech for a sound slumber...\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"apppermissions\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch3 dir=\\\"ltr\\\"\\u003eApp permissions and security\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp dir=\\\"ltr\\\"\\u003eDoes that fitness app \\u003cem\\u003ereally\\u003c/em\\u003e need access to your contacts?\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThe more data an app\\u0026nbsp;can get out of you (especially if they\\u0026#39;re free), the more money it can make from\\u0026nbsp;sharing\\u0026nbsp;this with third parties. Make sure you\\u0026#39;re aware of what you\\u0026#39;re agreeing to and how much of your data you want to offer up.\\u0026nbsp;An app should state how it will use your data in its terms and conditions.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cspan style=\\\"line-height: 1.6;\\\"\\u003eAlso, be careful on shared Wi-Fi networks when you\\u0026#39;re working in cafes or attending a gig. Here,\\u0026nbsp;you can fall victim to \\u0026#39;man-in-the-middle\\u0026#39;\\u0026nbsp;attacks, where hackers can intercept your login details, passwords or even financial information.\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eProtect your mobile\\u003c/strong\\u003e: \\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.which.co.uk/reviews/mobile-phones/article/mobile-phone-security\\\"\\u003eread\\u0026nbsp;our security tips and advice\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T16:29:03.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2016-09-08T11:25:14.000Z\",\"slug\":\"the-only-8-apps-you-need-to-survive-uni\",\"published_on\":\"2018-06-27T10:14:04.000Z\",\"author_id\":17,\"contributing_author_id\":68,\"cached_category_list\":null,\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"england;; northern ireland;; scotland;; wales\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"university;; college\",\"cached_region_list\":\"[none specified]\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"J\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"Studying at university;; studying;; Apps;; Student gadgets;; Technology\",\"audience\":\"Student\",\"intro_text\":\"Keep your studies organised, your lifestyle healthy, your budget...erm, on budget, and your free time sorted with these essential apps...\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":878,\"headline\":\"Junior University: everything you need to know\",\"abstract\":\"Find out more about Junior University, a new programme which pairs undergraduate mentors with 14-15 year old students to give them a flavour of university study...\",\"body\":\"\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.transformationtrust.org.uk/\\\"\\u003e\\u003cimg alt=\\\"The Transformation Trust - Junior University\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/530/content_JUNIOR_UNIVERSITY_LOGO_2016_LARGE-edit.jpg\\\" style=\\\"width: 265px; height: 265px; float: right; margin: 10px;\\\" /\\u003e\\u003c/a\\u003eWhich? University is all about online resources, tools and advice to help students make more informed decisions about Higher Education (HE) - enabling you to advise your students on the range of future options out there, including those who might not even be considering university.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThat\\u0026rsquo;s why we\\u0026#39;re really excited to team up with the education charity \\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.transformationtrust.org.uk/\\\"\\u003eThe Transformation Trust\\u003c/a\\u003e on something a little different: a brand-new programme taking us into classrooms to help give young people a real opportunity to broaden their future horizons.\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eJunior Uni: in a nutshell\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eJunior University\\u003c/em\\u003e is designed to help widen participation amongst 14-15 year-olds in schools\\u0026nbsp;that receive a higher than average amount of pupil premium funding, before they make up their minds about their future path.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nWhile university isn\\u0026rsquo;t for everyone, we want to ensure young people make decisions based on the full spectrum of options out there.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nWorking side-by-side with undergraduate mentors on a joint academic project, the programme will offer young people a real flavour of what degree studies and uni life are all about.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAs well as helping students develop new knowledge, skills and confidence (and have fun along the way!) we hope to enable students to make more informed choices later on.\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eHow it works\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eGroup mentoring: \\u003c/strong\\u003epairs of undergraduates from participating universities team up with groups of school students, working together on joint project-based work.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eAcademic project: \\u003c/strong\\u003ethe teams develop the project over a series of six sessions held at the school.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eEnd-of-year university visit:\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;the culmination of the programme will see the students visiting their host university to present their projects and get out and about on campus.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eGood for students:\\u003c/strong\\u003e \\u003cem\\u003eJunior University\\u003c/em\\u003e will develop students\\u0026#39;\\u0026nbsp;knowledge and skills in a new subject area, as well as offering an insight into what university is all about, from studying to the student experience - great for informing those future plans.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eGood for undergrads, too:\\u003c/strong\\u003e the programme is rewarding for the university participants as well, providing them with valuable experience of leading a project in a school environment and acting as mentor to younger pupils.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nWhich? University will be on hand throughout the project to equip everyone involved with tools and materials to help make the experience as valuable as possible.\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eKeep in touch\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nOur \\u003cem\\u003eJunior University\\u003c/em\\u003e programme will see 11 universities engage with 50 state secondary schools that receive a higher than average amount of pupil premium funding over the course of the next academic year, reaching a total of 3,000 Year 10 students.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nInterested in finding out more about future opportunities to get involved with \\u003cem\\u003eJunior University\\u003c/em\\u003e or other activities offered by The Transformation Trust? \\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.transformationtrust.org.uk/\\\"\\u003eYou can contact them here\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nYou can also sign up to \\u003ca href=\\\"http://university.which.co.uk/about/sign-up-for-updates\\\"\\u003ereceive our free, tailored teacher newsletters\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;where we\\u0026rsquo;ll keep you up-to-date with all the latest Which? University resources and activities.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T16:41:30.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2016-09-19T16:41:30.000Z\",\"slug\":\"junior-university-everything-you-need-to-know\",\"published_on\":\"2016-12-06T16:32:10.000Z\",\"author_id\":15,\"contributing_author_id\":10,\"cached_category_list\":null,\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"junior university;; higher education\",\"audience\":\"Teacher\",\"intro_text\":\"Find out more about Junior University, our new programme that aims to broaden future horizons, by pairing undergraduate mentors with 14-15 year old students to give them a flavour of university study...\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":888,\"headline\":\"How to find career inspiration in unexpected places\",\"abstract\":\"No clue about your future career yet? You might not be looking in all the right places...\",\"body\":\"If you\\u0026#39;ve been searching for an answer in Buzzfeed quizzes and have yet to feel inspired, let\\u0026#39;s get you thinking a bit differently.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nWhile there are a number of reasons to choose a particular career \\u003cmeta charset=\\\"utf-8\\\" /\\u003e\\u003cb id=\\\"docs-internal-guid-53f8287b-79b0-2407-5f82-778e26acea7b\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash;\\u003c/b\\u003e from earning big bucks to a desire to change the world \\u003cmeta charset=\\\"utf-8\\\" /\\u003e\\u003cb id=\\\"docs-internal-guid-53f8287b-79b0-2407-5f82-778e26acea7b\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash;\\u003c/b\\u003e you need to have a few options to choose from first. So where should you look for ideas?\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nHere are six places you may not have considered for a fresh dose of career inspiration:\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e1. What you\\u0026#39;re watching\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nAn easy one to begin with. Watching TV or a film could get you thinking critically about career possibilities in a way that doesn\\u0026#39;t feel like \\u0026#39;research\\u0026#39; or \\u0026#39;work\\u0026#39;.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nDocumentaries and the news are particularly good for this. Those interviewed usually have their full job title pop up on-screen, giving you a starting place to learn more. Also, a lot of fields and sectors tend to be covered in a 30 minute news broadcast.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nJust be aware that the way a job is depicted in fictional TV and films may not be 100% accurate... Don\\u0026#39;t be fooled by the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.theguardian.com/education/2009/oct/15/csi-effect-forensic-science\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003e\\u0026#39;CSI Effect\\u0026#39;\\u003c/a\\u003e that might place an unrealistic shine on a less-than-glamorous career.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e#CareerGoals: \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/career-prospects/careergoals-lawyer\\\"\\u003elawyers\\u003c/a\\u003e, \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/career-prospects/careergoals-doctor\\\"\\u003edoctors\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;and\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/career-prospects/careergoals-theatre-writer-director\\\"\\u003eplaywrights\\u003c/a\\u003e talk about their jobs\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e2. Passions and interests\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nYou might instinctively separate personal interests and career options as two things that should never cross over. But something you do for fun can actually have a career in it!\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nFor example, if you\\u0026#39;re a diehard Chelsea fan, chances are you probably won\\u0026#39;t make the starting eleven at Stamford Bridge. But there could be a profession in the same vicinity which suits your strengths. A sports journalist, nutritionist or physiotherapist could keep you close to the action, without actually touching a ball.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThink carefully about mixing work and pleasure, though. Perhaps you\\u0026#39;d prefer keeping that passion as something you do for fun and can always escape to?\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"http://university.which.co.uk/advice/personal-statements/hobbies-and-your-personal-statement\\\"\\u003eHobbies in your personal statement\\u003c/a\\u003e: do they belong there?\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e3. Part-time job\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nNot feeling inspired by that Saturday job right now?\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThe job you\\u0026#39;re doing now probably isn\\u0026#39;t long-term, but use it as an opportunity to test out what sort of skills you excel in (teamwork, problem solving, customer service?), as well as what other roles there might be further up the chain if you\\u0026#39;re working for a larger business.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nOn your next break, pick your manager\\u0026#39;s brain about how they got to where they are, plus other opportunities there may be. Could they put in a good word for you at a head office to get some (corporate) work experience?\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nA good example might be a career as a fashion buyer, if your current part-time job is in a clothes shop. Working your way up from a shop floor and gaining an understanding of different corners of the company can work in your favour, later.\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"http://university.which.co.uk/advice/career-prospects/four-reasons-to-get-a-part-time-job-at-college\\\"\\u003eHow your part-time job can pay off later\\u003c/a\\u003e: including when applying to uni\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{form_asset}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e4. Brands\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nIs there a brand or company which you\\u0026#39;re fiercely loyal to or really admire? Do you know how many people are responsible for the end-product or service they put out? You might be surprised\\u0026hellip;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nBrowse companies\\u0026#39; websites for an \\u0026#39;About Us\\u0026#39; or \\u0026#39;Meet The Team\\u0026#39; section, and learn about the different individuals working behind-the-scenes, including their career journey. This can give you a rough blueprint of what you need to follow a similar path (and even a named contact to reach out to with questions).\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nSimilarly, a company\\u0026#39;s vacancies or jobs page can provide detailed insight about specific roles and what qualifications, skills and experience they look for.\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e5. Family that\\u0026#39;s \\u003cem\\u003enot\\u003c/em\\u003e mum or dad\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nOur parents or guardians are usually our primary role models growing up. But if what they do for a living doesn\\u0026#39;t interest you, who else in the family can you ask? Aunts and uncles? Cousins? It might be worth catching up with them over email (maybe it\\u0026#39;s time to finally accept their Facebook request...).\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nDo you even know what these extended family members do for a living? Are they still doing what they were doing five years ago? If they changed career direction recently, could their reasons for doing so contain some pearls of wisdom? You never know, they might be doing something really cool which you never knew about.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nFamily and family friend connections can also help you find work experience.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/courses#browse-subjects-alphabetically\\\"\\u003eLearn more about a degree subject\\u003c/a\\u003e: including popular jobs and average graduate salary\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e6. New jobs\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nSocial media manager, app designer, data analyst, community manager...\\u0026nbsp;These are just some of today\\u0026#39;s careers which didn\\u0026#39;t exist 10 years ago.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nEmerging jobs are usually down to significant technological shifts. It\\u0026#39;s quite invigorating to think that some of the big jobs of tomorrow may not technically exist right now, or that they may sprout from existing roles.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nIf the traditional job roles you hear about everywhere (e.g. doctor, lawyer, police officer) don\\u0026#39;t interest you, keep in mind that the job landscape is always evolving. You might just need to do a bit of research around the direction certain industries are moving in.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T16:38:18.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2016-11-09T12:52:25.000Z\",\"slug\":\"career-inspiration-you-ve-been-ignoring\",\"published_on\":\"2017-12-20T11:18:05.000Z\",\"author_id\":15,\"contributing_author_id\":52,\"cached_category_list\":null,\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"Careers;; Career options;; careers advice;; jobs\",\"audience\":\"General\",\"intro_text\":\"No clue about your future career yet? You might not be looking in all the right places...\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":899,\"headline\":\"Careers planner for 16–18s (KS5) \",\"abstract\":\"Our free downloadable careers planner for 16-18s is the ideal tool for teachers – full of practical ideas to work through together to help map out their future.\",\"body\":\"Now\\u0026#39;s the time for students to map their future \\u0026ndash; and as their teacher it\\u0026#39;s your job to guide them on their journey. Our downloadable careers planner for 16-18s is the ideal tool to use \\u0026ndash; full of practical ideas and inspiring activities for you to work through together.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nDownload and print the free planner, below. It\\u0026#39;s a double-sided poster, with one side aimed at students and the other for teachers. The posters have been designed to print out at up to A3 size, but will also resize to smaller paper sizes.\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eWhat\\u0026#39;s included in the careers planner?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eStudent essentials:\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026bull; A term-by-term breakdown for each age group, highlighting key issues and questions to consider at each stage.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026bull; Important dates in a quick at-a-glance chart \\u0026ndash; from key Ucas application dates to results days and Clearing.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026bull; Designed to use as a wall poster, enabling students to keep a visual track of what they need to think about.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eTeacher toolkit:\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eThe teacher resources are clearly split into sections to help develop students\\u0026#39;\\u0026nbsp;future plans, skills and to consider money matters. You\\u0026#39;ll find 18 activities to explore with your students and a wealth of resources to use as inspiration. Here are a few examples of what\\u0026#39;s included:\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eHow will you decide which uni?\\u003c/strong\\u003e Read through our article about making first and insurance choices and encourage students to think about how they will make their own decisions.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eHow can you live on a student budget?\\u003c/strong\\u003e Ask students to come up with ideas for how to make their student loan go further. Use our resources to give extra suggestions.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eWhat is it like to be a student? \\u003c/strong\\u003eAsk students to make a list of things they are excited about, nervous about or unsure about. Then use our links to encourage some independent research: How can they best prepare themselves?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T16:17:24.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2017-01-20T14:51:14.000Z\",\"slug\":\"careers-planner-for-16-18s\",\"published_on\":\"2017-01-24T14:39:47.000Z\",\"author_id\":3,\"contributing_author_id\":10,\"cached_category_list\":null,\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"student;; Teacher resources;; Career options;; Teacher;; careers advice;; Lesson activity;; Class activity;; PSHE;; careers guidance;; Alevels;; KS5;; Year 12;; Year 13\",\"audience\":\"Teacher\",\"intro_text\":\"Sixth form is full of big and exciting future decisions for Year 12 and 13 students. Use our free careers planner to help set them on a path to a bigger, brighter future.\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"lesson_activity\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":927,\"headline\":\"Supporting students with EAL: careers ideas and activities\",\"abstract\":\"Supporting students with EAL: careers ideas and activities\",\"body\":\"\\u003cp\\u003eSkip to:\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#timeline\\\"\\u003eTimeline: when to get involved\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#tips\\\"\\u003eTop tips from careers advisers\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#activities\\\"\\u003ePractical careers activities for students with EAL\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#support\\\"\\u003eSupport and resources for you\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"timeline\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eTimeline: when to get involved\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nAccording to the National Association for Language Development In the Curriculum (NALDIC), there are more than one million EAL students, aged 5-18-years-old, speaking more than 360 native languages in the UK education system.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAs a teacher or careers adviser, your guidance is essential in helping EAL students think about their future education and career possibilities. See a timeline of when to intervene below:\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eKey Stage 3 (KS2)\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eEarly interventions are needed during Years 7, 8 and 9 for students from other countries who may not be familiar with the UK education system.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eHow?\\u003c/strong\\u003e Teachers and careers advisers should work specifically with small groups prior to GCSE options choices in Year 8 or 9.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\nThis helps students understand how the subjects they pick for their options may affect what they are able to study in the future.\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eYear 10\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eHow?\\u003c/strong\\u003e Arrange priority one-to-one careers appointments for EAL students who might struggle more with language/cultural barriers prior to work experience. \\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nUse this as an opportunity to talk to them about working life in the UK. \\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nBe sure to provide work experience employers with guidance for hosting non-native students during their placement.\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eYear 11\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eHow?\\u003c/strong\\u003e Discuss post-16 options and the application process with students and parents. Make sure they are aware of support available to EAL students after finishing school.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nStudents are required to stay in full-time education until they are 18-years old. To study A-levels students are required to obtain a GCSE of \\u0026#39;C\\u0026#39; and above in English and Maths. If they do not achieve this in the first instance, they will be able to resit their exams.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nSupport for EAL students includes colleges with ESOL courses (English for Speakers of Other Languages), GCSE English top-ups or specialist colleges that offer formal accreditation in the student\\u0026rsquo;s native language, such as Languages Sheffield.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"tips\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eHow can I help? - six top tips from careers advisers\\u0026hellip;\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e1. Keep it visual\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nPictures and images make it far easier for students to understand concepts. So try to ensure that all careers education sessions are visually engaging.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nDuring the session frequently check students\\u0026rsquo; understanding of key language.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e2. Act it out \\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nRole play or drama activities can also help students to understand job roles or workplace situations.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nGiving students with EAL the opportunity to act out workplace scenarios or play games like job role charades can help increase both students\\u0026rsquo; confidence and understanding of work life in the UK.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e3. Challenge perceptions\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nMany students with EAL may have vastly different perceptions or experiences of the world of work from other students.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nRunning class group sessions can help all students question their own stereotypes of different job roles and learn more about how work differs in other cultures around the world.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e4. Be positive\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nLeighton Collins, a careers adviser at Firth Park Academy in Sheffield believes that although students with EAL may need more support than other students, they should be celebrated for their multilingual skills.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nLanguages are a key skill that many employers look for in today\\u0026rsquo;s global job market.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e5. Ask the experts\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nLiaise with EAL specialists in school to arrange early careers interventions for students if language is a clear barrier. \\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAdditional support may also be necessary at key transition points, such as GCSE and A-level options, post-16 choices and work experience.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e6. Keep it personal \\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nTry to invite a range of organisations that offer ESOL courses or specialist language support to your school careers events.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThis will help EAL students to feel included in the school and confident that there is support available to them once they leave school in Year 11.\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"activities\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eThree practical activities to run with EAL students:\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e1. Job Cards:\\u003c/strong\\u003e students discuss images of jobs and answer discussion questions around the jobs. \\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThis can be a great way of tackling cultural and gender stereotypes about work and finding out how much EAL students know about job roles within the UK.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nQuestions could include:\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eDo you think that these jobs are more suitable for men or women?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWhich do you think would be the easiest or most difficult to do?\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e2. Jobs Around the World\\u003c/strong\\u003e: students work in groups to make displays where they pick a job and then research and present information to the rest of the class about what this job is like in four different countries around the world.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e3. Cultural Awareness:\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/strong\\u003estudents work in small mixed EAL/native speaker groups (if possible) and take turns picking a job card (see above, point 1) and discussing the following questions:\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWhat I think they do?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWhat others in the group think they do?\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWhat the world thinks they do (the stereotype)?\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eWhat they actually do? (by researching online or reading job profile printouts)\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"support\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eSupport \\u0026ndash; What\\u0026rsquo;s out there and how can I access it?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://mikegershon.com/resources/download-info/eal-toolkit/\\\"\\u003eMike Gershon\\u0026rsquo;s EAL Toolkit\\u003c/a\\u003e: Resource for teachers and careers advisers helping EAL students across all key stages in schools\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"http://sacu-student.com/?page_id=2850\\\"\\u003eSpartan Test\\u003c/a\\u003e: Picture-based careers assessment tool that allows students to match their personality to future career pathways\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.gameplan.ac.uk/\\\"\\u003eGameplan\\u003c/a\\u003e: Engaging visual online game from King\\u0026rsquo;s College London, which helps students to get an idea about what university is like\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://naldic.org.uk/\\\"\\u003eNaldic\\u003c/a\\u003e: Guidance and resources for working with EAL students in schools\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://eal.britishcouncil.org/teachers/effective-teaching-eal-learners\\\"\\u003eBritish Council\\u003c/a\\u003e: tips on supporting EAL students with their education\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eAbout Chris\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cimg alt=\\\"\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/673/content_content_chris_Webb_headshot.jpg\\\" style=\\\"float: left; width: 148px; height: 222px; margin: 10px;\\\" /\\u003e Chris Webb is a registered career development professional and CEIAG Coordinator/Careers Adviser at The Ruth Gorse Academy in Leeds.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nHe\\u0026nbsp;has experience supporting students from a diverse \\u0026nbsp;range of backgrounds, including many individuals with \\u0026nbsp;EAL, SEND and SEMH needs.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nChris has previously worked in a variety of educational settings, including secondary schools, Further Education colleges, universities, independent training providers and English language teaching centres.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{form_asset}\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T17:04:07.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2017-07-26T09:55:20.000Z\",\"slug\":\"supporting-students-with-eal-careers-ideas-and-activities\",\"published_on\":\"2019-02-02T09:43:38.000Z\",\"author_id\":18,\"contributing_author_id\":75,\"cached_category_list\":null,\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"student;; Teacher resources;; Teacher;; careers advice;; Careers advisers\",\"audience\":\"Teacher\",\"intro_text\":\"Students with English as an Additional Language (EAL) can face obstacles centred around communication and cultural differences. Find practical tips and activities to help engage them with their future.\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":933,\"headline\":\"Living with autism at uni: Holly's story\",\"abstract\":\"Living with autism as a university student comes with its challenges and its rewards - as part of our autism series, we chat to uni student Holly about her experience.\",\"body\":\"\\u003cimg alt=\\\"\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/659/content_content_hollie_mckenna_headshot.jpg\\\" style=\\\"float: left; width: 148px; height: 222px; margin: 10px;\\\" /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eName:\\u003c/strong\\u003e Holly McKenna Smith\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eAge:\\u003c/strong\\u003e 20\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eCourse:\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;third year Graphic Design,\\u0026nbsp;De Montfort University\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eQualifications\\u003c/strong\\u003e: Extended Diploma in Art and Design, University of the Arts London. \\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nWhat\\u0026#39;s the average day in your life at university?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eOn my course we don\\u0026#39;t have lectures - we work all day in the studio on our projects. I can be working on one or four projects at once and so I have to manage my workload.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nEveryone\\u0026#39;s study-brief varies, depending on what subjects they have taken. We all gravitate to the seats we have become accustomed to sitting in and get on with our work until the end of the day.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eWhy did you go to university?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eBecause I could! At school I was predicted U grades\\u0026nbsp;and received a lot of negativity.\\u0026nbsp;Most teachers were convinced I wouldn\\u0026#39;t achieve anything.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nHowever, my parents and some good tutors encouraged me and I exceeded everyone\\u0026#39;s expectations.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nI only applied to one university, convinced that university wouldn\\u0026#39;t be possible for me. I received an unconditional offer!\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eWhat challenges do you face?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eAutism can bring additional challenges but everyone\\u0026#39;s autism is different and so are their challenges.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nFor me, I need to know details. This means I have studied maps of the university campus in full, so that I know where to go \\u0026ndash; I know rooms in the university I don\\u0026#39;t even need to know about. But I know, just in case.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nYet a friend who is also autistic doesn\\u0026#39;t need or want to know anything. They prefer things to be done their way.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nI\\u0026rsquo;ve struggled with living on my own for the first time and can experience anxiety and panic attacks.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nI find walking home especially hard, as my route involves passing Leicester City\\u0026#39;s football stadium. So I\\u0026#39;ve studied and planned alternative routes that I can take if I face large crowds.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nI also struggle with time management, ensuring I meet all of my deadlines.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nI need to remind myself to get the balance between work and play right - I can swing between working too much and never seeing friends, or neglecting work and just going out with friends.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nI\\u0026#39;ll probably struggle with this all of my life, so going through university is helping to develop these skills.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eHow does your university support you?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eIn lots of ways. If I have an issue, I can always talk to someone within the university disability team.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nMy disability officer gave me access to an app called Brain in Hand, which\\u0026nbsp;reminds me to take my medication, get to class on time and plan out my daily life.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nI also receive help from a Freedomlink\\u0026nbsp;tutor who helps me to plan and structure any writing that I may have during my course at university.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nI have been given a dictaphone that allows\\u0026nbsp;me to record all my lectures, which I can convert into a transcript and then refer back to easily. Specialist programmes on my computer help with this, such as Dragon Read \\u0026amp; Write Gold.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eWhat\\u0026#39;s the best part of uni?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nTo be able to say that I actually got into university! Realising that I had the potential to do more with my life than what I had previously thought.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eWhat\\u0026#39;s the hardest part of university?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nLetting down your guard. To realise that sometimes I have to push the boundaries, try my best but be prepared to fail in order to eventually succeed. In my first year I struggled a lot, but I learned from this. You\\u0026#39;re never done with learning!\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eWhat are you most proud of?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nBeing here. It\\u0026#39;s an incredible experience and I refuse to take it for granted.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eWhat would you say to others?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nTo look at going to university, even if you don\\u0026#39;t think university is for you. My mum encouraged me to look and I\\u0026#39;m so glad she did. Even if you don\\u0026#39;t end up going, or realise it\\u0026#39;s not for you, you can\\u0026#39;t say you didn\\u0026#39;t consider it.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nIf you do get the opportunity to go to university, you should do it.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{form_asset}\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eWhat\\u0026#39;s next for you?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nAfter I graduate I\\u0026#39;m going to return to Canada where my parents live. I\\u0026#39;m going to do a top-up course in web design to add to my skill set, then I\\u0026#39;ll start my career.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nI already have a number of companies in mind that I\\u0026#39;d love to work for. My qualifications and experience will help me achieve my goals.\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eMore from our autism and university series:\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/student-life/living-with-autism-going-to-university\\\"\\u003eSettling into university - top tips\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e​\\u003ca href=\\\"/advice/student-life/living-with-autism-top-5-causes-for-anxiety-at-university-and-how-to-tackle-them\\\"\\u003eHow to tackle anxiety at university\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eAbout the authors\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nThis article was created in partnership with Carol Povey, Director of the Centre for Autism, at \\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.autism.org.uk/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eThe National Autistic Society\\u003c/a\\u003e, Tina Sharpe, Head of Disability at \\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.dmu.ac.uk/study/undergraduate-study/open-days/open-days.aspx?gclid=EAIaIQobChMIgpvix_-m1gIVybztCh0mUwnUEAAYASAAEgI4APD_BwE\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eDeMontfort University\\u003c/a\\u003e and Heather Cook, Client Director at \\u003ca href=\\\"http://braininhand.co.uk/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eBrain in Hand\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAll contributors have an extensive knowledge of supporting students with SEND using a combination of best practice and technology.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T16:44:55.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2017-09-04T10:00:20.000Z\",\"slug\":\"living-with-autism-my-uni-life\",\"published_on\":\"2017-09-04T09:48:01.000Z\",\"author_id\":18,\"contributing_author_id\":80,\"cached_category_list\":null,\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"university;; student;; Student life;; preparing for university;; Autism;; SEND;; disability allowance\",\"audience\":\"General\",\"intro_text\":\"Living with autism as a university student comes with its challenges - and its rewards. We chat to student Holly about her experience.\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":938,\"headline\":\"Careers advice for supporting students with SEND\",\"abstract\":\"Useful tips for teachers and career advisers on how to give good careers advice to students with SEND. Includes advice and a timeline of when to get involved during secondary school.\",\"body\":\"Skip to:\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#option1\\\"\\u003eWhen to\\u0026nbsp;get involved\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#option2\\\"\\u003eTop tips from careers advisers\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#option3\\\"\\u003eSupport\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp id=\\\"site_title\\\"\\u003eDespite the gradual reduction\\u0026nbsp;in the employment gap between people with and without disabilities\\u0026nbsp;over the past 20 years, supporting individuals with SEND into work is still proving to be an area that requires attention.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nGabriella Brooks, Media Manager at the organisation \\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.ambitiousaboutautism.org.uk/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eAmbitious about Autism\\u003c/a\\u003e points out\\u0026nbsp;that according to their research: {av:162432936} So, what can teachers, parents and careers advisers do to help change this?\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"option1\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eWhen to\\u0026nbsp;get involved\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nStudents with SEND can face a range of difficulties when entering work; some may physically struggle to access the workplace, while those with learning disabilities may find it hard to understand abstract concepts like \\u0026#39;careers and the world of work.\\u0026#39; It\\u0026#39;s important for teachers and careers advisers to understand when to support their career needs from a pastoral sense, while following the \\u0026#39;Careers guidance and\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\naccess for education and training providers\\u0026#39; published in December 2017.\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eTimeline\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nHere\\u0026#39;s when best to intervene with advice for students:\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eKey Stage 3\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eUse informal careers education sessions to help students explore their thoughts about work and life.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eChris Targett, Senior Careers Adviser at CXK, suggests using props such as Lego to help students discuss their future options in a non-threatening setting.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eYear 10\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eSpeak with parents, the SENCO and the Wellbeing team in school to arrange priority one-to-one careers appointments for students with more pronounced SEND.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eUse meetings to address possible career barriers and prepare students for changes in routine such as undertaking work experience or finishing school in Year 11.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eYear 11\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eDiscuss post-16 options with young people with or without an Education Health Care Plan (EHCP).\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eHighlight options for continuing in mainstream education with support such as; attending a specialist college or moving into supported or unsupported employment.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eWhole School\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eEnsure SEND students are included and feel part of your school careers\\u0026#39; events.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eUse\\u0026nbsp;the \\u003ca href=\\\"http://nationalcareersweek.com/i-want-to-be/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003e\\u0026lsquo;I want to be\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026hellip;\\u0026rsquo; templates from the National Careers Week website to give all students an appreciation of each other\\u0026rsquo;s dreams and ambitions.\\r\\n\\t\\u003csection id=\\\"option2\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eTop tips from careers advisers\\u0026hellip;\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e1. \\u0026nbsp;Keep it personal\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAmbition and achievement are individual to each student, so whatever your students\\u0026nbsp;with SEND want to do in the future, make sure they are fully aware of all their options and have a clear plan for moving forward.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e2. \\u0026nbsp;Be prepared to go the extra mile with your support\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAccompany students to a work experience placement on their first day or support them in their communications with a college they are interested in attending post-16.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e3. \\u0026nbsp;Try to invite a range of organisations that can support young people with SEND to your careers events\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThis could be specialist colleges or organisations like \\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.shaw-trust.org.uk/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eThe Shaw Trust\\u003c/a\\u003e who help individuals with disabilities get work.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e4. \\u0026nbsp;Take into account some of the accessibility issues that SEND students may have.\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nWhen arranging careers appointments ensure that students can easily access the meeting place and have a clear idea of what the appointment is about beforehand.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e5. \\u0026nbsp;Use the expertise of others\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThe Career Development Institute (CDI) have a Learning Difficulties and Disabilities (LDD) \\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.linkedin.com/groups/4676148/profile\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eCommunity of Interest on LinkedIn\\u003c/a\\u003e. It\\u0026#39;s an area where registered careers advisers can share best practice on supporting SEND students with their career development.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e6. \\u0026nbsp;Keep it visual!\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nVisual resources can help students with learning disabilities understand and communicate what careers support they feel they need.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e7. \\u0026nbsp;Self-awareness sessions\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nIntroduce these to help students work out what they are good at and what tasks they might enjoy doing at work. They\\u0026nbsp;can help young people with SEND\\u0026nbsp;feel valued and useful, whatever skills they have.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e8. \\u0026nbsp;Breaking Barriers\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nDiscussing case studies of individuals who have overcome adversity to achieve a goal can help SEND students to feel more confident about achieving their own aspirations in the future.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nExamples include Paralympic gold medallist Hannah Cockroft MBE and\\u0026nbsp;successful dyslexic\\u0026nbsp;businessman Richard Branson MBE, both of whom overcame barriers to achieve their goals.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nOr share\\u0026nbsp;our Living with Autism series with your students so they understand university is an option for them:\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-life/living-with-autism-my-uni-life\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eRead student Holly\\u0026#39;s story and tips\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-life/living-with-autism-going-to-university\\\"\\u003eLiving with autism at uni: adjusting and settling in\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-life/living-with-autism-top-5-causes-for-anxiety-at-university-and-how-to-tackle-them\\\"\\u003eHow to deal with anxiety\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eSupport\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"option3\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eResources:\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://uk.pinterest.com/careersdefender/send-careers/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eJanet Colledge\\u0026rsquo;s Outstanding Careers Pinterest page\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.preparingforadulthood.org.uk/downloads\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003ePreparing for Adulthood\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"http://send.excellencegateway.org.uk/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eThe Excellence Gateway\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"http://send.excellencegateway.org.uk/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eNatspec\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eOrganisations and Programmes:\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"http://send.excellencegateway.org.uk/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eAmbitious about Autism: Autism Exchange Programme\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"http://send.excellencegateway.org.uk/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eTalentino Careers\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.gov.uk/access-to-work\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eAccess to Work\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.gov.uk/work-choice\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eWork Choice\\u003c/a\\u003e \\u0026nbsp; \\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eAbout Chris\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cimg alt=\\\"\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/673/content_content_chris_Webb_headshot.jpg\\\" style=\\\"float: left; width: 148px; height: 222px; margin: 10px;\\\" /\\u003e Chris Webb is a registered career development professional and CEIAG Coordinator/Careers Adviser at The Ruth Gorse Academy in Leeds.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nHe\\u0026nbsp;has experience supporting students from a diverse \\u0026nbsp;range of backgrounds, including many individuals with \\u0026nbsp;EAL, SEND and SEMH needs.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nChris has previously worked in a variety of educational settings, including secondary schools, Further Education colleges, universities, independent training providers and English language teaching centres.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{form_asset}\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\",\"pull_quote\":\"\\u0026quot;99% of the UK\\u0026rsquo;s 75,000 young people with autism want to work, but only 16% are actually in full and paid employment\\u0026quot;.\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T16:08:57.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2017-09-08T09:20:13.000Z\",\"slug\":\"careers-advice-and-guidance-activities-to-support-students-with-send\",\"published_on\":\"2019-02-02T09:12:23.000Z\",\"author_id\":18,\"contributing_author_id\":75,\"cached_category_list\":null,\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"student;; careers advice;; SEND;; CEIAG;; Special Educational Needs;; Careers support\",\"audience\":\"Teacher\",\"intro_text\":\"\\r\\nExpert advice and best practice suggestions on how to support your students with SEND in their career development.\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":955,\"headline\":\"Choosing the right housemates for second year of university\",\"abstract\":\"Nobody to live with in your second year? Or can’t decide which friends would make the best housemates? This is what you need to think about when picking who to house-share with.\",\"body\":\"Whatever your situation, choosing who to live with in second year can be a big ball of emotions, before you even start looking at properties (plus everything else you\\u0026rsquo;re juggling). You don\\u0026rsquo;t want to hurt anyone\\u0026rsquo;s feelings, but you also don\\u0026rsquo;t want to rush your decision and end up somewhere that makes you miserable or is inconvenient.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nHere\\u0026#39;s some food for thought, depending on where you are in your search for people to live with:\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#howtoask\\\"\\u003eI have someone in mind \\u0026ndash; how should I ask them?\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#dontwanttolivewithsomeone\\\"\\u003eThere\\u0026rsquo;s someone I don\\u0026rsquo;t want to live with \\u0026ndash; should I speak up?\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#howtochoosehousemates\\\"\\u003eI don\\u0026rsquo;t know who to live with \\u0026ndash; how should I choose?\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#nobodytolivewith\\\"\\u003eI have nobody to live with in second year \\u0026ndash; what should I do?\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#firstyearlookingforhousemates\\\"\\u003eI\\u0026rsquo;m a first year student without a place in halls\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026ndash; how do I find housemates?\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"howtoask\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eI have someone in mind \\u0026ndash; how should I ask them?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nAsking someone if they want to live with you is a vulnerable position to put yourself in, especially if you\\u0026rsquo;re not sure what their plans are or if they feel the same way. Even if you\\u0026#39;ve become close with friends, it can be an awkward conversation to bring up.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThere\\u0026rsquo;s no specific advice we can give, but these quick tips might help:\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eDon\\u0026rsquo;t make a big thing of it: \\u003c/strong\\u003edrop a few hints or ask\\u0026nbsp;them about their plans. If they haven\\u0026#39;t arranged anything yet, perhaps follow\\u0026nbsp;up in the next\\u0026nbsp;few days \\u0026ndash; you don\\u0026rsquo;t want to put them on the spot and pressure them.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eAsk them via WhatsApp rather than in person:\\u003c/strong\\u003e this can be easier than face-to-face, plus it gives them time to consider your offer \\u0026ndash; after all, it\\u0026rsquo;s a big decision for them too.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eTry not to take things to heart:\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/strong\\u003eif someone turns you down, don\\u0026rsquo;t take it as a reflection on you, personally. They may already have plans; plus everyone has their own preferences when it comes to living situations.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eDon\\u0026rsquo;t wait around for ages:\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;once you\\u0026rsquo;ve asked, don\\u0026rsquo;t be strung along waiting for an answer. Tell them when you need to know by, so you can make other plans if necessary.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\nUnfortunately, sorting out housing is one of those occasions where you need to be a little selfish and put yourself first.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"dontwanttolivewithsomeone\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eThere\\u0026rsquo;s someone I don\\u0026rsquo;t want to live with \\u0026ndash; should I speak up?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nIf there\\u0026rsquo;s a group of you, it\\u0026#39;s common to feel closer to some more than others. Another common scenario is where someone wants to bring in their \\u0026lsquo;really fun\\u0026rsquo; friend, or a boyfriend/girlfriend you hardly know.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nTry to keep an open mind. If you get on just fine with that one person \\u0026ndash; and they\\u0026rsquo;re tidy, respectful and reliable \\u0026ndash; it might be worth it if the situation ticks all the boxes (and you get to live with your best friends too). If you\\u0026rsquo;re living in a large house-share, what are the chances you\\u0026#39;ll actually spend much time alone with them?\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{av:198889806}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{av:198889854}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{av:198890205}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThe number one priority is that you\\u0026rsquo;re comfortable. You\\u0026rsquo;ll be paying rent like everyone else and it\\u0026rsquo;s going to be your home too. Stand strong and don\\u0026rsquo;t let others lead you into a living situation where you feel unsafe or unhappy.\\u0026nbsp;If they keep putting pressure on you, it might be a sign that you\\u0026rsquo;re simply not compatible as housemates, or that this sort of thing could be a frequent occurrence if you live together.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nRemember: at the end of the day, it\\u0026#39;s only for a year. With lectures, studying, \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-finance/having-a-part-time-job-at-university-students-views\\\"\\u003epart-time jobs\\u003c/a\\u003e, \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-life/top-unis-for-nightlife-which-university-student-survey\\\"\\u003egoing out\\u003c/a\\u003e, placements, weekends at home and holidays, time will fly.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-life/freshers-survival-guide-tips-from-first-year-students\\\"\\u003eFirst year students reveal their uni survival tips\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"howtochoosehousemates\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eI don\\u0026#39;t know who to live with - how should I choose?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nIf you\\u0026rsquo;re still looking for housemates, or haven\\u0026rsquo;t thought about it yet, here are a few ideas for where to find potential options:\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eCurrent flatmates\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nIf it ain\\u0026rsquo;t broke, don\\u0026rsquo;t fix it!\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nStart with who\\u0026#39;s currently in your halls. Hopefully you\\u0026#39;ll have a good idea of what they\\u0026rsquo;re like to live with, and any bad habits are like water off a duck\\u0026rsquo;s back by now.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nIf you haven\\u0026rsquo;t quite clicked \\u0026ndash; or a year with them has been enough \\u0026ndash; look further afield instead.\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-accommodation/10-things-no-one-tells-you-about-living-in-university-halls\\\"\\u003eThings you\\u0026#39;ll only learn after moving into halls\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eBest friends, clubs and societies\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nRemember that you\\u0026rsquo;re looking for someone to live with, not just hang out with.\\u0026nbsp;Being \\u0026lsquo;a good laugh\\u0026rsquo; or liking the same bands won\\u0026rsquo;t make up for leaving hair in the sink or \\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/my-housemate-has-stopped-paying-their-rent-do-i-have-to-pay\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003enot paying their share of bills\\u003c/a\\u003e. Will they be a responsible housemate (or co-tenant, to be formal)?\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nClubs and societies can be a good source of housemate potential, but they shouldn\\u0026#39;t be the only reason to live with someone. Use these as a starting point to get to know that person better; grab a drink after your next practice or turn the conversation away from that interest to get a feel for them.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nWho can put up with your moody moments, obsessive nature or shocking sense of humour? Who are you so comfortable with that don\\u0026#39;t you have to \\u0026#39;try\\u0026#39; if you\\u0026#39;re both tired? Often these make for the happiest house-shares.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAnd it goes without saying: don\\u0026rsquo;t make any major decisions on a night out.\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eCoursemates\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nYou may notice that some subjects attract certain characters or personalities, which may (or may not) make for your perfect housemate.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nIf you\\u0026rsquo;re studying a notoriously intense subject like \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/subjects/law\\\"\\u003elaw\\u003c/a\\u003e or \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/subjects/medicine\\\"\\u003emedicine\\u003c/a\\u003e, living with those who understand how stressful things can get might be a blessing (or at least guarantee you\\u0026#39;ll have peace and quiet when you need to study).\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nWhether it\\u0026rsquo;s keeping the noise down during deadlines and exams, having someone to chat through essay ideas, trudge to 9am lectures with or simply motivate you to study when Netflix is calling, your perfect housemates might be beside you in your lecture.\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/revision-help\\\"\\u003eRevision help and advice\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"nobodytolivewith\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eI have nobody to live with in second year \\u0026ndash; what should I do?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nWhether you\\u0026rsquo;re on your own or you\\u0026rsquo;re on the hunt for an extra person or two, don\\u0026rsquo;t suffer in silence. It might feel like you\\u0026rsquo;re the only one who hasn\\u0026rsquo;t got their housing for next year sorted, but you won\\u0026rsquo;t be.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{av:198889935}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAnother thing to keep in mind is that the student housing market really can vary from one city to another; so depending on where you are, you might have slightly more time to make arrangements. \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/location\\\"\\u003eExplore our city guides\\u003c/a\\u003e to learn more about the local area where you study, including living costs, student areas, things to do at night and much more.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nTalk to your university\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nAs well as advising about \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-accommodation\\\"\\u003eon and off-campus accommodation\\u003c/a\\u003e, your university\\u0026#39;s housing office (or student services department or equivalent) can keep you posted about upcoming events to connect you with those in a similar position; these could be housing fairs or fun \\u0026lsquo;speed dating\\u0026rsquo; evenings to match potential housemates together.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThey can also recommend local letting agents and landlords that have been verified by other students and meet certain standards.\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eBroaden your search\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nTry local listings for your area such as SpareRoom and Gumtree. While these may not display house-shares for students exclusively, they often have an option to filter results (not that you couldn\\u0026#39;t live with a non-student if you wanted to).\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nJust because your university isn\\u0026rsquo;t affiliated with them, doesn\\u0026rsquo;t mean they\\u0026rsquo;ll leave you high and dry if you run into problems or have questions. If an advert sounds too good to be true or you feel you\\u0026rsquo;re being treated unfairly, ask your uni\\u0026nbsp; to take a look. Having assisted students year in, year out on all matters to do with housing, they\\u0026rsquo;ll be well versed in guidance and ensuring your rights are protected.\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eKeep eyes and ears open\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nWhile you can check your university\\u0026rsquo;s social media channels for updates or groups for those looking for housemates, take your headphones out and lift your eyes from your phone too. The answer to your prayers may lie in the student newspaper, on a noticeboard in the student union or in a conversation at the next table over in the student bar.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"firstyearlookingforhousemates\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eI\\u0026rsquo;m a first year without a place in halls \\u0026ndash; how do I find housemates?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nWhile nearly all universities aim to house first-year students on campus, if you secure your place at the last minute (ie through \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/clearing-results-day\\\"\\u003eClearing\\u003c/a\\u003e), there may not be any places left in halls. This means you may have to find a place in a house-share right off the bat.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nDon\\u0026#39;t feel like you\\u0026#39;re alone if this ends up being you. The number of students going through Clearing has grown each year; so the chances are there will indeed be others in the same position.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nGetting to know potential housemates online or making an impromptu trip to view properties a few weeks before term begins may not be ideal, but it might be your only choice. In reality it\\u0026rsquo;s no different to how things would work if you had a place in halls, as you would still be living with strangers; the only difference here is that you need to find a property together (which your university can help with).\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eWatch now: \\u003c/strong\\u003eStudents reveal how they met their best friend\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{youtube:1gUB3_b5PCc:480:270}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nBecause everything goes through your university\\u0026rsquo;s housing office, they\\u0026rsquo;ll be well aware of who is in need of a place to live, and can therefore match people up and support them in their search through some of the ways listed above.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{av:175467892}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nIt might not be the conventional first-year student experience; but as we\\u0026#39;ve said before, it\\u0026#39;s only for a year and it could have its benefits.\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/preparing-for-university/\\\"\\u003ePreparing for university - tips and advice\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T16:19:57.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2018-02-09T12:06:15.000Z\",\"slug\":\"choosing-the-right-housemates-for-second-year-of-university\",\"published_on\":\"2018-11-08T10:06:36.000Z\",\"author_id\":15,\"contributing_author_id\":52,\"cached_category_list\":null,\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"accommodation;; Student life;; Student accommodation;; Halls of residence;; uni halls;; halls;; housing;; housemates;; friends;; second year;; housing office;; student services\",\"audience\":\"General\",\"intro_text\":\"Nobody to live with in your second year? Can’t decide which friends would make the best housemates? \",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":957,\"headline\":\"Looking after your mental health and wellbeing at university\",\"abstract\":\"Expert advice for students struggling with their mental health at university, including warning signs to look for, preparing for university and finding help.\",\"body\":\"There\\u0026#39;s been a 210% increase in students \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/choosing-a-course/get-to-know-your-student-rights#leavingyourcourse\\\"\\u003eleaving university\\u0026nbsp;early\\u003c/a\\u003e because of ill mental health, according to the Higher Education Statistics Agency.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAt every stage of life, we should be mindful of our mental health. It can affect our relationships, physical health, work and studies \\u003cmeta charset=\\\"utf-8\\\" /\\u003e\\u003cb id=\\\"docs-internal-guid-2d3f9a5c-8ee2-e65c-4829-3f9721449686\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash;\\u003c/b\\u003e both positively and negatively.\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eWhat can affect mental health at uni?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eMany factors, concerns and anxieties can contribute to this, from everyday relationships and money matters to\\u0026nbsp;studies and juggling various commitments.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nMore than 30% of students told us that money issues had negatively impacted their mental health.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{infogram:3acddbbb-02c3-4716-9c8e-f6f4948d5c02}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nIf you\\u0026rsquo;re struggling\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-finance\\\"\\u003echeck out our student finance advice\\u003c/a\\u003e, including \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-finance/student-finance-cut-your-costs-at-university\\\"\\u003ecutting your living costs\\u003c/a\\u003e and \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-finance/what-types-of-extra-funding-are-available-to-help-you-at-university\\\"\\u003eextra funding that can help you\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e{av:188695649}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n65% of recent graduates also told us that the demands of their course had, on occasion, negatively impacted their mental health or levels of stress.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nWhile it\\u0026#39;s normal to not feel like your best self at all times, seek help if the way you\\u0026#39;re feeling is affecting your daily activities.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eGoing to uni with an existing mental health condition\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eThe thought of starting university can be daunting, but doing something\\u0026nbsp;you enjoy can actually improve your mental wellbeing.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nWith the right support network in place, your time at university can be rewarding. Mental ill health shouldn\\u0026#39;t deny you the chance to obtain a degree, make new friends or discover new places.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThe\\u0026nbsp;important thing is to recognise when there is a problem and\\u0026nbsp;to know what support is available. You can scope out a university\\u0026rsquo;s support services while researching \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/courses\\\"\\u003ewhere to study\\u003c/a\\u003e. Knowing there\\u0026#39;s somewhere to turn if a problem arises can be reassuring.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eLook on the university or student union website\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/strong\\u003eSee what support is on offer, including who to contact.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003ePrepare a list of questions to ask\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/strong\\u003eYou can either \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/open-days\\\"\\u003eask them at an open day\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;or, if it\\u0026#39;s easier, privately via email, online chat or phone.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eTell the university about\\u0026nbsp;your\\u0026nbsp;condition\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;You don\\u0026#39;t have to\\u0026nbsp;but, if you do disclose your condition, the university is legally required to take reasonable steps to support you during your studies. In some cases, you\\u0026#39;ll be allocated a mental health mentor who can create a personal support plan\\u0026nbsp;and advocate for you if you\\u0026nbsp;experience\\u0026nbsp;difficulties \\u003cmeta charset=\\\"utf-8\\\" /\\u003e\\u003cb id=\\\"docs-internal-guid-43c2eea4-8ee5-e953-dfeb-818059de5403\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash;\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;for example, they can help arrange\\u0026nbsp;a deadline extension.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eRegister with a GP\\u0026nbsp;when you arrive\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/strong\\u003eNo, it\\u0026#39;s not the most fun thing you could be doing in freshers\\u0026#39; week,\\u0026nbsp;but it can save you time if you need help later. Fi\\u003cspan style=\\\"background:white\\\"\\u003end your nearest GP on the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.nhs.uk/Service-Search/GP/LocationSearch/4\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eNHS Choices website\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eGet free, confidential counselling throughout university\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;This is something all students are entitled to. Some unis collaborate with local health services and charities to enhance student support. For example, universities in \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/location/sheffield\\\"\\u003eSheffield\\u003c/a\\u003e work with \\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.protect-ed.org/single-post/2017/12/14/SYEDA-Supporting-students-with-an-eating-disorder-in-Sheffield\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eSYEDA\\u003c/a\\u003e to offer talking therapies to students with eating disorders. A team at Durham University meet regularly with local NHS services.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eFind out if your university is accredited for its student support\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/strong\\u003eRecently launched,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.protect-ed.org/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eProtectED\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;is the first national accreditation scheme for student safety, security and wellbeing. Only universities judged to meet a certain standard will be awarded\\u0026nbsp;accreditation.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eWhat if I begin to struggle at university?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nSeek help early if you do experience a problem with your mental health at university. Waiting or trying to handle things alone can make things worse.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nC\\u003cspan style=\\\"background:white\\\"\\u003eontact student services at your university or speak to a tutor that you get on with. You can also discuss with your GP, or a mental health mentor if you\\u0026#39;ve been allocated one. We\\u0026#39;ve signposted more services below.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nRemember, you don\\u0026#39;t need to have a diagnosed mental health condition to benefit from counselling.\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{av:188695822}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{av:188695887}\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eHow to spot the warning signs\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eThe NHS website \\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.nhs.uk/Livewell/studenthealth/Pages/Mentalhealth.aspx\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003elists some common signs of depression and anxiety\\u003c/a\\u003e, including \\u0026#39;feeling low or more anxious or agitated than usual, or losing interest in life or motivation\\u0026#39;.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nWhile you may still be getting to know the friends you\\u0026#39;ve made at university,\\u0026nbsp;look out for those:\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003enot going to lectures\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003elooking tired or being unable to sleep\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eputting on or losing weight\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003ebecoming withdrawn \\u0026ndash;\\u0026nbsp;avoiding social events or\\u0026nbsp;being unusually quiet or antisocial\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003enot maintaining appearance to the same standard.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eThis isn\\u0026#39;t an exhaustive list - but it could offer some early warning signs. Student Minds offer \\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.studentminds.org.uk/supportforafriend.html\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eguidance\\u003c/a\\u003e on supporting a friend who is struggling.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eMaintaining your wellbeing at university\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eMore universities are recognising the importance of maintaining good mental wellbeing through some simple activities:\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eUniversity of Aberdeen\\u0026rsquo;s \\u0026lsquo;pet therapy\\u0026rsquo; programme helps new students settle in and deal with homesickness.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eTherapy dogs are a regular feature to help students combat stress at UCL, Aberystwyth,\\u0026nbsp;Huddersfield and Sussex universities.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eLiverpool John Moores University\\u0026#39;s \\u0026#39;Wellbeing Week\\u0026#39; includes free alternative therapy treatments, walking tours\\u0026nbsp;and \\u0026#39;Mental Health First Aid\\u0026#39; sessions.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eRecognising that exam time can be especially stressful,\\u0026nbsp;Leeds University Union offers relaxation spaces with free refreshments, pottery classes and meditation workshops.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eStruggling with revision? \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/revision-help\\\"\\u003eGet\\u0026nbsp;study tips and learn how to\\u0026nbsp;stay\\u0026nbsp;calm in exams.\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nMaking friends and socialising can also improve your mental wellbeing at university. Things feel easier if you have people to talk to, share problems with\\u0026nbsp;and, importantly, have fun with.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nIf you\\u0026#39;re worried about meeting new people, which is a very common concern among new students,\\u0026nbsp;join online groups for your course or halls, and introduce yourself before you arrive. It can make your first day at uni\\u0026nbsp;less daunting if you\\u0026#39;ve already been chatting.\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eBond with others over a common interest, whether that\\u0026#39;s Harry Potter, rugby or playing music. Freshers\\u0026#39; week is the perfect time to find out what\\u0026#39;s available via \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/preparing-for-university/fresher-s-fair-survival-guide\\\"\\u003ethe societies and clubs fair\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{form_asset}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eEssential support services\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eIn addition to services offered through your GP and university, there are a number of alternatives to go to for immediate or anonymous support:\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.nightline.ac.uk/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eNightline\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e is a student-run listening service that offers confidential support by phone, email, online chat or face-to-face.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.mind.org.uk\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eMind\\u0026rsquo;s\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e online community \\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.elefriends.org.uk/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eElefriends\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;is available to join. Here you can share experiences with fellow members and seek advice from trained forum moderators.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.studentminds.org.uk/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eStudent Minds\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e,\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/strong\\u003ethe student mental health charity, has a website packed with advice for dealing with a wide range of mental health issues. It can also\\u0026nbsp;provide a list of cheap and free alternative counselling services in your area.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"http://studentsagainstdepression.org/\\\"\\u003eStudents Against Depression\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e can help you create a personalised action plan to work your way out of depression.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.papyrus-uk.org/\\\"\\u003ePapyrus\\u003c/a\\u003e \\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u0026ndash; an organisation dedicated to the prevention of young suicide \\u0026ndash; can offer phone, email and text support\\u0026nbsp;if you experience suicidal thoughts.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cimg alt=\\\"Lucy Winrow, ProtectED\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/715/content_5531BF5F-2933-4D89-836D-2A3E05F7FA0B.jpg\\\" style=\\\"float: left; width: 150px; height: 225px; margin: 10px;\\\" /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch4\\u003e\\u003cem\\u003eAbout Lucy\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003c/h4\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eWhich? University provides guest spots to external contributors. Lucy Winrow is a researcher who works with academics at the University of Salford on the ProtectED project, a new accreditation scheme assessing university support services.\\u003c/em\\u003e\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T16:47:18.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2018-02-28T14:49:19.000Z\",\"slug\":\"looking-after-your-mental-health-and-wellbeing-at-university\",\"published_on\":\"2018-10-08T14:25:03.000Z\",\"author_id\":18,\"contributing_author_id\":84,\"cached_category_list\":null,\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"university;; student;; Student life;; anxiety;; ProtectED;; Mental Health;; Wellbeing;; Support;; Anxious\",\"audience\":\"General\",\"intro_text\":\"Struggling with your mental health at university? ProtectED's Lucy Winrow discusses warning signs to look for, preparing for university and finding help.\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":961,\"headline\":\"Student travel: holiday hacks when you’re on a budget\",\"abstract\":\"Unwinding from exams, seeking some sun or following your Instagram-inspired wanderlust... It's great to get away - and even better if you can escape on a budget.\",\"body\":\"Whether you\\u0026rsquo;re going on a cultural city break, a beach holiday or travelling during your gap year, there are plenty of ways to travel for less and still have a great time.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nOur travel guide is packed with planning and money-saving hacks.\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#Finding cheap flights\\\"\\u003eHow to find cheap flights\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#Travelling in Europe: take a train instead?\\\"\\u003eTravelling in Europe: take a\\u0026nbsp;train instead?\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#Booking accommodation: is Airbnb best?\\\"\\u003eHow to book bargain accommodation\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#Free and cheap things to do on your trip\\\"\\u003eFree and cheap things to do on your trip\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#Get your spending money sorted\\\"\\u003eGet your spending money sorted\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#Take out travel insurance\\\"\\u003eTake out travel insurance\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#Your consumer rights when booking a holiday\\\"\\u003eYour consumer rights when booking a holiday\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e\\u003ca id=\\\"Finding cheap flights\\\" name=\\\"Finding cheap flights\\\"\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"color:#000000;\\\"\\u003eHow to find\\u0026nbsp;cheap flights\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nThe Skyscanner website or app is a good place to start when looking for cheap flights. You simply put in where you\\u0026#39;re travelling from, where you\\u0026#39;re going and when.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nYou can then cut down the results by departure time, airline, airport and whether you want a direct flight or one with a stop or two - it\\u0026#39;s usually cheaper if you\\u0026#39;re prepared to take a longer, indirect route.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cimg alt=\\\"\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/729/content_Plane_flying.jpg\\\" style=\\\"width: 615px; height: 410px;\\\" /\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nSkyscanner prices include an estimate of mandatory taxes and charges, but not additional fees for things like baggage or use of credit cards.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAlternatives include Kayak and Momondo. Kayak shows you days with cheaper flights depending on where you\\u0026rsquo;re flying to, and then lets you narrow down results by price - useful if you\\u0026#39;re on a budget. And Momondo lets you search for the cheapest flights for your dates.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eMust-read:\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;the Which? Travel team has put together a list of things you can do to \\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.which.co.uk/reviews/airlines-and-airports/article/airlines/how-to-save-on-flights\\\"\\u003esave money on flights\\u003c/a\\u003e along with a round-up of the \\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.which.co.uk/reviews/airlines-and-airports/article/airlines/cheapest-airlines-for-popular-destinations\\\"\\u003echeapest airlines for popular holiday destinations\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e\\u003ca id=\\\"Travelling in Europe: take a train instead?\\\" name=\\\"Travelling in Europe: take a train instead?\\\"\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"color:#000000;\\\"\\u003eTravelling in Europe: take a train instead?\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nIf you don\\u0026#39;t like flying - or you prefer a more scenic journey - you can travel to plenty of places in Europe via train.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nTo travel to a European city by train, hop on the Eurostar and then change - unless you wish to stay in a Eurostar destination, of course (that\\u0026#39;s Paris, Bordeaux, Brussels and more - now including Amsterdam, a new one for 2018).\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nTravelling by train will almost always take more time than flying. Where it takes longer than a day, you\\u0026#39;ll need to book overnight accommodation or take a sleeper train. Factor this in when comparing prices.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cimg alt=\\\"\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/730/content_Train_with_town__water_and_mountains_in_background.jpg\\\" style=\\\"width: 615px; height: 411px;\\\" /\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nBut if you fancy ticking off a few different countries in one trip, it might work out\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-life/student-travel-should-you-go-interrailing\\\"\\u003echeaper to buy an Interrail pass\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;- our guide compares interrailing prices and ticket options.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nWant some train-spiration? Look at \\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/traintravel/\\\"\\u003e#traintravel\\u003c/a\\u003e posts from around the world on Instagram or browse \\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.instagram.com/beatsflying/\\\"\\u003ebeatsflying\\u003c/a\\u003e. For something a little more far-flung, take a look at the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.instagram.com/windowseatproject/\\\"\\u003ewindowseatproject\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;in India.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e\\u003ca name=\\\"Booking accommodation: is Airbnb best?\\\"\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"color:#000000;\\\"\\u003eHow to book\\u0026nbsp;bargain accommodation\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nYou\\u0026#39;ve got a few options when sorting out where to stay. Don\\u0026#39;t assume a certain type of accommodation will automatically be the cheapest or most expensive. Airbnbs can work out cheaper than a hostel, while hotel room costs can be cut with a bit of savvy searching.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eAirbnb\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nStaying in a local\\u0026rsquo;s home comes with its advantages, such as having access to a kitchen - great if you want to cut costs by making your own meals rather than going out.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cimg alt=\\\"\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/731/content_Someone_sleeping_very_happily.jpg\\\" style=\\\"width: 615px; height: 411px;\\\" /\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThere are often cheap and central deals to be found, especially if you\\u0026#39;re travelling in a group, that can work out more economical.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nWhen booking accommodation, have your wits about you. Most listings will be perfectly safe and will live up to your expectations, but - unfortunately - holiday booking fraud exists. Fortunately, we have advice on \\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.which.co.uk/reviews/uk-hotel-chains/article/how-to-spot-scams-on-airbnb-and-other-letting-sites\\\"\\u003ehow to spot scams on Airbnb and other letting sites\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eHostels\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nIf you want the cheapest accommodation possible, on the other hand, you could try finding a hostel - listings website Hostelworld is the biggest.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nHostels often offer a range of rooms for different prices. If you don\\u0026#39;t mind sleeping with a bunch of unknowns, sleeping in a dorm room is usually dirt-cheap. This is a good option for solo travellers but, equally, might be good if you\\u0026rsquo;re travelling in a large group.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cimg alt=\\\"\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/732/content_Hostel_dorm_room.jpg\\\" style=\\\"width: 615px; height: 410px;\\\" /\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nIf you really value or need your personal space, look for a hostel that offers private rooms. They\\u0026#39;re often cheaper than hotel rooms, but you still get that hostel buzz of adventure and community.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nDon\\u0026#39;t assume a hostel will be basic or poor quality - you only have to check out the\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.hostelworld.com/hoscars\\\"\\u003eHOSCAR awards\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;winners to see that\\u0026#39;s not always the case!\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eHotels\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nIf you prefer feeling a little more looked after, a hotel comparison website like booking.com can help you find hotels or serviced apartments. But shopping around can cut your costs - follow this guide on \\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.which.co.uk/reviews/uk-hotel-chains/article/how-to-find-cheap-hotel-rooms\\\"\\u003efinding a cheap hotel room\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;for some tips, including using \\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.which.co.uk/money/money-saving-tips/making-money/cashback-sites/cashback-sites-explained-a1u580k53d46\\\"\\u003ecashback websites\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;and unlocking secret hotel deals.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e\\u003ca name=\\\"Free and cheap things to do on your trip\\\"\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"color:#000000;\\\"\\u003eFree and cheap things to do on your trip\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nIt\\u0026#39;s worth doing some holiday pre-planning when going on holiday - to avoid overspending, or missing the best bits.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{form_asset}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nIf you\\u0026#39;re holidaying on a really tight budget, here are some tips on finding cheap or free things to do:\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eSeek recommendations\\u003c/strong\\u003e: Ask family and friends who\\u0026rsquo;ve already been there, or download the Spotted By Locals apps for tips from local residents of cities.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eFind a free walking tour\\u003c/strong\\u003e: These can be a great way of finding your bearings in a city. Sandemans offers free walking tours in 19 cities - just pay what you can afford at the end.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eLook for cheap museums and attractions\\u003c/strong\\u003e: most will have free sections alongside paid entry exhibitions, or you\\u0026rsquo;re asked to donate what you can - but a day spent immersing yourself in some history and culture usually doesn\\u0026#39;t need to cost much.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eUse TripAdvisor\\u003c/strong\\u003e: A go-to resource for finding\\u0026nbsp;things to do and traveller reviews so you can avoid splashing your cash unnecessarily. The site also gives an indication of how pricey things are to help you manage your budget.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\nOne thing to bear in mind with TripAdvisor is that some reviews may be less than genuine. Reckon you could spot a fake TripAdvisor review?\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.which.co.uk/reviews/tripadvisor/article/can-you-trust-tripadvisor/spot-the-fake-tripadvisor-quiz\\\"\\u003eTake our quiz\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;to find out how much of a detective you really are - some fakes are very convincing.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e\\u003ca name=\\\"Get your spending money sorted\\\"\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"color:#000000;\\\"\\u003eGet your spending money sorted\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nWhile it\\u0026#39;s sensible to take some local currency with you when you\\u0026#39;re travelling, we\\u0026#39;d recommend not entirely relying on cash. It\\u0026rsquo;s hard to recover if it\\u0026#39;s lost or stolen, can be awkward if you need several currencies in one trip - and it\\u0026#39;s tricky to pinpoint how much you\\u0026#39;ll need.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nBut don\\u0026#39;t use your normal debit or credit card abroad either. Many come with nasty fees on foreign spending.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nConsider getting a specialist debit, credit or prepaid card that won\\u0026#39;t sting you for overseas spending - compare overseas spending charges from\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.which.co.uk/money/banking/bank-accounts/challenger-and-mobile-banks-aj0mj7w688r5\\\"\\u003echallenger bank apps\\u003c/a\\u003e Monzo and Starling against more well-known banks likes Santander or TSB:\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cimg alt=\\\"\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/724/content_overseas-spending-bank-charges-public-markets.png\\\" style=\\\"width: 700px; height: 424px;\\\" /\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nIf you are looking to exchange currency, here are some tips on getting the most for your money:\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eDon\\u0026#39;t exchange money at the airport\\u003c/strong\\u003e: Exchange rates at airport bureaux de change are often poor.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eShop around\\u003c/strong\\u003e: Different bureaux de change offer different exchange rates, so you could get more bang for your buck by donning your research cap. It\\u0026#39;s quick and\\u0026nbsp;simple to do, too\\u0026nbsp;- just get a quote from a few different providers with the money you want to change up.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003ePay for foreign currency with cash or a debit card\\u003c/strong\\u003e: Using a credit card will likely involve charges, as credit card providers will typically treat the purchase as a \\u0026#39;cash advance\\u0026#39;\\u0026nbsp;and charge you a fee.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\nFor more information, take a look at Which? Travel\\u0026#39;s\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.which.co.uk/reviews/travel-money/article/guides\\\"\\u003etravel money guides\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e\\u003ca id=\\\"Take out travel insurance\\\" name=\\\"Take out travel insurance\\\"\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"color:#000000;\\\"\\u003eTake out travel insurance\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.which.co.uk/money/insurance/travel-insurance\\\"\\u003eTravel insurance\\u003c/a\\u003e is designed to cover minor or major mishaps while you\\u0026#39;re travelling abroad, from trip delays to medical care. It\\u0026#39;s very risky to travel without any, and could leave you massively out of pocket if something bad happens.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nIf you\\u0026#39;re taking more than one trip over a year, an annual multi-trip package could work out cheaper than buying single-trip policies.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nYou might also consider backpacker insurance if you\\u0026#39;re travelling to a few different countries in the same trip over a fairly long time. It\\u0026#39;s usually only required for trips lasting 60 days or longer, but with some insurers it\\u0026#39;s 30 days.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nYou should also make sure you have a valid \\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.which.co.uk/money/insurance/travel-insurance/the-ehic-explained-ax26s1s8vwqc\\\"\\u003eEuropean Health Insurance Card (EHIC)\\u003c/a\\u003e. This gives you the right to access state-provided healthcare while on holiday in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cimg alt=\\\"\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/733/content_EHIC.jpg\\\" style=\\\"width: 615px; height: 407px;\\\" /\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nHolidays are a great way to escape from the stresses of everyday life, but you still need to be conscious of your health. Don\\u0026#39;t forget medication and booking in any essential travel vaccinations before you travel - our\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.which.co.uk/reviews/travel-health/article/holiday-health\\\"\\u003eholiday health guide\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;covers the essentials.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003e\\u003ca name=\\\"Your consumer rights when booking a holiday\\\"\\u003e\\u003cspan style=\\\"color:#000000;\\\"\\u003eYour consumer rights when booking a holiday\\u003c/span\\u003e\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nEven the most meticulously-planned holiday can turn into a headache if things go wrong.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nBut you do have certain \\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/travel\\\"\\u003etravel rights\\u003c/a\\u003e, which means that you may be entitled to compensation or a refund if there are problems with your flight or accommodation.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nWe hope you don\\u0026#39;t need them, but bookmark these guides in case your\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/i-had-a-flight-delay-can-i-get-compensation\\\"\\u003eflight is delayed\\u003c/a\\u003e, or if it\\u0026#39;s\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/i-had-a-flight-cancellation-can-i-claim-compensation\\\"\\u003ecancelled completely\\u003c/a\\u003e, plus what to do\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.which.co.uk/consumer-rights/advice/the-airline-has-lost-or-damaged-my-bag-what-can-i-do\\\"\\u003eif your luggage gets lost or damaged\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nBon voyage!\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T17:02:15.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2018-06-05T14:02:09.000Z\",\"slug\":\"student-travel-holiday-hacks-when-you-re-on-a-budget\",\"published_on\":\"2018-06-07T08:59:37.000Z\",\"author_id\":21,\"contributing_author_id\":87,\"cached_category_list\":null,\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"Travel;; Holiday;; Flights;; Interrail;; Interrailing;; Travel money;; Travel insurance\",\"audience\":\"General\",\"intro_text\":\"Unwinding from exams, seeking some sun or following your Instagram-inspired wanderlust... It's great to get away - and even better if you can escape on a budget.\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":992,\"headline\":\"Top unis to get you job-ready: Which? University Student Survey 2018\",\"abstract\":\"We asked students to rate their university for getting them 'job-ready' and prepared to tackle the graduate job market.\",\"body\":\"The average student estimated to graduate \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-finance/how-much-debt-will-i-actually-get-into-by-going-to-university\\\"\\u003ewith \\u0026pound;50,000 in debt\\u003c/a\\u003e, so you\\u0026#39;ll want to make sure that your university decision will leave you in the best possible position to find a job at the end of it all.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nSimply put, you\\u0026#39;ll want a university that makes you \\u0026#39;job-ready\\u0026#39;, so to speak.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eHow do student loan repayments work?\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/strong\\u003eFind out in our student finance guides for \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-finance/quick-guide-to-fees-and-finance-if-youre-studying-in-england\\\"\\u003eEngland\\u003c/a\\u003e,\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-finance/quick-guide-to-fees-and-finance-if-youre-studying-in-scotland\\\"\\u003eScotland\\u003c/a\\u003e, \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-finance/quick-guide-to-fees-and-finance-if-youre-studying-in-wales\\\"\\u003eWales\\u003c/a\\u003e and \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-finance/quick-guide-to-fees-and-finance-if-youre-studying-in-northern-ireland\\\"\\u003eNorthern Ireland\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eWhat does \\u0026#39;job-ready\\u0026#39; mean?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nThis can really depend on the course you study. Some subjects lead onto a career path more seamlessly than others, such as\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/subjects/teacher-training\\\"\\u003eteacher training\\u003c/a\\u003e, \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/subjects/nursing\\\"\\u003enursing\\u003c/a\\u003e, \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/subjects/medicine\\\"\\u003emedicine\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;and \\u003ca href=\\\"http://university.which.co.uk/subjects/law\\\"\\u003elaw\\u003c/a\\u003e. These are quite focused areas\\u003cb id=\\\"docs-internal-guid-f29416cd-7fff-3213-a108-5573922cf5ed\\\"\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/b\\u003ewhere you learn specific skills and knowledge for job roles that are usually in high demand (although there is room to specialise within them, eventually).\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThat\\u0026#39;s not to say you should rest on your laurels if you\\u0026#39;re studying one of these subjects, though. The degree, experience and skills you achieve will\\u0026nbsp;open up more graduate opportunities and help you stand out, which is where you university can give you an edge.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nFor example, a university\\u0026#39;s links with top-notch law firms can give you a way in when it comes to work experience or your training contract.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eRead our #CareerGoals interviews with graduate \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/career-prospects/careergoals-lawyer\\\"\\u003elawyers\\u003c/a\\u003e, \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/career-prospects/careergoals-doctor\\\"\\u003edoctors\\u003c/a\\u003e and \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/career-prospects/careergoals-nurse\\\"\\u003enurses\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nOn the other hand, subjects such as\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/subjects/english-language-and-literature\\\"\\u003eEnglish\\u003c/a\\u003e and modern languages can be quite broad. While you\\u0026#39;ll pick up a range of transferable skills, you can take into a variety of jobs, sectors and workplaces \\u003cb id=\\\"docs-internal-guid-f29416cd-7fff-3213-a108-5573922cf5ed\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/b\\u003esuch as communicating ideas and working in a team \\u003cb id=\\\"docs-internal-guid-f29416cd-7fff-3213-a108-5573922cf5ed\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash; \\u003c/b\\u003eyour university might assist you in other ways when it comes to your graduate prospects. This could include careers fairs to give you career ideas, CV workshops and so on.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nTherefore, being \\u0026#39;job-ready\\u0026#39; can mean different things to different students.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eWhat are career prospects for your subject like? \\u003c/strong\\u003eCheck\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/courses#browse-subjects-alphabetically\\\"\\u003eour degree subject guides\\u003c/a\\u003e, or \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/a-level-explorer\\\"\\u003euse our A-level tool\\u003c/a\\u003e to see what those taking the same subjects went on to do.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eWhich universities are rated top for job readiness?\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\nWe asked students to rate their university on how focused they were on helping make them job-ready, ahead of graduating.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nBased on their responses and our analysis, the following 38 universities were rated highly for job-readiness (in alphabetical order):\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/aston-university-a80\\\"\\u003eAston University\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/bristol-university-of-the-west-of-england-b80\\\"\\u003eBristol, University West of England\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/brunel-university-b84\\\"\\u003eBrunel University\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/cardiff-metropolitan-university-uwic-c20\\\"\\u003eCardiff Metropolitan University\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/city-university-c60\\\"\\u003eCity, University of London\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/coventry-university-c85\\\"\\u003eCoventry University\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/de-montfort-university-d26\\\"\\u003eDe Montfort University\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/harper-adams-university-h12\\\"\\u003eHarper Adams University\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/imperial-college-london-i50\\\"\\u003eImperial College London\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/keele-university-k12\\\"\\u003eKeele University\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/liverpool-john-moores-university-l51\\\"\\u003eLiverpool John Moores University\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/loughborough-university-l79\\\"\\u003eLoughborough University\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/northumbria-university-n77\\\"\\u003eNorthumbria University\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/norwich-university-of-the-arts-n39\\\"\\u003eNorwich University of the Arts\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/nottingham-trent-university-n91\\\"\\u003eNottingham Trent University\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/queens-university-belfast-q75\\\"\\u003eQueen\\u0026#39;s University Belfast\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/robert-gordon-university-r36\\\"\\u003eRobert Gordon University\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/st-georges-university-of-london-s49\\\"\\u003eSt George\\u0026#39;s, University of London\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/staffordshire-university-s72\\\"\\u003eStaffordshire University\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/teesside-university-t20\\\"\\u003eTeesside University\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/university-of-bath-b16\\\"\\u003eUniversity of Bath\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/university-of-bradford-b56\\\"\\u003eUniversity of Bradford\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/university-of-derby-d39\\\"\\u003eUniversity of Derby\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/university-of-east-anglia-uea-e14\\\"\\u003eUniversity of East Anglia\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/university-of-essex-e70\\\"\\u003eUniversity of Essex\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/university-of-leeds-l23\\\"\\u003eUniversity of Leeds\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/university-of-liverpool-l41\\\"\\u003eUniversity of Liverpool\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/university-of-manchester-m20\\\"\\u003eUniversity of Manchester\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/university-of-nottingham-n84\\\"\\u003eUniversity of Nottingham\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/university-of-portsmouth-p80\\\"\\u003eUniversity of Portsmouth\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/university-of-reading-r12\\\"\\u003eUniversity of Reading\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/university-of-salford-s03\\\"\\u003eUniversity of Salford\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/university-of-sheffield-s18\\\"\\u003eUniversity of Sheffield\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/university-of-strathclyde-s78\\\"\\u003eUniversity of Strathclyde\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/university-of-surrey-s85\\\"\\u003eUniversity of Surrey\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/university-of-the-arts-london-u65\\\"\\u003eUniversity of the Arts London\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/university-of-ulster-u20\\\"\\u003eUniversity of Ulster\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/york-st-john-university-y75\\\"\\u003eYork St John University\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003eNote, an honourable mention goes to the University of Abertay who was also rated highly for job readiness; however, it didn\\u0026#39;t meet our minimum respondent threshold to be included in our full analysis.\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nStudents at the above 38 universities said they felt prepared to find a job upon graduating. However, that doesn\\u0026#39;t mean this translates to a job in reality once those students graduate and begin applying for jobs and graduate schemes.\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eSee\\u0026nbsp;graduate prospects for a course or uni\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cb id=\\\"docs-internal-guid-df59dc20-7fff-3627-2fde-c7af326d90a3\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/b\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/courses\\\"\\u003esearch now\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/student-life/which-university-student-survey-the-results\\\"\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003eRead the full results from the Which? University Student Survey 2018\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/a\\u003e including which universities were rated top for nightlife, student union and more.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"allrounders\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eAbout the Which? University Student Survey 2018\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003eWe asked students to score their university on how focused they were on helping them become job-ready once they graduated, as part of the annual Which? University Student Survey. Each year, Which? commissions this independent survey of current higher education students in the UK to find out more about their experience of university.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nWe surveyed a total of 5,081 students from over 127 institutions this year, merging findings from our 2017 and 2016 surveys to give an overall sample of 10,754 students. The survey sample used to analyse the job ready category was made up of 2nd and 3rd year students from all three surveys. Our minimum threshold was 30 respondents per university \\u003cmeta charset=\\\"utf-8\\\" /\\u003e\\u003cb id=\\\"docs-internal-guid-00cb0d1f-7fff-6603-7455-b20b39682e8f\\\"\\u003e\\u0026ndash;\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/b\\u003estandard for our surveys that use this linear plotting technique, and is based upon empirical testing of a range of sample sizes we carried out in 2014.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nStatistical differences between groups of universities were identified as follows. For each measure, a mean score on the 1-10 scale was calculated for each university. Analysis of variance was used to establish whether there were any significant differences between the means, and then a linear plotting technique was used to identify significant breaks between the means of groups of universities. The groups with the highest mean scores were reported as \\u0026#39;highly rated\\u0026#39;.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAll surveys were conducted by YouthSight on behalf of Which?, in March/April of the respective year.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cem\\u003ePlease note, student comments in this feature range from 2014-2018.\\u003c/em\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-15T17:08:16.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2018-09-27T10:27:50.000Z\",\"slug\":\"top-unis-for-job-readiness-which-university-student-survey\",\"published_on\":\"2018-10-16T10:24:51.000Z\",\"author_id\":15,\"contributing_author_id\":52,\"cached_category_list\":null,\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"Graduate;; Careers;; Career options;; Which? University Student Survey;; Careers support;; job readiness;; career prospects;; graduate prospects\",\"audience\":\"General\",\"intro_text\":\"Which universities make students feel 'job-ready' and prepared to tackle the graduate job market? This is what students said...\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null},{\"id\":1024,\"headline\":\"How to become a paramedic\",\"abstract\":\"What does a paramedic do and how do you become one? This guide talks you through all you need to know about entering the paramedic profession.\",\"body\":\"As any viewer of the BBC television series \\u003cem\\u003eAmbulance\\u003c/em\\u003e will know, being a paramedic is not for the faint-hearted. You will be dealing with life-and-death situations \\u0026ndash;\\u0026nbsp;helping people who may or may not appreciate your service \\u0026ndash; while frequently navigating traffic jams when every second counts.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nIf you want to make a real difference to people\\u0026rsquo;s lives, this could be the profession for you. This guide talks you through all you need to know about becoming a paramedic.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nSkip to:\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#Whatdoesaparamedicdo\\\"\\u003eWhat does a paramedic do?\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#Whattoexpectasaparamedic\\\"\\u003eWhat to expect as a paramedic\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#Paramediceducationandqualifications\\\"\\u003eParamedic education and qualifications\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#Wheretofindparamedicjobs\\\"\\u003eWhere to find paramedic jobs\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#Commonandwellknownemployersofparamedics\\\"\\u003eCommon and well-known employers of paramedics\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#Averageparamedicstartingsalaries\\\"\\u003eAverage paramedic starting salaries\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"#Wheretofindmoreinformation\\\"\\u003eWhere to find more information\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eOverview\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"Whatdoesaparamedicdo\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eWhat does a paramedic do?\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nEvaluating a patient\\u0026#39;s condition, deciding whether they should be treated at the scene or transferred to hospital, is a crucial part of a paramedic\\u0026rsquo;s job. In non-life-threatening situations, you\\u0026#39;ll use your professional judgement to make key clinical decisions.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/ambulance-service-team/roles-ambulance-service/paramedic\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eHealth Careers\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;highlights a few of a paramedic\\u0026#39;s responsibilities:\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eIn an emergency, you\\u0026#39;ll use high-tech equipment such as defibrillators (which restore the heart\\u0026#39;s rhythm), spinal and traction splints and intravenous drips, as well as administering oxygen and drugs.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eYou will be trained to drive what is in effect a mobile emergency clinic and to resuscitate and/or stabilise patients using sophisticated techniques, equipment and drugs for a range of conditions.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eFor example, you might be called out to someone who has fallen from scaffolding or an elderly person with a suspected stroke.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eAs well as having contact with your patients, you will also deal with their relatives and friends and members of the public, some of whom might be highly distressed or aggressive.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eYou will also often work alongside the police and fire and rescue services.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eBased at a local ambulance station, you will work shifts, including evenings and weekends, going out in all weathers at all hours of the night or day.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eYou will work closely with other healthcare teams in the community, such as\\u0026nbsp;GPs, occupational therapists, mental health teams, diabetes specialists, doctors and nurses in hospital emergency departments.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"Whattoexpectasaparamedic\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nWhat to expect as a paramedic\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nParamedics normally work in a team of two: a lead person who then has an ambulance technician, emergency medical technician or emergency care assistant supporting them.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThat said, you may not be working in a pair, or even working out of an ambulance. You could be working on your own, while travelling by motorcycle, emergency response car, bike or even air ambulance helicopter to reach the patient.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAlso, there\\u0026#39;s an increasing emphasis for paramedics to treat the patient at home, so they don\\u0026#39;t have to go to hospital unless it\\u0026#39;s absolutely necessary (in order to reduce demand on resources).\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAlan Simmons, careers specialist at Health Careers, says:\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{av:209336003}\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003ePersonal characteristics for a paramedic\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nThere are a number of personal characteristics that will stand you in good stead for becoming an effective paramedic:\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eprocess key information quickly in an emergency, even in a chaotic environment\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003emaintain your calm when the situation may be chaotic\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003ebe confident in yourself and able to reassure the patient and others\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003ecarry on with your work when others around you may be emotional or even aggressive\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003efollow procedures and work quickly and carefully\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003ework by yourself or as part of a team\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eprepare to go into unknown or unpredictable situations.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eCommon skills required of\\u0026nbsp;a paramedic\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nYou will also need to possess skills that will help you deal with people, drive an ambulance and get to the location as quickly as possible:\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003ecommunication skills\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003elistening skills\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003edriving skills\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eorganisational skills\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003ecompetency in using equipment and machinery.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eTop tip!\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/strong\\u003eRemember the skills needed to be a paramedic when you\\u0026#39;re writing your \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/personal-statements/examples-of-how-to-write-a-personal-statement\\\"\\u003eUcas personal statement\\u003c/a\\u003e and \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/ucas-application/university-interviews-how-to-prepare\\\"\\u003epreparing for an interview\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThink about how the voluntary work and work experience you have completed demonstrates you have these skills to those reading your application. If you don\\u0026#39;t make this clear here, your application may not be considered any further.\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/personal-statements/personal-statements-how-to-make-your-work-experience-really-count\\\"\\u003eMaking your experience count in your personal statement\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eHow to become a paramedic\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cimg alt=\\\"\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/881/content_KingstonHospital-Sep16-2573-DB-web.jpg\\\" style=\\\"width: 615px; height: 410px;\\\" /\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nTo be a paramedic, you have to be registered with the Health Care Professions Council (HCPC). To be eligible, you\\u0026#39;ll need a\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/search/course?utf8=%E2%9C%93\\u0026amp;c%5Bq%5D=paramedic+bachelor\\\"\\u003eParamedic Bachelor Degree with honours\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"Paramediceducationandqualifications\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eParamedic education and qualifications\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nThe main route to becoming a paramedic is to study a BSc Paramedic Science/Practice full-time degree at university. All universities set their own \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/ucas-application/what-are-university-entry-requirements\\\"\\u003eentry requirements\\u003c/a\\u003e in terms of subjects and grades, so check these for the course you\\u0026#39;re applying to.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/courses\\\"\\u003eSearch for a course on Which? University\\u003c/a\\u003e to see its entry requirements, how satisfied students are what they went on to achieve and more.\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nCurrently, you can apply for a Paramedic Diploma of Higher Education (as of March 2019). However, this course is likely to be phased out because it will no longer make you eligible to apply for registration as a paramedic with the HCPC after 2024.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAccording to the \\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.collegeofparamedics.co.uk/how_to_become_a_paramedic\\\"\\u003eCollege of Paramedics\\u003c/a\\u003e, after autumn 2024, you will only be eligible to register with the HCPC if you have one of the following:\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eBSc Paramedic Science/Practice Degree \\u0026ndash; this will\\u003cb\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/b\\u003emake you eligible to register with the Health and Care Professions Council.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.instituteforapprenticeships.org/apprenticeship-standards/paramedic-degree/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eParamedic Degree Apprenticeship\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026ndash; note that\\u0026nbsp;this apprenticeship standard is very new. \\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.anglia.ac.uk/study/degree-apprenticeships/employers/our-courses\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eAnglia Ruskin University\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;is\\u0026nbsp;planning to offer it.\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAlso, it will be impossible to work your way up from another job in the Ambulance Team or related NHS careers (such as in the Patient Transport Service)\\u0026nbsp;to become a paramedic, without holding a Paramedic Science/Practice Degree.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nSome Ambulance Trusts \\u0026ndash; such as West Midlands Ambulance Trust \\u0026ndash; have a \\u003ca href=\\\"https://officialwmas.files.wordpress.com/2019/02/student-para-application-support-final-feb2019-.pdf\\\"\\u003eStudent Paramedic\\u003c/a\\u003e Programme, which seems like a forerunner to the Paramedic Degree Apprenticeship (and may well become a \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/choosing-a-course/is-a-higher-or-degree-apprenticeship-really-right-for-you\\\"\\u003edegree apprenticeship\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;in the future).\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nLook at the links to \\u003ca href=\\\"#Wheretofindparamedicjobs\\\"\\u003ethe Ambulance Service Trusts below\\u003c/a\\u003e to see if your local trust has any Student Paramedic vacancies that you would apply through (instead of going through Ucas).\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eBest universities for paramedic courses\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nDon\\u0026rsquo;t be too concerned about getting into a top university for Paramedic Science/Practice. They will all be accredited by the HCPC and have to meet strict standards. Getting a place on any paramedic degree is an achievement.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThe majority of courses are in the range of 112-120 Ucas tariff points. All consider \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/a-level-choices/how-are-my-as-and-a-level-studies-structured\\\"\\u003eA-levels\\u003c/a\\u003e, Highers/Advanced Highers and \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/ucas-application/international-baccalaureate-ib-students-top-tips-for-applying-to-university\\\"\\u003ethe International Baccalaureate\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAlso, you\\u0026nbsp;must have at least one relevant science subject. What\\u0026#39;s considered a relevant science subject can vary from one institution to another. Some might consider physical education a science subject, whereas others won\\u0026#39;t. For example, \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/university-of-east-anglia-uea-e14\\\"\\u003eUniversity of East Anglia\\u003c/a\\u003e will accept PE as a science A-level, while \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/university-of-hertfordshire-h36\\\"\\u003eHertfordshire\\u003c/a\\u003e won\\u0026#39;t.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nMany courses will consider \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/a-level-choices/what-are-btecs\\\"\\u003eBTEC\\u003c/a\\u003e or equivalent courses. Again, your research is needed here: Hertfordshire will not accept the BTEC Level 3 Extended Diploma in Health and Social Care, while UEA will accept it (as long as it includes either \\u0026#39;Physiological Disorders\\u0026#39; or \\u0026#39;The impact of long-term physiological conditions\\u0026#39; units).\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAs you can see, it really depends on what you\\u0026#39;re applying with and the institutions you\\u0026#39;re applying to. It\\u0026#39;s best to play it safe and ask the university directly for its stance.\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nHow to apply for a paramedic course at university\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/courses\\\"\\u003eYou can search for courses\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;to identify all the paramedic courses available. There are 34 courses available (as of March 2019). Look at the course information section to find out what the entry requirements are.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nYou can double-check the ones that you are most interested in by going to the entry requirements page of the university website.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nYou will only have five choices on Ucas Apply, so don\\u0026#39;t waste a choice if you haven\\u0026rsquo;t got exactly what is being asked for \\u0026ndash; Paramedic Science is a very competitive course to apply to. When \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/courses\\\"\\u003esearching for a course\\u003c/a\\u003e, you can see\\u0026nbsp;the percentage of applicants who receive an offer, and most courses seem to make offers to 20-30% of people applying.\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/ucas-application/firm-and-insurance-choice-replying-to-university-offers\\\"\\u003eMaking your first and insurance choices\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eDo I need to have a driving licence to become a paramedic?\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nHere\\u0026rsquo;s what the \\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.collegeofparamedics.co.uk/how_to_become_a_paramedic/driver-training\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eCollege of Paramedics\\u003c/a\\u003e says:\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{av:209336265}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eTop tip!\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;Some universities will not mention anything about having a driving licence, while others will offer very specific guidance, such as the \\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.port.ac.uk/study/courses/bsc-hons-paramedic-science#entry-requirements\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eUniversity of Portsmouth\\u003c/a\\u003e and \\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.anglia.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/paramedic-science\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eAnglia Ruskin University.\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nIn reality, when you finish your degree it will be really advantageous for you to hold a full driving licence in the C1 category, as this allows you to drive a vehicle that is the size of an ambulance.\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003ePersonal statement for a paramedic\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nYou should make it clear in your Ucas personal statement about why you want to become a paramedic, relating your experiences (work experience, voluntary work, part-time job, hobbies) to the skills required to be a paramedic.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nFor example:\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eYou volunteer at a residential home for the elderly and you have become aware of the health conditions that many of the residents have, such as dementia and how this affects their listening skills and that they may not understand what you are saying.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eYou work part-time at McDonald\\u0026#39;s and have had to remain calm when dealing with boisterous customers.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nHere\\u0026rsquo;s an example of what St George\\u0026rsquo;s, University of London looks for in a paramedic personal statement:\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n{av:209336326}\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/personal-statements/examples-of-how-to-write-a-personal-statement\\\"\\u003eSee more personal statement examples\\u003c/a\\u003e.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eWriting your personal statement? \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/personal-statements\\\"\\u003eBrowse our full advice and tips\\u003c/a\\u003e,\\u0026nbsp;plus check out \\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.which.co.uk/tools/personal-statement-builder/\\\"\\u003eour personal statement builder tool\\u003c/a\\u003e to help you draft yours.\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eUniversity interviews for a paramedic\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nIt\\u0026#39;s vital that you prepare for any and all interviews you\\u0026#39;re invited to. You need to understand what will happen on the day. For example, an interview at \\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.anglia.ac.uk/study/interview-information/paramedic-science\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eAnglia Ruskin\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;will involve the following:\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eliteracy assessment\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003enumeracy assessment\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003egroup interview\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eindividual interview.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003eTop tip!\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/strong\\u003eDo mock interviews, where you get people to ask you the following questions:\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u0026#39;Why do you want to be a paramedic?\\u0026#39;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u0026#39;What skills and qualities do you need to a be a paramedic?\\u0026#39;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u0026#39;What health/NHS issues interest you and why?\\u0026#39;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u0026#39;What relevant work experience/voluntary work have you done?\\u0026#39;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eAn ethical question \\u0026ndash; for example:\\u0026nbsp;\\u0026#39;Is it better to treat someone in hospital or at home?\\u0026#39;\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nFor specific advice on paramedic interviews:\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eVisit the \\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.collegeofparamedics.co.uk/how_to_become_a_paramedic/preparing-for-your-university-interview\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eCollege of Paramedics\\u0026#39; interview advice\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eLook for any interview advice on the university websites that you are interested in\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eIf you\\u0026#39;re not clear on what the interview day will involve, then book \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/open-days\\\"\\u003ean open day\\u003c/a\\u003e and ask the university staff directly.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eHealth and Police Screening\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nTo work as a paramedic, you will have to undergo:\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eEnhanced Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS) clearance and occupational health clearance.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eTesting for HIV, Hepatitis B and Hepatitis C.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u0026nbsp;\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eParamedic jobs\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"Commonandwellknownemployersofparamedics\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eCommon and well-known employers of paramedics\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cimg alt=\\\"\\\" src=\\\"//dtmw9u23bb9ya.cloudfront.net/system/articles/pictures/882/content_KingstonHospital-Sep16-2481-DB-web.jpg\\\" style=\\\"width: 615px; height: 410px;\\\" /\\u003e\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nMost paramedics work for the NHS as part of a local Ambulance Trust.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/paramedic\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eGraduate Prospects\\u003c/a\\u003e note that other employers include:\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003ethe armed forces\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eHM Prison Service\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eprivate ambulance services\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eoverseas health departments\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eoil and gas exploration companies\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eworking for private paramedical agencies for occasions such as sporting fixtures, major events or on film and TV sets.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"Wheretofindparamedicjobs\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eWhere to find paramedic jobs\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nVacancies for Graduate Paramedics (your first role after leaving university) or Student Paramedics are normally on NHS Jobs. Alternatively, look at vacancy information on the Ambulance Service Trust websites.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAs the vast majority of paramedics will start with an NHS Ambulance Service Trust, you should start by exploring the careers information on your Local Ambulance Trust Website. \\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nEach ambulance service has its own policy own how it recruits its paramedics:\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.neas.nhs.uk/careers.aspx\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eNorth East Ambulance Service\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.yas.nhs.uk/join-our-team/join-our-team/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eYorkshire Ambulance Service\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://wmas.nhs.uk/careers-staff-room/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eWest Midlands Ambulance Service\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.ambulance.wales.nhs.uk/Default.aspx?pageId=5\\u0026amp;lan=en\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eWelsh Ambulance Service\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.swast.nhs.uk/welcome/recruitment/about-swasft\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eSouth West Ambulance Service\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.secamb.nhs.uk/about_us/careers_at_secamb/paramedic.aspx\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eSouth East Coast Ambulance Service\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.scas.nhs.uk/get-involved/work-for-us/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eSouth Central Ambulance Service\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.scottishambulance.com/WorkingForUs/Default.aspx\\\"\\u003eScottish Ambulance Service\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"http://www.niamb.co.uk/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eNorthern Ireland Ambulance Service\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"http://nwascareers.com/paramedic\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eNorth West Ambulance Service\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.londonambulance.nhs.uk/working-for-us/paramedic-science-degrees/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eLondon Ambulance Service\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.emas.nhs.uk/join-the-team/ambulance-service-roles/paramedic/\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eEast Midlands Ambulance Service\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.iow.nhs.uk/our-services/acute-care-services/ambulance/ambulance-services.htm\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eIsle of Wight Ambulance Service\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.eastamb.nhs.uk/join-the-team/newly-qualified-paramedic.htm\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eEast of England Paramedic Service\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"Averageparamedicstartingsalaries\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eAverage paramedic starting salaries\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\nSalaries for paramedics range from \\u0026pound;23,000 when starting, to \\u0026pound;37,000 if you are very experienced. \\u0026nbsp;\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nThese earnings are in the average range when compared to other jobs, but money is probably not the main reason why people become paramedics. It\\u0026#39;s more likely the opportunity to help people in need that stands out to individuals.\\r\\n\\u003ch3\\u003eRelated or similar jobs and careers\\u003c/h3\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/ambulance-service-team/roles-ambulance-service/ambulance-care-assistance-and-patient-transport-service-pts-driver\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eAmbulance care assistant and Patient Transport Service (PTS) driver\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003eCall handler/emergency medical dispatcher\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/ambulance-service-team/roles-ambulance-service/emergency-care-assistant\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eEmergency care assistant\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/ambulance-service-team/roles-ambulance-service/emergency-medical-technician\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eEmergency medical technician\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cp\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;\\u003c/p\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003csection id=\\\"Wheretofindmoreinformation\\\"\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003ch2\\u003eWhere to find\\u0026nbsp;more information\\u003c/h2\\u003e\\r\\n\\r\\n\\u003cul\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/explore-roles/ambulance-service-team/roles-ambulance-service/paramedic\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eHealth Careers\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;to explore more about the paramedic role\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.collegeofparamedics.co.uk/how_to_become_a_paramedic\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eCollege of Paramedics\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;for more about educational requirements\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.prospects.ac.uk/job-profiles/paramedic\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eGraduate Prospects\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;for a paramedic job profile\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate\\\" target=\\\"_blank\\\"\\u003eUcas\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;to apply for full-time Paramedic Science Degrees\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\t\\u003cli\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://www.healthcareers.nhs.uk/career-planning/course-finder\\\"\\u003eHealth Careers Course Finder\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;to check that a course can indeed lead to registration with the HCPC.\\u0026nbsp;If it\\u0026#39;s\\u0026nbsp;not here, it will not be HCPC-accredited.\\u003c/li\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/ul\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cstrong\\u003e\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/career-prospects/\\\"\\u003eBrowse our full careers advice section\\u003c/a\\u003e, including tips on\\u0026nbsp;\\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/career-prospects/how-to-write-a-cv\\\"\\u003ewriting your CV\\u003c/a\\u003e or \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/career-prospects/how-to-write-a-cover-letter\\\"\\u003ecover letter\\u003c/a\\u003e, \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/advice/career-prospects/work-experience-internships-10-ways-to-get-the-most-out-of-them\\\"\\u003emaking the most from work experience\\u003c/a\\u003e\\u0026nbsp;and more.\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003cbr /\\u003e\\r\\nAlso, \\u003ca href=\\\"https://university.which.co.uk/courses#browse-subjects-alphabetically\\\"\\u003eour subject guides\\u003c/a\\u003e can show you the different job paths different degree subjects can lead to.\\u003c/strong\\u003e\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\\u003c/section\\u003e\\r\\n\",\"pull_quote\":\"\",\"updated_at\":\"2019-03-18T10:19:37.000Z\",\"created_at\":\"2019-03-08T11:51:50.000Z\",\"slug\":\"how-to-become-a-paramedic\",\"published_on\":\"2020-03-08T11:48:51.000Z\",\"author_id\":23,\"contributing_author_id\":3,\"cached_category_list\":null,\"cached_characteristic_list\":\"\",\"cached_country_list\":\"\",\"cached_institution_type_list\":\"\",\"cached_region_list\":\"\",\"cached_subject_list\":\"\",\"cached_tag_list\":\"\",\"audience\":\"General\",\"intro_text\":\"The combination of patient care, medical knowledge, driving skills and an ever-changing working day makes being a paramedic a very popular career choice\",\"enable_latest_exploratory_widget\":false,\"kind\":\"advice\",\"cached_city_list\":\"\",\"tag_list\":null,\"region_list\":null,\"country_list\":null,\"subject_list\":null,\"institution_type_list\":null,\"characteristic_list\":null,\"city_list\":null}]"