Coming to University for the first time can be an exciting time, but it can also be a very daunting one. It can feel like there can be so much to sort out and before you know it you are days away from making that trip to a new place. To help make it easier, the SU Advice Team have put together a little list of things to think about to try and take some of that stress away.
1. Student finance
Things are rarely straightforward, so sorting out your student funding as soon as possible is essential. The earlier you do it, the more time you have if you do hit a bump in the road. You can apply for Student Finance here: https://www.gov.uk/apply-online-for-student-finance
If you have issues, or your money doesn’t arrive come September, please do contact us at Student Advice. Do not bury your head in the sand as that won’t pay your bills. Drop us a line and we can give you the most relevant information to get that ball rolling again.
2. Banking it
We are not living in inexpensive times, so it is important you do all you can to keep costs down as much as possible. Getting a good student bank account is a fantastic first step to make. Many students end up keeping the same bank that their parents set up with them before university, but the terms and perks vary from bank to bank. This could include things such as your overdraft limit, a free student railcard or some banks may even off a set amount of cash to sign up with them. It is worth shopping around.
There are a couple of websites that allow you to compare different student accounts, with one being moneysupermarket, which you can find here: https://www.moneysupermarket.com/current-accounts/student-bank-accounts/
Martin Lewis also offers a raft of useful information on this area via his Money Saving Expert website, which you can find here:
https://www.moneysavingexpert.com/students/student-bank-account/
It is also important to remember, that whilst a student overdraft can be particularly useful and most don’t charge interest, these will have to be paid back and extra charges and fees can be added on if they are not paid back within a certain time limit of finishing your course. Always carefully read the terms and conditions!
3. Home time
Many first-year students choose to stay in halls of residence, and here at the University of Plymouth there are plenty to pick from. They can prove popular, so you don’t want to be leaving it late and missing out. To apply for a room, you simply have to do so through the accommodation portal. You can read more about the different rooms and how it works here: https://www.plymouth.ac.uk/services/accommodation/halls
If halls are not for you, you can choose to look at private rented housing, which is often more common for second- or third-year students.
When looking for a property we would always suggest that you undertake an internet search of accommodation providers/letting agents within the Plymouth area. Rightmove and Zoopla are two such examples of places to go to search for student accommodation.
Social media can also proof to be a useful tool in hunting a room, often for single occupancy. Spareroom is once such site but there also pages on Facebook that are ran by us at UPSU, which allows students to advertise rooms they no longer need, or write posts asking if anybody knows of one going free.
You can find them at:
We also offer free tenancy checks, so if you have any concerns or simply want another set of eyes to look at it before you sign on the dotted line, then drop us an email or complete the online enquiry form with an attached copy of your tenancy.
4. Planes, Trains and automobiles
Some of you may have bagged yourself a lift to university and all you have to worry about is packing the car like an ultimate game of Tetris. But if you are travelling a different way, take some time to think about it.
If you are driving yourself, you need to think about parking at the other end. It sounds obvious to say, but in amongst all the other things you have to do before moving, this can be something that slips the mind. Some areas popular with students, particularly those close to a city centre, can require permits which can be bought on the local council website. Knowing this is important as nobody wants to be opening what they think is a ‘enjoy your new home’ card filled with some money from the parents, only to find it is a parking ticket.
If you are travelling by train, it may be worth investing in a 16-25 Railcard. These take a third off the price of all train fairs and quickly pay for themselves if you travel by tain a fair bit. The card costs just £30 per year, or £70 for three years. However, as mentioned before, some student bank accounts offer a free railcard and that is something not to be sniffed at.
5. Master Chef
Grabbing a takeaway or eating out can seem like an easier option, particularly after a long day at university but the cost quickly adds up and the money spent on one meal could provide you with more if you buy ingredients from the shop. Even grabbing a sandwich every day for lunch can mount up, with what you would spend in two days being enough to make you sandwiches for the week.
Looking for recipes online that you can batch make can help as it reduces the amount of time that you need to spend in the kitchen every night. Having a soup, casserole, or chilli that you can dish out into containers and then place in the freezer, means on the days you cannot be bothered to cook, you have something that just needs defrosting.
The Student Food Project is a great resource for meal preparation on a student budget, which you can find here: https://www.thestudentfoodproject.com/
There are also apps such as Too Good To Go which you can download on Apple or Android, which allow you to get unsold food from supermarkets, restaurants, and cafes at heavily discounted prices. It saves on food waste and allows you to search venues by name, location, and time of day.
Another handy tip is to consider shopping in the evening. That is the time where shops start to reduce the price on certain food items, which means you can get more for less. This can be a particularly useful to get cheaper bread, that you can store in the freezer and take out what you need when you need it.
6. Doctor, Doctor
Amid settling into your course and accommodation, learning to navigate the University campus, exploring your new city, meeting new people, and finding your community – it is a busy time coming into the start of the academic year!
But whether you are a new or returning student, one thing should be on the top of your to-do list if you haven’t already done it - registering with a GP.
If you spend more weeks in the year at your university address than your non-term time address, then you need to register with a GP local to the University as soon as possible. That way, if you need medical support or emergency care, you can access the services when you need them.
This is especially important if you have an ongoing health condition, particularly one that requires medication.
The University Medical Centre (UMC) has been providing primary care services to university students for many years. University of Plymouth students have access to a dedicated, purpose-built GP surgery in the Wellbeing Centre located on campus, run by Peverell Park Surgery.
The Practice is friendly and approachable, with doctors who are interested in student health and wish to ensure you enjoy good physical and mental health during your time at university. General medical and contraceptive services are provided with absolute confidentiality. No medical or personal details are given to the University without your consent.
Any student studying at the University and living in Plymouth postcodes PL1 – PL6 is welcome to register. You can see more here: https://peverellparksurgery.com/umc-about-us/
7. Know we are here
Please know, that should any issues occur, you can reach out for support from us here at the University of Plymouth Students' Union Advice Team. Our contact details can be found here: https://www.upsu.com/advice/
We are here to help ensure that you have the best experience you can whilst studying here in Plymouth. So please do get in touch if you have any issues, even prior to arriving in this wonderful city.