It's easy to get overwhelmed by all you need to do

As you prepare for your first year at university, it's easy to get overwhelmed by all you need to do before term starts - to help ease the burden, we've put together ten practical things to add to your checklist! 

Arrange your accommodation

When it comes to finding a place to live most first-year students choose to stay in halls of residence, as they're managed by the university and present an easy way to meet new people.

Privately rented housing or off-campus university accommodation are viable alternatives, although they're more popular with mature or postgraduate students.

If you're attending a local university, you may prefer to save on your costs and live at home.

It's never too early to start thinking about your preferences, as many hall places are allocated on a first come, first served basis.

Contact your university's accommodation office to enquire about accommodation open days and to explore your options: https://www.futurelets.co.uk/

https://www.accommodationforstudents.com/student-guides/ultimate-student-guide

Sort out your finances

While this may not seem like the most exciting task when preparing for university, it's important to get your finances in order before freshers' week so you can budget for the coming academic year.

The first thing you need to do is set up a Student bank account. Many of the major banks offer these with added incentives - such as discounted dining out or a subscription to an online reading library - but what you should really be looking for is the bank with the best 0% interest overdraft facilities. Banks typically make daily charges if you exceed your arranged overdraft, so always read the small print.

If you're planning to receive government-funded student finance, you need to get in touch with your relevant student finance body to get the ball rolling: https://www.gov.uk/student-finance

For International students, advice may vary, but there are some things to consider before you decide to open a British bank account: https://www.savethestudent.org/international-students/top-international-bank-accounts-uk.html

Decide what to take

Find out direct from your accommodation what will be provided to avoid making unnecessary purchases and check how much storage space you'll have - there's no point taking things you don't have the room to keep.

If you're taking a laptop, tablet or any other gadgets, look into insuring them - whether that's through your bank, family home insurance or cover provided by the company you bought the gadget from. You can also search price comparison sites such as https://www.comparethemarket.com for the cheapest cover. There's also specialist student insurance companies such as Endsleigh: https://www.endsleigh.co.uk/student/student-insurance/

With bigger items to consider, you might forget to pick up the little things. Items such as stationery, pain relief tablets and cleaning products are easily forgotten, so by keeping organised you won't be left short of any essentials.

Benefit from discounted travel

A student railcard, taking a third off the price of all train fares, could save you some serious cash if you're planning on visiting home or friends at other universities throughout the term. The card costs just £30 per year, or £70 for three years: https://www.16-25railcard.co.uk/

Taking a car to university isn't always necessary. If you have one, parking is likely to be limited, and you'll typically have to pay to park to leave it on campus.

Public transport will keep you connected, especially in bigger cities. So, it's worth looking into the savings you can make on using trains, buses and coaches instead of driving.

If you expect to live near campus, you might want to consider investing in a bike as this can work out effective in the long run. Some universities run bicycle loan schemes so discover if you stand to benefit from one . Be sure to factor in the cost of any accessories, such as a helmet, lock and maintenance equipment: https://www.coventry.ac.uk/life-on-campus/parking-coventry-university/maps-of-car-parks/#:~:text=Bike%20loan,to%20check%20availability%20and%20book.

Get reading

Many universities put their reading lists online weeks before their courses begin or will send you the details via email. This will give you an idea of what to expect from your workload, and getting a head start on reading will build your confidence for lectures.

You don't need to own every book on the list - identify the core texts and buy these. Any others you need will be available to borrow from your university library or you can buy them online from former students for a fraction of their original retail price using sites such as Amazon and eBay.

Arrange a health check

Researching the nearest GP  to the university before you leave home is so important in case you fall ill: https://www.coventry.ac.uk/study-at-coventry/student-support/health-and-wellbeing/health-and-wellbeing/

Sorting out any ailments before you make the move university as well will also mean you're less likely to suffer from the dreaded freshers' flu - which most first-year students experience due to a lack of sleep and exercise, a drastic change in diet and coming into contact with hundreds of new people, all in a short space of time. 

Get to know the local area

If you can, visit your university town or city before starting to familiarise yourself with your new surroundings.

To save money and time on making multiple trips, especially if your chosen university is far from home, it's a good idea to have a look around while you're visiting for an open day. Even a virtual tour experience can give you some sense of what to expect.

Once you've moved, use your spare time before the start of term to locate your nearest train station, local shops and GP surgery, as well as your campus library, students' union and lecture buildings.

Learn to cook

Ask for help with making your favourite meals while you're still at home - you'll be glad you did once you're fending for yourself. Student cookbooks, are available in bookshops and online, that focus on using simple ingredients and cooking on a budget.

Shopping cheaply is easier than you think. For example, Morrisons has its Students Club, providing discounts as part of its My Morrisons scheme, while Co-op offers a 10% discount to those with a TOTUM student card: https://app.totum.com/register/join

For shopping, eating out and other essentials take advantage of many student discount apps tht are  such as Uni Days: https://www.myunidays.com/GB/en-GB

Spend time with family and friends

Plan activities that involve spending quality time with your loved ones over the summer months before university. Depending on how far away you're moving to study, you may not be able to see them for a few months. While you'll be doing lots of exciting things and meeting new people in your first term, homesickness is normal and might kick in once you've settled.

Recent memories of good times, photos or mementos to keep in your bedroom, are a good way to combat these feelings.

For more help on getting out of a slump, consider joining in with activities that your university will provide. You can also read about the importance of looking after your mental health while at University: https://www.studentminds.org.uk/startinguniversity.html

Get involved in freshers' week

The new term welcome period is known as 'Freshers' or 'Welcome Week' and it is full of events designed to help you settle into university life, so find out how to make the most of this week.

Your university will host a range of Welcome Fairs providing you with opportunities to join societies and sports teams, and your course department might hold an icebreaker session during this time to introduce you to your peers and lecturers.

While you don't have any course commitments, you can immerse yourself in activities and make sure you're prepared to start your degree. Organisation is key - make sure you know in advance when you have to be somewhere, as this will help with planning your time in the long run.

*Students living in a Futurelets accommodation at Coventry University also have access to the Reslife programme which includes a selection of events and activities to get involved with: https://www.coventry.ac.uk/life-on-campus/accommodation/moving-in/res-life/