Category: Welcome 2025

How to maximise your uni investment

Author Student Communications | Posted on

Have you ever taken the time to think about the considerable investment you are making by choosing to study at university? We’re not just talking about the money (although we know that’s significant ) – it’s also the time, energy and effort that you are putting into your degree.  

We want you to focus on really maximising that investment, and make some choices which will help you get the most out of your time here at UWE. 

What simple things can you do?

  • Attendance. Your course is the main reason you are here, right? And you are spending a lot of money for this teaching, so it doesn’t make sense to regularly skip classes. We know there might sometimes be reasons why you can’t make it onto campus, but try to plan your week to give you the best possible chance of attending those lectures. 
  • Engagement. It’s not enough to just turn up to lectures or teaching sessions, you need to really BE there. Be an active participant on your course and you really will see the benefits. What does this look like? Ask questions. Get involved in discussions. Do extra reading. Reply to emails. All of this will drastically improve your learning and help you get more out of your studies. 

Other ways to maximise your investment

It’s worth remembering that life as a UWE Bristol student gives you access to a huge range of support services and opportunities and it’s worth making the most of these. You’ve already paid for it, so take advantage of it!  

  • Careers and Enterprise – Start planning for your future now. Your time at uni will fly by, and you want to be in the best possible position when you graduate. Did you know that a careers coach can cost up to £250 an hour on the outside world? Here it’s completely free, so get booking!  
  • Student Money Service – Don’t let your financial situation get in the way of you excelling at uni. We have bursaries and grants on offer, and specialist advisers who can offer support and help you manage your money.  
  • Centre for Sport – The free MOVE programme gives you access to more than 100 weekly exercise classes and sessions, so make the most of this fantastic facility.  
  • Centre for Music – Looking to learn some new skills? Want to make some new friends? Check out the huge range of opportunities available on campus – membership is completely free! 

Hopefully all that info has given you something to think about. Remember, you only get out of something what you put in (it sounds like a cliche, but it’s so true). 

You’ve made a massive investment to be here – make the most of it! 

What to expect in your first few weeks

Author Student Communications | Posted on

Excitement. Nerves. Anticipation. It’s completely normal to experience a whole range of emotions as you start your university experience.

Knowing what to expect during those first few weeks can really help you prepare for what’s to come, and help ensure that you make the most of this opportunity.

Get settled into accommodation

If you’re moving out of home and into student accommodation then that can be one of the most exciting parts of your uni adventure. It might feel like there’s a lot to think about, but don’t worry – there’s tonnes of advice on this Student Life page.

If you’re going to be staying at home, then don’t worry. You’re not going to miss out on anything, and there are so many other students in the same situation as you. Plus there are even specific social events to help you meet new friends.

Starting Block

We know the whole experience might feel daunting, so we’ve developed Starting Block – a series of activities for you to get to know your teaching team and your coursemates.

Once you’ve registered, you’ll see Starting Block activities drop into your timetable so make sure you keep an eye on that and be ready to get stuck in so you get the best possible induction to university life.

Get out and meet people

An important part of university life is meeting new people and making connections. To help you do this, there are a huge range of events and activities you can get involved with, whether you’re the life of the party or you prefer something more low key.

This is your chance to shape your experience to suit you, so take a look at what’s on offer and start building your community.

Explore Bristol

If you’re moving here to Bristol you’ve made a great choice! It’s the perfect student city with so much to offer no matter what your interests are. Arts and culture? Check. Independent shops and restaurants? Check. Incredible nightlight? Check.

Get out there, explore everything and make new friends and memories along the way. Sites such as VisitBristol are a great way see what’s on, and find activities and events that suit your interests and budget.

Switching your mindset

Author Student Communications | Posted on

The move from school or college to university can feel a little overwhelming. Perhaps for the first time, you’re going to have to take responsibility for many aspects of your life – your education, your wellbeing, your finances.

Although it can seem intimidating at first, there’s so much support available to you to make sure you’ve got the help you need every step of the way. But you’ll need to reach out and access this support for yourself.

Switch your mindset now and start thinking about the ways you are going to need to be more independent. This new attitude will help you develop and grow, and ultimately allow you to have the best possible start to uni life!

  • You will be responsible for your own time – get organised. You’re likely to have competing demands on your time. You’ll have lectures to attend, projects to finish, friends to message and social plans to arrange. Add to that paid work, exercise, food and sleep, and it all starts to look a bit busy. Nobody is going to tell you how to stay on top of all this, time management needs to be your priority! If you think you need extra support with this, you might want to book an appointment with one of our Student Experience Coaches.
  • Things won’t get done if you don’t do them. Putting off an assessment, ignoring that looming deadline, forgetting to reply to that email from your lecturer. The only person that can do the things that you need to get done as part of your course is you. Bite the bullet, eat the frog – however you want to phrase it – stop procrastinating and tick off that To Do list to stay on top of your studies. Why not brush up on your study skills if this is something you struggle with.
  • You get out what you put in. There is SO much to love about university life and so many opportunities out there for you to make the most of. But these things aren’t just handed to you on a plate. If you want good marks in your assessments, you need to attend lectures and do the work. If you want to set yourself up for successful career when you graduate, then you need to go out and find internships and work placements so your CV is polished. If you want to travel abroad as part of your studies, then you need to do the research and work out how to make it happen.
  • Get to know who you are and what makes you happy. University is an opportunity to meet new people, take up new hobbies and learn new skills. While this is incredibly exciting and exhilarating, it’s also important that you know when to say no. Getting the balance right between pushing yourself out of your comfort zone while still knowing and enforcing your boundaries, is a tricky thing to learn.
  • Look after yourself. It sounds so basic, but nobody is going to remind you to drink enough water, eat nutritious meals, get an early night every now and again. But they are so vital if you want to stay healthy. You are now responsible for your own health and wellbeing so give it the attention it deserves.
  • Don’t be afraid to lean on old support systems and create new ones. Just because you’re here at uni doesn’t mean all your friends and family back home disappear. Make sure you keep in contact with them, especially if you’re finding things difficult. Also, work on building those support systems here at university as well, so that you feel like you have people to turn to when you need to.
  • Ask for help if you need it. Remember, although it’s down to you to manage your own university experience, you can access so much support here at UWE Bristol. Academic staff are available to answer your questions, the Student Money Service can help with budgeting, our Wellbeing services can support you when times feel tough. But you need to be the one to reach out and access all these services. If you’re going through a tricky patch, find the help that you need and make the most of it.

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