The lead up to starting university is exciting but can also be daunting. We’re here to help you figure out everything you need to know before you join us in September.
Living in halls is a great way to meet new friends, and immerse yourself in campus life. You may be wondering what to expect before you move in, so we’ve got a few handy tips for you before you set off.
What to pack
Moving away from home for the first time can feel overwhelming, and you may not know what to pack and what to leave at home. Read the Student Room’s guide on what to pack.
University halls are not always spacious, so try not to overpack. You may also want to purchase contents insurance to insure your belongings.
You may also get homesick, so make sure to pack items that help you to feel connected to your home and family still, such as pictures, notes, and personal items.
Eating
Most of our student halls are catered, and you can purchase your meals in the Refectory.
If you’re a postgraduate student, living in Waldegrave House and Studios, you may have the option to be self-catered. Be sure to have a few recipes up your sleeve to cook for yourself. You could even place an online grocery shop to arrive to halls once you’ve arrived, taking the stress out of having to go to a supermarket.
Register for a GP
You should register for a GP as soon as you get to university, to make sure you can get medical help if you ever need it.
Many of our students sign up to the York House Medical Practice.
St Mary’s has a great community of students who commute to and from campus. We have a fantastic commuter lounge, meaning you’ll have a place to relax and rest in between lectures.
Find out more about commuting St Mary’s, including the best ways to travel.
Sorting out your finances can feel daunting, but we’re here to help.
Applying for a student bank account is a great place to start, many of which have deals for free arranged overdrafts. Learning to budget is also a good activity to start if you’re worried about overspending.
Don’t forget that as a student you’ll also be eligible for many student discounts. You can download the Unidays app, or purchase a Totum card.
Find out more about funding your studies from our Student Funding Service.
Research has shown that if you engage with your learning and take part in timetabled teaching sessions, you'll get better grades and feel more like you ‘belong’ at uni.
To help you do we recommend you:
- check-in to all of your timetabled teaching session on the Student App
- log in and access learning materials and resource list on Moodle for your programme and modules
- check your University email at least once a day so you do not miss out of important communication from your lecturer, tutor or University
NOTE: We will only contact you on your University email and not your personal email.
- download the Student App where you’re able to access your timetable, Moodle, resource list, and other important aspect of University life
- seek help if you are facing any difficulties which are impacting your studies. There are both academic and student support services available to you.
- Course induction: Don’t forget to check the timetable of events and activities for your course and university inductions.
- Explore the Students’ Union: You're automatically a member of the Students’ Union (link to SU website) from your first day at St Mary’s. Your Union supports you throughout your studies and gives you the opportunity to meet other students with the same passions and hobbies through their societies and sports groups.
- Register with a doctor: It is important that you register with a doctor (GP) as soon as you arrive in St Mary’s – don’t wait until you’re ill.
- Accommodation: If you’ve applied for accommodation already, our Student Accommodation Team will contact you directly. But if you’re still looking for accommodation, you can view our Student Accommodation and get in touch with them.
- Setup your multi-factor authentication (MFA): You need to have setup your MFA before access to all your key learning and teaching platforms e.g. Office365, Moodle, Zoom etc.
- Campus WiFi: Connect to Eduroam - this is the wireless network for St Mary’s. By connecting to Eduroam, this allows you to access to WiFi in other institutions that use Eduroam as well. Find out how to connect to campus wifi.
- Moodle: Login to Moodle to access your course material and resource list online.
- Download the Student App: To help you navigate the different platforms to support you on your studies.
- Email: Check your University email at least once per day to stay in touch with latest information and update on your course.
- Complete the Academic Confidence Quiz: This quick and insightful quiz is designed to help you understand your strengths and areas for growth, empowering you to excel in your academic journey. This will also help your personal tutor understand where you are at in your academic journey and will enable them to support you appropriately to achieve your best.
- Complete compulsory University online modules: These are essential modules designed to familiarise students with the University’s code of conduct around Academic Integrity, Equality, Diversity and Inclusion, and keeping safe online. It is essential all students complete these modules within the first few weeks of the academic term, to ensure that you adopt safe practice in these areas.