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Congratulations on achieving your place at St Mary’s. You'll be joining a friendly, supportive, and diverse community of students and staff on our beautiful campus in Twickenham.

Whilst it is a very exciting time for you, we recognise that you will have many questions about your degree, the University, and life as a St Mary’s student. We hope the information in this section helps answer those questions.

Make sure to check your course-specific induction information, and all the Welcome Week events happening with St Mary's Students Union. You'll also be emailed nearer to your start date with information about induction, as well as how to enrol online.

Begin your St Mary's adventure...

New students

Returning students

Top tips for new students

Organise

  • Use a study planner (online or actual)—fill in important dates and assignment deadlines early.
  • Become familiar with your programme information on Moodle.
  • Make reading schedules, study plans, and revision timetables.
  • Establish routines that work for you—eg Thursday mornings in the library.
  • Find a balance between work and a social life.
  • Stagger your work—make your own deadlines if you need to.

Take responsibility

  • Seek help early—from lecturers, your personal tutor, learning Development Lecturers or others.
  • If classes or recommended texts aren’t helping, seek alternatives; ask lecturers or librarians about other resources.
  • Work out how, where, and when you study best.
  • Make use of all available resources, e.g. Library, Moodle, Google Scholar, your peers.
  • Use assignment feedback as a valuable resource.
  • Understand that university success largely depends on the effort you put in.

Be curious

  • Select topics that interest you whenever you can.
  • Find ways to make your learning more interesting.
  • Turn gaps in knowledge into questions to follow up.
  • Relate what you learn in class to what interests and matters to you in ‘real life’.
  • Enjoy and value the process of learning for its own sake, not just for passing exams.

Get involved

  • Join clubs and societies.
  • Volunteer.
  • Take up roles like student ambassador or programme rep.
  • Develop social/support networks.
  • Exercise.
  • Take steps to make yourself feel ‘at home’.