Going to University can be both an exciting and daunting experience. You may have been striving towards this moment for quite some time, and therefore you may have unintentionally put pressure and expectations on yourself before even arriving! There isn’t anything wrong with this, but don’t forget to look after yourself, have some time away from study and have most importantly have some fun! Here are some of the issues you may face when you start Uni this September:
I feel homesick. I feel alone.
Being a long way from home, perhaps away from close family and friends may inevitably make you feel homesick. The truth is homesickness can affect anyone and at any time. You don’t have to cut ties with your friends and family back home, but make sure you try to surround yourself with some positive people at Bournemouth University. Socialise with your housemates or those on your course, you may have some great things in common. Enjoy a particular sport or have a specific interest, then join one of the SUBU clubs and societies; they are a fantastic way of creating friendships. You could find out more about this here: https://www.facebook.com/subuclubsandsocs/
Familiarise yourself with beautiful Bournemouth, the more you explore, the more it will start to feel like home.
Homesickness can affect you physically and emotionally. If you feel like it is starting to affect your study or your health, you can get some advice and support from SUBU Advice, Chaplaincy or Student Wellbeing.
I have run out of money, I need to buy food.
Sadly, University isn’t a free experience; there is accommodation, bills, food and general living costs to think about. You’ll need to learn how to budget your money to ensure it lasts, for some this may mean working alongside your studies. Try not to go to overboard with the VK's when you receive your student loan, remember it needs to last until your next payment.
If you need some advice on budgeting or find yourself short of money then talk to us in SUBU Advice here: https://www.facebook.com/SUBUadvicebournemouth/
We will be able to provide you with information on other funding sources that may be available to you, such as the Small Emergency Grant.
If you are in financial hardship then you may be entitled to the Emergency Loan or BU Hardship Fund.
For more information about financial support available please see visit the SUBU Advice website https://www.subu.org.uk/money or the BU Website https://www1.bournemouth.ac.uk/students/help-advice/finance-support
My course isn’t what I expected it to be.
You have been looking forward to starting your course but maybe it isn’t what you expected. Perhaps you don’t enjoy the content as much as you thought you would, or you don’t feel the course is going to give you the right pathway to your dream career.
If this is your first year of study then talk to your Programme Leader or Programme Support Officer (PSO). They may be able to talk more about the course content and what you should expect if you continue to study. You may have found another course that seems more appealing to you, if this is the case you should speak with the PSO of the course you are interested in to see what the possibility of being accepted may be. You can also get some guidance from one of our Advice workers about the process of changing course, and the potential impact it may have on your student funding. You may also wish to speak to the Careers & Employability service to see how changing courses could change your career opportunities.
I am not sure University is for me
Let’s not skip over the fact that there is a big study transition gap between School and College. You will be guided through your course but most of the responsibility is on you. You need to ensure you attend your seminars, put in the extra study time and submit your work before deadlines. The difference with University is that you won’t have someone chasing your tail to finish your work. You may get reminded about attendance, but ultimately if you don’t turn up or put the work in, you may end up being withdrawn from the course.
If you feel you are struggling with the work load then you won’t be the only one. Try to make a study plan to manage your time more effectively, perhaps talk to your course mates to see how they manage their study time. Don’t forget that it is important to have a study/life balance. If things are really starting to get on top of you then talk to your Programme Leader or PSO. They will be able to provide you with some support and try to help resolve any issues you may have. The library also has a range of resources available to assist with studying and hold exam revision workshops.
Still have concerns that Uni isn’t right for you? Don’t drop out, drop in and see the SUBU Advice team at the SUBU Student Centre, 2nd Floor (SC 202).
We want to ensure that you make a well-informed decision with confidence.
Official WE ARE FRESHERS page: www.facebook.com/WeAreFreshersBournemouth/
Official WE ARE FRESHERS Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bufreshers2019/