Settling in
A typical day at uni for me
Morning
A typical day is waking up early enough so that I can have breakfast – as I have learnt that skipping this is absolutely non-negotiable! After my Weetabix I walk to campus; all of my lectures are in the same building so I’ll be there anywhere from 3 to 6 hours, so I always bring lunch with me.
Afternoon
After I’m done with uni for the day I walk back home and either complete any work for the next uni day or enjoy time to myself before my housemates return. I might go for a walk around the quay, go to the shops or sit and draw or paint.
Evening
Later on, I’ll get out the recipe I’m using and start cooking. After we’ve eaten me and my housemate will chat for a while, watch a film or paint together. We both agree that the evenings are not for work but to enjoy. I’ll make my lunch for the next day if I’m on campus, then relax for a while before bed.
Written by
Poppy
Poppy, MSci Applied Psychology (Clinical), Streatham Campus.
Top tips for new students
Check where your classes are
This will be particularly useful in the first few weeks and will save you the stress when you’re running late and can’t find the building. Use Google Maps – everyone else will be doing the same.
Go to your lectures
This includes practicals, seminars and lab classes. It may be tedious and horrible at the moment, especially when you’re waking up for an 8:30 class, but in the future you will appreciate it, and watching recordings is not the same as being able to ask your world-leading lecturers questions right then and there!
Written by
Remika
Remika, BSc Psychology, Streatham Campus.
Your first week
Build connections
Due to an extremely dynamic first month plus the pressure of academic writing, immerse yourself into new experiences during Freshers’ Week to build connections with people you will bump into everywhere! When the winter work ethic kicks in, enjoy the little things with the new friends you’ve made.
Get organised
Set up a student bank account early; sign up to societies you’ve never heard of before and go to themed socials (they’re hilarious).
A sport a day
I played a sport a day during Freshers’ Week: lacrosse, sailing, polo, clay pigeon shooting and skiing.
Build connections
Due to an extremely dynamic first month plus the pressure of academic writing, immerse yourself into new experiences during Freshers’ Week to build connections with people you will bump into everywhere! When the winter work ethic kicks in, enjoy the little things with the new friends you’ve made.
Get organised
Set up a student bank account early; sign up to societies you’ve never heard of before and go to themed socials (they’re hilarious).
A sport a day
I played a sport a day during Freshers’ Week: lacrosse, sailing, polo, clay pigeon shooting and skiing.
Written by
Taylor
Taylor, BSc Business Economics, Streatham Campus.
Tips for international students
- Remember why you decided to embark on this journey in the first place. Moving abroad is scary; any sort of change is uncomfortable initially. Always have the bigger picture in mind.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help. There are lots of people who can help and will be there for you.
- Give yourself a high five for how far you’ve come and for the courage you are showing by deciding to move countries to pursue something you love.
Written by
Rada
Rada, BSc Marine Science, Penryn Campus.
LGBTQ+ living (Exeter)
Exeter has a small but thriving queer scene and community. As a gay Asian male I feel very safe in Exeter – I genuinely feel like I belong in the community and the welcome has been warm. In this picture, you can see me in Exeter Pride last year when I worked as a volunteer – an event the Uni partakes in too! Throughout the year though, there are also a wide variety of LGBTQ+ friendly events happening in town, from society events to club nights!
Written by
Basya
Basya, BA Politics and Sociology, Streatham Campus.
Your first year...and beyond
First year
Settle in and figure out how to do your assessments.
Relax a bit, have fun but make sure you have a routine with work and fun activities that keeps your life in balance. You’re living away from home, and that takes adjustment. The key thing to remember is to do what suits you. Push yourself to try things but not to do things to please others.
Second year
Consider your career path and gain relevant experience.
Final year
Give some extra effort to your course to do well, tailor work experience for your career and keep an eye on job adverts.
Written by
Poppy
Poppy, MSci Applied Psychology (Clinical), Streatham Campus.
Seven steps to maintaining a work-life balance
- Know when to say no to an activity if you don’t have the capacity.
- Understand that self-care is vital to be productive.
- Whiteboards are great for timetabling.
- Appreciate your own progress, no matter how big or small.
- Be realistic in how much you schedule yourself.
- Prioritise deadlines when timetabling.
- Separate your work space from your relaxation space.
Written by
Naabil
Naabil, BMBS Medicine, St Luke’s Campus.
Top 5 study tips for neurodivergent students
#01
Try to go to campus every weekday
This is a brilliant way to separate your study and living spaces and will help get you into the right frame of mind to study – especially when surrounded by other productive students!
#02
Create big monthly calendars
Being able to visualise what’s coming up and what I need to work on has really helped me stay on top of deadlines and remember upcoming events. If you don’t fancy creating your own wall calendar, onceuponatuesday.co.uk have some really nice monthly and weekly calendars (as well as some downloadable free planners!).
#03
Plan sessions with the wellbeing team
The wellbeing team are there to support your studies and mental health, offering advice and support to neurodivergent students. I highly encourage booking a session with them if you find your studying or your workload is becoming too much – or if you just need someone to talk to.
#04
Organise group study
This is great for motivation and can also get you out to see the lovely Falmouth and Penryn towns. With other people relying on you, I have found it a lot easier to study in these set times, and there are people to ask questions if you get stuck!
#05
Accept that not every day will be a productive day
It’s easy to get annoyed at yourself if you scheduled a productive day that didn’t go quite as planned, but it’s really important to put things in perspective and remember that one day will not make or break your degree. Take it easy on yourself and instead maybe look to prepare things that will help you the next day, such as planning out your time or printing off papers you need to read.