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Language Learning at Degree Level

Deciding to pursue a foreign language at University can seem like a huge step to take from A Level, and you may be doubting yourself already, but the truth is language learning is a beautifully chaotic process whatever stage you are at and I would encourage you to embrace ever step of it – and take the plunge!

I currently study BA Sociology and Spanish at Exeter so I can give you some good advice to help you prepare for learning any language at degree level. (more…)

   May 13th, 2021    Preparing for University, Studying, Undergraduate

Preparing yourself mentally for University

As the start of your first (and second, third!) years at university quickly approach, it can be so easy to get completely swept up in all the practical preparations, to-do lists and general chaos of organising all your belongings into piles ‘to take’, ‘to charity shop’, or to put in the vague ‘undecided’ category that you convince yourself you’ll come back to later… It’s no surprise then that people often forget to take a moment to think about how to prepare themselves mentally for the transition from A Levels or gap years to the academic and social life of university. Here’s where I’ll do half the work for you by prompting you to think about some ways you can prepare before even arriving on campus and generally just make the most of your time studying for a degree. (more…)

   April 12th, 2021    Higher Education, Lifestyle, Preparing for University, Studying, Undergraduate

Life as a mature student – the answers to all the questions you might have

Hi everyone, I’m Jess and I joined the University of Exeter in September 2018 at the ripe age of 21 (when a lot of students actually graduate). I am now in my final year studying Classical Studies and Philosophy and I’ll be graduating at 24!

Are you considering starting university and you’re over 21? Worried about how you will settle in? Then below you’ll find 5 answers to the questions you’ve been thinking of asking! (more…)

   March 23rd, 2021    Higher Education, Life in the South West, Life on Campus, Mature students, Preparing for University, Studying, Undergraduate

5 tips to get involved in Freshers Week

 

1. Online Freshers Fair
It’s inevitable Freshers Fair has to be moved online due the pandemic. With the accessibility of social media platforms, engage with other students on Facebook and Instagram, where you can find support in the big Exeter community. There would be online events, such as live Q&A, Instagram takeovers and society socials! As a committee member of Body Society, I would also be participating in the online cocktail and cooking class socials.

(more…)

   September 4th, 2020    Freshers Week, International, Lifestyle, Preparing for University, Undergraduate

10 things you must bring to university 

Last year before I travelled to Exeter, I was on a family trip and all I did was bring suitcases full of clothes, but – THIS WAS NOT A LOGICAL DECISION! And I wanted to save up a few hundred pounds, my mum then sent me a few parcels from Hong Kong, with several items in them. Very soon I’d be returning to Exeter and I thought it’d be useful for me to list out the 10 things I found crucial to have during the academic year. (more…)

   August 28th, 2020    International, Preparing for University, Undergraduate

5 things I wish I knew before coming to university

Studying

Contact Hours
Despite being a university student, and told that you should become more independent and not rely on your lecturers and tutors to spoon feed you your learning materials, don’t forget that you can always seek help from your tutors during contact hours.

If I had a chance to repeat year one, I would better utilise contact hours because tutors are so helpful to answer any of your questions to prepare you for your assignments and exams. I had a few assignments which I thought I did not do well enough, and after approaching academics during contact hours for feedback, I actually made significant improvements in my next assignment because I had a very clear understanding of what I had to improve on.

(more…)

   August 24th, 2020    Freshers Week, Higher Education, International, Lifestyle, Miscellaneous, Preparing for University, Undergraduate

‘My Clearing experience’: Yasmin, studying MSci Nursing

I decided that I wanted a new adventure in July last year –  I had never really thought about the idea of going to university but something clicked last summer about wanting to go and it’s the best decision I have ever made. I started looking at courses and decided that if I was ever going to go to university, it was going to be Exeter!  

After finding MSci Nursing on their clearing choices, I knew that’s what I wanted to do.  (more…)

   August 11th, 2020    Applying, Clearing, Health and wellbeing, Higher Education, Preparing for University, Undergraduate

‘My Clearing experience’: Toyosi, studying LLB Law with Business

Entering the clearing process for me was a shock. I never imagined that I would be in that situation and panicking was not ideal during the circumstance I was in. The factor that helped me the most during this process was my family. I had my mum doing some research and my sister looking at the universities in detail. After hours of phone calls, I finally narrowed my options down to University of Exeter to study LLB Law with business. Yes! (more…)

   August 11th, 2020    Applying, Clearing, Higher Education, Preparing for University, Undergraduate

Studying from home

An endless supply of tea, easy access to peanut butter toast and the option to work in your pyjamas; studying from home can be great, especially when it means avoiding a soggy commute to the library and helping to reduce carbon emissions.

However, speaking from experience, it can come with procrastination pitfalls; Netflix, sleeping and baking to name a few. If you are used to studying with friends home working can also feel a little dull and lonely. That said, when you’ve got a 3,000-word essay to write there’s no better place to get it down.

Not convinced? I have nine tried and tested tips guaranteed to help you get the most out of studying at home. (more…)

   August 10th, 2020    Exams and Assessment, Health and wellbeing, Higher Education, Preparing for University, Studying

A Beginner’s Guide to Societies at the University of Exeter

This blog was written based on experiences prior to Covid-19.

Hi Everyone, my name is Isla and I am headed into my final year at Exeter University. I’ve been part of 4 Society Committees and attended some amazing society events in Exeter, but when I arrived as a fresher the societies process seemed quite daunting. What societies are there? How can I sign up? How can I afford to pay for society events and membership?

Well, here is my beginner’s guide to Societies at Exeter Uni… (more…)

   July 17th, 2020    Freshers Week, Health and wellbeing, International, Preparing for University, Studying, Undergraduate     , , , , , ,

Life in Lockdown – How I Survived and Thrived

At first, I was afraid… I was petrified… then life somehow returned to a slightly updated version of ‘normal’. It’s nigh on impossible to write a blog in the ‘mid-covids’, (if that’s what we can call it?) without referring to the ‘C’ word. What an extraordinary time we live in, and for all of us, almost nothing will be as it was for the near future at least.  As I was thinking about writing this blog, I was wondering what to focus on, apart from the obvious.  But I made a quick list of achievements, even the little things, that I had got done amongst, not going to lie, many weeks of uncertainty, and sheer panic at times. It was an impressive list.

The foremost ‘problem’ I tried to solve, was – and I think I wasn’t  the only one – how on earth to keep studying and working towards a goal, when the global goalposts have shifted out of all recognition? Keep calm and carry on was NOT top of my list!

So, this blog will highlight something about my life as a (very) mature student, (!), what I have been doing to keep myself sane, and most importantly what I have learned as a student and now as a post-grad at Exeter, not only academically, but the life skills which have come in very useful indeed! (more…)

   July 16th, 2020    Health and wellbeing, Higher Education, Miscellaneous, Preparing for University, Studying

‘My Clearing experience’: Poppy, studying Theology and Religion

I’m Poppy, studying Theology and Religion at the University of Exeter, a course which I secured through Clearing. At GCSE I got 8 A*, 1 A and 1 B. I was predicted A*AA at A-level. I applied for International Relations and Arabic, and got places at Exeter, Leeds, York, Warwick and Bath. Exeter was my first choice, and Leeds was my insurance choice. Here is my experience of Clearing. (more…)

   July 6th, 2020    Clearing, Higher Education, Preparing for University, Undergraduate

Tips to Enjoy the First Week of University

Arriving in a completely new city and starting a new life can be pretty scary, especially if you arrive alone. As an international postgraduate student who travelled all across the world to Exeter, I would like to share my experience of my first week of University. Hopefully, it will help you relieve the anxiety of moving into university. (more…)

   July 1st, 2020    Freshers Week, International, Life on Campus, Postgraduate, Preparing for University, The city of Exeter     , ,

Typical Week as a 2nd Year Medical Sciences Student

Welcome to my blog! I’ll be sharing my typical week as a 2nd year Medical Sciences student.

The timetable varies quite significantly in 2nd year depending on the modules you take. Some have fewer contact hours compared to others. For my second term, I chose the ‘Introduction to Neuroscience’ and the ‘Medical Genetics’ modules (I enjoyed the content of both modules to its entirety so I highly rate them). Of course, these were integrated onto my timetable alongside the core modules (Disease, Diagnostics and Therapeutics (DDT) and Principles of Medical Research (PMR)). (more…)

   June 26th, 2020    Lectures and Seminars, Life on Campus, Lifestyle, Preparing for University, Studying, Undergraduate

A Typical Week at the University of Exeter as a 2nd Year BA English Student

Hi, my name is Isla and if you haven’t read any of my blog posts before, lovely to virtually meet you, otherwise, welcome back. I’m going to break down my usual week at Exeter uni as a 2nd year English student… (more…)

   June 12th, 2020    Freshers Week, Health and wellbeing, Lectures and Seminars, Life on Campus, Lifestyle, Preparing for University, Studying, Undergraduate

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