This is the opportunity you have been waiting for - a chance to spread your wings and enjoy new experiences.
What's student life like?
Living space
One of the best parts of university life is living away from home. You get freedom and the chance to meet new people.
Most students opt to live in halls of residence for their first year of study - this usually works out cheaper than finding a flat or house and means there will definitely be loads of people in the same boat as you, so you won't feel lonely.
Plus, most Universities guarantee accommodation in University halls for all new single undergraduate students if you apply before the deadline. There's also an accommodation guarantee for international students.
Your money
So you're living away from home, planning your own routine, even cooking your own meals - and that means looking after your own money.
At university, it's all about the cash. Fees, student loans, rent, bills, overdraft - you name it, you might have to pay for it. But don't let money worries put you off:
- You might be able to apply for a scholarship or bursary.
- Through Student WorkPlace at the University Careers Service you can find part time employment and holiday jobs to make some extra cash.
- If it's all getting too much for you, you can find advice from your tutors, plus counselling and financial advice through the University and the Students' Union.
Plus, getting a degree makes sense in the long run - graduates earn more and are more likely to get a job than people without a degree.
For detailed information about all areas of undergraduate finance see Student Finance
Having fun
After a hard day's study, going out and having fun is what student life is all about. Most Universitys are based near a lively city buzzing with events, cinemas, clubs and bars (often with great student discounts and special offers), so you'll never be short of things to do.
On top of which, there are lots of student activities like Rag Week (where students raise money for charity) to get involved in. It's the perfect way to make friends and add a bit of sparkle to your CV.
Responsibility
An important aspect of being at university is managing your own time. It's up to you to decide when you'll study, when you'll go shopping and when you'll have a night out. Sounds fantastic, doesn't it? Of course, it's a good idea to organise your time with a weekly or monthly schedule.
Remember, you can be as flexible with your time as you like but you'll always need to make sure you get out of bed for lectures, meet essay and project deadlines, and schedule in plenty of revision days before exams. That's what you're here for, after all.
University life is about learning. You'll have anything from one to five hours of lectures, etc, in a day. But on top of that, you are expected to do a number of hours of self study.
Every student has a personal tutor to help with any problems you might have or you can speak to your lecturers and other tutors if you have questions. If you plan your time and your workload, you'll have plenty of free time to enjoy student life.
Extract taken from the University of Manchester Website www.manchester.ac.uk/undergraduate/studentlife
