Uni Top Tips
Coming to University can be exciting by daunting at the same time. We've spoken to some students here at Salford to find their top tips for making the most of University life.
Get Setup for Student Discounts
The best part about being a student is being able to get a discount on almost anything. Your student card can get you a lot of them, but many of them you can only get with an NUS extra card. It's only £12 for a card that's valid for a year, and you can easily claim more in discounts than the cost of the card. You can get yours online now, and it'll be with you in no time.
Don't Blow Your Loan
Talking of money, whatever you do, do not blow your student loan as soon as you get it. We get it, you've just been given a lot of money, and there's a nice new Ultra HD TV in Tesco that keeps staring at you as you do your shopping. However, as much as it seems like you've been given a lot, you will need every penny of it to get you through the term. Food and rent quickly add up, and by Christmas you'll definitely regret spending it all in September, so make sure that you budget yourself and spend only what you need to.
Join a Society or Sport Club
We have over 70 societies and sport clubs for you to join and get involved with, covering a wide range of interests. Joining a society or club is a great way for you to meet like-minded people and get yourself out of your flat when you're not busy studying. Being at University is just as much about having fun and exploring your interests as well as hitting the books, so make sure you make the most of it and get involved. Also your first session is always free!
Explore the City
Salford and Manchester City Centre has so much for you to visit and do, you'd be mad to spend all day stuck in your room. We've put together a guide of things to do in the city, so make sure to get out, explore and make the most of it.
Get Your Event Tickets Early
Your Students' Union is home to many great events throughout the year, including our Atmosfear secret location Halloween party, our legenday once-a-term club night Rec Night, and our new weekly club night Reboot. Our events are the biggest ones in the Salford student calendar, which means they sell out fast! If you don't want to miss out, make sure you book your tickets early to avoid disappointment.
Look After Yourself and Stay Healthy
Lets be honest, being a student can be stressful, especially when deadlines are coming up. Also if you're living away from home for the first time, cooking and cleaning for yourself can be daunting. Given all this, it's easy to live of tins of beans and the pile of 'kinda clean' clothes you have on your floor, but doing so isn't going to do you any good. Take the time to learn how to cook a selection of simple but good meals, once you know how to it takes very little time and effort to make yourself a proper dinner every night, and it's much cheaper than living off fast food! Also make sure you stay on top of your washing and clean, yes it's a chore but you feel so much better for doing it, and it soon becomes part of your routine. Also look after your mental health, take time out when you need to, go for walks to clear your head, and don't be afraid to seek help if you feel like it's all becoming a bit too much. If you're after great suggestions to look after yourself, and ways to keep track of exercise and what you eat, you can download our Wellbeing app.
Register to Vote
It might not be the most exciting thing in the world, but voting in local and general elections is your way to have your say in how local and national government is run. To be able to vote, you must be registered with your local council (Salford City Council if you live on campus), if you're not on their list they won't let you in. You can quickly and easily register on the GOV.UK website, it takes just 10 minutes of your time. Don't forget you will need to do this each time you move to make sure that the council have the correct details for you.
Put Important Numbers in Your Phone
There's a few important phone numbers that hopefully you will never have to call, but it's worth putting them in your phone just in case you ever are in a situation where you need them. If there's an emergency on campus, or you're in a situation that requires someone from security to quickly respond, you can call the emergency number for campus security on 0161 295 3333. If someone is hurt and requires first aid, you can ask for one of security's first aiders on the same number. In an emergency situation, you can contact the emergency services on 999. If you need to contact the Police in a situation that is not an emergency, you can call them on 101.
Keep Yourself and Your Stuff Safe
This may seem obvious, but make sure you keep yourself and all your possessions safe and secure. When you're out make sure your flat and room are securely locked, and that all windows are closed. Keep your valuables, such as your phone and wallet, in your pockets or a zipped bag and out of view. After a night out make sure you get a taxi home from a licensed taxi firm. Finally if you have sex make sure you use protection to prevent catching any STIs or getting yourself/your partner pregnant.
