Preparing for Your First Year at University

There’s no doubt that we saw a higher education revolution under New Labour in the UK, with Tony Blair’s party placing a much greater emphasis on university education and making this more accessible to a broader range of demographics.

To this end, an impressive 45.7% of Brits aged between 25 and 64 attained some form of post-secondary education, with some 22.6% achieving a bachelor’s degree or higher.

But if you’re planning to join this number in the near-term, what steps can you take to prepare for your higher education adventure? Here are some ideas to keep in mind!

#1. Sort Out Your Finances Ahead of Time

As an undergraduate student, you may be eligible to have the cost of your tuition covered and receive a maintenance loan to cover some of your living costs while in higher education.

However, you’ll need to be prepared to ensure that you receive this financial support. For example, applications for finances for the academic year 2022/23 could be submitted from March, so we’d recommend being prepared and taking care of this as a priority.

This will help you to understand how much cash you’re eligible to receive (especially in the form of a maintenance loan), making it much easier to plan your first year financially and identify any potential gaps.

In this case, you can also consider taking out extra student loans, which are available from private sector providers and available with competitive terms in some cases.

#2. Sort Out Your Accommodation

On a similar note, we’d recommend that you take proactive steps to organise your accommodation in instances where you’re not staying with your parents while at university.

Make no mistake; this can also be a highly stressful experience, while it may also incur additional costs that need to be factored into your financial planning.

Ideally, you should prioritise accommodation that’s close to your university of choice and relatively accessible, while also remaining within your budget and ensuring that you don’t start to spend outside of your means.

It may even be worth sharing accommodation with students in a similar situation or also in their first year of studies, as this will reduce costs while helping you to create an effective support network of like-minded individuals.

#3. Decide What to Take

With your finances sorted and accommodation organised, you can begin to pack your bags and determine precisely what you should take on your travels.

It’s important to pack as lights as possible and take essential study items, of course, but there may be room for selected possessions that may remind you of home and provide some much-needed comfort.

If you’re eligible (and depending on where you’re studying), you should also consider applying for travel cards and other things that may be able to reduce your daily living expenses as a student.