support – Undergraduate Blog

How to succeed in your group assignments at uni

By Rhiannon Thefaut, BA International Business Management

In Business, the group work begins in first year with the Business Challenges and Business in Context modules. These modules can be a great opportunity to develop your teamwork – an important life skill that most employers will want after you’ve graduated.

Speaking from experience, Business Challenges is an example I’ve used in many job interviews; it shows how I successfully negotiated, listened to and worked with my team to work effectively, with our group winning the overall challenge!

However, you won’t always get a team that works together perfectly and might encounter issues along the way. You don’t choose your group and therefore you can get put with people who may clash with you personally, or who may not have the same drive as you do.

But, there are several things you can do to give your group the best possible chance of succeeding, starting before anyone even lifts a pen:

Have a preliminary meeting with everyone before you start any work.
This allows everyone to discuss their personal goals for the assignment, gauge each group member’s skill sets, and helps you get to know them a bit personally so your group can flow easier. Working with people you can get along with makes it a lot easier. I’ve made some of my best friends at Uni through group work – it’s a great opportunity to get to meet new people on your module.

Also, as you’re on a business course, networking is vital from day one – if you get to know these people and they end up at a great business, you could use this connection to help get you a job with them. They could also remember that you had strong analysis skills and recommend you to their manager!

Set deadlines for each part of the group work and give specific tasks to each person.

Designating specific tasks to each member of your group is the best way to ensure that everyone’s work is matched up with their skill set. This also holds the less motivated members of your group accountable to complete their work, and if they do not or complete it to a low standard, you can reflect this during the peer assessment stage of the group work. For those who are unfamiliar with peer assessment, this essentially lets you rate how much you feel each member has contributed to the group work, to ensure that everyone gets the credit that they deserve at the end of the module.

Make sure you stay in touch.

It’s important you know how your team is getting on with their tasks. People may be struggling with the work they’ve been assigned, so you need to make sure you know whether they need any help with it. Checking in with your group via social media is a good way of knowing where you’re all at with your tasks, and is key to remaining on schedule.

If you don’t communicate with your team and complete the work, then everybody’s grade is going to suffer.

Arrange regular meetups to go through the work together.

All the libraries have group rooms which you can book out for up to 4 hours, and the management school normally has space you can use as well! If you can’t physically meet in the same room, then group video calls are a good way around having to make the long trek from your dorms to the library!

The challenges I’ve faced during group assignments have helped me to grow and learn how to deal with difficult situations. In work, you’ll find you disagree with people, however, you still have to work with them so use these experiences as practice!

How I fell and how I got back up on my feet, my journey with mental health

By Olivia Chavigny de Lachevrotiere, BA International Business Management

Going to study at the university is an absolute experience. Don’t get me wrong, I’ve had moments here that I could never forget.

but…

It might not always be as jolly as I had imagined. I thought these years would be the absolute happiest, I thought that I would meet friends for life and become successful irrespective of what I do with my time. I even though I might find a future husband while at the university! That was my vision, and my plan.

But I felt it already within the first couple of weeks. Moving away from my home country where my friends and family live – to the UK – turned out to have a greater impact on me than I thought. I refused to give up and did all I could to be out there and get the experience. I joined the A Cappella and Beatbox Society, became a committee member for my national society, enrolled on a language course. I also participated in many study workshops at 301, and the Entrepreneurship Skills Autumn programme. I applied for the Study Abroad programme at an overseas partner university. I refused to lose the experience, with an intent to use the time I had to the maximum.

But even then, I felt lonelier than ever. Never being fully able to express myself, but most of all not being able to find friends that I would feel fully comfortable with. I couldn’t get close with anyone. Every exam session, I started either locking myself down in my room and crying through the evenings, or putting myself out in the library to be able to focus at all. I put on weight, ended up in a bad relationship where I felt suppressed. I felt like I always needed to impress people to be able to fit in, but it only caused me to persistently fail to open up.

I went on my Year Abroad to Amsterdam, met more people, I thought it went away…
And then I got aggressively crushed.
In winter, during my Year Abroad, I got depressed.

All of that happened during my “happiest” time, when I should be going out and party, and be all out there with people. But all I could do is stay in bed and sleep through the days, unable to fully focus, constantly catching colds and unable to accept myself, feeling hurt and alone. I felt like I was falling behind socially even more, seeing the new exchange students in my student accommodation in February, after the new semester started, spending time together, or at least knowing each other’s names! I didn’t know their names for months. I coped by binge eating sweets and watching TV shows, to escape my thoughts and get the sugar rush, and keep going. There and then, I knew it’s too much, and I reached out. Here’s what I did, and what ultimately helped me:

First, I reached out to the Student Psychologist at my university abroad, then to a private counselling centre (covered by my insurance). Slowly but steadily, I started getting up on my feet;
I studied, but allowed myself to let some pressure go, I allowed myself to be me in this foreign environment. I stopped chasing acceptance, but instead, I focused on the people that were there and the goals that I actually wanted to pursue;
I allowed myself for a slow summer without working, to recover and actually enjoy my time for a change!
As soon as I came back to Sheffield, I went to a doctor and asked for medical evidence for a disability (mental health), in order to receive help from the Disability and Dyslexia Support Service (DDSS). At DDSS, I got a Learning Support Plan written up by a staff member, based on my symptoms and needs;
I registered for a triage appointment with the Student Access to Mental Health Support (SAMHS), which eventually allowed me to access online counselling services with the Big White Wall Live Therapy,
I focused on physical exercise and eating healthy food – not necessarily limiting myself, but finding strength in overcoming physical limitations at the gym.

Now, it was a long and a very personal battle. It prevented me from having the desired by all “time of my life” while studying abroad, and experiencing the student life in full.

But it also taught me how to cope when I start feeling worse, and how to take care of myself in this fast-paced world. I’m better now, and I am on track to graduating soon with good grades.

Many people will have experienced symptoms of a common mental health disorder in their life. It’s good to know that if you feel this way, you’re not alone. And you should reach out, because there are means to help you. You deserve to be happy, and to enjoy your time at the university. I fought and won the battle, and I’m positive that you can too.

How to sort accommodation for after your year abroad

By Rhiannon Thefaut, BA International Business Management

In first year, my flat decided to live together in second year. However, I was going abroad for my second year and so couldn’t live with them. Instead, I agreed to live with them all in third year and assumed that was that. However, after some disagreements whilst I was away, this was no longer an option. I then had to rethink what I wanted to do.

I am originally from Chesterfield, which is an 11-minute train journey or a 30-minute drive from Sheffield. Therefore, one option for me was to move home and commute to University. Whilst this isn’t an option for everyone, depending how far Sheffield is from your family home, however, it may be something to consider. It’s likely in third year you’ll have less contact hours (and more study hours), so it is an option. Just note if you do commute, your maintenance loan will be significantly less – however, you won’t have the same living costs, so it evens out.

My second option was to live with 2 of my friends from first year. This is the option I took, as I decided that I wanted to have the live-in university experience in Sheffield again, as I enjoyed it so much in first year. However, the main issue for me was that, I had to trust my friends to sort the accommodation. We were on different time zones, and had different free time, meaning that I couldn’t even facetime them to see the places.

The third option is to live with strangers again; this is probably not the most popular idea, however, it can lead to making some really great new friends. There is the facebook page ‘Sheffield student accommodation’ and websites such as ‘Campusboard’ where you can find people who have spare rooms available for the following year.

The last option is to live on your own in a studio or 1 bedroom flat. Honestly, after my year abroad, I felt a strong sense of autonomy and responsibility. I was probably ready to live alone and that may be how some of you feel. A year abroad gives you so much freedom and builds your confidence, meaning that sometimes moving back and living with your friends isn’t the same. Your friends can still visit, but you don’t have the added stress of dealing with their mess or their noise – which is always nice!

My last piece of advice would be, make sure to decide what you want to do early on. As you probably remember from first year, students start deciding who they’re living with and where quite early (October onwards). You need to make sure you look too! It’s quite difficult when you can’t visit the place yourself, so, get them to do a skype call to show you it or get one of your friends to visit for you – it’s vital to make sure the place is legitimate and suits your needs.

Tips to make University easier with a disability

By Rhiannon Thefaut, BA International Business Management

I am currently in my third year at the University of Sheffield, studying International Business Management. But there’s something about me that people wouldn’t know at first glance; I have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). It is an invisible illness that creates significant body pain, intense fatigue and extreme sensitivity to noise and light. This illness has severely impacted on various aspects of my life, making it harder to study due to brain fog and fatigue, and preventing me from doing as many social activities as other students.

I decided to write this to help current or potential Sheffield students who may also be struggling with an illness or disability. I’ll discuss techniques that helped me manage my studies, some of the tools I wish I’d known were available to me, and some things I’ve learnt along the way.

The first and most important thing I want to tell you about is the Disability Students Allowance. The DSA is a government-funded grant that you can apply for alongside your maintenance loan, that provides financial support for those whose disability might cause extra costs while at uni. This could range from a taxi to and from campus, to laptops, or even tools that can read out documents for you! Applying for the DSA can take some time, so I recommend starting the process when applying for your maintenance loan to make sure your funds are ready once you start your degree.

The DSA can also send your disability report to Sheffield’s Disability and Dyslexia Support Service (DDSS), to make the university aware of your needs ready for when you arrive.

And that brings me onto my second point – make sure to communicate with the DDSS; they can help liaise with your course representative, making sure you have all considerations needed – whether that’s extended deadlines, extra exam time or special considerations with regards to results.

For me, one of the hardest things was accepting that it wasn’t cheating to have the extra considerations – I hated using my illness as an excuse. The toughest lesson for me was learning that it is not an excuse, it is a reason and it is legitimate. However, if you feel uncomfortable using these services, there is a society for people who have disabilities called ‘dyslexic and disability students committee’ which contains students who can understand what you’re going through, provide support and a unique form of friendship.

Lastly, don’t be afraid to tell your friends that you have a disability! A major thing for me was finding people who accepted and were considerate of the fact that I needed to sleep more than most students and wouldn’t be able to just go out randomly. I need a few days to prepare for a night out, and a few days after to recover. The biggest way to socialise at University seems to be drinking and clubbing, so when I couldn’t do this, it was hard and made me feel like I was missing out. However, when I found the right friendship group, they made sure that the social activities were ones I could be involved in, and make sure I felt included on the nights out, even when I didn’t go. Do not push yourself, do not be afraid to tell your friends your limits, and find people who respect them.

How to survive exam period

By Eloise Howard, BA Business Management with Employment Experience

When starting university, exam period can seem daunting, as it may be different to what you have experienced previously at school or college. However, there is a lot of support and guidance at the University and if you are organised and work hard you will succeed!

A few important things to bear in mind that you may not have considered include:

If your exam requires a calculator you need to get your calculator approvedat the Students’ Services Information Desk (SSiD) in the Students’ Union beforehand
There are multiple different exam venues but there is a helpful guide on the University website to help you with directions!
You must bring your UCard to any exam as proof of ID
A draft and final exam timetable are released so make sure to check the final version as changes can be made to the date or venue of the exam

In terms of revision, my main piece of advice would be to manage your time in the best way possible. Give yourself plenty of time to do your revision – personally, I found that revising 4-6 weeks before an exam was the best method for me! This may seem like a lot of time but often you need to balance revision with writing coursework, other activities and part-time work so I’ve found it’s best to have lots of time and not leave anything to the last minute! What’s great about Sheffield University is that there are so many resources available and the Information Commons (one of the main libraries) is open 24/7. This means that you can find a routine that works best for you – some people may prefer to do a 9-5pm day whilst others work better very early or very late. Writing your own revision timetable can also help you to manage your time. However, don’t forget to factor in some downtime with friends and family, as it’s important to have a break and take time out too!

In addition, it is really important to ensure you stay healthy during exams. It can be tempting to live off library snacks all day but try to eat nutritious food to ensure you have energy! Also, exercise is a great stress relief and fitting in the gym or a jog can help you to clear your mind after a day of revision – it’s great too if you’ve been sat at the same desk all day! Finally, sleep is essential during exam period, I would recommend getting your normal hours of sleep as revision can be tiring and you need to be refreshed!

Follow this link for any additional information regarding exams, timetables, venues and general advice https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid/exams/notes

What I’ll miss the most about Sheffield

By Eloise Howard, BA Business Management with Employment Experience

It’s sadly come to that time, after four incredible years at Sheffield University, where I have to say goodbye! Here are some of the things that I will miss the most about lovely Sheffield!

The people!

As soon as I came to look around on my open day, I knew Sheffield was the place for me as everyone at the university was so warm and welcoming. Over the past four years I’ve met my best friends, who I’ve been lucky enough to be able to live with each year. University is the perfect place to meet loads of people from all different backgrounds and walks of life, and it’s so easy to find people that have similar interests, as you can make friends with coursemates but also meet people through societies or volunteering.

Not only have I made friends for life in Sheffield, I’ve had many inspiring lecturers that have opened my eyes and taught me about the real world of business and how everything we learn can be applied to the real world. They have also introduced me to exciting new spaces in business management, such as organisational psychology.

The city

Sheffield is a beautiful city that has many perks for students. The nightlife is very fun and cheap, and there’s a night that suits everyone, whether you’re into indie, pop, dance or rock music. There are so many hidden gems around the city waiting to be found, with little independent coffee shops, boutique vintage stores and quirky bars dotted around the backstreets of the city. Kelham Island is one of my favourite areas in Sheffield, previously known as a manufacturing site, which has now evolved into a fun area with lots of alternative new bars, night markets and shops.

Despite the multiple hills that take a toll on your legs, you can also see some incredible views – I would definitely recommend taking a trip to Bole Hill to watch the sunset! Not only this, the Peak District is right on your doorstep, offering some stunning scenery when you want to escape the city.

University

I couldn’t have asked for a better experience at University. Throughout my time here, I have received excellent support from my tutors and have had the opportunity to study exciting new topics in my area of study that have been engaging and challenged the way I view the world. In first year I was a dual student studying French and Business Management, however I knew that this wasn’t the right choice for me. With my personal tutor’s help, I was able to make that tough decision and change my course to single honours Business Management, and I’m so happy that I had that support.

There is so much around the university to get involved with, with endless societies for everything you can think of, from hockey to gin tasting! Finally, the Students’ Union has been a great hub – it really does meet the needs of every student, and is full of great food places, the Sheffield Store, the Student Helpdesk and some amazing nights out every week!

What made me choose Sheffield?

By James Dylag, BA Business Management

Deciding where to study is a massive decision to make. There are such a massive amount of universities offering an even bigger variety of courses to prospective students, but for me Sheffield really did, and still does stand out… here’s why.

First of all, it’s difficult to ignore how good The University of Sheffield really is. Sheffield is a Russell Group university and has a Students’ Union that has been voted the best in the country for ten consecutive years. If this wasn’t enough, the Management School itself is one of few business schools globally that has been awarded triple-accreditation… that in itself is impressive!

Not only is Sheffield a top performing university, but the city is also great. Despite being the fourth largest city in the UK, Sheffield is somehow still able to maintain a real community feel, and a very friendly population. Being from a very small town myself, it was important for me to have a city that is friendly and welcoming… it was the first time I’d lived in a city after all! This community feel is possibly most present in the university accommodation, where there is never a dull moment! In both Endcliffe andRanmoor you’ll find activities to do, from fitness classes, outdoor cinemas or just a drink at The Edge, and it’s the perfect place to settle in.

Another swaying factor for me was the support system available at Sheffield. Starting off at university is a big deal. Personally, I wanted to know if I did have any issues or problems with my course, accommodation or anything about university life I would be supported. When visiting the university, I really felt that staff members genuinely cared, and had the students best interest at heart. I still think this today! The University offers all sorts of help and guidance for students around any type of issue. You can find this help in the Students’ Union, your academic department or your personal tutor. In student accommodation you’ll also have a Residence Life Mentor, who are students that can help you with any personal issues you may be having.

The final thing that swayed my decision was looking at the modules that my course offers. I study Business Management, and I thought that the first-year modules would give me a real understanding of a variety of business areas, which it did. I was then able in my second and third year to concentrate my module choices around areas which I enjoyed the most. Having the freedom to choose modules in all three years of university has meant I have been able to explore all different areas of my subject and helped me to shape a view of where my skills lie.

Choosing where to go to university is such a big decision, which is why I strongly recommend you keep an open mind, ask questions and do your research. There are so many possibilities when you consider what course you would like to study and exactly where you would like to study it – make sure you’re informed so you can make the decision that is right for you. But most importantly, remember that no choice is the wrong choice – go where you feel comfortable and you’ll have the best time!

My experience of changing course

By Eloise Howard, BA Business Management with Employment Experience

I want to start by saying that I have absolutely loved the past three years of my university experience and would not change any of it! However, it’s important to talk about what happens when not everything is perfect right from the beginning of your time at university. You have made a lot of big decisions in order to get here – what course to study, what university to study at, where you want to live – and sometimes you may want to make a change.

It’s essential that you feel happy with your course at university so that you can really put your all into it and enjoy your time as much as possible. This was something I found challenging when I first started, as I was studying a dual degree in French and Business Management. After my first month or so, I soon realised that French was not for me! It hadn’t been quite what I expected following on from A Level French, but I was really enjoying the Business Management side of things as well as living in such a fun, vibrant city.

I decided to speak to my personal tutor, which was so helpful as I was able to have an honest chat with someone that really wanted to support me and enable me to thrive at uni. I then made the decision to drop French in second year and carry on my course as a single honours Business Management degree. The actual process was simple and easy to do, and my personal tutors in French as well as at the Management School were there to guide me through it.

By changing my course, I feel that I am now fully engaged and excited by all aspects of my university life! I definitely feel a lot happier doing solely Business Management and I’m grateful I had the amazing opportunity to do a placement year at GSK last year!

My best advice would be to not be scared to admit that sometimes things aren’t going as well as you planned – there is so much help available to you during your time at university and lots of people who genuinely want you to do as well as possible.

So, if you feel like you want to make changes, which could be as small as changing a module to changing course, don’t be afraid to speak up and get support to see what options you have.

For more information, visit: https://www.sheffield.ac.uk/ssid

How I settled into University life- an international student perspective

Hello, my name is Titus Njoroge Kuhora. I am a second year BA Business Management student from Nairobi, Kenya. Coming to university is filled with a mixture of anxiety and excitement, even more so for international students. Being thousands of miles away from home in a foreign country is a daunting prospect. However, personally, all this changed when I joined the University of Sheffield. The friendly nature of the locals and the amazing support and social activities which the university has to offer helped me fit right in. I would like to talk about some of the activities I got involved in that helped me settle into university life.

Sheffield and its international nature

Coming to a foreign country as an international student, can sometimes be lonely. At these times all I wanted was someone I could talk to in Kiswahilli (Kenyan’s national language), or and I missed Ugali and Skuma (Kenyan delicacies). Thankfully, the diverse nature of the University of Sheffield allowed me to meet people from Kenya, through its East African Society. For me, being part of this society has had the greatest impact on university life. Knowing that you have people who share the same humour and viewpoints on life as you, can be very comforting.

However, the University of Sheffield also has many other societies such as the international student committee, which helped me meet other international students from around the world. With students from 125 countries, it has been a pleasure getting to understand different cultures, which is very important as the world is becoming even more globalised.

Support systems

The support systems provided both by the Management School and the University are incredible. It has been amazing to know that I have not come to a university where I am not a mere statistic, but where I am valued and supported.

Coming from so far away, there is a sense of expectation from parents that we should get the best grades possible. Such pressures can sometimes weigh us down, and make us crumble under pressure. However, with the support systems from friendly lecturers and the 301 Student Skills and Development Centre, I have been able to avoid such pressures and get the hang of university life. This support enabled me to understand what is expected academically and over time I have seen a significant improvement in my evaluative and critical thinking skills.

Coming to university is not easy. Being an international student can bring a lot of baggage (no pun intended), but hand-on-heart the University of Sheffield is an amazing place. It allows students- local or international – to express themselves, and be integrated into university life. Being in my second year of study, I have to say that I love this university and feel part of not just a student community, but a family! 😊

How to get a part time job

My name is Charalambos Phokou, but people call me Harry because Charalambos isn’t the easiest thing to pronounce. I am originally from Cyprus and before moving to the UK I did some quick maths, I realised that if I got a minimum wage job when I arrived here together with my maintenance loan I could live entirely financially independent. So I vowed to do just that.

Slight issue was I had ZERO work experience, but despite that I have now worked 7 jobs since stepping foot in the UK. So using what I have learned over the past year I have come up with this brief guide to getting a part-time job while studying at the University of Sheffield.

Get experience! You can get some through the taste of work scheme with the Careers Service here or by volunteering at local shops. In my case I worked at Sport Sheffield for a day and my mentor there acted as my reference which made it easy to volunteer at Oxfam, a charity shop.

Now that you have experience or if you were lucky enough to already have it you need to develop your CV and cover letter writing skills. We go back to the Careers Service. They are an excellent resource where you can book an appointment to go through your CV and give you tips and tricks to apply to new jobs.

With your great looking CV it’s time to apply. The Careers Service constantly post local vacancies that are appropriate for students. My top tip is to apply to any university job that seems appealing, the pay is great, they are usually extremely flexible and also fun! You can may contacted directly about vacancies through a group email or you may have to go the university website to search for student job vacancies. Another source of jobs are local shops. I applied to everything I was remotely interested in. Getting a job is a job.

After hours of personalised applications, I got a job with Tesco through an online application and worked there for 6 months, upping my hours from 15 during term-time to 30 hours during the summer. I have since left Tesco and am currently working 3 jobs. I am a Student Ambassador for the Management School, a Global Campus Ambassador for the University of Sheffield and a Brand Ambassador for Circle.

From working hard in my first year I was able to afford a trip to Greece which was simply the best experience of my life. I was able to develop a decent CV and a strong LinkedIn page by connecting with all my employers. It’s what I’d say the best part of university, the sheer amount of opportunities thrown at you as a student. You just have to make sure you catch them.