Category: Uni life

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.

 

Zero-waste in Sheffield

By Serena Wong, BA International Business with Study Abroad

For my first blog post, I’ve decided to share with our fellow friends how I do zero-waste in Sheffield!

Back home in Malaysia, the closest zero waste store was an hour drive away with majority of the stores congregated in the Central Business District. This lack of access proved to be an inconvenience when I first started going zero-waste. It was also difficult to implement small, incremental changes in my household, as my parents deemed it easier and cheaper to buy plastic-packaged products. The biggest change I made back home was designating a recycling area at home.  

Six months later- today, my flat mates and I compost, recycle, and we do not use kitchen rolls at all! 

In just about every university building- the Sheffield Students’ Union, Information Commons, the Diamond, we can purchase food and drinks in recyclable packaging and then toss them out at the many and easily-available recycling bins. In addition, our Students’ Union has an outlet- Our Zero Waste Shop- dedicated to plastic-free wholefoods and environmentally friendly household goods.

One of the best aspects of the shop is the refilling station for both food and household liquids. You can refill your shampoo, conditioner, laundry detergent as well as rice and herbs. My personal favourite however, is refilling my empty jars with delicious sweets! 

Its wide array of zero-waste products coupled with the affordable prices, makes Our Zero Waste Shop (https://www.facebook.com/OurZeroWasteShop/) one of its kind in Sheffield. 

I am so proud to share that the store makes ZERO profit from their reusable pads and menstrual cups range. It’s incredibly heartwarming to know that our university prioritise making sanitary products both accessible and affordable for our students. As perfect alternatives to regular sanitary essentials, they make perfect gifts for ladies! Just last month, I bought a set of 6 with 1 wash bag, for just £15.76! If that’s not a bargain, I don’t know what is. 

If you’re looking for an easy way to reduce your plastic consumption, why not ditch the cling film and grab bags, and head down to your local market for some fresh and cheap fruits and vegetables. I particularly enjoy doing my grocery shopping at the Moor Market for plastic-free fresh produce. From a plethora of cheeses, to freshly-baked scones, Moor is my go-to destination for fruits, vegetables, fresh poultry, free-range eggs and buttery scones! You can even find stores that stock oriental spices and sauces. 

My zero-waste lifestyle will always be a work-in-progress, but to know and believe that our university isn’t just a supportive platform but rather the support, I have no doubts I will continuously lead the lifestyle that fills my heart and brings me happiness.

My year abroad with a dairy allergy

By Rhiannon Thefaut, BA International Business Management

As someone who cannot eat dairy, going to France for my year abroad was probably not my best idea. For one, I spoke minimal French and was left using google translate to explain to the waiters that I needed pizza, sans fromage. Secondly, France has not yet progressed to including allergy information on their menus, let alone providing vegan options. And lastly, everything in France includes dairy products, from the classic croissants and French breads to meat, pizza – and even ‘les escargots! However, as I narrowly managed to avoid death by dairy last year, I’ve proved that it is possible. Here I will give you some top tips to effectively manage your allergy whilst abroad.

The first thing that helped me was stocking up and bringing lots of dairy free foods from home – luckily, you can get the ferry or the Eurotunnel to France and so I had quite a bit of room to bring everything necessary. I made sure to bring the basics – sauces, hot chocolate powder, butter etc and then packed the rest of the car to the brim with as many snacks as possible; chocolate, biscuits, crumpets and sweets. This was vital, because I couldn’t buy them from French supermarkets – and with 40 hours of lectures a week, stress eating was a common occurrence!

Secondly, look everywhere for small, family owned businesses – these are your best bet for finding speciality foods that cater to specific dietary requirements. One that I found in France, called Bio, sells vegan ‘pains au chocolat’ and croissants; finding these was amazing, especially when my friends had croissant mornings as it let me join in on the fun! Also ensure to look out for international chain businesses such as Starbucks Coffee. They will have dairy and gluten free alternatives, with less risk of contamination. 

Lastly, try to meet people from the country where you’re staying, as they can then explain to restaurant waiters and shop clerks about your dietary requirements. If you don’t know anyone, then make sure you’ve perfected how to explain it yourself in the language using simple phrases such as ‘sans fromage’ (French for ‘without cheese’).

Most European countries aren’t as accommodating towards veganism or allergies as England, unless you’re in a major city like Rome or Paris. But it’s definitely possible to cope with just an extra bit of effort in most places. I went to many different restaurants whilst on my year abroad and whilst I struggled in some places, in the end they want your money – so they’ll be as accommodating as possible. You got this!

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.

Where to eat in Sheffield when you’re dairy-free

By Rhiannon Thefaut, BA International Business Management

During first year, I developed a dairy allergy. As someone who constantly ate chocolate and drank a pint of milk a day, this was a very difficult things to come to terms with. However, now in 2020, it’s easy enough to get a dairy free pizza, a soya milkshake or a bar of chocolate – especially in Sheffield. Sheffield is an amazing place to be vegan or have an intolerance – so if you’re worried of the faff of going out in Sheffield, here’s my 5 favourite places to eat in Sheffield – that have yet to make me ill! 

Pieminster
My dad and I first visited Pieminster a few months ago – and it was a revelation. It was the first place I’ve been to that sells vegan mash potato and it was so good! They have numerous vegan options for their pies; I had ‘Chooks away’, which contained vegan ‘chicken’.  It’s also cheap – which isn’t always the case for vegan food and is a definite plus! 

Steamyard
So, unlike Pieminster, Steamyard is quite expensive – but as a local business, it is worth supporting if you can. It’s also not a restaurant, it’s a café and so it’s more a place to go and chill with your friends and have a donut and a coffee. The vibe in Steamyard is amazing, and you could easily go there to revise or do some studying, whilst you enjoy one of their vegan treats. 

Blue Moon Café
This is the longest standing vegan café in Sheffield and is worth visiting if you want to be sure you can eat everything on the menu! It’s unique in that the menu changes every day, so you’ll never know what exciting new thing you’ll get to try. You can go for an afternoon tea, lunch or breakfast. The only negative is that it’s not close at all to the University, meaning it’ll be a slight trek for you to get there.

Make No Bones
This is a favourite place of mine; it has such a wide variety of foods including Gyros, Satay and Korean style food. It’s great to have some different food – sometimes dairy free food at restaurants can get quite repetitive and therefore, it’s always nice to have the chance to try new foods.

The Cabin
This place is perfect for a brunch or breakfast. It’s on the Moor, so it is slightly further out your way – however, it is so worth it! They have a Canadian theme, with fluffy American pancakes or waffles. The vibe is very homely, warm and picturesque. The best brunch place I’ve found in Sheffield.

There are so many more places than these to try, so just keep looking whilst you’re here. The chains all have many different options now, as I’m sure you’re aware. But, make sure to try the local businesses! They may be slightly more expensive, but their food is usually fresher, tastier and more unique. 

Spiderwalk 2019

By Natalia Tsenova, BA Business Management

It is not a surprise that our Students’ Union has been ranked 1st in the country for 10 years in a row, from 2009 to 2018, by Times Higher Education. You name it, our SU will most likely have it. From Sheffield Volunteering to over 350 clubs and societies, there are close to an infinite number of opportunities to engage in university life, beyond the content of your degree, and make your experience in Sheffield more interesting and memorable.

Such an opportunity that has contributed towards a great start of my second year has been volunteering at Spiderwalk 2019. The spiderwalk is an annual 13 mile hike at night, organised by Sheffield RAG and it is one of the many fundraising events that Sheffield RAG (Raising and Giving) holds throughout the year to raise money for different charities. The aftermath of Spiderwalk 2019 is unbelievable – over £10 000 raised for four charities, which you can get more information about on the event’s Facebook page.

In the next lines, I will give you a glimpse of what it was like to participate in Spiderwalk 2019.

On the day of Spiderwalk, all of the volunteers were instructed to be at the SU a couple of hours before the event. We were given a 10-page detailed description of the track and a set of instructions on what to do in different situations. As stewards, our main responsibilities were to make sure our group followed the map and to help in case any of the participants were injured.  

Once we were allocated to our groups, it was time for hiking. In the beginning, the route was quite flat, as can be expected with our starting point being the Students’ Union, followed by Eccy Road and Endcliffe Park. As we continued walking, the terrain changed quickly and soon, we were in the peaks, breathing heavily and covered in mud. However, unlike my initial expectations, I was enjoying this more than I thought I would. The whole group was having fun, we were laughing and talking all the time and it was great to have such nice people to share this experience with.

The half-point was Whirlow Hall Farm – a beautiful farm in Sheffield and one of the charities that participants in Spiderwalk raised money for. The atmosphere was amazing: live music, good food and a lot of friendly people enjoying the night. We stayed there long enough to warm ourselves and to gather energy for our return journey. This time the route was designed to take us to the SU through Sheffield’s streets. And to be honest, a 6.5-mile walk on Sheffield’s roads is as equally tiring as a 6.5-mile hike in Sheffield’s peaks. Both are hilly, very hilly at some points :).

By the time our group reached the SU, it was already thirty minutes past midnight. I remember going home with my legs hurting, but my soul cheering. It was one of the best nights I have had since the beginning of this academic year and I could not have been happier to have decided to volunteer in the first place. 

Thankfully, events like this happen very often in our Students’ Union. Explore the different opportunities the SU offers and enrich your student experience. You will not regret it and who knows, I might see you at Spiderwalk 2020.

My first Christmas in the UK

By Serena Wong, BA International Business Management with Study Abroad

The holiday season is finally here- which means it’s time for all things red, green, merry and bright. However, that’s not all there is to this wondrous season of the year. Christmas is not only the perfect excuse to sate your appetite with mulled wine, honey-glazed gammon, and all the dessert one can possibly eat, it is also the perfect opportunity to spend quality time with your friends and family.

As an international student who’s not going home this Christmas holiday, I knew that this season of joy and giving can be equally lonesome if not for having friends to celebrate with! I am incredibly grateful to have commenced my winter break with a Christmas dinner together with my flatmates.

However close you are with your flatmates, it’s always a brilliant idea to gather everyone for a Christmas dinner. Since none of my flat mates mentioned having one, I decided to propose the idea. Lo and behold, everyone was so excited in the preparation for our dinner. We went grocery shopping, cooked, played some games, had some drinks and ate until we felt like throwing up!

Amidst the preparation, I had learned a little more about how cherished the Christmas spirit is in the UK. My friend and flat mate, Nicole, guided us in making many traditional English Christmas delicacies such as roast gammon, Yorkshire pudding and pigs-in-blankets. She taught us local games and traditions which everyone enjoyed learning. My highlight of the evening was seeing all our international friends embrace new delicacies and traditions because our first Christmas in the UK will forever be remembered.

If this is your first Christmas in the UK, I hope you will fill this time with new experiences, good food, and good company. It’s perfectly normal to miss home – more so if you’re an international student who’s not going home (like myself). But I truly believe, if you treat yourself to a good cup of hot chocolate at Sheffield’s Christmas Market or take a short trip to a different city, you’ll start feeling the Christmas spirit (and dance to Mariah Carey’s All I Want for Christmas Is You).

During this festive season of giving, let us take time to slow down and enjoy the simple things. May this wonderful time of the year touch your heart in a special way. Wishing you much happiness not just today, but throughout the New Year!

 

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

Tips for finding accommodation in second and third year

By James Dylag, BA Business Management

When you’re in first year, you will live in University owned halls, which makes moving a lot simpler. However, in both your second and third years it is up to you to find your own accommodation. which sounds like a daunting task! Follow this guide to make the process as easy as possible!

Firstly, you need to decide who you’re living with. I lived in Endcliffe in my first year along with nine others. As a flat, we decided to split into a group of six and four – as finding a house large enough for everyone was quite the task (it is possible to find ten bed houses, but you have to be quick!). The ideal time to start thinking about this is late October/early November. This seems really early, but it allows time for changes if anyone decides they want to live with another group, or you end up recruiting a new housemate.

Once you’ve split into your groups, the next thing to do is to start looking. The majority of people live in an area called Crookesmoor (Crookes), which is a short walk away from Broomhill and conveniently located 10-15 minutes away from Uni. Crookes is scattered with shops, cafes and pubs – most notably Alyssum, a green grocer, and the Dam House – all of which help to make Crookes a perfect area for students. There are other areas to consider such as: Broomhall, City Centre, and along Ecclesall Road – however Crookes is the most popular.

Now you’ve decided on an area, it’s time to start viewing houses! You can start doing this as early as November, or after the Christmas break. However, the best houses tend to go first, and after the Christmas break you also have revision to contend with. In my opinion, its best to do this sooner rather than later. Sheffield has loads of estate agents which offer properties specifically tailored to students. The University has an agent inside of the Students Union called Smart Move. This is a good place to start your search. However, there are several other agents – for example: Fit Property, Home Accommodation and Broomhill Property Shop. All of these agents will have a variety of options for students and specialise in this area.

When you start viewing houses there are some key things you might want to think about asking the estate agent/tenants, it’s worth noting these down as a group beforehand so you don’t forget anything. For me, the key question is – are the neighbours’ students? Having another group of students next door is the ideal situation, because both you and them should (hopefully) be quite relaxed about noise to a certain extent. You might find that neighbours who are not students will be less tolerant of noise, which is understandable.

Hopefully this has been a useful blog, and you’re armed with some tips to go and find your perfect student house! Happy hunting!

Balancing university and part-time work

By Eloise Howard, BA Business Management with Employment Experience

Where do I work?

In the summer before I started at the University of Sheffield, I applied for a part-time role at the Students’ Union and was lucky enough to get the role! My role included working in Pearls Bubble Tea and Coffee Revolution in the SU. My experience of working in the SU could not have been better – I wouldrecommend it to anyone, as it means that you meet loads of other students and I made loads of friends in first year this way. It’s also really flexible and they understand that students have other commitments – by having a zero hours contract, you’re able to put in your availability for each week. For example, if you have exams coming up you may only work 6 hours a week, but at a quieter time in the year you could be working up to 16 hours a week.

How do I balance work with my studies?

Doing part-time work at the Students’ Union has definitely taught me how to manage my time effectively. One of the key things you learn is how to prioritise your tasks and understand when your studies need to take priority or when you can be more flexible with your time. Although I sometimes found this hard, I understand now that it is much better to sacrifice a week’s wages during exam period and have enough time to properly do my work, rather than try to squeeze everything in! Having said that, there is a maximum of 16 hours a week that students can work at the Union, so most of the time this isn’t too demanding and fits quite nicely around my work. Also, my hours are typically Monday to Friday so I always have the weekend to catch up on work if I need to and it is only term time so I still get all the same holidays as everyone else!

How does working benefit me?

One of the obvious benefits is that I am getting some extra income whilst being a student, which is always helpful! For me, I really like being independent and paying my own way – it also means I have enough money to enjoy myself the whole year and not have the worry of all my student finance running out after a month! However, there are many other positives to working, such as the experience it has given me. It looks excellent on your CV and I believe it truly helped me to get my placement year at GSK, because I had lots of examples and skills to talk about in my interview.