Uni life – Page 3 – Undergraduate Blog

How to make the most of freshers’ week!

By James Dylag, BA Business Management

Freshers’ week is one of the most ‘hyped-up’ events in every student’s calendar. There are so many things going on it can be overwhelming; this post is all about making your week as fun as possible.

In Intro Week and the first week of term, the Students’ Union hosts loads of events, like the freshers’ fair. This is an event held on campus and is massively popular with all students. At the fair, you’ll find stands occupied by loads of different companies (Domino’s, Nandos, and ASOS are regulars), who will be giving out loads of freebies and hosting different games to take part in (often with prizes). Freshers’ fair is ideal for a day out with your new flatmates, and maybe even a way to get your hands on some store cupboard essentials! The freshers’ fair is usually held in the Octagon Centre, right next door to the Students Union. You can find out what events are being held this year by clicking here.

Another thing you can do during freshers’ week is get to know your university clubs and societies, and you can do this by attending the club and society fair during freshers’ week. Joining societies is a great way to get involved in extra-curricular activities and expand your group of friends. Societies usually have a small fee to join (mostly they’re around £5), but after joining you’ll be invited to all events hosted by the society. Find a list of societies at Sheffield here.

During freshers’ week, it is inevitable that you’re going to end up on a few nights out. Moving to a new city, you might not be massively clued up on where to go. A safe bet is to look towards your new Students Union. At Sheffield, we’re lucky enough to have an SU that puts on loads of club nights during freshers’ week (and all year round) – these are a great place to meet fellow freshers, get to know campus and the safe bet to have a good night. If a night out isn’t your thing, there’s still loads to do – the SU has its own cinema, and this year is hosting its own street food market!

I hope this post has been useful and answered some questions you might have had about freshers’ week, but most importantly… remember to enjoy it!

The lessons I learned at university

By James Dylag, BA Business Management

When you’re a student you won’t only learn about your chosen subject, but you’ll also plenty of life lessons – here’s my top three takeaways from my time as a student.

Something I learned very quickly was the importance of being organised. This applies to several aspects of student life – from organising lecture notes right the way down to organising your meals for the week. University is unlike sixth form/college where you are given continual guidance from a teacher, instead you have to do a fair bit of independent study. To ensure this is productive and you stay on top of what you have to do, you should always set aside some time every week to organise your lecture notes in a way that suits you and prepare for the upcoming week. Having done this, and soon to be embarking on my own career, it’s a practise I want (and need) to keep up!

Starting university is a nerve-wracking thing, however it is really important to just get stuck in. This brings me to my second lesson – don’t be worried to get involved! When you first start, all the people you meet will be nervous themselves and will sometimes be looking for someone to break the ice… if you follow this lesson – this can be you! Being an active member is important in both a university and workplace setting. I completed a summer internship in my second year, and we were continually required to work alongside colleagues on group projects and presentations. In my first year of university, I tried all sorts of activities which built my confidence in a group setting and allowed me to transition into the working environment with ease.

My final, and arguably most important lesson learned from being a student was the ability to discipline myself. Living away from home, with your friends and in a city is great, but the main reason why you are there is to gain a degree – and to do this you must remain disciplined throughout your studies. Setting time aside to study instead of doing social activities is not always easy, but it is nearly always worth it. In my first year, I took a relaxed approach to my studying, however, during second and third year I really got my head down and prioritised my studies, which is reflected in the grades I achieved. Luckily the university has several libraries where you’ll usually find at least one of your friends. This means that revision breaks can be spent socialising which really does break up the long days in the library! Being disciplined is a trait that can be transferred into the workplace when meeting tight deadlines and completing your designated tasks – and a lesson that helped me achieve the grades that I wanted.

Everyone’s time at university is different, and you’ll learn lots about life, your subject, and yourself along the way. It is important to recognise all of these little lessons and incorporate them into your everyday life, which will equip you with the right skills to continue to progress!

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!

Why you shouldn’t be worried coming to Sheffield as an overseas student

By May Than Thar Cho, BA Accounting and Financial Management

Coming to university and starting afresh can be extremely daunting, especially when you are half a world away from home. Most times, your mind will wander and you’ll eventually start worrying about things. Here’s a list of some of the things that I worried about before I began, how I overcame them and why they should be the least of your concerns!

Making friends

The question on everyone’s minds. Will I like the people I meet? Will they like me? Will I make new friends? I kid you not – you’ll be making new friends before you even realise it. There are so many people coming in from all over the UK and all over the world. You’re in a position where you know nobody and nothing about the city. But everyone is in the same position too! Even if initiating conversations with people is out of your comfort zone, don’t hide away when someone approaches you (someone definitely will!) and you’ll find making new friends is as easy as ABC.

The university also runs an Orientation Week before term starts and I personally think it’s an amazing way to get settled in and meet new people (I’m still very good friends with so many people I met over Orientation Week). You can follow this link to find out more!

Being homesick

I’ll be honest, it’s easy to fall into homesickness. While calling your family and friends from home offers you comfort, you should also try finding other ways to help ease it. What I have found helpful is surrounding myself with new people. Spend a lot of time with your new friends, join societies and participate in the different activities arranged by the university. Soon, you’ll really start appreciating a new part of your life here and you’ll feel at home in no time!

Communication

When you are not from an English-speaking country, you may find it hard to fully express yourself or perhaps, you may even be feeling shy to talk to people. But don’t use this as an excuse to not speak English. Don’t be afraid to try! If anything, people will help you if you struggle and this way, it makes it a lot easier for you to pick up the language. ELTC at the university also offers English Language Support for users of all proficiencies you can follow this link to check it out!

Missing food

It’s very common to start missing your traditional food but worry not, Sheffield has a huge selection of international cuisines: from all types of Asian, European and Middle Eastern, so you’re bound to find something that satisfies your taste buds! Our Shop in the Students’ Union also has a wide selection of international products and there is also a load of supermarkets selling international products around the city so you can always try cooking your traditional meal by yourself!

Fitting in

You’re being thrown into a country with a completely different culture. It’s not surprising you are wondering how you would fit in the picture. But don’t let this hold you back from trying to socialise with people from different backgrounds. Instead, take this as an opportunity to explore cultures you otherwise would not have experienced. Just be yourself, share your culture, and learn theirs! Despite the cultural differences, another thing I have found is sharing similar hobbies or interests makes conversations more effortless and helps you blend in quicker!

How to balance university work

By James Dylag, BA Business Management

Coming to university is a big jump from A-Levels! Not only are you now living independently, but you’re also in charge of your own learning. This blog post is all about how to balance university work, with all the other things you’ll know want to do as a student!

My first tip would be to start doing any work you have as soon as you get it. Whist it might seem like the deadline is ages away (and it might well be) time goes fast when you’re at uni! Even if you don’t start writing the essay, you can start doing your reading early and noting down any quotes that you think will be useful when actually writing your essay. If you do this, when you come to write the essay you’ll basically just be filling in the gaps and padding out what you already have. This makes the process so much quicker and easier!

One of the mistakes I made in first year was not using the gaps between lectures efficiently. There were days where I’d have two or three hours between my first and second lectures, and pretty much every time I would walk back to Endcliffe or go out for lunch. Two years later in third year, in each of these gaps you’ll find me in the library. It is a much better use of time, and it means when you do get home after uni you can just relax!

Doing work with friends is also something that really helps me, especially revision. I think it is really useful to be able to talk to others about what you’re doing and hear what they’re doing. This can take the pressure of all the revision and reading if you divide topics/readings up between your group of friends. Revision breaks are also much more of a break when you’re with you friends!

Timetabling has really helped me with my university work. If you set aside certain days, afternoons or mornings for specific modules it creates a structure for your work, which I find really useful. Just make sure you stick to this timetable!

I hope these tips have been useful, good luck with your studies!

How to look after your money at university

By James Dylag, BA Business Management

Surviving on a student budget can at times be challenging, but there are ways to make living more manageable, without too much compromise. Here, you’ll find my top money saving tips.

One thing that has really helped me budget during my time at university was having two bank accounts. I had my primary bank account, which is where my loan etc. was paid into, and I then had a second account which I topped up weekly. I personally opted for a Monzo account as my secondary account. The Monzo app is really great – it shows you where you’re spending your money, how much your spending, and if you’re on track to have any money left over at the end of the week. Being able to closely monitor your money through the Monzo app really helped me be more conscious of my spending decisions. It’s free to open a Monzo account and is all done online extra ease!

Another tip which I genuinely believe has saved me hundreds of pounds is leaving my card at home for a night out. Instead, I decide how much I want to spend and take that amount of cash out with me – that way you’ll only have a poorly head, not a poorly bank account. Sheffield also has Uber, so if you do run out of money on your night out, fear not you’ll still be able to get home – just pay on the Uber app.

Being a student means that we get exclusive discounts at most retailers. To unlock this host of discounts, make sure you have a Unidays account. Unidays operates through an app, which gives you access to discounts from a multitude of shops – easing the cost of buying yourself the things that you need! You can sign up to Unidays as soon as you have your Sheffield email address!

One thing that still surprises me in my final year is the cost of university level text books. They can set you back up to £50 (don’t worry though, you don’t have to buy textbooks for every module). A way to save money on the cost of textbooks is to look out for society sales. This is where a given society will organise a book sale, where second and third year students can sell their textbooks on to first years or second years alike. For example, the management society, ManSoc, has a book sale every semester in the management school, where students sell on last year’s text books. Make sure you join the relevant society and look out for these sales!

Living on a student budget can be tough, but being thrifty and saving money where you can will really ease the pressure of money – and mean you can still have all the fun that you should be having at uni!

Accommodation at Sheffield

By Will Szabo, BA Business Management

In this blog post I will be telling you about the different accommodation you will have in your time as a student, offering first hand advice and tips.

In first year, most students stay in halls of residence, which we call ‘halls’. You can choose whether this is a catered flat, where you pay extra to get your meals provided in a food hall, or self-catered, where you are provided with a kitchen and left to cook for yourself. Then you choose between a single or double bed and en suite or shared bathroom. Sheffield’s accommodation has come in the top 5 in the UK in the Times Higher Education Student Experience Survey from 2012-2018, so you’re in safe hands whatever you choose – you just need to consider what will suit you best.

Student Halls

There are 3 different 1^st year accommodation villages;

Endcliffe
Ranmoor
City

I stayed in Endcliffe village in the Curbar building. In Endcliffe and Ranmoor, all the buildings are named after famous places in Sheffield like Curbar, Derwent and Howden. Endcliffe and Ranmoor provide a family and ‘village’ experience, where you are surrounded by thousands of other students all in the same boat as you, starting university and looking to meet people. In freshers week you meet hundreds of different people including all the other flats in your building.

The Edge Bar

On both sites, you have access to the social hub The Edge located in Endcliffe. The Edge is a student bar selling food and drink with plenty of sofas and tv’s that show sports fixtures and big events! It’s a great place to meet people and an even better place to sit back and relax. It is also in the same building where catered students will eat.

Your room

The majority of rooms are single bed with en suite however you can opt for a double bed for more money or a shared bathroom for cheaper.

The first year accommodation is nice, but to make it feel like a home you have to make it your own – I recommend lights, pictures, posters – thingsthat make it special to you. In my room I put a clothing rail, a tv and a pull up bar in there. This is what the standard room will look like, with an en suite bathroom to the left.

As long as there is space, you can stay in student accommodation for your second year, however a lot of students choose to find a house with their friends.

Private housing

When I chose who to live with in second year, I ended up living with lads from the flat below me, who I met in freshers week and instantly clicked with. This was quite an easy choice as we all got on very well and were all on different courses, with all different day to day plans meaning no one would ever get sick of another.

Finding a house

In terms of actually looking for the house, there are so many student property shops that do everything for you. In Broomhill, the closest town to Endcliffe, there are over 8 different property shops!

When choosing where to live, you will be able to ask advice from older years, but the main places are Broomhill and Crookesmoor, with others choosing more Hallam mixed areas like Broomhall and Ecclesall Road. All areas are very good and highly dominated by students. Many focus their choice on where their course building is and the distance from the house.

Following years

You will have so much choice of who to live with, whether it’s your course mates, people you lived with in first year, or mates from sports/societies. After second year, many of your friends will take years out studying abroad or on placement, and you could even choose to do that yourself. You may also want to change your house, or the area that you’re living in. This all means that you’ll be changing your house for your last year, which many people I know are planning to do. Luckily, I love where I live and am planning to stay in my current house in my third year, but we have had to find three other people to live with us, due to three of my current housemates going to do placement years.

I hope that this has given you some insight into accommodation at Sheffield! If you want to see the accommodation in person, you can go on accommodation tours at any of our open days.

A guide to Sheffield nightlife

By Aaron Probert, BA Business Management

Today’s blog is going to give you a tour of the best places to go out as a student in Sheffield. If nightlife is a big selling point for you, you won’t be disappointed in Sheffield – there really is something for everyone!

Sheffield has the number 1 Students’ Union in the UK, and if you visit you’ll understand why. It has its own nightclub that runs the best student nights out! Every Saturday night at the SU is Poptarts, a night that always sells out. You can expect to get a huge dose of throwbacks and singalongs, from ‘Wonderwall’ by Oasis, to ‘A Thousand Miles’ by Vanessa Carlton. This is always a classic night, but if that’s not your thing there’s loads more happening, like Tuesday club, my favourite SU night! This features a variety of live artists every week, such as drum and bass with the likes of Royal T, Flava D and Andy C or you can dance the night away with Horse Meat Disco and SoulJam.

Even outside the SU there’s plenty of things to do. West Street is a road in Sheffield’s centre that has so many pubs, bars and clubs with loads of different music tastes – if you join a sports society, chances are you’ll be seeing a lot of it when you do bar crawls! There’s West Street Live which is open till 5am and has a range of weird and wonderful drinks that are easy on the bank account. Next door is Tiger Works, where you can get the famous ‘Five Pound Round’ and sing your heart out with your housemates on the karaoke. And best of all its all cheap!

If drinking isn’t your scene, or you just need a break for a night, there are plenty of places to wind down with some amazing food. Peddler Night Market is always a great shout – this is a monthly event held in Kelham Island, a fashionable area not too far from student living areas. The Peddler Market has live music, great street food and lots of little pop-up shops. There’s so much to choose from you’ll never get bored of the food selection, and occasionally they do a vegetarian and vegan night where the food is so good, even carnivores will be converted.

With so much to do in Sheffield, it’s important to get the right balance of going out and studying. My advice is to draft a timetable allocating a set number of hours each week to be in the library or studying at home. That way, you’re always able to stay on top of assessments and up to date with the curriculum, preventing you falling behind or missing deadlines. If you get healthy habits started when you start in first year, it’s easier to carry them on throughout your degree. Plus, if you work hard in the day, that night out just feels even better!

Everything I’ve learnt about Sheffield over the years

By Rosalie Williams, BA Business Management with Employment Experience

Being in my final year of my course, I feel like I’ve learned quite a few things about Sheffield over the years that I wish I’d known when I’d started. Here they are!

Our SU is AWESOME
Before I arrived I had no idea how fabulous our Students’ Union (SU) is in comparison to other universities. Whenever I visited on open days, I struggled to understand what a university’s Students’ Union actually was, since each university was so different. But, after visiting my friends at universities across the country, I finally realised how lucky we are! Our SU has shops, cafés, restaurants, a cinema, various night-time events (which are definitely some of the best in all of Sheffield!), cash points, and various support and advice services which you can pop into. It’s no surprise it’s been voted the top SU in the country ten years in a row.

Amazing food and coffee at the Steam Yard!

There’s no need for Starbucks
There are so many cute, independent coffee shops in Sheffield. Whether you need a study break, or you want to go on day out with your friends, Sheffield has so many cafés and restaurants that you’ll never run out of new places to go! My personal favourite – and the one which my friends and I always visit – is the Steam Yard. It’s only around a 10-minute walk from the Students’ Union and serves the best coffee and doughnuts.

Compact = convenient
Sheffield can feel small compared to other UK cities like London, Birmingham and Manchester, but I see it as a positive as you’re never too far from anything. It’s an easy walk into town from your first year student accommodation, and the libraries, uni gym and supermarkets are so close by. Not that you need to go to the gym with Sheffield’s infamous seven hills… a short walk can sometimes feel like a hike!

Visiting the Peak District is easier than you think
Despite always wanting to go, it took me until my third year to actually visit the Peak District (which is something I’m totally embarrassed about!). The UK’s first national park, the Peak District, has a host of hiking trails and there are regular buses and trains from Sheffield. There’s so much to explore, and apart from your travel costs it’s a pretty cheap day out!

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!