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Resources for students and their supporters

Student and their supporter having a discussion

We know that starting university is a big step, one that often begins a long time before you finally arrive on campus. On this page you will find resources, tips and advice for you and your supporters to aid you with your transition to University life.

The guide below will help you to understand the terminology used at university and how to access support from the University of Southampton.

Moving from college/sixth form to university

Parents, Guardians and Supporters Chats

We know that going to University can be a big change. We offer the opportunity for parents, guardians or supporters to have a 15-minute chat with one of our team to answer any general queries or concerns you may have regarding student support. Please be aware that we will be unable to discuss specific student situations unless permission has been granted to do so by the student.

How to arrange a chat

If you are interested in having a chat with us, please send an email to [email protected] using the following subject line: Parents, Guardians and Supporters Chat – SDI Transition Programme.

In your email, please let us know your specific queries so that we can best support you in advance of the chat. A member of our team will then be in touch to arrange a mutually convenient time to have a conversation.

How prospective students can provide third party consent

If students would like to provide third party consent, they will need to send an email to [email protected] with the following information:

Subject line: Third party consent for the Student Disability and Inclusion Team.

The student’s name (and ID number if applicable/known).
The full name and contact details of the third party (telephone number and/or email address).
The nature of the relationship to the third party (i.e. mother, father, guardian, carer).
Confirmation that the student is happy for us to liaise with their named third party.

This email should come from the email address the student supplied on their UCAS application.

How current students can provide third party consent

Once a student is enrolled onto their course, they will need to complete the third party consent form for current students. Consent will last for the current academic year and will be withdrawn on 31st July in the relevant year. This means students will need to complete the form each academic year should they still wish to grant us consent to liaise with third parties.

Tips on how to prepare for university study

Preparing for study

It is natural to feel anxious about starting university and there are some things that you can do to help prepare yourself.

It is beneficial to obtain as much information as possible. You could try to find out the following:

How many lectures, seminars or additional learning appointments will you need to attend?
What assessed work will you have in your first year? Presentations? Group work? Examination? Essays?
Are your lectures recorded and put on the University’s internal portal, Blackboard ?
What books, articles or other published work would be useful for you to read to help with your course?

You could find this information through:

Your Student Office .
Blackboard .
An information pack given to you when you arrive at the University.
A course handbook.
The Library.
Your Personal Academic Tutor (PAT).

Planning

It is also worth thinking about how you will plan your own study, as organisation is important.

You could:

Plan a study schedule. Organising your study can make you feel more in control and reduce stress levels.
Download apps to help with this.
Try to stay away from distractions but remember to reward yourself when you have achieved a goal.
Use a written planner or online calendar to keep a note of commitments (including personal ones) to help you find a good balance between study and relaxing.
Make little personal goals and deadlines to achieve when working on a larger project.
You could also set your deadlines for any assignments 1-2 days before the actual assignment is due. This gives you some time to make any amendments you need to and also gives you the time to complete this should any unexpected life events occur.
Build a routine that works for you – how long can you concentrate on a task before needing a break? In which environment do you work at your best (bedroom, library, common area)?
Make the most of resources available to you. The Library has access to a range of study skills support that all students can utilise. Student Disability and Inclusion also run specialist study skills support sessions to aid those with a specific learning difference and those that identify as neurodivergent.

Independence

Studying at university level involves ‘active learning’, which means that you will have more responsibility for your own study.
You will also have less contact time with teaching staff than perhaps you are used to at school/college, as you will be expected to take control of your own learning.
There will be more emphasis on researching areas yourself, being self-motivated and managing deadlines. Please do not let this worry you though; you will need to give yourself the time and resources to learn how to do this.

Wellbeing tips to help students prepare for university life

Looking after yourself

Everyone responds to change in a different way - be kind to yourself and understand that other people will be going through similar doubts and anxieties as you are. It will take time to fully adapt and to develop your coping strategies.

It is important to look after yourself physically and mentally and to engage with the five ways to wellbeing . You could:

Try to ensure you sleep well and establish a regular sleeping pattern.
Exercise regularly - even gentle exercise can boost the mood and relieve stress.
Eat a healthy and balanced diet.
Take time out from studying to make time for your hobbies and interests.

Finding the right balance

It’s important to find the right balance between study, leisure activities and the domestic tasks associated with looking after yourself.

Remember that the pace of university is quite different to what you may be used to, and you will most likely be moving through course materials quickly, which can make you feel left behind. The expectation is that you will be completing your own reading and research in-between lectures and seminars but make sure that you do not over-work yourself. Rest breaks and leisure activities are important to ensure a healthy balance and to help maintain your wellbeing.

You can always seek help and support from your Personal Academic Tutor as well as the academic staff of each module you study.

Getting used to your surroundings

It is not an easy thing to move away from familiarity. Ensure that you take the time to explore your new environment to ease yourself in. Check out the University's online Campus tour video where you can prepare in advance to find places you will need to use. Or if you are able to, come visit the campus for yourself. We suggest finding your faculty office, the library, The Student Hub (where you can also access the Student Disability and Inclusion and Student Wellbeing teams), the Students’ Union, shops, cafés and toilet facilities.

Expanding your social circles

Making new friends can be daunting and a challenge in the first few weeks. Make sure you look after yourself and ensure you take things at your own pace. Here are a few suggestions on how to start engaging with other students:

If you attend an on-campus lecture and sit down near someone in a lecture hall, or meet a fellow student through an online platform, why not introduce yourself and talk about how excited (or perhaps nervous) you are about beginning the course. You both have a common interest in this subject, so it is a great place to start.
Leave your door open whilst you are occupying your room – this gives others the opportunity to have a chat with you at your door, to get to know you better.
You could get involved in both in-person and online activities or events that interest you, such as joining a society – this is a great first way to meet people with similar interests.

Homesickness

It’s very common to feel homesick or lonely, especially if this is the first time you have lived away from home. Suddenly you are in new living and studying environments and you are away from your old friends, family and support network. Just knowing that this is normal can be a great help and you have time to think about this and discuss this with your family before you join university. Just thinking of a few strategies that might help you settle in could make a real difference. Here are a few suggestions:

Check out our homesickness page on our website.
Why not offer to make your new flatmates a cuppa or make dinner together – they may be feeling homesick too.
Fill your room with familiar things from home and enjoy making this environment your own. Perhaps pin up a poster or two or some pictures of friends and loved ones.
Keep yourself nice and busy for a while – enjoy socialising safely and consider signing up to a society or pick up a new hobby you’ve always wanted to try.
Chat to a Wellbeing Advisor .
Arrange for support from an Inclusive Support Ambassador who may help you to settle into university life.
You may find yourself looking at friends’ posts on social media, which can escalate the loneliness. Remember that people usually only post the positives which can leave false impressions, so try to take social media with a pinch of salt!
Ask your new flatmates if they’d like to go on a walk to explore the town centre or the campus with you.
Remember that you will be exposed to new values, beliefs and cultures that perhaps you are not used to in your home environment. Try to be open-minded and listen to others’ ideas if they differ from your own and take a genuine interest in other people’s lives.
There can be a pressure to do well academically as well as the pressure to be sociable. Make sure that you find coping mechanisms to reduce stress levels and try not to overload yourself with social commitments near deadlines and exams.

Further Resources

For further useful resources on how to better prepare yourself for university life, please check out the links below:

Links to external websites

The University cannot accept responsibility for external websites.

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