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Uni is a great time to socialise – check out what life at Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬has to offer; get involved in extra-curricular activities like the University choir or orchestra, try out for one of Ìý´Ç°ùÌý.Ìý

- Get some great ideas from our Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬student bloggers, Hannah, '', and Kage, ''.

Starting university for the first time can be daunting, particularly the idea of making new friends and socialising but it’s not all scary!
Hannah, BA (Hons) Social Work

Most students feel homesick at some point so you’re not the only one. One of the best ways to get over homesickness is to find something you really enjoy and take the time to do it.

Getting involved with something new is a good way to make friends with the same interests as you.ÌýMaybe you've always wanted to  but never found the time – why not now? 

It won’t stop you missing your friends and family back home but the homesickness will pass.Ìý, our Students’ Union, have lots of clubs and activities to help you feel part of BU. If you're living in Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬managed accommodation, our ResLifeBU team also run lots of social activities, as well as offering ·É±ð±ô´Ú²¹°ù±ðÌý²õ³Ü±è±è´Ç°ù³Ù.

- Watch Kage's student vlog, '':

Starting uni for the first time can feel a bit daunting. Here’s my advice on ways to tackle homesickness and the support available from BU
Kage, BA (Hons) Television Production

You can always get in touch with our support teams on campus, including the Achieve@Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬team, Student Wellbeing, Faith & Reflection and SUÅ·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬Advice.

A number of students feel this way at the start of term. Think about your reasons for coming to Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬and choosing your course. What are your future career plans?

- Hannah talks about this in her student blog, '':

When deciding if university is right for you, always think about your personal circumstances and whether they fit right for you. The biggest question I had to ask myself, in order to answer ‘Is it right for me?’, was ‘Where do I see myself in 5 years’ time?’.
Hannah, BA (Hons) Social Work

If you are still having doubts make an appointment with our Achieve@Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬team or talk to your faculty team. You might also find a chat with a  helpful. Our AskBU team can help you find out who is best to talk to. Don't forget, you can talk to your parents or friends about your options too.

Having a healthy lifestyle is really important. That doesn't mean you shouldn't have fun, but try to find a good balance between the fun stuff, getting a good night’s sleep, don’t drink too much and eat as well as you can.

Too much play and not enough rest can make you feel really low, so think about your lifestyle choices. Check out the  for tips on healthy eating. Our ResLifeBU team run lots of activities throughout the year, from yoga, surfing and rock climbing, to food tasting and mindful drinking.

- Check out Jemma's ideas on her student blog, ''

Regular walks in our beautiful nearby areas allow you to keep fit for free whilst taking advantage of such stunning scenery. Physical health isn’t the only thing to look after whilst at university, your mental wellbeing is too. For some people, and it has been proven, that the gym and walks can help you to clear your mind and destress.
Jemma, BA (Hons) Communication and Media

Don’t wait until you need an appointment, take the time to  when you start at BU.

You can register with the student Medical Centre on Talbot Campus, although this is open during term time only.

- Read about how the service works on Chris's student blog, ''.

Based on campus, registering in the centre allows you to book and also cancel appointments online which comes in handy when you’ve come down with freshers flu and the last thing you want to do is catch the bus to uni and back just to book a doctors appointment. Time it right and you can roll out of a lecture and straight into the doctors surgery.
Chris, Music & Sound Production Technology

Not a great organiser? Don’t worry. The study skills area on  has loads of great information including how to manage your time effectively.Ìý

- Get some tips from our student bloggers:

• Ashleigh -
• Katie -
• Zeynep -

Getting used to the new style of independent learning that you have to adapt to when coming to uni can be difficult...Ìýidentify which methods work best for you.
Ashleigh, BSc (Hons) Geography

Having a healthy study/life balance is key for anyone's physical and mental wellbeing. Offering services across all Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬campuses, SportBU provides organised, fun and engaging fitness and sporting activities for students of all ages and abilities.

- Read Linh's blog about, '', as well as Melly's ''.

The convenient location on campus, reasonable student membership fee, regular class schedules, and friendly instructors and staff are why I chose to register for Yoga classes at SportBU.
Linh, MA Marketing Communications

 a²Ô»å BU both offer a number of student jobs as well as advertising for other local opportunities. Have a look on  to see what’s available.Ìý

- Check out our student blogs from David, '', and Kyana ''.

I would highly recommend using MyCareerHub as there are plenty of new job roles being advertised that you could apply for.
Kyana, MSc Innovation Management and Entrepreneurship

Just remember that if you are on a student loan you don’t have to repay it until you are earning over a certain threshold and even then, there is a limit to the number of years that you will have to pay.Ìý

So, although people talk about leaving university with a huge debt it’s not the same as taking out a bank loan which you will have to pay all of within a short space of time.Ìý

- Check out Matthew's student blog, ''.

Currently, most students will start paying back when their pay hits £27,295 a year, but do note this changes from time to time, and it may vary depending on what repayment plan you are on. And again, with grants, scholarships, you don’t have to pay them back!
Matthew, MSc Investigative Forensic Psychology

Studying is important but so are all the other aspects of university life. Try to find the balance between studying, socialising and taking care of yourself. You need all three elements if you are going to have a successful and enjoyable time at BU!

- Watch Emily's vlog about ''.

I think on certain busy weeks it can all seem a little too much and a bit overwhelming so I thought I’d give you my best tips on how to cope when you’re feeling like this.
Emily, BA (Hons) Television Production

If Covid-19 impacts you in any way, we are here to help.

In order to keep our community as safe as possible, anyone who has symptoms or tests positive for Covid-19 should not attend campus until they are no longer infectious or symptomatic.ÌýOur ŷÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬Coronavirus information webpage also provides Å·ÃÀÐÔ°®Æ¬guidance for our community. Please contact your Programme Support Team to advise that you are not able to attend and they will contact you with any additional course information that you may need. If you do not know who your PST is, please contact AskBU.

If you have a part-time job, or attend a placement setting, you should follow the guidance issued by your employer.Ìý

You can find the latest UK Government guidance around Covid-19 on the .Ìý

If you need some guidance about accessing BU’s IT systems, using Microsoft Teams, Zoom, or other communications tools, or managing your wellbeing when you’re online, check out our IT information pages.