Our students and expert staff have teamed up to share their top tips to help you prepare for university life. The resources on this page will help you plan your next steps before starting at Manchester. You will find what support is available and learn some practical steps to help you prepare.
All students: Welcome to the University of Manchester.
Student 1: Congratulations on making the next step of your journey. No matter who you are, where you're from, and how you got here, you are now an important member of the student community.
Student 2: You're probably feeling a lot of excitement and nerves, which is very normal, which is why we are making this entire resource to help.
Student 3: We are a group of students who are working at the university's library here to support you, whenever you need. I really would like to share the top tips that we could have had during our first days of university.
Student 4: It is so important that our community have a healthy understanding of consent. It is really easy to think of it only in terms of relationships, but it is something we use every single day. Whilst consent can be a really simple 'yes means yes' and 'no means no', it can be a lot more complicated in real life, we have to take into account other people's expectations, experiences and their values.
Student 5: Whilst we are a community we are also unique individuals. As well as looking out for others, you need to also keep an eye on yourself. We have all found the start of university really exciting, but it has its bumps, and feeling when those bumps are happening and even more importantly, knowing how you can begin to deal with them is going to be key. It might be work, money or your health, physically and mentally. It might be something you have not experienced before or something you brought with you. It might be a feeling that happens right away or creeps up on you as the semester moves along, this year or even the next. It does not matter. It just matters that you know you are not alone, and you have got the whole community with you.
Your first few months at university are a key time to build good habits, settle in, and take advantage of the exciting new opportunities that surround you.
An alternative guide to freshers
In this podcast, the Library Student Team share their personal experiences - covering topics you might not often hear about, such as living at home, choosing not to drink, balancing part-time work, and navigating changes in friendships and family relationships.
Alternatively, read a transcript of this podcast on our blog.
100 Days of University
Students from each of the University's three Faculties have shared their reflections on the first 100 days each with an accompanying podcast discussion.
Alternatively, read a transcript of this podcast on our blog.
1. Faculty of Humanities students
Alternatively, read a transcript of this podcast on our blog.
2. Faculty of Science and Engineering students
Alternatively, read a transcript of this podcast on our blog.
3. Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health students
Alternatively, read a transcript of this podcast on our blog.
Universities have their own unique vocabulary, so our team has broken down the terms and phrases you’re likely to hear used in everyday conversation.
As you settle into university life, you’ll discover a number of helpful services. Here are a few you might find especially useful throughout the year.
There are RLAs at every Halls of Residence. RLAs are postgraduate students or University staff members who are there to help. You can learn more about the ResLife team in your halls on the ResLife information page.
Counselling, mental health and wellbeing
If you’re having a difficult time, the following support services are available:
Find out more on the Counselling Service website.
Disability Advisory and Support Service (DASS)
Contact DASS if you received support at school, such as extended time in exams, or special equipment etc. DASS can help with practical support, equipment and advice. Get in touch with them early so everything is in place for when you start your studies.
This Student Support website lists all the support available at the University. It’s a good site to bookmark and refer back to in the future.
Student 1: Making the jump into studying at university can be intimidating. It is more independent and less structured than what many new students are used to.
Student 2: But don't worry, we have lots of support for you and your studies across campus, from your unit coordinators to your school student support hub, to your academic advisor and the library and the Students Union.
Student 1: Also, understanding your course structure will save you so much time and stress. At the beginning of your course, it really helps to read through the handbook.
Student 2: Yeah, I use mine to note down key dates in terms of assessments and exams and look at coursework deadlines at the start of each semester.
Student 1: Once you feel prepped for the year, it's all about engaging with the information that you're given. You'll have seminars and lectures to go to, plenty of online materials to access any course specific resources.
Student 2: It can feel like a lot but remember there are lots of ways to manage your workload. It might be helpful to ask questions during seminars, participate during your lectures, and attend officers that your professors set up.
Student 1: And I joined a study group for a lecture that I was struggling with because I find it easier to talk to friends. I also attended a library workshop on note taking so I could prepare for assignments as I was learning.
Student 2: In the end, attending university is a big time of change and development.
Student 1: If you treat learning about yourself like you're learning on a course, you'll be set up to succeed.
Take control of your learning at university and let our resources guide you through your next steps. Read some ‘top tips’ from current students, who have all successfully made the leap to higher education.
Strategies for effective learning
This guide will provide you with some tips to support studying strategically, as well as giving you techniques to check your understanding of the material you've learnt.
At university you will need to work alongside new peers, and group projects can often be challenging without the familiarity of old friends. Let our Library Student Team take you through their 'top tips' for group work.
The Library Student Team discuss some of the assessments they have faced and how they went about tackling them.
With the freedom and independence of university life comes the added responsibility of transitioning to higher education, understanding your new environment, and considering where you want your studies to take you. To help you get prepared, our students have shared their expertise on managing the new workload, reflecting on their goal setting and challenging their thinking about impostor syndrome and the jump from college.
Our students offer their thoughts on building healthy university habits from the start. Whether it's adjusting to new study spaces, balancing part-time work and prioritising your own wellbeing, you can hear from people that have been there and done it.
Impostor syndrome
In this podcast the Library Student Team discuss Impostor Syndrome, how to recognise it and what to do about it.
Alternatively, you can read a transcript of the podcast on our blog.
Throughout your time at the University of Manchester, you will be supported to develop the digital skills and confidence you will need for your studies and future career.
Developing your digital skills can enable you to make the most of your time at university and could even boost your degree result. For example, you can develop your ability to analyse information, design solutions to problems, organise your thinking and influence others.
Being able to use technology effectively is frequently listed as one of the top graduate skills sought by employers. Most jobs involve using technology to do the role more effectively or efficiently. At Manchester, we will help you prepare for the future and provide you with the opportunities and support you need.
Once you have your University login, you'll be able to access a wide range of support and development opportunities including:
Our University is committed to digital equity and you can learn more about this in the Student Digital Equity Charter, co-owned with the University of Manchester Students’ Union.
Student 1: Whether you are new to the city or whether you will continue to call it home, you can now proudly call yourself part of the University of Manchester community.
Student 2: You are not alone in your journey here. For many students, this is their first time away from home, their families and support networks. For others it can still be a fresh start many new experiences to navigate.
Student 2: Community is at the heart of everything we do here in Manchester, after all, there are over 60,000 students here at the university!
Student 1: There’ll never be a shortage of opportunities to meet new friends, build or join social circles and communities, so it’s a good idea to throw yourself into everything the university has to offer!
Student 1: The Students’ Union has loads of events and societies which you can enjoy either in-person and online, this will allow you to make new connections while doing the things you enjoy. So don’t be afraid to come to a freshers fair or shop around online on the student union website.
Student 1: The university community can also be built from the comfort of your own home. The friends you make, the study groups you attend, and shoulders you lean on will all form your community by the time you graduate.
Student 2: That being said, the University of Manchester has the largest student population in the UK so don’t be afraid to leave the student bubble and explore what the city itself has to offer.
Student 1: For example: Platt Fields Park in Fallowfield, where a lot of our students live, has a community garden where you can volunteer or grab lunch, a bike shop run by local enthusiasts, and loads of other initiatives for you to get involved in
Student 2: Take your time trying new things and remember people are here to support you every step of the way!
Every year thousands of Manchester students get involved in their local, national and international communities through volunteering. They learn new skills, make friends, feel good by helping others and get to explore Manchester. Some also have the chance to explore further afield with Manchester’s overseas volunteering programme! Whatever you study, whatever your interest, there’s something for you.
The University provides lots of help to get involved, including lists of opportunities with local organisations, support for student projects and one-off taster opportunities to try. Visit our website for more information
What is it like to volunteer?
Listen to students talk about their volunteering experiences in the video below or visit our blog to read our students reflections on volunteering
Student 1: Volunteering isn't just for people who want to volunteering it’s also they can give you an insight into a completely different area that you hadn’t had the chance to explore at university.
Student 2: My favourite aspect about volunteering is just that bonding with the children when I volunteer at a primary school it’s always fun to see that you make a difference and an impact.
Student 3: My favourite part about Stellify was the volunteering hours. I didn’t think I would enjoy it as much. Even though it’s 40 hours, I’ve already completed more than that.
Student 4: Volunteering you meet people you wouldn’t usually interact with at university and outside of university as well, depending on what project you’re working on.
Student 5: It’s just good sometimes to just go outside of the classroom and do something whilst you’re also being helpful and just taking the time to do something goo for people whether it’s for the environment of helping the elderly and it’s just a good way to give back so I just think that’s why you should do volunteering.
Explore current volunteering opportunities.
University is a time of growth, discovery, and learning—not just academically, but personally too. The following podcasts from the Library Student Team explore what it means to be your authentic self at university.
Finding joy as a student
In this podcast the Library Student Team discuss how to find joy as a student. Coming to university can be an exciting new adventure, but it also comes with stress and expectation. The Library Student Team discuss their experiences of this, and offer advice on how to look after your mental wellbeing. They also share their favourite ways to find moments of joy being a student in Manchester, whether it's joining a society or making the most of the many things the city has to offer.
Alternatively, you can read the transcript on our blog.
No singular student
In this podcast, the Library Student Team share their unique experiences as students at Manchester, including perspectives on commuter life, neurodiversity, caregiver responsibilities, mature student challenges, religious backgrounds and more.
Alternatively, you can read the transcript on our blog.
Our amazing Careers Service is the place to go if you need to balance part-time work alongside your studies. They can also help with internships and employment after you graduate.
Here you can find lots of helpful advice about applying for jobs, starting your career and gaining experience.
Once you’ve registered as a student, you’ll be able to activate your CareerConnect account. This is where you can find job vacancies, employer events, appointments and more.
Look for part-time jobs via Careers Connect—it's an excellent way to earn extra money and gain valuable work experience while you study. Listen to our careers advisors on how to get started:
Introductions
Careers Advisor 1: Hi, I’m Anna.
Careers Advisor 2: Hi, I’m Ben.
Q1: How can I find a part-time job?
Anna: The best way to try and find part-time work as a student is either through the Careers Service’s vacancy platform, which is called Career Connect. You can find details on our social or via the website as to how you set up your account. Any part-time job opportunities you can get through the Career Service will be listed on there and you can search according to different criteria, but you also might want to check out the SU (Students’ Union) Job Shop, which also promotes part-time jobs for students. And you can either visit them in the SU or again, they’ve got a website where you can refer to how you sign up for their details.
Q2: How many hours should I be working at my part-time job?
Anna: In terms of how many hours you should be working in a part-time job, we generally suggest that you shouldn’t be working any more than 15 hours a week alongside your studies. It’s also worth bearing in mind that if you’re an international student, there might be restrictions attached to your visa around how many hours you’re allowed to work a week. So it’s always worth checking that to make sure you’re not contravening any rules around your visa.
Q3: What are employers looking for?
Ben: Enthusiasm. More than anything else, they’re looking for people who can come in with a smile every time, particularly if you’re just going to be there for limited hours of the week. So make sure you can deliver on that.
Q4: How can I balance my part-time job with the demands of study?
Ben: That’s tricky because different courses are going to require different things of you in terms of your working week. What I’d say is that you’ve got to balance up your course timetable first and then look at the demands of your part-time hours to see what you can fit in.
Q5: Can I find a part-time job related to my course?
Anna: We’re often asked whether you can find part-time jobs relating to your course. That is possible. Sometimes we have academic colleagues across the university who are looking for assistance with research projects, so that would directly relate to you program. But the other thing we would suggest is if you go on Career Connect, you can search according to different criteria. So that might be your area of study and then it would bring up any opportunities that are particulary relevant to you and what you’re studying at the University.
Q6: Is it better to have a part-time job or do volunteer work?
Ben: That's tricky. You get different things from different experiences. Volunteering and part-time work will both look great on your CV, but for different reasons. Volunteering says something about you and your desire to contribute to a cause and not be paid for it. Part-time work says a lot about your work ethic and what you're prepared to get out of your time at university.
Q7: Does part-time work count as good experience?
Anna: Part-time work is a really essential way of gaining skills and experience while you're at university, alongside the things you're doing through your studies. It's really highly valued by recruiters because it gives you something to talk about in your application and your interview. So we really strongly recommend that students apply for and undertake work experience and part-time work where possible.
Q8: What if I can't find anything that's advertised?
Ben: Shake a leg — it's time to go out and look for something else. The best example I can think of is when I was sat in a café, and somebody came in with a CV and said, “Could I get some part-time work, please?” The owner picked up an apron and said, “Do you want to do a work trial right now?” And they did, and they got the job. It was a great example of somebody going out and getting what they needed.
Q9: Are there part-time jobs on campus?
Anna: We have quite a few opportunities to work part-time on campus, and that can be in a variety of different teams or areas. For example, our Food on Campus and hospitality teams often take students through to help with specific events or conferences. Again, through departments, you might find there are short-term opportunities to help with specific projects — in the residences, in the SU. So again, through CareerConnect and the SU job shop, we advertise anything that comes through to us that's based on campus, and there are lots of things we regularly advertise throughout the academic year.
Q10: What would you say to ease students' worries about part-time work?
Ben: Begin the process. You won’t know what’s out there until you start looking, and you won’t truly know what you’re capable of until you step into your first role. So please make a start. I’m hoping it won’t be the end very quickly, and that the next role you take on will make you feel better about the whole process.
Follow @uomcareers on Instagram for the latest vacancies, news and advice.
Student 1: One of the things that makes university such a rich and rewarding experience is meeting people who come from all over the world, with diverse cultures and experiences that you might never have encountered before.
Student 2: But one of the things you might be feeling is feeling overwhelmed after meeting so many new people and planning for events to meet so many more. Remember every person has different expectations for their social life at university and this can feel challenging to navigate through all of this.
Student 1: with the presence of social media and keeping up with group chats students can either feel like they’re either glued to their phone or missing out on the university experience.
Student 2: Lots of people feel this innate pressure to socialise right off the bat, but remember if your first few attempts don't work out well, you’ll still have loads of opportunities to Socialise at University.
Student 1: One of the most important parts of relationship building is setting boundaries and prioritising your wellbeing.
Student 2: Remember, you don’t have to go beyond your personal boundaries or limits just to make friends, it’s completely acceptable to: leave an event early, choose the events that only appeal to you, or stay sober for a night out.
Student 1: There are so many different societies and social groups, so you’ll never have to settle with one you’re not comfortable.
Student 2: boundaries can change over time. So, check on your friends. If someone seems uncomfortable, reach out to them and make sure they’re ok. Advocating for a new friends needs can build strong, lasting friendships!
Student 1: Relationships at uni aren’t always easy. But with time, care, and support, they can be the relationships that you hold on to for life.
Student 2: By staying true to your values, respecting boundaries, and seeking support, when necessary, you’ll learn a lot about others, and even more about yourself.
Your wellbeing is important and we want to make sure that you feel supported while at university. We’ve put together a collection of resources to help get you started.
A central place for you to access support services and resources to support your day-to-day wellbeing and find answers to common queries.
You can seek support from a specialist, confidential advisor or report an experience through Report and Support.
The Advice and Response Team provide specialist and trauma-informed support for safeguarding and supporting students experiencing a range of complex and challenging circumstances.