Overcoming challenges as a UON student

How to overcome challenges at university

Budgeting

Money is often tight whilst studying, there is accommodation, food and bills to pay for.

Budgeting will help to reduce costs in certain areas and allow you to feel more comfortable.

When food shopping, it is important to write a list of everything that you need, this will give you something to stick to and stop you from aimlessly choosing food. Some people enjoy meal planning, as they can decide on the meals that they will cook for the week and get all of the ingredients in one shop. Look for discounts in the supermarkets and don’t always go for the first item you see, there may be cheaper options elsewhere.

Cooking

Cooking is new to a lot of people at uni. It can be time-consuming if you don’t have much experience. Batch cooking is a good way to make a meal last for multiple days. Not only does this save you time but it is cheaper because your ingredients will be spread across the week. Bring some containers to portion your meals out and you can easily reheat them as a when you want them! Using online recipes or asking friends for advice is also a great way to learn, we all start somewhere!

Meeting People

Freshers’ week is a great way to begin making new friends.

There are plenty of social events on throughout the week which allow you to learn about other people’s interests. It gives you time to interact with your flat mates if you’re in accommodation or to get to know your classmates. It is important to have patience when meeting people, it doesn’t always happen quickly but some of the best friendships are made through time.

University Support

The university offers a range of academic support to help you with your studies. You will have a personal tutor for your course who will be there to help with questions and sort out any issues that you might be having. They will arrange meetings throughout the year to follow your progress. The library has a help service which is there to support the navigation and use of the library. Academic support is also available from the Learning Development Team, they will help with academic writing and study skills.

Don’t be afraid to ask friends, lecturers or staff for advice. Everyone wants to help and give you the best university experience possible!

Find out more about support at UON

Liv West

Liv is currently studying Popular Music. She plays the oboe, saxophone and bass guitar and is currently in an indie-pop band. As well as music, she loves playing football and experimenting with fashion.