Here’s how to prepare to enter university

Open a student bank account

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Perhaps the most important thing you need to do before you start uni is to open a student bank account, and there are two good reasons for this.

You will need a bank account to get started obtain a maintenance loan – Without this, you will not be able to receive the key resources that most students rely on as their primary source of income.

Second, unlike regular bank accounts, student bank accounts are attached account overdrafts without commissions and interest. This means that during your time at the uni (and for some time after it becomes a graduate bank account), you can use the overdraft without having to pay a privilege.

Go to our comparison best student bank accounts and see what other benefits you can get (hint: free money, train cards and gift cards).

Apply for funding

We recently mentioned a maintenance loan, which is undoubtedly the most widespread source of cash for students in addition to parental contributions.

Although I would definitely recommend it application for a student loan, we should not stop there – especially as our research consistently finds that a maintenance loan is not enough to survive. There are so many additional types of funding and in most cases it is up to you to apply for it.

in many cases scholarships, scholarships and scholarships is awarded to students who meet certain criteria, such as coming from a low-income background or excelling in a particular subject. Then there are the pots of money funded by the state as it is NHS Scholarship in Allowance for students with disabilities.

But like you strange scholarships prove that almost everyone is justified something, so it’s definitely worth taking the time to check – starting with our list sources of scholarships and scholarships.

Create a budget

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It’s all for us save money here at Save the Student and there was no way you could make that list without advising you to create a budget. And depending on how busy you will be in the meantime week of refreshments, you should edit your budget before you start unido.

Don’t worry, it’s not necessarily a tow – we have a guide budget as a student it should be as easy as pie and leave you with a little more money to spend about all the essential universities.

Decide what to pack for university

No matter how well prepared you are for university, all of your plans can go wrong if you don’t pack properly.

We’re not just talking about forgetting to pack things – so many students are guilty of repackaging, eventually cluttering their university rooms with things they won’t look at twice after unpacking.

Fortunately, we are here to help you. Our proven checklist what to take to university it contains everything you need to pack, and, perhaps more importantly, it omits everything you don’t need.

Find out where you will live

By this stage, you have already applied for accommodation (if you haven’t, go for it quickly!).

If you’ve got a space or found a home for private rent, take a look around your university accommodation and does some research. This way you will be acquainted with the surroundings upon arrival.

And if you’re driving, it’s also a smart move to figure out the route and where you can leave your car – you don’t want to take parking penalty!!

Join student Facebook groups

There will almost certainly be Facebook groups available at your university for freshmen to get to know each other, usually with special groups for different courses and university halls.

In fact, even if there aren’t any, you’re always welcome to join our group of offers on Facebook.

Collaborate with as much as you think applies to you, and you’ll soon feel part of the community before you even arrive.

Get a student laptop

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The laptop is up there with the most important packing things for uni, and in the weeks and months before the start, retailers will make all kinds of offers.

We know that expensive purchases can be (not to mention confusing if you don’t really understand all the jargon), so we’ve put together our guide to the best student laptops. In addition to our selection of top purchases, we also outlined what all the technical terms mean and the level of specifications you should look for.

So, take advantage of the sale back at uni and don’t forget to check it out our offer section check to see if there are special offers for laptops.

Get a train or coach card

Unless you’re lucky enough to have a car and think you’ll have enough money to continue using it as a student (in which case, still use our tips for saving money while driving), then there is a high probability that you will rely on buses and trains at university. But even that comes at a price.

At the local level, it is worth considering a student bus ticket, which should save you money on daily bus trips.

When it comes to traveling a little further, consider buying a National Express Coachcard but a 16–25 Railway Cardboard (which, unlike the Coachcard, can be used by all operators).

And as if all of that weren’t enough, we also have guides saving money when traveling by bus in getting cheap train tickets.

Learn cooking skills

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We’ve all heard the stereotype that students make a living from noodles and baked beans. Now there are some amazing – and, dare we say, gourmet – recipes for baked beans, but that’s no reason not to indulge in some slightly more adventurous dishes.

The key to becoming a talented chef is to tackle the simple parts and make sure you are always fully stocked with these kitchen cabinet supplies is a big part of that.

Take some time to master something basic cooking skills also. Learning to season properly, for example, can be the difference between eating 6/10 and a perfect masterpiece 10/10.

When you are more comfortable in the kitchen, you will be able to try several recipes. Ours student nutrition plan let it await you through 28 days, which includes breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks, while also frequenting you with delicious and nutritious meals.

Learn to do laundry

In addition to the whole stereotype of ‘eating only baked beans’, the other big student trope is that they don’t know how to do laundry on their own and just take the laundry home to their parents.

This may apply to some students, but don’t let it be you. Doing so is crucial to gaining your independence, so learning to wash should be a big part of your preparation for university.

Our guide to how to use a washing machine it has everything you need to know, including what compartments you need to use in the drawer and what the symbols on the clothing labels mean.

Take a test for sexually transmitted diseases and contraception

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The idea, yes everyone sex all the time is certainly one of the bigger ones myths about the university, but that doesn’t mean it doesn’t happen – especially at times like these week of refreshmentswhen people walk out most nights.

Although taking a sexually transmitted disease test isn’t exactly the sexiest thing in the world, it’s a hundred times better than getting infected with something or passing it on to someone else. So, gain a free test for sexually transmitted diseases before you go to university and protect yourself and your future partners – both from infections and from the unpleasant conversations that accompany them.

If you are being tested by a doctor or clinic, also take advantage of them to offer them free condoms. Or, depending on where you live in the UK, you could even get them free delivery of condoms to your home.

Learn drinking games

If you read this and think, “I don’t like drinking alcohol, uni will be a nightmare” – don’t panic. Despite what you may have heard, there are a lot of students who don’t drink.

In fact, if you don’t enjoy drinking (or simply don’t want to), you shouldn’t be under pressure. Whoever forces you into something you don’t like is not worth your time.

Pep talks away – if you are to do like alcohol, you’ll probably play something drinking games on uni. Never Have I Ever and Ring of Fire are the two most common, so we definitely recommend you learn to play them.

However, if people are a little sick (maybe literally) of playing the same games over and over again, you can solve the fun by teaching them something more best drinking games. you will making new friends at the moment.

Download your free cash goal

A bit of shameless self-promotion, but in our completely unbiased opinion of ours Student money behind is the best way to overcome your money worries at uni.

55 of our best student wallets, plus a budget sheet and a quiz, we crammed into two A4 pages. You can always visit our website and get more details about each tip, but this is a great starting point when preparing to study at university.

Best of all, just like everything we do is completely free – and you can download your PDF copy here.

Try to stay calm

Preparing for university can be stressful. Maybe you’re worried make friends at uni, should to deal with homesickness, danger run out of money, or any number of things.

First and foremost, it’s important to remember this you are not alone. The vast majority of students are in the same boat as you: they go to a new place where they don’t know anyone to live away from their parents for the first time, all on a limited budget.

The good news is that simply talking about these problems with friends and family and finding solutions is probably the best way to deal with it as you prepare for university.

For example, when it comes to making friends during a week of fresh, other people in your halls or on your course are likely to adore the floor you walk on if you greet them and take the first step. After all, they’re probably just as nervous about meeting new people, so do them a big favor!

Of course, sometimes stress and anxiety don’t go away, despite your efforts to rationalize and resolve your worries. If you find that this is the case for you, try not to fight – take some time, take a break and treat yourself to some of it self-sufficiency ideas.