Despite the slightly weird and uncertain circumstances under which a lot of people will be starting university this year, let´s try to look on the bright side and hope that everyone can make the best of a crap (no other way to put it) situation. So keeping that in mind, I thought I´d still share with you a list of things that every student should do before starting university! Maybe there will be something there that you hadn´t yet thought of doing!
You might also be interested in some of my other posts:
- University Packing Guide
- How To Bond with Your Flatmates
- 6 Reasons Why You Should Join A University Sports Club
- How to Keep Fit at University
- University Exam Revision Tips
- Student Store Cupboard Essentials
If you are coming to study at the University of Aberdeen, make sure to also check out my Guide To Student Accommodation and the Guide to Food Shopping in Aberdeen, as well as this post about 5 things I wish I had known before coming to study in Aberdeen.
1. Arrange Travel As Early As Possible
Especially if you are flying, it´s good to book your flight as soon as possible. The airlines know that loads of students are starting university, so the prices go up quite markedly in August/September! The earlier you book it though, the “cheaper” it still is.
Speaking of travel, it may also be good to look into other student discount tickets for travel. If I were you, I wouldn´t buy an annual bus ticket or anything until after you have arrived at university, unless you know you´ll be very far from Uni and will definitely need it.
I was considering a bus pass before I came to Aberdeen, but then luckily discovered that everything is really close and in walking distance here! It would have been a complete waste of money spending buying a really expensive annual bus ticket!
Personally, one really good deal I have found though was to invest in a 16-25 Rail Card. It´s £70 for three years, and it gives you ⅓ off your train fare every time you travel. As I tend to travel down to see my Grandma quite regularly and train tickets are becoming increasingly expensive, it has definitely been a worthwhile investment! So yeah, depending on your needs you may want to have a look into that kind of thing.
2. Complete E-Registration
The University of Aberdeen calls it E-registration, other universities may call it something else. However, as a new student you will need to complete some sort of E-registration, where you give the university all of your details, a home address, emergency contact numbers, etc. This will allow you to then choose your courses and build your timetable, and will ensure you are allocated your student ID number and a university email address.
Also, to get your student ID card, you will most likely need to upload a picture of yourself. Don´t leave it too late (the university will normally set a deadline) or your ID card won´t be ready for you to pick up once you arrive.
3. Sort out your Accommodation
A fairy obvious point, but you should of course sort out where you are going to stay once you arrive at University. If you are in first year, you will probably be wanting to stay in University/Student Accommodation/Halls of Residence. It´s just a lot easier in the beginning and the best way to meet new people.
There is a lot of student accommodation on offer, both off- and on-campus which is either provided by the University or by other companies (e.g. Unite Students, Liberty Living, The Student Roost, Collegiate etc.). They often differ in price and location so it´s definitely worth looking around and not just looking at accommodation provided by the University. If you are coming to study at the Unversity of Aberdeen, make sure to check out my Guide To Student Accommodation.
If you are, however, looking into finding private accommodation, check out my Tips for Student Flat Hunting.
4. Learn To Cook The Basics
Obviously, when you come to university you will have to make your own food! Whilst ready-meals and take-aways maybe convenient, they are very expensive and not particularly healthy! Whilst that´s fine occasionally, it´s definitely not sustainable in the long run!
So, before you come to university, learn how to cook the basics! Pasta, rice, and how to turn a tin of chopped tomatoes into a quick pasta sauce. There are loads of recipes that can go a long way and are cheap and easy to make.
I do a lot of cooking and have many student-friendly recipes on this blog, so make sure you go check some of them out:
- Pasta and Cheese Sauce
- 6 Student Meal Prep Recipes
- 5 Easy Breakfast Recipes for Busy Students
- Curried Cauliflower Pilaf | Healthy Vegan One-Pot
- Colourful Mixed Vegetable Stir-fry
- Easy Student Lasagne
- Chicken, Sweet Potato and Spinach Curry | Meal Prep
- Homemade Pizzas | Freezer Friendly!
5. Learn How To Use A Washing Machine
Haha, among other things of course, learn how to use a washing machine before you come to university! Some people (I must say I was a bit surprised at that when I started university but okay…) have never, ever put on a wash by themselves before coming to Uni… So people, please, do make sure you get someone to tell you what kind of washing powder/liquid to buy and how to use a washing machine (it´s very easy…).
You might also want to mentally prepare yourself that you will have to put sheets on your bed, do the dishes, hoover and clean the bathroom every once in a while, haha! Not that I am suggesting some people don´t know how to do so, but yeah… Just a heads up. 😉
6. Get a Health Check-up
This is a pretty important point to make. Before you come to university, make sure you go to see the doctor for a check-up. It can be a pain and make take a while to register with a GP once you arrive at university, so it´s best to just go to your usual one before you come.
Make sure all of your vaccinations are up to date, especially things like tetanus and meningitis. You will come into contact with so many people from all over the world, so it´s best to make sure you are protected against some of the nasty things…
Also, if you are on prescription medications, it might be good to ask your doctor (if possible) to give you a bit of extra supply to last you until you get things sorted after arriving at university. It´s also good to bring a photocopy of your prescription so that you can ask for the same thing at your new practice/pharmacy.
7. Sort your Finances
Whether you are taking out a loan or receiving a monthly allowance from your parents, it´s good to break it down and make a bit of a budget plan. Take a rough note of how much you will need to pay your rent, buy food and socialise. Bear in mind, that you might have a few additional expenses in the first few weeks (Fresher´s week, buying textbooks or lab coats, buying one-off items for your room/kitchen, joining sports clubs/societies, etc.).
It´s good to set a budget and stick to it, although you may need/want to adapt it slightly once you have been at university for a while and know more how much things cost and what you are spending.
8. Make A Packing List and Pack
Now, I am a sucker for lists and creating a packing list is one of my top tips for you! Before starting university, I watched loads of videos on what to pack for university and then created my own list, which kind of combined everything I had heard people saying.
I think I still brought too much stuff to university – a lot of things just turned out to be unnecessary. So, make sure to check out my Packing List for University (with tips for when you are coming from abroad), coming from someone who has done it and now really knows what you should, and what not to bring!
You may also want to check out my posts on University Bedroom Essentials and University Kitchen Essentials for more recommendations on that front.
9. Collect Important Documents You Will Need In A Folder
Now I highly recommend, that before coming to university, you create a folder containing all the important things you will need. For example, your passport/ID (which you need for almost everything), your VISA (if you are coming from overseas), your tenancy agreement for checking in to student accommodation, as well as any documents you need for registering at university or picking up your student ID card.
If you want to open a bank account, you will often need to provide a bank letter from the university (usually available on the university website), as well as provide evidence of your term-time address, and your university offer/acceptance letter to prove you are enrolled at the university. Some banks also want to see your student ID card, so you might need to go and pick that up before you go to open a bank account.
10. Join Fresher´s or Student Accommodation Facebook Groups
Finally, make sure you join your university´s Fresher´s Week or student accommodation Facebook (or other social media) groups before you come to university. It´s a great way of staying up to date with the fresher´s week schedule and events, and you might also be able to start connecting with your flat or course mates.
And there we have it, that is my list of 10 things every student should do before starting university! I hope you find some of these tips helpful, and please let me know if there is anything I have forgotten!
Make sure to also check out my list of things to do once you have arrived at university!
As always, if you have any questions about university in general or studying at the University of Aberdeen, please feel free to contact me at any time through the comment section below or my Facebook page!
