TRY SOMETHING NEW

Moving to university gives you ther perfect opportunity to step out of your comfort zone, try new things and discover yourself! The University of South Wales has loads on offer for you to do and here at the SU, we have plenty of ways that you can try something new & meet new people.

Have a go of a brand-new sport or join a Society!

We’re home to a range of Teams, Clubs and Societies to choose from. Check out our website (link to activities page) to see what we have to offer - can’t see something for you or want to start your own? Have a chat with our VP Activities, Kenul, or check out our website!

Represent your peers and become a Course Representative!

At the start of term, Course Reps are elected to help gather feedback from your fellow students and work with staff to solve any problems! Being a Course Rep will help you meet other students at USW and will look great on your CV. Have a chat with our VP Education, Sofia, or see our website for more information.

Become a Student Voice Representative!

Student Voice Representatives work to solve student problems at a Faculty level. You’ll also get the chance to undertake research into student issues with training on research planning, data gathering and analysis provided by the SU. This will look fantastic on your CV, help you meet new people and there’s a bursary of up to £500 for SVR positions! You can chat to our VP Education, Sofia, or can pop onto our website here.

Join our Student Council!

 We have a range of Part-Time Officer positions available. From Campus Officers to LGBT+ and many more. You can chat to our VP Welfare, Cheryl, about becoming a Student Council Officer or check out the vacancies here.

Attend Freshers’ Fair!

Freshers’ Fair is for everyone at USW and it’s the biggest event during Freshers. It gives you the perfect opportunity to interact with our Team, Clubs and Societies and grab some freebies!

IF IT GETS A BIT OVERWHELMING

Starting Uni also brings a whole range of emotions and new experiences. If you are feeling overwhelmed, try to relax and take time to chill out if you need to. There are plenty of events throughout Freshers’ week and the whole academic year, so don’t worry if you have to miss one.

Don’t feel like you have to do everything everyone else is doing - do Freshers’ your own way and do the things that you would like to do. 

It’s normal (and totally okay) to feel homesick or nervous. It might look like everyone around you is having an amazing time, but remember a lot of people are in the same boat and feeling the exact same. Talk to your friends and family about how you’re feeling, your mate would probably appreciate the chat too!

It’s fine to feel worried. From meeting new people to starting your course, moving to university is a big change but if things are getting too much for you please ask for help. Our Full-Time Officer team are on hand to offer you support and signpost you in the right direction or contact the Advice Zone Online to access the Wellbeing Services. 

BUDGETING

Now, this is the tricky bit. You’ve just had your student loan hit the bank for this term, or you’ve just had a payday – now what? Here’s a few tips and tricks if you’re struggling! 

• The best thing to do is to plan your spending every week and to keep a little bit aside as a contingency. Do your best to stick to your budget, otherwise, you'll end up living off noodles for the rest of the term (and nobody wants that). 

• If you have a savings account, try putting all of your income in there for the start of term, and only transfer over your weekly budget. You then can only use that weekly allowance. Try not to keep dipping into your bigger pot of money, because once it’s gone, it’s gone! 

• Shopping lists are great if you can stick to them! Top tip: Try and avoid going for the weekly shop when you’re hungry, as it’s even harder to stick to your list! 

• You don’t always have to stick with the bigger supermarkets! Aldi and Lidl are just as good, for a fraction of the price. You’ll usually find that the smaller supermarkets have some pretty good alternatives, so give them a try! 

• Check out sites like UNiDAYS and StudentBeans for your discounts – all that you need is your student email to sign up! Even check out TOTUM for their discount card! 

   

CHECKLIST

• Complete your online enrolment with USW. Don’t forget your pre-induction modules about how to use everything that you’ll need while you’re with us at USW. Find more information here. 

• Join us on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram (@uswsu). We’ll be posting our main updates here – so give us a follow! We're also on TikTok (@uswstudentsunion) so make sure to check us out over there.

• Download your free copy of Microsoft Office. It's free for all USW students, and you can download yours as soon as you've completed your enrolment. 

• Don't wait until you're unwell - register with the University's Health Service when you arrive. Bring your past vaccine history, your GP information, and your NHS number.  

• Get your TOTUM card (powered by NUS Extra) to get over 200 discounts on everything from university supplies to fashion. All Students who purchase a card will also have the benefit of it also being an International Student Identity Card (ISIC), the only internationally accepted proof of student status. You can buy a card here. 

• Check your vaccination history. The NHS recommends that new students get the vaccine to protect against meningitis and septicaemia before leaving for Uni - they're free from your GP. Also, check out where you can get your COVID vaccine if you haven’t yet been double-jabbed.  

• Take advantage of everything the Students' Union has to offer. You can join Clubs or Societies and attend events! Don’t forget, you can also get support for academic studies and your welfare and wellbeing too!