Student Life
When studying at higher education you will typically have more free time compared to what you have at school.
You can spend this time independently learning and taking part in extracurricular activities, there are a wide variety of exciting opportunities that you can do alongside your studies. Joining societies, taking part in sport or undertaking some voluntary or paid work are just some of the opportunities and activities you can do in your spare time. They are a great way to meet new people, make new friends and gain new skills.
Let’s start by having a quick look at a day in the life of a student studying at York St John University.
Something to read
Societies could be compared to an after-school club, where people with similar hobbies and interests meet up and do activities around their shared interests. These can range from subject-specific societies, to societies related to people’s personal interests.
All societies have their own committee which is a group of people who run the society and getting involved with a society at this level can look really good on your CV when applying for jobs once you finish your studies.
Sports can play a big role in your student life experience at higher education. Sport is accessible for everyone and there are always events for you no matter your ability level. You can continue with a sport you do at the moment or try a new one.
Volunteering and fundraising is a great way to get involved with the local community and give back. There can be a lot of flexibility when it comes to volunteering so that you can work it around your timetable.
When you are not in the lecture hall or doing some reading, you may choose to get a part-time job. Many universities and colleges may offer jobs on campus in Student Union bars and cafes or as a Students Ambassador. However, you may decide to go into the city/town and get a job working in a supermarket or restaurant. They are a great way to earn some extra money and it will give you a break from your studies.
Student living
When you progress to higher education, you will have a lot of flexibility when it comes to living as a student. There are many options to consider in order to find the best choice for you.
You can access higher education by attending either a college which offers degree level learning or a university. Typically, most students tend to move away from their home to complete their higher education studies. This could be moving away to the next neighbouring city, the other side of the UK or perhaps another country.
However, you may decide to live at home and travel to a university, a college or even study online for your degree. It is important to consider all of the options available in order to make the right decision for you.
When preparing to live as a student, you may want to ask yourself whether you would prefer to attend a city-based college/university and be more immersed in city life or perhaps choose to study at a campus-based college/university where everything you need is all on one site.
There are pros and cons to both but you have the choice to decide what is right for you. Once decided, you will be able to narrow down your search and look for either a city-based or campus-based college/university that offers a course you are interested in.
In addition to gaining a degree at higher education, you will also learn lots of new independent living skills such as doing your laundry, managing your money but also cooking for yourself.
You may already be a great chef but in preparation for higher education, quite a few students will need to brush up on their cooking skills and learn some new recipes to help them while living as a student. Learning to cook a handful of recipes is something you could be doing in preparation to live as a student!
Most colleges and universities offer the opportunity for trips in this country and also overseas. Some programmes even provide the chance to spend some time studying abroad so make sure this is something to look out for when comparing courses if the opportunity for this is important to you.
Something to Watch
Hear from students at York St John University and University Centre Askham Bryan about their experiences of living away from home and travel whilst studying at higher education.
Living away from home
Trips and travel
Something to Do
Independent living skills
Cooking is an essential life skill for living away from home and food can be a great way to break the ice and make new friends. So why not get some practice in now and watch Boawe from York St John University make some pancakes and then have a go yourself!
If you prefer chocolate chip cookies, you could have a go at making them instead! Make sure to ask an adult in the house to help you.
Something Learned
We hope this section has given you some insight into what student life might be like when studying higher education. The place you choose will not only be where you study for the years it will take to complete your course, but also where you live. When attending careers events or visiting higher education institutions in the future, make sure to ask about everything that would be important to you, not just the course itself.
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