Student Life

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.

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 yourself 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.

You may decide that you want to access higher education by going to a university or a college, however you might want to continue living at home to be near to your friends or if you have other personal commitments. At higher education you can decide to live at home and commute to university or college when you have lectures and seminars scheduled into your timetable.

As a student, there are a variety of accommodation types to choose from to suit your needs, preferences and budget. While most universities provide accommodation either on campus or in the city/town, a number of colleges also provide accomodation for their post-16 and post-18 students. There is no right or wrong answer when it comes to choosing your accommodation and ultimately it comes down to your own preferences.

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 offer 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.