Category Archives: Studying

Useful Studying and Exam Tips!

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It’s the start of term two and some of you may have already had exams! This is when most of us really start to feel the pressure of uni… with deadlines beginning to build and summer exams drawing ever closer it can be a stressful time.

Lucky for you we’re on hand to provide a few tips on studying and preparing for exams:

1. Set goals and plan out your time – Be sure to set yourself goals, with these in mind it gives you a plan of what you’re aiming for. From here you are able to set yourself deadlines and plan out your time… but make sure your goals are realistic, and any deadlines you set for yourself are achievable. This structure will allow you to stay on track to achieve all deadlines and smash your exams!

2. Take breaks! – Remember to allow yourself downtime and time to distress, this is equally as important as studying, to make sure you get the most out of your efforts and stay in a healthy mind set. So set yourself time to work but also time to relax; whether this is with friends or just watching a film. Work hard, play hard!

3. Test yourself – This is a great tip which can go a long way! Instead of endlessly writing notes over and over again, once you’ve completed a section of revision, test yourself or get someone else to ask you questions about your notes, this really tests your memory and is a great way of recognising the gaps in your knowledge… so get out the que cards and start testing yourself!

4. Routine Routine Routine – Don’t let the freedom of uni life bog you down, make a timetable get into a sleeping pattern. This will benefit you in the long run and will allow you to make the most of your days at uni and utilise your time successfully. Get the alarm set!

5. Make sure to use the experts – Make the most of your lecturers and seminar leaders, find out their office hours and contact details so you can visit them with any queries regarding exams and coursework. This is also a great way to make a good impression on your superiors.

Finally, the RA Team want to wish you all a BIG good luck and lots of success this Term!

Let The Countdown Begin!

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A-Level Results Day is less than a week away so the Residences Ambassadors team want to start helping you prepare for these next steps towards your university journey!

Whether you join us here at Brunel University, or decide to take your education further with another institution, we want to offer some top tips to you for the next few weeks.

Although you might not know your results, it’s a good idea to start preparing now. Here’s a few things you might want to start looking into before the 15th August:

  1. Student Finance – You probably started looking at finance options back when you applied for your course but, if you haven’t, it’s a good idea to research your options now and decide whether or not you will be applying for government funding for your course. You may be entitled to student loans or bursaries but you will need to apply for these in order to be considered. The application is quick and easy but they will need information about those living in your household so be prepared for lots of questions. Sometimes, student finance need a bit more information from you, including proof of ID, so keep checking your post and emails and make sure to respond with the relevant information quickly so that your application doesn’t get delayed. Once you’ve submitted your application it can take between 2 and 8 weeks for the payments to be approved, depending on the information that is provided, so the sooner you complete this process the better. You can find out more information here: https://www.gov.uk/student-finance.
  2. Accommodation – There are lots of accommodation options at Brunel University. We offer standard accommodation and ensuite accommodation. Most flats house 10 students and you will share a kitchen with your fellow flatmates. We’ll ask your top preferences for where you would like to live when you apply so take a look at the options and start the application here: https://www.brunel.ac.uk/life/accommodation. The earlier you submit your application, the better chance we have of allocating you to your first choice. Halls accommodation is guaranteed for all new students starting in September 2019 as long as you apply before Thursday 29th August!
  3. Clearing – University isn’t always the first choice for everyone and might be a path you haven’t considered until now. If you haven’t applied or aren’t sure if you will meet the course requirements, don’t panic! Brunel is one of the many universities that has places available during Clearing. The Clearing period helps us allocate any empty places and is another opportunity for you to access a course you may not have applied for yet. Clearing is already open and ends in September so there’s no need to wait until A-Level results day to apply, you can find the application form and more information about the process here: ttps://www.brunel.ac.uk/clearing-and-adjustment. You can also request a call from one of our dedicated Clearing team on A-Level results day to discuss your options. If you’d like to take a look at the campus, we even have a Clearing mini Open Day on offer on Friday 16th August between 10am and 3pm.

Keep checking in for more of our tips and tricks in the upcoming weeks.

If you need any help or further information, feel free to leave a comment or message the RA team directly via our social media and email links.