The Ultimate Budgeting Template
How to Protect Your Wellbeing at Uni Making Friends in Your First Year
5 Top Tips For Getting Started With Your Career How to Create a CV That Stands Out
It’s Giving… Productivity (Calendar)
Uni Hot Takes From Bright Network Members
Vouchers & Discount Codes
On behalf of the entire Bright Network team, a MASSIVE CONGRATULATIONS on securing your spot at university - I can’t wait to see all of the things you achieve during your time as a student.
Making the transition from sixth form to university is a big step and you’re bound to face many challenges along the way. To help you with the transition, the team has put together this pack to give you all the information you need to succeed. In this pack you’ll find tips and tricks on how to budget, make friends as well as how to start thinking about your career. We’ve also included some templates you can use to help you organise everything you need to do over the course of the academic year.
I hope you find this pack useful and good luck as you move into university. Remember, university is what you make it, so aim high, put yourself out there and get involved!
Best of luck,
Kirsten Barnes Platform CEO
Budgeting is an essential skill - not just while you’re at university but once you graduate and move into the world of work, too. Learning to budget well can help you avoid unnecessary financial stress so you can focus on getting your degree and enjoying the university experience. Here’s how…
The first step towards budgeting well is figuring out your monthly income. This could be from your student loan, a part-time job or even help from family members. Once you know how much money you have to play with each month, you can figure out how much of that income goes towards your necessary expenses.
Necessary expenses are things like your rent, any utilities or even your phone bill. These are things you have to pay each month in order to live comfortably. For some of these, you may have to give a rough estimate - like for groceries. Then, subtract the total of these expenses from your monthly income to find out exactly how much money you have left. This is your disposable income: divide this by the number of weeks there are in the month to find out what your weekly budget looks like!
Now that you know how much money you have to play with each week, it’s important to track your spending so you know how much of that money you’re using. Keeping track consistently makes it easier to stick to your weekly budget and ensure you don’t overspend!
We know university can sometimes be hard, and it’s nice to treat yourself now and then. However, university is a time to embrace budgeting and, if you master this skill early on, it’ll hold you in good stead once you leave university and beyond.
If you’re able to, university is a great time to start building your savings for the future. You don’t have to save hundreds of pounds each month but whatever you can put aside will not only teach you the value of saving money but also give you a little extra security should something unforeseen happen.
Income:
Need some help getting started with budgeting? Use this template to track your income and expenses to keep on top of your bank account this year!
Expenses: Necessary:
Healthy habits are the cornerstone of a healthy and fulfilling life. Make sure you’re prioritising time for studying as well as the fun bits too - like getting involved in uni societies, socialising with friends and exercising. Allocating time for all the activities you want to do will ensure you don’t get stressed about deadlines or missing out on activities you want to be a part of. Striking a balance between studying and the things you enjoy is key!
University can be an amazing experience but it can also feel overwhelming at times. You’re away from support systems you’ve known your entire life and thrown into a totally new environment. It’s important to make sure that you’re reaching out to your family and friends from home and regularly talking about how you’re feeling. You can also speak to counsellors on campus if you’re going through a hard time mentally, and make use of other support networks at university like your personal tutor or GP.
One of the first things to go at university is a healthy diet! You’re away from home for the first time and have the freedom to eat what you want, when you want. While this freedom might feel nice, it can be detrimental to your body. Make sure you’re fuelling your body with the proper nutrition to help you study and live well. Avoid too many snacks and don’t fall into the trap of fast food everyday! Instead, opt for lean proteins, vegetables and whole grains and try and cook as much as possible. Why not share the cooking with your housemates to socialise at the same time too?
Striking a balance between studying and the things you enjoy is key!
Making friends during first year can seem daunting - especially if you’re the first in your family to go to university or have moved far away from home.
Whilst scary, it’s also an opportunity to make the friends you’ll have for
#1 Get involved: The first step towards making friends during university is getting involved in activities you’re interested in. This could be societies, sports teams or any other groups on campus and will put you in the environment to meet people who share similar interests to you. Take a step outside of your comfort zone and just say hello!
#2 Be friendly and approachable: It’s important to remember that everyone is in the same boat as you! Being friendly and approachable will help others feel comfortable around you and you’re more likely to strike up a conversation with someone if they feel comfortable to do so.
#3 Take initiative: If you want to make friends at university, why not be the one who suggests hanging out outside of lessons or society meetings? Suggest grabbing lunch or a coffee, or invite someone to a party you’re going to! Trust us, anyone you ask will be grateful that you reached out and you never know what it could lead to.
Making lifelong friends takes time but enjoy the journey and remember to be yourself! If you’re authentic and true to yourself, you’ll find the right people who really matter.
To help you get started, here are our top 3 tips for making friends at university:
It’s hard to start building your career when you don’t even know what you want to do! If you’re stuck on the career path you want to follow, ask yourself these three questions:
1. What do I enjoy doing?
2. What am I good at (your strengths) and
3. What do I value?
You can start thinking about these now or across the year, but answering these will help you narrow down the types of careers and industries you’re suited to. From there, you can research each career path to determine whether each path is actually something you’re interested in pursuing.
Personal branding is an essential skill in the digital age. This is how you present yourself across your CV, LinkedIn, personal website or portfolio (depending the type of industry you’re interested in) and how you let potential employers know what makes you stand out. It’s important to present yourself professionally and consistently across different platforms, so that you’re giving future hiring managers the best possible impression of you from the get go. Across the year, try getting involved in university events or opportunities to start building your brand and a bank of experiences that reflect you and your skillset!
Networking is an essential skill, not only as you’re getting started with your career but also as you move through university and into the world of work. Learning how to network early on will help you learn from people who already have a career in industries you like, as well as provide you with the connections you’ll need later on to secure internships and graduate roles. You can start building a network this year through meeting people on your university course, societies and by attending events!
It’s never too early to think about getting experience in your chosen field. Many industries are quite competitive when you graduate, so getting work experience early on is a great way to show you’re a passionate and hard worker. Use your network to explore available opportunities and start early - experiencing different sectors is also a great way to decide whether a certain career path is the right path for you.
Your personal statement should communicate who you are, your experience and what you’re looking for from your next career move. It’s important to make sure your personal statement is tailored to the role you’re applying for - never use a generic personal statement as this can suggest you’re not passionate about the role or employer you’re applying to!
This section is a great place to showcase any leadership roles you’ve undertaken, either in school, university or other organisations. If you’re on a society committee or a sports team - include these here!
Show employers another side of you by including things activities you’re interested in outside of work. This will help potential employers get to know you better and potentially help you stand out from the crowd.
For this section, start with your most recent education. If you’ve started university but haven’t graduated yet, you can include your degree and predicted grade if you have it! List your A-Levels here and your GCSEs below. Make sure to include where and when these were achieved and the grades you received.
If you’re just starting university, you might not have a lot of experience in the world of work. Don’t worry if you don’t, it’s perfectly fine to include any parttime work or work experience you’ve undertaken at this stage of your career. List that part-time retail work you did last summer or the work experience you did in secondary school - these experiences will have loads of transferable skills that employers love to see!
November
Want to keep track of everything you have to do during the year? Use this calendar to stay on top of important dates like coursework due dates, exams, society events and anything else you need to write down!
March
April
Start thinking about careers you’d enjoy and complete the Career Path Test
July
Internship or part-time work
August
Get ready for uni!
William Chan: Approach more penultimate or final year students within the campus. They can share their thoughts, experience and tips in both academia and applications. For instance, what are the key elements of an excellent cover letter? Freshers will then be able to get ahead of others with fewer mistakes given the broader horizons.
Mayo Adetujoye:
My top tip for university students would be to immerse yourself into as many activities as possible and be curious! Join the societies relevant to your chosen field and make the most of the opportunities that come your way. Don’t forget to have lots of fun!
Khushi Rao:
Embrace the unknown at university, break free from comfort zones, and challenge barriers; for it’s through these daring steps that you uncover passions, discover purpose, and unleash your full potential. Embrace the journey of diverse experiences and believe in yourself, as it’s the key to a transformative and fulfilling university life.
Vani Kaur Grover:
Since university is quite different from school when settling in, try not to get overwhelmed by the new surroundings. Remember that you will get used to the new environment. Also, try to stay organised with your work and other commitments, as it will help you gain a sense of control and save you time in the long run. Finally, enjoy the journey! Take opportunities and make memories.
Jani Santarius:
As a fresher, DO get involved with as many different academic, extra-curricular, and career interests as you can. Your first year is a great platform for your second- and third year university aspirations in addition to thinking about a career beyond university. USE your first year to your advantage and get a step ahead!
Hajra Taufiq:
Never let temporary disappointments stop you from doing your best. Never let temporary circumstances stop you from being yourself. Never let pressure for results get in the way of your authenticity and integrity.
Uni Checklist:
1. Confirm your place and register as a student
2. Arrange or confirm your university accommodation
3. Book your moving-in date and organise transport to campus
4. Get a student bank account, check your Student Finance and start budgeting (use our handy guide on pages 2 & 3!)
5. Sign up to the student health centre or nearest GP
6. Check out the events you want to attend during Freshers’ Week!
7. Start packing!
UniKitOut Starter Kit Discount Code
We’ve partnered with UNiDAYS to bring you the best deals to set you up for success this year. You can find all these and more on the UNiDAYS app!
Sign up here.
10%off a UniKitOut Starter Kit!
We’ve partnered with UniKitOut to give you an exclusive 10% off student kits delivered straight to your door - all to help make the move to uni as smooth (and affordable!) as possible.
Use the code below to claim your discount and get kitted out with everything you need to hit the ground running this Freshers!
Get BRIGHTN10
Boost your skills as you study by exploring opportunities to learn something new & earn money too! From training courses, to easy ways to earn a few extra pounds - there are loads of ways to gain experience outside of your course.
Food & Drink
Uni doesn’t have to be oven pizzas and microwave meals - you can eat well for less with some fantastic deals. From food delivered to your door, to dining out at a discount - discover top discounts on UNiDAYS.
Stay happy and healthy across the year by accessing the best wellbeing tools and resources with some fantastic deals. From affordable therapy, to meditation techniques - putting yourself first doesn’t need to come at a price.
Fancy treating yourself but not sure if it fits in your monthly budget? You can find top discounts at some of the hottest brands and subscription services…
You’re almost ready for your first year at uni. To make sure you’ve got everything you need, we’ve put together this final checklist for you to go through before you start.
