Top tips for starting undergraduate study

Starting university may be super exciting but also very daunting for many. I have been a Student Ambassador at UCL and in the last 2 years have shared and received lots of advice from my peers, so here are some tips that will hopefully help you settle in.

Just go for it!

UCL offers over 250 clubs and societies for you to join, so start thinking about what you enjoy and do some research into the clubs and societies on offer.

Budget

Whether you’re able to come onto campus or need to study remotely and are therefore living at home or in accommodation, you need to plan where that money goes:

• Set aside money for your meals, travel, studies and social life
• Make sure you ask or check for student discounts wherever you shop
• Try to make healthy meals on a budget - YouTube is great if you want to find recipes

Explore

When you arrive on campus, UCL is placed at the heart of London, so there are always opportunities to do so many different and unique things. If you are planning on using public transport a lot to see the city, figure out whether you can save money by buying an 18+ Student Oyster photocard.

Breathe

It can feel overwhelming at times and that is okay. You don’t have to do what others do, and this applies to both your academic and social life. Take the first few months to experiment. Try out different learning methods, different places to study and talk to as many people as you can.

Speak to people in the older years 

They can be from your programme or members of a society – we are always happy to help wherever we can.

Last revised: 8 September 2021

Sinthuja Balakumaran, second-year medical student and Student Ambassador