Things to do before you get here:

• Sort out your paperwork - birth certificate, medical card, funding letter, UWE acceptance letter and National Insurance (NI) number.

• Make an appointment with your doctor to get vaccinated against Meningitis C. Everyone who hasn’t been vaccinated needs to do this, regardless of age and it will be easier to do through your own doctor.

• Get a medical kit - all the student essentials - paracetamol, glucose tablets for energy, vitamin C cold treatment to ward off the usual bout of ‘Freshers’ Flu’.

• Stock up on food for a week or two - to make sure you don’t spend valuable settling-in time wandering the aisles of Tesco!

• Grab a cookbook and basic cookery equipment - whatever is provided in your house / flat is never enough.

• Read your accommodation contract before you sign it! If in doubt contact the Students’ Union Advice Centre on 0117 32 82676.

• Fill out the inventory for your accommodation accurately - if you tell the landlord it’s broken before you move in, they won’t be able to charge you when you leave.

Money

Managing your money at University can be difficult. Living and studying can be a very expensive experience. Be prepared to have a blow out during Freshers! If possible try and save some money during the summer, as you may be spending quite a bit during the first few weeks with the possibility of moving into new accommodation, buying books, partying etc.

Choosing the right student-friendly bank account is a big decision, so shop around for the best deals and free goodies.

Perhaps the best advice is to have a think about budgeting and work out what your expenses will be.

Further Info

• See the Advice Centre web pages for more help