10 things to do before starting university

As you prepare for your first year at university, it's easy to be overwhelmed by all you need to do before term starts - to help ease the burden, we've put together ten practical things to add to your checklist

1. Arrange your accommodation

When it comes to finding a place to live most first-year students choose to stay in halls of residence, as they're managed by the university and present an easy way to meet new people.

Privately rented housing or off-campus university accommodation are viable alternatives, although they're more popular with mature or postgraduate students.

If you're attending a local university, you may prefer to save on costs and live at home.

If you do decide to go with university-owned accommodation, you'll typically be faced with a choice between catered and self-catered, sociable and quiet, and single and mixed-gender halls.

It's never too early to start thinking about your preferences, as many hall places are allocated on a first-come, first-served basis.

Contact your university's accommodation office to enquire about accommodation open days and to explore your options.

To get started, discover what you need to know about student accommodation.

2. Sort out your finances

While this may not seem like the most exciting task when preparing for university, it's important to get your finances in order before freshers' week so you can budget for the coming academic year.

The first thing you need to do is set up a student bank account. Many of the major banks offer these with added incentives, such as discounts on eating out - for example, access to a free four-year Tastecard trial with NatWest - or a 12-month subscription to Perlego's online library of books through Barclays. However, what you should really be looking for is the bank with the best 0% interest overdraft facilities. Banks typically make daily charges if you exceed your arranged overdraft, so always read the small print.

Explore student banking and other ways to save money as a student.

If you're planning to receive government-funded student finance, you need to get in touch with your relevant Student Finance body to get the ball rolling:

• Student Finance England
• Student Finance Wales
• Student Awards Agency Scotland (SAAS)
• Student Finance NI

Securing student finance is a lengthy process, so be sure to make this a priority.

Once these measures are in place and you know how much funding you're entitled to on top of any family allowances and part-time job earnings, you can budget your day-to-day life accordingly.

This should include allowances for amenities (food, utility bills, course materials), as well as luxuries (clothes, socialising and visits back home), to avoid landing yourself in financial trouble later in the term.

3. Decide what to take

Find out what will be provided at your accommodation to avoid making unnecessary purchases and check how much storage space you'll have - there's no point taking things you don't have the room to keep.

If you're taking a laptop, tablet or any other gadgets, look into insuring them - whether that's through your bank, family home insurance or cover provided by the company you bought the gadget from. You can also search price comparison sites such as CompareTheMarket.com for the cheapest cover.

With bigger items to consider, you might forget to pick up the little things. Items such as stationery, pain relief and cleaning products are easily forgotten, so by keeping organised you won't be left short of any essentials.

Take a look at our guide on what to take to university.

4. Benefit from discounted travel

A 16-25 Railcard, taking a third off the price of all train fares, could save you some serious cash if you're planning on visiting home or friends at other universities throughout the term. The card costs just £30 per year, or £70 for three years, and it can save you an average of £182 per year.

Taking a car to university isn't always necessary. If you have one, parking is likely to be limited, and you'll typically have to pay for a permit to leave it on campus.

On the other hand, public transport will keep you connected, especially in bigger cities. So, it's worth looking into the savings you can make on trains, buses and coaches instead.

If you’re living near campus, consider investing in a bike as this can work out cheaper in the long run. Some universities and students' unions run bicycle loan schemes, so discover if you stand to benefit from one at your chosen institution. Be sure to factor in the cost of any accessories, such as a helmet, lock and maintenance equipment.

5. Get reading

Many universities put their reading lists online weeks before their courses begin or will send you the details via email. This gives you an idea of what to expect from your workload, and getting a head start on reading builds your confidence for lectures.

You don't need to own every book on the list - identify the core texts and buy these. Any others you need will be available to borrow from your university library or you can buy them online from former students for a fraction of their original price. For second-hand books, visit UnidBooks and Preloved, as well as popular platforms such as Amazon and eBay.

There's also Perlego, you can search its vast library of over 900,000 academic and non-fiction titles to read via your smartphone, tablet or laptop. Pricing plans range from monthly to annually.

6. Arrange a health check

Make an appointment with your GP before you leave home to ensure that you're starting university in the best health possible.

Sorting out any ailments before you make the move will mean you're less likely to suffer from freshers' flu - which most first-year students experience due to a lack of sleep and exercise, a drastic change in diet and coming into contact with hundreds of new people, all in a short space of time.

For some top health tips, see NHS - Getting medical care as a student.

7. Get to know the area

If you can, visit your university town or city to familiarise yourself with your new surroundings.

To save money and time on making multiple trips, especially if your chosen university is far from home, it's a good idea to have a look around while you're visiting for an open day. Even a virtual tour experience can give you some sense of what to expect.

Once you've moved, use your spare time before the start of term to locate your nearest train station, local shops and GP surgery, as well as your campus library, students' union and lecture buildings.

This is a great opportunity to get to know your housemates by arranging to make these trips together, as they'll need to know where these things are too. The task will feel less daunting if you're not going alone.

8. Learn to cook

Ask for help making your favourite meals while you're still at home - you'll be glad you did once you're fending for yourself. Student cookbooks, available in bookshops and online, focus on using simple ingredients and cooking on a budget.

Shopping cheaply is easier than you think. For example, Morrisons has its Students Club, providing discounts as part of its My Morrisons scheme, while The Co-operative Bank offers a 10% discount to those with a TOTUM student card.

When shopping, you'll find that own-brand supermarket food is often of the same quality as the more expensive branded alternatives.

9. Prepare for the transition to university life

Everyone knows that university is an academic step up from school/college (A-levels are a Level 3 qualification, while with a Bachelors you're working towards Level 6) - but that isn't the only difference. If you're expecting higher education to be just like college but with more freedom, think again.

At university the focus of your studies is much narrower, but more in depth, requiring skills such as researching, critical thinking, analysis and academic reading and writing.

Study methods also differ from the traditional classroom setting. Lectures include more students, less student/teacher contact and more content. They're also faster-paced. Seminars by contrast are much smaller and rely heavily on student participation and collaboration. Learn more about how to get the most out of lectures and seminars.

As a university student your workload is also likely to increase significantly. Dedicating an hour or two per day to homework like you used to won't cut it. This is because the majority of your learning at university is self-directed.

Gaining your independence means that your study journey now relies upon self-motivation. You can no longer rely on your parents to get you out of bed or pester you into completing assignments and university lecturers won’t chase your attendance. You'll get out what you put in.

Experiencing such a shift in gear while living away from home (often for the first time) can be a huge challenge. Read up on looking after your mental health at university and discover where to find help.

If these changes trigger feelings of missing home, find out what to do when you feel homesick.

10. Get involved in freshers' week

The first-year student welcome period is full of events designed to help you settle into university life, so find out how to make the most of freshers' week.

Your students' union will host fairs providing you with opportunities to join societies and sports teams, and your course department might hold an icebreaker session to introduce you to your peers and lecturers.

While you don't have any course commitments, immerse yourself in these activities and be prepared when it comes to starting your degree.

Organisation is key - make sure you know in advance when you have to be somewhere, as this will help with planning your time in the long run. Read our 7 time management tips for students.

Find out more

• Learn more about university open days.
• Get tips and advice on how to balance work and study.
• Learn more about university life.