In May 2014 I chose to change the way I was studying for my degree from studying at the Open University part time to studying at University of Worcester full time. My decision to do this was to enable me to complete my studies in a further 2 years at Worcester full time rather than the 4 years it would take part time through the Open University. I felt this would increase my job prospects on completion and allow me to start a career related to my subject of study – Business Management.

The reason I chose to study with the Open University was so that I could continue working full time whilst studying. About half way through this became more difficult as I had a change in role at work which required me to work much longer hours. I found it a struggle to fit in my studies and often lacked the drive needed to study at weekends after a long week at work. This was another reason I chose to reduce my hours to part time at work and begin studying full time at Worcester.

Also, as I’m an international student studying in a language different to my mother tongue I thought it would be more beneficial for me and my grasp of the English language to engage in the more face to face lecture style of studying you get from a full time course and a normal University rather than the online style you see with the Open University.

The process of changing Universities starts with an application through UCAS for your desired course at your chosen university. The application is followed by an interview and a conditional offer from your chosen University based on you achieving a certain grade in your current year of study. The modules studied at your previous university must be relevant to your chosen course at the University you wish to transfer to. For me specifically this related to the Leadership, Advertising, Academic English and Project Management modules at Worcester University.

Overall, I’m finding studying at Worcester University full time and working part time more manageable and the increased face to face interaction makes the learning easier to digest. And...I’m moving towards my degree in much faster pace!

Aodhan's commuting insight

My Commuting Experience

Thinking of commuting to university but unsure whether it’s the right option for you?

I commute to Worcester from a town called Stourbridge. It takes me around 45 minutes to travel to Worcester which isn’t at all that bad considering. I initially took the nearby train to the city but as I became more confident driving I have started to travel in my car. The parking isn’t all that bad although it is about a 10-minute walk from there to the City Campus – which is where I have most my lectures and of course you then have to pay for a parking permit usually around £100 for the year.

The main thing people want to know about commuting is about whether they get to experience the true student social life and the simple answer is – no. However, this can depend on your social life back where you live. For me personally, I already have friends in full time work and most of my closest friends are still local which means I’m accustomed to still going out when I feel like it. For you, this may be different and you may wish to live in Halls to gain that social experience.

Another reason I stayed at home and commuted was because I wanted to keep my local part time job. I never really wanted to risk losing income and since Halls are quite expensive I felt uneasy about spending more and earning less. As well as this, I am still blessed to have cooked meals at home which I don’t have to worry about each night, although I do cook extra daily meals for my gym routine.

Finally, what encouraged me to stay at home was my close family and circle of friends. I have a big family who are all very close and it just feels more comfortable to be staying in this environment and not missing out on family moments. Moving out your comfort zone can be a good thing but for me I guess I know who I am already and feel the change isn’t needed. Then there is my circle of friends who are all productive positive people in my life that I don’t want to distance from.

Ultimately commuting is an option that can work for some and not others. It really does depend on your circumstances. I would encourage anyone who feels that they need to further develop themselves in social situation to try Halls, but if you feel you are already in a good circle you may choose the same option as me. I hope my short insight into my commuting lifestyle can assist you in making up your mind. Good luck

Where is everything in Worcester?

Of course you’re familiar with where all the shops are where you moved from, but where is everything in Worcester? If you’re like me and you’ve lived in the same house your entire life, you’re probably not familiar with the experience of learning where everything is in a new city.  Added to this is the fact that for many this is the first time living without your parents. It can be very daunting. So i'm going to share with you some experiences and some tips about getting to grips with everyday life outside of the uni campus.

Supermarkets in Worcester.

There are 3 main places students normally do their weekly shop, Sainsbury’s, Asda, and Coop. Sorry to all the fans of Tesco and Morrison’s, they aren’t in walking distance! If you’re on the St. Johns campus, coop is the closest with about a 15-20 minute walk. However it is the smallest of the 3 and would just about get you the essentials, it’s also worth noting you get 10% of everything in coop with a NUS card, and yes that included alcohol! Sainsbury’s is the next one with about a 20-25 minute walk. Sainsbury’s use the nectar card and I recommend you getting one. They have good rewards with this card and you can redeem the points at a range of different stores. Asda is the third supermarket and if you live on the city campus, this is closest to you. It’s roughly a 10-15 minute walk to the city campus. It takes about 30-35 mins from St. Johns campus which will seem like days if you’re carrying a lot of shopping.

Travelling in Worcester. 

Worcester uses FirstGroup as its bus service so it is worth familiarising yourself with the routes. The map can be found here: http://www.firstgroup.com/worcestershire/routes-and-maps/network-maps. I was lucky in my first year as I had a university managed house with a driveway which meant I could bring my car and I didn't have to get a permit to park on campus, the permits are £300 a year if you want to park on campus. Although there are several side streets by the Malvern entrance to St. Johns campus that you can freely park on. Having a car at uni for me was a great help as it gave me a greater flexibility when picking up part time work, it also made shopping infinitely easier. That said, the bus service is good in Worcester. I would like to point out, if you do bring your car to Worcester, there are several speed cameras in the 1 way system by St, Johns, so don’t get caught out! One of the cheapest car parks in Worcester is the croft road car park. It has limited spaces so is usually full although it is £3.50 for 12 hours. There is also a parking app called RingGo. You can use it to pay for parking on your phone, its also good for finding nearby car parks. Worcester also has a train station, this is in town and is great for going home over the weekend etc.

Where’s my corner shop? 

St. Johns has a small shop in the student union for small things, for when you run out of milk etc. there is also a small Coop 5-8 mins from the campus. If you’re on the city campus, there is a small Tesco in town, again about 10 mins away.

Remember, Google is your friend, Google maps is brilliant when you’re trying to familiarise yourself with a new place. When you look for a shop or a place look on street view or the satellite view to familiarise yourself with where you’re going. Almost all shops in Worcester will have a postcode you can search. The best way to familiarise yourself with Worcester is to go exploring. Get through fresher’s week then after that you will likely have a bit of free time to explore. Worcester is a small city so it’s hard to get lost, there are also a bunch of signposts for both uni campuses. Its best to go during daylight as everything looks different at night. If you haven’t got a great sense of direction, go out with your flat mates, they’ll be in the same position. If you still get lost to them take it as a memory to take away with you when you graduate uni.

Living in Halls

Before starting University, I had mixed emotions about going to University. One particular worry of mine was living in halls. Now, if you’re a second year reading this, you’re probably thinking “halls/being a fresher is probably the best experience of university”, and as a second year now, I totally agree!

I spent my freshers year in the “fancy halls” that is Chancellor, which is based on the City Campus. The reason I chose to live here was because it was literally steps away from where all of my lectures will take place. Also, there’s the pleasure of having an en-suite too!! Although this year was absolutely brilliant, I still can’t help but think what it’d be like living in St Johns campus, or Butlins as I like to call it!

In both halls, all people signed up to live in halls will be divided randomly into a flat. You will be sharing this flat with at least 4 other people, who you will not meet until that first awkward conversation you have with them asking “where are you from?” or “what course are studying”. Don’t worry; everyone is in this boat together, so although you’ll feel you’re fighting these worries on your own, you’re not. Eventually you and your newly met housemates will all agree there’s only one thing that will melt that awkward ice in conversations, alcohol! Your first night out in freshers is truly brilliant, and you’ll end the night thinking you want to be friends with these people for the rest of your life!

Well, sorry to burst your bubble reader, but this is unlikely. Throughout the course of the year, you will eventually grow tired of the behaviour of some of your flatmates. Yeah, they’re nice people, however little things such as taking the bins out, not washing up, not buying kitchen essentials will wear you down. Little arguments will occur, sides will be taken. However, you will meet lots more brilliant people in your halls! I now live in a house with people in the flat across from me, and also with one in the flat below.

All in all, the experience of halls is not one you want to miss! The late night talks, the spontaneous takeaways, the random conversations, the little arguments, it’s all worth it! You will learn so much more about yourself and it will make your Uni experience so much more worthwhile. 

Being a society member at University

Being a society member at University

Coming to University with no familiar faces can be a scary process. Although you’ll be independent for probably the first time in your life, that also brings apprehension and loneliness. However, you and your fellow freshers are all in the same boat, with these feelings slowly vanishing without you even realising!

One way I found to conquer these feelings quickly is joining a society! The University of Worcester have a whole range of different societies, ranging from different sports to random interests people may have! The sports societies are probably the most popular and recognisable. The University offer the usual sports such as Football, Rugby, Netball, Basketball, but also the miscellaneous ones like Canoeing, Pole fitness and Equestrian! These societies will give you an incentive for keeping fit (and for sweating off all the booze you might’ve drank during freshers week!!), while also providing a much needed break from your studies. You’ll quickly make friends with like-minded people, due to training sessions and the Wednesday night socials, where each society have a different dress up, so it’s like a prolonged night of freshers each week! In some cases, the sport you choose will also compete in the “BUC’s” leagues, where you face other Universities and represent Worcester.

Nonetheless, if sport is not your cup of tea, the University also offer societies such as Harry Potter, Anime, Investment Banking and even Disney!

In summary, there are plenty of opportunities to go out and make friends. Do not get scared about joining a society, because I guarantee it’ll be one of the best decisions you make during your university life! 

Do you have any questions that you would like to ask the team? If so, please e-mail

                                                                Worcesterstudentliving@outlook.com

Part Time Jobs

Monday, 16^th November 2015

Part Time Jobs

Having a part time job whilst studying at university can have many benefits and can impact your life in a positive manner. The most obvious reason is having that extra money. Earning extra money can allow you to live more comfortably and also whenever you decide to go out and have some fun. A very important impact having a part time job has, is that you would spend your money more carefully because you are earning it yourself and come to the realisation that money is hard-earned. This means that you would be more likely to spend money on necessities such as books and on rent/petrol. Another advantage that having a part time job is that you will learn to manage your time effectively. This is because you would have little free time and predisposes you to become more organised and also learn to prioritise in order to meet deadlines. Effective time management is very beneficial, not only for university, but also for life after. Having a part time job whilst studying can help you get an insight of the career or area of interest you hope to go into life beyond university. this experience immediately sets you apart from others when at interviews and also gives you the opportunity to start networking with others in your chosen field of work. Forming professional relationships at this early stage will help you gain employment after you have finished studying. Having a part time job can vastly improve your teamwork skills. As I have a part time job myself I 100% agree with this as it helps meeting new people and becoming comfortable when you have to work with these team members on a regular basis. This also helps with communication as you will feel more relaxed and accustomed to making new friends which can be used outside of work.

At the University of Worcester there are many ways in which they help you look for a part time job within the area if you are living in halls. You will often receive emails about any part time jobs that are available and also give you the opportunity to have a one-to-one session with a careers advisor where you are fortunate to tell them any queries you may have about working. In the second year there is also an optional module which is all to do with placements giving students the opportunity to have a year working in your chosen work place which can also mean working abroad if you are interested in working in another country. The student’s union can also help with employment on campus and can help with some work as they are often holding events.

Many students may be put off the idea of having a part time job as it could mean that they wouldn’t have enough time for a social life as they believe that their life would consist of either studying or going to work. As I have a part time job myself I can reassure you that this is not at all the case as I still have time for going out with friends and family. You can tell your employer about your availability and also explain to them you may not be able to do certain shifts due to deadlines. In my experience they are fully aware that I am studying and understand if I am unable to complete a shift due to this. As I am only in 3 days a week I usually work for 2 days and use the other days to relax and go out.

Do you have any questions that you would like to ask the team? If so, please e-mail

                                                                Worcesterstudentliving@outlook.com

Commuting

Commuting to university can often be seen as too much effort by students who are considering going to university. This is because they are under false pretences that taking the option to live in halls is easier than living at home and having to commute. I myself commute to the University of Worcester from Birmingham which is around 40 minutes depending on traffic as the University of Worcester City Campus is located close to the town centre and there is also a school close by which means that it can quite busy during the mornings and also towards the late afternoon, so if you have a lecture that is early in the morning than it is best to take this into account and leave accordingly. In my experience travelling to university is beneficial towards me as it means I don’t have any extra worries such as problems within the student halls and also paying for any living expenses due to the fact that I live at home. Living at home also benefits me greatly as I am in a comfortable environment allowing me to fully focus on my studying. Another advantage of this is that more time can be spent on revision for exams and writing assignments instead of having to cook, clean and going shopping. Commuting to university can be seen as a negative as it can be costly in terms of either catching the train or driving. I myself drive to the City Campus for three days a week which results in petrol not costing me a fortune as this only consumes around half a tank throughout the week.

Living at home can also be good preparation for working life where you will be less likely to live in your place of work. The average cost of university halls can vary between £53 and £216 on a weekly basis and due to only attending three days a week living in halls would be much more expensive. An important part of living at home when going to university is the support you receive. When you have to start revision for either exams or start working on drafts for assignments ready to meet the deadlines university can result in becoming a stressful experience. Living at home enables you to have the support from parents, siblings and friends and this in turn may help you balance the work load.

Commuting to university can sometimes be difficult especially when working on group assignments which is the case for particular modules. The reason for this is the fact that some of your class mates may be living in halls and in order to receive the best grade you may be required to have regular meetings outside of lectures. In my experience this can be quite a task as trying to find a time which suits everyone can be a nuisance, but there are always ways round this as in my first year of studying I successfully completed a module which required this.

Do you have any questions that you would like to ask the team? If so, please e-mail

                                                                Worcesterstudentliving@outlook.com