How to Prepare
Making the decision to go to university is a big step. It's a financial commitment and it requires you to put in time and effort in order to succeed. It's also a brilliant opportunity to open up new career and life opportunities. This page includes some advice about how to prepare to make the most of the opportunities coming your way.
Adjusting to university life
There are two important things that all students have to work out as they adjust to university life: the financial commitment and the time commitment.
First, finances.
The most important thing to do to prepare for university is to ensure that your Student Finance England application is underway. During the inductions, we can put you in touch with our welfare adviser in December and January. She can answer questions you may have about finance and welfare matters. In particular, there are always lots of questions about welfare benefits for full-time students (you can see more details here).
Our welfare adviser can help with:
Planning a budget, money management
Dealing with debt
Financial support for student parents (childcare costs etc.)
Welfare benefits and tax credits
Disability benefits
Housing rights
For some FAQs on welfare and finance (e.g. council tax), go here.
Accessibility
Digital material can be made more accessible. Below are a list of ways that you can explore to make your online learning more accessibly.
A great resource is BBC’s My Web My Way website for How to Guides for help with a range of accessibility issues.
Audio Alternatives
How to make your computer speak text aloud in Windows
How to make your computer speak text aloud in Mac OS X
Converting text documents to audio with Balabolka. (Text to Speech)
WordTalk (Text to Speech)
Changing the way you interact with your computer
How to use your keyboard to control the mouse in Windows 7
Changing the way things look on the screen
Built in Accessibility Options
Web Usability for users
Web Usability is an Australian website that aims to make the web more usable for everybody, including those with disabilities.
In our induction sessions, you'll hear more about our accessibility support and learning support services. You will also be able to find this information and more, on our internal intranet website which you will be able to access once you've enrolled.
Attending induction
The next stages in preparing for your foundation year are to attend the induction sessions.
Go here to find more information on when the induction sessions are and how to attend: Induction.
Digital Skills
What are digital skills and why do they matter?
Digital literacy, digital competency and digital capability are all popular terms for the same thing: being skilled at using a range of technologies that support living, learning and working in a digital society -- now and in the future.
Digital skills include:
Using a computer
Communicating through online apps and other technologies
Performing a variety of tasks in digital environments
Using the internet and other digital technologies to find, evaluate, use or create information
Operating mobile devices of various kinds, such as phones or tablets
Being familiar with enough online tools to choose the right one to accomplish a given task
Understanding how to comply with the law in term of copyright and intellectual property rights
Online learning: What you'll need
Much of the online learning in your courses will be contained within an online learning environment called Moodle.
During your course, you will be able to access any required readings/preparation on Moodle.
You'll need access to a computer and wifi.
You can complete these activities using a laptop, or PC with wifi at home. If you don't have these, you'll need to be able to use computers on campus for at least 3 hours per week.
You'll also need to develop some digital skills. This doesn't mean you need to have excellent - or even any - digital skills right now. These pages will help you get started, by introducing you to the basic idea and features of online learning. Once you get started on your course, you'll work on your digital skills gradually, with the support of your tutors and peers.
There are many advantages of online learning - you'll complete the online activities in your own time, as and when suits you each week of the course. You can work on them from your computer or device at home, or using the computers in the university library. The material is always there for you to revisit.
"I didn't have a laptop or know how to use computers.
Now I'm more confident and am using Word and PowerPoint and Moodle all the time."
Quote from 2019/20 student.