The Internet- Saving students money

As a student, it’s important to think about being wise with your cash and to put aside some money for a rainy day. The internet is one important tool to make use of when trying to save a few pennies.

All money savvy students will know that the internet can help you grab a good deal. It’s always worth doing your research online before you go out to a restaurant, the hairdressers or even on holiday as you could find a better deal online or a voucher code to print off.

Here are a few tips for students to save money by using the internet:

• Comparison websites will most definitely land you a bargain. Whether it is your grocery shopping, new car insurance deal or utilities, you can find out who is cheapest with the simple click of a mouse.

• Fashionistas should make sure to look for discounts and offers on clothing and shoes both for online stores and high street shops. Discounts can range from free delivery to a whopping 25% off and can work out a real steal if you are in the mood for a shopping spree.

• Don’t buy tickets for coaches or trains at the ticket office- these places are usually the biggest rip off and charge for overhead costs such as staff. Make sure to find cheap coach and train tickets online. Furthermore booking ahead of time could work out cheaper with ‘early bird deals’ and at the same time guarantee a seat!

• If you’re visiting another town, city or country, try couch surfing. The concept is that you offer a place for somebody to stay at your house, and in return you can ask for a place to kip for a night or two- for free! There are numerous sites online which offer this service.

• There’s no need to traipse around town wasting time and energy searching looking at grotty student houses, or pay an estate agent a big fee.  For example you can easily find a flatshare in Nottingham whilst relaxing on the sofa and in the meanwhile not have to experience messy student rooms!

• Sign up to all newsletters for pubs, clubs, restaurants and bars. They often send vouchers with special 2 for 1 deals or discounted meals and drinks. Also make use of loyalty cards as they usually end in a free meal or drink.

Always make sure to read the fine print- there’s nothing more embarrassing than using an out of date voucher!

5 reasons why students FAIL!!!

OK, maybe fail is a bit strong, but through my university life I saw too many people under-achieve because of  things that could have been avoided. 

While I'm not going to provide you with a magic formula to help you succeed, by avoiding falling into the traps of too many other students you can at least try not to be an under-achiever. Here, with some amount of sarcasm, are my five observations from my time spent at University.

Make sure it's not your picture next to THAT definition.

1) "But, I don't understand how I missed that. I attended all the lectures!" - Sometimes turning up to lectures is not enough. You also have to stay awake during them, bring a pen and paper, not spend all your time playing Angry Birds on your phone, and make an effort to follow up the lectures by actually reading the pieces that have been recommended to you by the lecturer. 

Staying awake is always a way to ensure you are listening

2) "But I don't understand why I haven't learnt anything. I bought all the textbooks!" - Gosh, and don't they look pretty, in perfect mint condition on your bookshelf? What you actually need to do now you own (or have borrowed) those magical, mystical objects of knowledge is to open them at the page which contains the information you have to learn, and start reading. And take notes. And read it again. And try and remember it. That is actual learning.

3) "But I don't understand how I was late handing in that essay. I had the same amount of time as everyone else!" - Yes, you did. But they probably set aside some time in their schedule to actually do some reading, and some writing. They probably remembered about their meetings with their tutors to discuss said essay, and kept an eye on the calendar to make sure they were doing enough to meet the deadline date. See our tips on meeting deadlines if you want more help.

Don't let yourself get overwhelmed by deadlines.

4) "But I don't understand why those questions came up on that exam. I'm sure we didn't cover that in the lecture." - Apart from the fact you're falling asleep or not paying attention in the associated lectures, you can have a good stab at predicting what is going to come up in an exam. Check over the themes you covered in the module and the reading you were given, including seminars as well as lectures. Eliminate what has been tested in other ways for example in essays, or mid-terms. Whatever is left is fair game for the exam, I would say. It's not a completely foolproof method, but it worked for me. Mostly.

Face Palm - the classic reaction

5) "But I don't understand how I didn't know how and when we were going to be assessed. How do you know these things?" - What I do, dear colleagues, is when we are given the module handbook at the beginning of the term, is to read it, take notes of important assessments with associated dates, and write them down somewhere. I keep the module handbook somewhere safe, and try not to lose it. Please don't come to me toward the end of the term and ask to 'borrow' mine as refusal will offend.

So, there you go. Distractions are everywhere at university, and are there to be enjoyed, but take your eye off the academic ball at your peril. Competition for graduate positions is more fierce than ever before. Don't set yourself up for mediocrity. Mediocre might not cut it once you're released into the big, bad world.

Good luck.

How to choose your university

At some point in your school life, you will start thinking about whether or not to go to university. If you decide you do want to go, then you have to make the choice of which university, or universities to apply for. There are over 100 universities in the UK, as well as numerous affiliated and independent colleges which offer degree courses. 

You may have made the decision very early on in your life, or had the decision made for you by an esteemed family history. For those of us who have no family history to influence them, there is a plethora of universities to choose from and the choice can be overwhelming. Speaking to a careers tutor is often a good idea, and they will help you work out what is important to you. 

Here's the low-down on what you need to consider when making your choice.

1) How good is the University's reputation? Check out the Guardian league tables for a rough idea of how your potential institution stands with regards to student satisfaction, staff:student ratios, and average career development of graduates. It's not the be-all-and-end-all, but you don't want to pick a duff one if you intend to study to further your career, and some employers do consider some universities to be more prestigious than others.

2) How far is the university from your home? Some people like to be close to home, whereas others like the freedom associated with being a bit further away. It's personal preference, but don't forget to consider the cost of returning home for the holidays or just for a visit. 

3) What is the cost of living? Some universities are situated in very expensive places, for example central London. If finances are going to be an issue, then choosing somewhere with a lower cost of living might ease some of the pressure. Check out this article for some surprisingly cheap recommendations - York anyone?

4) The general feeling of the university. You really should go on at least one open day at each university you are considering. Prospectuses can give you a good overview, but there is nothing like being there and seeing for yourself. During the open day, make sure you ask about things such as on and off-campus accommodation, public transport, parking, childcare facilities (if you need them), and anything else you can think of while you are there. Make a complete pain of yourself. Universities are used to these types of questions, and the more accommodating and friendly places will deal with your questions well.

5) What type of campus is it? A closed campus has everything on one easily accessible site. Good examples of this are Hull, and Sheffield. An open campus, such as Durham or Edinburgh, has a few sites and buildings dotted around, and some of these can be quite far away, making travel between lectures a necessity. Some students don't like this and the worst type can make student life pretty complicated. Have a look round your prospective department and ask about the likelihood of needing to travel for your studies. 

6) Think about the extra-curricular activities. Lectures and seminars are not the only things you will experience whilst at university. Look at the union building and it's activities. Is there something you can get involved in? Are there societies you can join that fit your interests? Whether it's sport, journalism, volunteering, or music, that you love, check out the potential for adding breadth to your three years. 

7) Get to know your prospective host city or town. Think about what is important to you in a place - is it vibrant off-campus night-life, a leafy landscape, or a low crime rate? Doing a bit of research into the wider community will give you a feel for whether this is somewhere you can spend three years of your life.

8) What is the potential for finding part-time employment? Ease of access to a paid job might make all the difference between financial survival and oblivion.

9) Consider the university facilities. Check out the library - is it busy but still not too difficult to find somewhere to study? Are there adequate computer facilities and access to WiFi if you need it? Is there somewhere cheap to eat? Don't get suckered in by having a book-store on campus - you will visit this twice a year at best. I found that the cafe serving a five-item breakfast got much more of my patronage.

10) Most of all - which university provides the course you are most interested in. When it comes down to the nitty-gritty, being on a course you find interesting, teaching you things you want to learn, and which will help you meet your long-term goals is more important than how a 'top' university will look on your CV. 

ABOVE ALL - Use your instincts.

Good luck.

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