DMU STUDENT

LIFE HACKS

Starting your DMU journeyStarting university can be an exciting and scary time, making new friends, budgeting and living away from home are responsibilities that might be new to you. So to help your student life go as smoothly as possible, we have shared some useful tips and tricks that we wished we had known about when we started at DMU.

From tips on exam prep to tips on clubs, sports and societies we hope that this pack of life hacks will give you the knowledge, skills and confidence to expand your horizons, help make lifelong friend and cherish your time at university. We can’t wait for you to join us.

Join our “Applying to DMU 2019” Facebook group where you can connect with other applicants and find out all you need to know about DMU.

For many of you, this will be the first time you’ve lived away from home. Here are some handy hints to get your place in order.

1 Spend some time in the kitchen before you come to DMU, making the meals that you really love at home. Having a few of your favourite recipes to hand can help you plan your meals and also help you impress your new flat mates.

2 Start talking to your new flat mates online before you even get to DMU. Join our closed Facebook group “Applying to DMU 2019” and find out who else has accommodation in the same halls as you.

3 Start a spare change jar with your flatmates to buy cleaning products! Because let’s face it, no one wants to spend their last fiver on surface spray for the communal area. Throwing your spare change together means you have a pool of money handy for when you run out of something.

Top tips for living away from home

Did you know?

Try Nada on Saint Martins Walk in Leicester, which sells food, cosmetics, detergents and cleaning products, all sourced locally, plastic-free and zero waste.

Business Entrepreneurship and Innovation BA (Hons) student

It’s not easy setting time aside to do exam prep when you feel that there are plenty of more interesting things you could be getting up to! Here are a few tips to help get you into study mode:

1 Add visual prompts and colours to your notes to help you recall important details, both of which can aid in your memory recall.

2 Spray an unfamiliar scent when you’re revising and then spray it again before you go in for a test – it might help jog your memory on the topic.

3 If you’re using a laptop, download a program to block access to distracting social media sites for a set period of time.

Study and exam tips

Did you know?

If you have a thing for stationery, you can visit Set on the High Street, Typo in Highcross or Regency Stationers in Charles Street in Leicester, for your fix.

Interior Design BA (Hons) student

Wondering how you are going to make your student loan stretch each month? Here are some handy tips to keep you out of your overdraft.

1 Take advantage of student discounts! An NUS card might cost £12, but it’s totally worth it when you can save big on places like Amazon, Superdrug and the Co-op. You can also sign up to UNiDAYS with your DMU email for free access to lots of amazing discounts – you even get £5 back when a friend you refer signs up!

2 If you are looking for some part-time work while you are at university, register with Unitemps. Their office is conveniently based on campus and jobs are available both inside the university and in the local area.

3 Bluetooth speakers can be pricey so a cheap alternative is to cut a slot in an old plastic drink bottle and slide your phone in speaker first – you’ll be surprised how well this works.

Budgeting tips

Did you know?

Shop at the city’s market, one of the largest outdoor covered markets in Europe - see how much fruit and veg you can get for £1.

Biomedical Science BSc (Hons) graduate

There’s so much to get involved in at DMU, with more than 100 societies and 40 different sports clubs, so you can keep your mind, body and soul in good shape while you’re at university.

1 Make sure you attend Freshers Week as this is the perfect opportunity to see all of the clubs, sports and societies that DMU has to offer. This is a week packed with all sorts of awesome day and night events to help you get settled into uni life.

2 Fancy taking up a new sport but you’re not sure if it’s right for you? Many of the sports clubs run taster sessions. These friendly sessions are aimed at those new to the sport. Members from the club will be on hand to explain the rules. All you need is enthusiasm and a willingness to give it a go!

3 Can’t find a society or sports club that you want to be a part of? You can start your own. If you have a unique idea to form the basis of a society or sports club, it’s as easy as filling in a form on the DMU student’s union website!

Clubs, sports and societies tips

Did you know?

If a more relaxed approach is what you’re looking for, DMU’s QEII Leisure Centre boasts a 25-metre pool, sauna, climbing wall, sports hall, fitness suite and free weights area.

Journalism BA (Hons) student

As a student, you may be juggling a variety of activities, responsibilities and social groups. This can be draining and stressful, so here are a few tips to help you make time for you.

1 Be sure to set aside some personal time for self-care. Dedicate this time to things that make you feel your best.

2 Pay attention to your body and when you feel thirsty, make sure you have a drink! The best way to remember to make sure you’re staying hydrated, is to keep a portable water bottle on you. That way, you always have it to hand and don’t have to waste money buying new bottles every day.

3 You may not have time to squeeze in a full work-out every day, but incorporating small physical tasks into your daily routine is a great way to keep yourself active. Simple things like taking the stairs to your lecture instead of the lift, or taking a brisk walk around campus are great ways to inject some movement into a long study day.

Wellbeing tips

Did you know?

#HealthyDMU is here to support your health and wellbeing at DMU. We have created an environment that focuses on your health and wellbeing to help you live a healthy, happy and productive life. That includes providing you with resources that support your development and studies, helping you to succeed and achieve your potential. Visit dmu.ac.uk/healthy for further information.

Pharmacy MPharm (Hons) student

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