Understanding the first year
Starting university is exciting but it can be a daunting time for students. During the first few weeks some students may struggle with homesickness, worry about managing their money or wonder whether they made the right decision to come here in the first place.
We can help students deal with many of these pressures but they are also likely to turn to you for support. By knowing some of the issues they are facing and what support is available you can help them cope with these challenges.
We allocate every new undergraduate and postgraduate research student with a Welcome Buddy from their course or area of study who will act as a friendly face and will get in touch with the student before they even arrive. Welcome Buddies are there to sign post students to further support, share their university experience and help with any first year nerves. They will also help students settle in and we hope it will help students by having someone there for them from the start of their ARU journey.
- Worried about making friends and fitting in
- Nervous about leaving home for the first time
- Worried about managing their money
What you can do
- Encourage your son or daughter to join our social networking sites and get chatting online to other students – it'll reassure them there are other students feeling exactly the same
- Get them to look at our Accommodation webpages to help them prepare for independent living
- Point them towards our Money Advice Service which provides money management online resources
- Worried about making friends and fitting in. If they haven't formed friendships in the first few days they may feel isolated and like they are not fitting in
- Homesickness – being away from home for the first time can be very challenging
- Worried they have chosen the wrong course
- Worried about managing their money
What you can do
- Encourage your son or daughter to contact their Welcome Buddy and share how they are feeling. Welcome Buddies will be able to meet with the students when they arrive on campus, answer any questions and be a friendly face.
- Whether your son or daughter is living at home or in student accommodation, encourage them to take part in the events and activities planned during Welcome Week. These are there to help students make friends, socialise and feel part of our university. Their Course Induction Programme will prepare them for their studies and what to expect while studying here at ARU.
- If your son or daughter is feeling homesick encourage them to get involved in clubs and societies, sport and wellbeing events. Our Counselling and Wellbeing Service runs settling-in sessions and can offer 1-2-1 support.
- Sometimes students may think they have chosen the wrong course. If they feel this way, encourage them to speak with their Personal Development Tutor or get in touch with Student Services to discuss possible options. It's important they don’t just stop attending as this will cause issues with their funding.
- Encourage your son or daughter to budget. Our Student Money Advice Service runs money management sessions as part of Welcome Week and will run various activities throughout the year to encourage students to manage their money and budget. ARU Temps can also help students find temporary or part-time work.
- Doubts about their academic ability as they start to take their first assessments
- Difficulties managing independent living and study workload
- Issues with sharing accommodation may be starting to show
- May get 'freshers' flu' or other colds and bugs as winter starts
What you can do
- Encourage your son or daughter to look at our Study Skills Plus webpages and attend workshops to help with time management and academic skills. Support is also there to help students exceed their academic expectations.
- If there are issues with fellow housemates, encourage your son or daughter to contact Residential Services.
- Make sure your son or daughter has registered with a local doctor. If they are studying at Cambridge they should register with our medical centre on campus.
- If your son or daughter is still not feeling settled, encourage them to contact their Personal Development Tutor or Student Services.
- Overwhelmed with writing assignments or taking exams
- Returning home for the December vacation period can be difficult for some students who have become used to independent living
- Unsettled about returning to university after a long break
What you can do
- Encourage your son and daughter to attend a time management session with Study Skills Plus. This will help them plan their assignments so that they're manageable.
- Try to be understanding that they may not have the time to be in contact with you as much during this busy time
- Talk to your son or daughter when they return home about any expectations you and they have
- Encourage them to talk to the Personal Development Tutor or Student Services. If they are feeling really down and unsettled suggest they contact our Counselling and Wellbeing service.
- Not wanting to return to university after the long break.
- Disappointed with their first assessment results
What you can do
- Tell them it’s not unusual to feel like they want to stay at home but encourage them to return and ask for help from Student Services if they're really thinking of not coming back.
- Encourage them to talk to their Personal Development Tutor about their academic progress. Staff will be able to support students to make improvements rather than judging.
- Some students may struggle to manage their money while waiting for their loan payment.
What you can do
- If you think your son or daughter may be having money problems remind them about our Student Money Advice Service which offers help and advice on money management. Also remind them to register with ARU Temps which can help find them part-time work.
- Overwhelmed with writing assignments or taking exams
- May be excited about returning home but sad about leaving friends
- Worried about finding accommodation for next year
- Worried about finances over the summer break
- Unsettled about returning to university after a long break
What you can do
- Remind your son and daughter about our Study Skills Plus service which can help them plan their assignments and manage their revision.
- Advise your son or daughter to contact our Residential Services which can offer advice with house hunting, and holds events to help students find housemates.
- Suggest your son or daughter registers with ARU Temps for summer work.
- Tell them it's not unusual to feel unsettled, and encourage them to contact Student Services if they're really struggling with coming back.
Have a look at our Student Services webpages for an overview of all the support we offer.