Results day has arrived, and if everything went as planned, you’re all set to dive in to the next exciting chapter of your life. But from sorting out accommodation to managing student finance and budgeting, there’s a lot to organise.
If you’re wondering what’s next, here’s some tips as you prepare for the journey ahead.
For you: Everything you need to know about clearing
How do I know if I will be entitled to Student Finance support?
You should have applied for financial help as soon as possible after submitting your university application and your parent, guardian or partner should have provided details of their income.
Your local Student Finance NI office will then review this information and decide the amount of financial help you are entitled to. Once the review is complete they will write to you to confirm the amounts you will be paid and when.
You can expect to have this confirmation between six to eight weeks after you submit your application. At any time you can check the status of your application by signing in to your student finance account.
Do I need to tell my university I am entitled to Student Finance?
The dates that your Student Finance payments are made will depend on your course registration. Your university will confirm registration details before you are due to begin your course.
To make sure that everything goes smoothly bring your financial assessment and payment schedule letter to registration. After you register with your university, they will contact Student Finance and your payments will then be released according to the schedule.
How do I secure student accommodation?
When it comes to accommodation most first year students choose to live in halls of residence managed by the university.
If you applied for accommodation and you have secured a place, your university will contact you with room allocations and you may also need to make a payment to secure your accommodation.
While you wait for confirmation you can start planning ahead by having a look at what is included and what you might need to buy or bring with you.
You will likely have to bring things like your own pillows and bedding as well as plates, bowls and saucepans. But check for anything else you might want to bring, like decorations to make you fell more at home, and make a list.
Think about what you can bring and what you will need to buy when you move in. If you are travelling a long way to university plan how you will get there as this might impact what you will be able to pack.
How do I manage my money when I start university?
Before heading to university it’s a good idea to start thinking about what your budget will look like. To get started on a monthly budget make a note of your expected income (including Student Finance and any part time work) and expenses.
When planning think about how much you will need to spend on essentials like accommodation, textbooks, transport and food. You can then look at how much you will have left over for socialising and hobbies.
Don’t forget to check out any student discounts or financial aid that you might be entitled to. If at any point during your course you feel like you are struggling financially, speak to your university.
Most universities and colleges will have a hardship fun for students experiencing financial problems.
Can I get to know people before I start my course?
One way of minimising the worry about meeting new people and making friends when you start university is to get a head start.
Check social media for any groups that you might want to join, these could be for your specific course or your halls of residence and they are a great way to get know people who are just as nervous about making new friends.
And you can even have a look at your student union’s website for details of events happening in the first weeks of university or any clubs and societies you wish to join.
If you’re planning on joining a club or society think about reaching out before the start of term to break the ice.
