The Ultimate University Survival Guide!

So it's that time of the year when young people pack up their lives and move to University.
Some people stay close to home, whereas others (like me) travel as far as 100 miles to their chosen University. It's a daunting time for all, but here's a guide to help you get through those first stressful few weeks!

1) Save as much money as possible before you go to uni: Your student loan won't cover half as much as what you think it will. Try and build up some savings before you go.

2) Buy a railcard: This only applies if you are going far away from home, and if you want to visit your family. A car is one of the most expensive things to take to uni...you are much better off buying a railcard and using it to save money on train tickets.

3) Don't be shy: When I first got to University, I didn't speak to anyone for 5 hours. You have to remember that everyone is in the same position as you. Start with the people who you are sharing accomodation with. Introduce yourself, and then as a group, you can all introduce yourselves to the neighbours and so on. You will meet people on your course, and will be surprised how many people you know after a few weeks, just from meeting them at the Student Union!

4)Learn to cook: Cooking is essential for University. Everyone needs to eat, and it is cheaper to buy the ingredients to cook your own food instead of buying food from the Uni canteen. I couldn't cook when I got to uni, and now I cook myself roast dinners, stir fry's etc...

5) Don't be a snob: Following on from point 4...there is NOTHING wrong with supermarket brand products. Smart Price/Tesco value food does not taste much different to branded products, yet is much cheaper. Don't turn your nose up at it, because you probably wouldnt even notice what brand it was if your mum had cooked it for you.

6) Find a job: As said in point 1, you will spend more money than you think at University. Having a job means you get an income every month. If you work for a big business such as ASDA, try transferring stores to one near your Uni.

7) Learn your way around: Suggest a walk around the campus or town with those you live with so that you become familiar with the area. Don't leave it until you are late for a lecture to find out where the lecture is! Also, it helps to know the way home from the nightclubs in town, so you may want to find out rather than drunkenly stumbling home with no clue where you are.

8) Be safe: Everyone knows what happens at University. You go out, get drunk, meet someone, bring them home with you etc...At this age you should all know about the birds and the bees...Regardless of the drunken state you are in, use contraception. Getting pregnant and dropping out of University is just a waste of all the hard work you put in to secure your place on your course.

9) Socialise: Obviously, it's important to work hard at University...especially because of the money it will cost you. But first year is for socialising. Go out when you can, and when you can afford it. Go to all the best SU events, make the most of all the student offers in town...because after first year, it gets harder. The workload increases, and the effort you put in reflects the grade you get for your degree. I went out at every opportunity in first year, and now I barely go out once a week. Use the first year to get to know people, enjoy yourself and socialise, but prepare yourself that University is not an easy ride, and that years 2 and 3 will be a LOT more difficult.

10) Have the right equipment: A laptop is essential for University, or even a Netbook or iPad. Anything small and compact that is easy to carry around for you to do University work whenever you have the time. I used to do my assignments on the train home, or in bed, and it is much easier to type lecure notes directly into your computer, rather than scribble them down and type them out later.

11) Learn some drinking games: I know I shouldn't really encourage binge drinking...but from experience I know it is much cheaper to get together with some friends and play drinking games before a night out, rather than go out sober and spend more money than necessary on drink. For example, a 350ml bottle Tesco vodka is about £5. There are about 14 standard shots in a 350ml bottle. If you ordered 14 shots from a bar, you would probably pay about £40. Therefore, you can save £35 just buy pre-drinking, instead of buying all your drinks when you go out.

12) Register with a doctor: Some people would argue that they don't need to because they are never ill etc...but if you had an accident and were taken to hospital, they would ask who your registered doctor is, so its better to have one. You never know when you may fall ill and need a doctor, so its easier to register with one just in case.

13) Know how to contact people: Find out the contact details of people you may need to contact urgently. The most important would be your lecturers email address, as unlike in school, if you are struggling with work, nobody will help you unless you ask for it. Another important contact would be the number for your doctor, as mentioned above.

14) Enjoy yourself: You only live once...make the most of it, and good luck!