Author Archives: Allie Burnett

student in exam

Please don’t bring a bag to your exam

If you have in-person exams, please only bring with you the essentials and don’t bring any bags. You can find a list of what you can and can’t bring into the exam hall on our website.

You are allowed small items such as a phone, wallet and keys. Phones will need to be turned off and placed under your desk.

If you have to bring a bag or any other unauthorised items, please allow plenty of time ahead of your exam to store your bag safely in one of the lockers on campus. Lockers are limited so it is best to leave your bag at home.

You can find out more about exams and support available on our exams webpages.

Best of luck with your exams!

blue lockers

Store your bag safely during exams

If you have in-person exams, please only bring with you the essentials. You can find a list of what you can and can’t bring into the exam hall on our website.

If you have to bring a bag or any other unauthorised items, please allow plenty of time ahead of your exam to store your bag safely in one of the lockers on campus.

You can find out more about exams and support available on our exams webpages.

Best of luck with your exams!

#YouGotThis

Photo by Michelle Myers on Unsplash

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Free Mental Health Summit on 13 May

Want to improve your wellbeing and know more about how to support others? Sign up for free on Eventbrite.

Join the School of Psychology for the University of Kent’s first Mental Health Summit, a free event open to all on Saturday 13 May. Hear from clinical psychologists, charities, and influencers on mental health issues and solutions for young people, and learn how to support your own mental health or provide support for your friends, family and colleagues.

The day will include presentations and discussions on a range of topics, including anxiety, stress, depression, low mood, eating disorders, psychosis, and obsessive-compulsive disorder. You’ll also have the chance to network and exchange good practices during the lunchtime Mental Health Fair, where you can chat with staff representing a range of services and local companies and charities.

Keynote speakers include Richard Burnett from the Mindfulness In Schools Project (check out his TED talk on Mindfulness in Schools), Michael James Wong, the founder of Just Breathe Project, and body positivity influencer Charlotte Price. Plus, mental health advocate Leigh Johnstone (aka ‘The Beardy Gardener’) will share his belief in the positive influence of plants – check out his website The Giving Garden.

Don’t miss this opportunity to learn, connect, and thrive. The Summit runs 09:30 -17:00 but you can dip in and out and engage with as many sessions as you like to take away what you need to support your own learning or mental health, or to better support those around you both personally and professionally. Sign up now on Eventbrite.

We look forward to sharing expertise with our whole community and empowering people to understand and improve their mental health.


Looking for mental health support for University of Kent students? Check out the Student Support and Wellbeing website. Kent’s expert staff offer free support to all enrolled students for mental health, neurodiversity, chronic conditions and disabilities. You can access online, in person and telephone support from the mental health team, a free counselling service, 24/7 support from partner organisations, and events and resources throughout the year to help you enhance your wellbeing and thrive at university.

Written by Natalia Crisanti and Joshua Stevens, 5.5.23

train station

Train strikes

If you usually travel to campus by train, please be aware of planned train strikes. See Southeastern’s website for when these will take place as well as helpful information.

If you need to travel to campus on a train strike day, we recommend you find alternative modes of travel where possible and check our Campus Travel updates webpage.  

If you have an in-person exam on a train strike day, please make every effort to make alternative travel arrangements as these cannot be rescheduled.

Travel disruption in itself is not a reason for mitigation (see Credit Framework for details). However, if your circumstances mean that alternative arrangements to get to campus on a train strike day are not possible, please let your Division know you will be absent, or contact your Student Support Team. You will also need to apply for an end of year mitigation if your absence results in you missing an assessment.

If you miss teaching due to train strikes, please check your Moodle module page for any resources made available or alternatively arrange to see your seminar/class leader during office/student consultation hours or speak to your academic adviser.

Teaching will continue as planned, and our campuses and services will remain open during the disruption.

Two students talking over a desk

Become more employable – add a Year In, deadline 12 May

Gain new skills to stand out when you graduate.

The need for well-rounded graduates from employers is increasing; in 2023 the demand for workers who can bring a range of skills to the table is larger than ever before. The opportunity is here for you to become that graduate as applications for Kent’s Year-In courses have opened.

The Year In courses give undergraduates students in Years 2 and 3 the opportunity to take an extra year in another course subject. This can be between your 2nd and 3rd year, or after your 3rd year is complete.  Courses on offer for the 2023/24 academic year include:

If you take a Year-In, it will appear on your degree certificate, letting employers know what you are capable of.

What does a Year In give you?

A Year-In will help combine your existing knowledge and experience with practical skills and experiences valued by employers. The graduate labour market is competitive, and the Year-In could be the very thing that makes you the obvious choice for an employer. You’ll spend a year immersing yourself in a new subject, with courses designed for beginners, that will deliver engaging, high level learning opportunities.

Get an insight into each Year In subject

Watch the videos to find out more about each Year In involves:

When do I need to apply?

The deadline for Year In applications is Friday 12 May 2023 for final year students.

Got questions? Contact careerhelp@kent.ac.uk for guidance

 

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Apply for the Medway Student Support Fund by 12 May

Students studying for an undergraduate degree taught at the Medway campus in the universities of Greenwich, Kent and Canterbury Christ Church can apply for the Medway Student Support Fund for financial support.

This bursary has been provided by a generous external donor and is available in addition to the individual universities’ hardship funds.

Applications are invited by students able to demonstrate that they are experiencing genuine hardship. Please go to our scholarships webpage for the eligibility criteria and application form.

The deadline for applications is 12 noon on Friday 12 May 2023.

The Medway Student Support Fund board will evaluate applications and make awards to those successful by Friday 9 June 2023.

Find out more and apply

King Charles III coronation emblem

Join the King’s Coronation celebrations at Kent

The Coronation of His Majesty King Charles III and Her Majesty The Queen Consort will take place on Saturday 6 May 2023 at Westminster Abbey.

To celebrate we are doing a number of things on campus including:

Canterbury ​​​​​​​

  • The Big Lunch Picnic in the tents outside the Registry and Gulbenkian (Canterbury campus) on Friday 5 May, from 12:30-14:30 
    Get together with your colleagues and bring your lunch to this Coronation picnic where we will be handing out free cake to celebrate. At the event you will also be able to buy our £4 packed-lunch deal.
  • Lawn games being provided by Kent Sport during the Big Lunch Picnic. Bring out your competitive spirit while enjoying some lawn games!
  • Coronation cupcake and hot drink for £3, from 2-5 May
    ​​​​Throughout the week you can get a Coronation cupcake and hot drink for just £3 from Gulbenkian Café, Dolche Vita and Sibson Café.
  • Coronation packed-lunch offer for just £4, from 2-5 May
    You can also buy a packed lunch including a sandwich, drink and crisps for just £4 throughout the week from BagIt in Rutherford College, Gulbenkian Café, Dolche Vita and Sibson Café.
  • British themed £3 meal in Rutherford Dining Hall from 2-5 May, 12:00 – 14:00
    The £3 meal deal menu in Rutherford Dining Hall (Canterbury) will feature a British themed dish for the week. 

Medway

  • The Big Lunch Picnic on the Rochester Lawn (Medway campus) on Wednesday 3 May, from 13:00 – 14:00
    Get together with your colleagues and bring your lunch to our Coronation picnic where we will be giving out free cupcakes. There will also be the chance to win a large Coronation cake.
  • Coronation deal at Medway on Wednesday 3 May
    The food truck on the Medway campus, Rich Aroma 21, will be offering a medium hot drink and a sausage roll or samosa for £5. ​​​​​​​

We hope to see you at the celebrations!

Kent sign on campus

Supporting staff and students affected by the conflict in Sudan

We are deeply saddened to hear about the fighting in Sudan. Our thoughts are with all our students, staff, alumni, and anyone who is affected by this conflict.

We are in the process of contacting our students and staff from Sudan and are taking immediate steps to support these individuals. The UK Government advice for anyone concerned about relatives or friends should call the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office (FCDO) on 020 7008 5000.

Support for students:  

  • 24/7 support from Spectrum Life. If you or a friend need emergency support, Spectrum Life can offer online, text and telephone support from qualified counsellors and mental health professionals. Call 0800 0318227 and press option 1, or Text/WhatsApp ‘Hi’ to: +44(0)7418 360780
  • Free 24/7 support from peers and trained professionals with Togetherall.
  • If you’re feeling distressed and would like to talk to Student Support and Wellbeing staff, if you’re based in Canterbury, please call 01227 823158 or email KentSSW@kent.ac.uk; and if you’re based in Medway, please call 01634 888474, or email MedwaySSW@kent.ac.uk.
  • Our Student Services team have written a blog which gives some practical advice on how to look after your wellbeing and where to go for support if you need it.

Support for staff:  

  • Our Employee Assistance Programme offers free support and counselling to staff.
  • Our Mental Health Support for staff hosts a wide range of support for when you’re struggling, such as helpful resources and advice and information on how to get in touch with our Mental Health Allies.
student smiling at camera

Take postgrad survey and get a free meal on campus

The Postgraduate Research Student Experience Survey (PRES) and Postgraduate Taught Student Experience Survey (PTES) are an opportunity for you to provide us with feedback on many aspects of your postgraduate student experience including supervision, progress and assessment, resources, research skills and professional development.

Eligible postgraduates have been sent an email with the unique link to the survey. Alternatively, you can use the links below where you will be asked to sign in. To access the survey please enter your Respondent ID as your University of Kent login and your Password is your student ID number. Kent login is the first part of your Kent email address, before the @ and all letters should be lowercase. University of Kent ID number should be 8 digits long. It can be found on your KentOne card.

Take the survey now: 

All students who fully complete the survey will be entitled to claim a free £3 meal deal at Rutherford Dining Hall on the Canterbury campus or a £3 discount in the Pilkington Café on the Medway campus, on behalf of the Graduate Researcher College (valid until the end of July 2023)

We very much hope that you will take this chance to have your say and make your views heard for the benefit of current and future postgraduate students. We appreciate any feedback you may have and we will use it to shape our future policies and student experiences.

Please note the deadline for completing PTES is 16 June and PRES is 15 May.

Thank you for your participation.

GRC Team