Author Archives: Allie Burnett

win one of 25 ipads

Dive into summer with a new iPad tablet

Summer is just around the corner, but that doesn’t mean that learning has to take a backseat. In fact, with the right tools you can make this summer your most productive yet and fully prepare for the new academic year.

That’s why we’re thrilled to announce Santander’s iPad Prize Draw. They’re giving away 25 tablets to enhance your study experience.

How do I enter?
To enter, visit the Santander Open Academy platform where you’ll need to register for an account (if you haven’t already got one). After registering, you’ll get a confirmation email. Click on the link in the email to verify your account and then you can log on and apply for the prize draw. Once entries close on 27 June, Santander will pick 25 students at random.

Who can enter?
All university students can enter including undergraduates, postgraduates, part-time and full-time students.

You also don’t need to bank with Santander to get involved. So be sure to share with your friends, coursemates and anyone else who could benefit from this opportunity.

Key dates:
Entries to the prize draw close at 11pm on the 27 June 2024. So don’t hesitate and get your entries in pronto!

Giving you the tools you need to build a brighter future
This is just the latest in a series of initiatives that Santander are running throughout the year to help students.

On the Santander Open Academy platform, you can browse free on-demand learning content to help with your studies. You can also apply for free learning programmes ran in partnership with world-leading educational institutes.

Santander is committed to connecting anyone, anywhere with whatever they need to make their better happen.

By offering cutting-edge tools and unique learning opportunities, they’re paving the way for a future generation full of thinkers, creators, and leaders.

Enter the prize draw now and let’s make your academic journey extraordinary together!

Enter now

students walking

Changes to academic year from September 2025

If you will still be studying at Kent for the academic year 2025-26 (so the year after next), we are making some exciting changes to our term dates to improve flexibility and help you juggle your studies alongside other responsibilities.  

The start and end of term dates will be broadly the same but the makeup of the term dates will be different. For undergraduates, instead of having two twelve week terms followed by a six week term, from 2025 we will have three ten week terms. So the number of teaching weeks will be the same, the difference is that they will be balanced throughout the academic year. 

What’s changing from September 2025? 

We’re introducing a three-term system for undergraduate study and a four-term system for postgraduate study, with simpler module choices and assessment spread throughout the year. 

Taught Programme Term Dates 2025-2026

Welcome Week  29 September 2025 – 3 October 2025 
Autumn Term  6 October 2025 – 12 December 2025 
Spring Term  12 January 2026 – 20 March 2026 
Summer Term  13 April 2026 – 19 June 2026 
Late Summer Term (Postgraduates only)  6 July 2026 – 11 September 2026 

 Benefits of these changes 

This curricular revision, rolling out from September 2025, is the University’s response to years of student feedback. It offers:

  • Timetables communicated well before the start of term, so you can balance your studies with work and other commitments  
  • Teaching spread over three teaching terms, typically with only two modules per term, so you can explore topics in depth 
  • Assessments within each term, not bunched at the end of the year  
  • Learning about real world connections and career-relevant knowledge and skills   
  • Meaningful assessments which help you to demonstrate and develop skills and knowledge that you will need in your future career  
  • Frequent, ongoing feedback to help you learn   
  • Stronger connections with other students on your course 

Want to know more? 

We will provide more updates about the changes to the academic year next year, so don’t worry if you don’t feel like you fully understand the changes yet. 

See our Education Modernisation webpages and FAQs. If those pages don’t answer your questions you can get in touch by emailing Kent2030Student@kent.ac.uk 

Take the NSS today

Time is running out to have your say

Time is running out for final year undergraduates to complete the National Student Survey (NSS) and have your say on what you liked or didn’t like about studying at Kent.

Fill in the NSS now

The NSS: what you need to know
Kent Union President Zaid shares why you should fill in the NSS and why we want your feedback. Watch the video now.

🎓 NSS is mainly open to final year undergraduates.

📣The University and Kent Union value your feedback and the NSS is one of the most powerful ways to have your say.

🔒The survey is completely anonymous and confidential. It is run by Ipsos, an independent research agency.

📧Ipsos will continue to email, text and call you until you complete it. 

🕕The survey takes about 10 minutes to complete. However, please take the time to consider your answers and reflect on your whole experience at Kent.

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Are you a Masters student? Have your say

The Postgraduate Taught Experience Survey (PTES) is an opportunity for Postgraduate Taught (PGT) students to provide feedback on their academic experiences at Kent.

What is it?

PTES is a national survey coordinated by Advance HE, the national body for improving teaching and learning in universities.

It is an opportunity for Masters students to let us know about their experiences so far. PTES is the only national survey of Masters-level students, so it helps build an understanding of experiences across the country too.

When is it?

PTES 2024 will open from Monday 4 March 2024, and you will have until Tuesday 30 April 2024 to complete the survey.

Please check your University of Kent email for your own survey link.

The survey takes about 15 minutes to complete. However, we do recommend you take the time to consider your answers and reflect on your whole experience at Kent.

Why should I take part?

This is your chance to tell us your thoughts about your course and experience. The results from the PTES will help us make changes that will improve what we do in the future and to keep doing the things that are important to taught students. It will also help us compare how we are doing against other institutions and what themes are trending nationally.

Top tips to help you complete your survey 

  • Check your Kent email for your own survey link
  • Allow yourself plenty of time to complete the survey
  • You can save your survey and return to it at a later time. Make sure you complete the survey before 23:59 on Tuesday 30 April
  • If you are unsure about the meaning of a specific question, save your questionnaire and seek help
  • If a question does not apply to you, then please leave blank or mark as ‘Not applicable’
  • Where the term “course” or “programme” is used in the questionnaire, this refers to your whole programme of study at Kent
  • All answers are anonymous, therefore please do not identify yourself or other individuals (including staff)

 

More information about the PTES is available on the Advance HE website.

uni student? 10 £1,000 cash prizes to be won

Springtime savings: win £1,000 in this new student prize draw

We’re delighted to announce that our partner, Santander Universities has launched their latest student prize draw. Open to all UK uni students, you have a chance to win 1 of 10 lots of £1,000.

We’ve now promoted many prize draws and grants delivered in collaboration with Santander Universities. Many of our students have benefitted greatly from these. Here’s one story from Kent student and Santander Scholar Abi.

You can enter in minutes by following these 3 easy steps:
1) Register for Santander Open Academy – a free online learning platform (if you haven’t already)
2) Tap on the verification link in your confirmation email
3) Log on and choose ‘Get Started’ to complete your entry into the Santander Universities £10k Cash Prize Draw.

Entries close at 23:00 on 25 April 2024.

All UK university students can enter, including undergraduates, postgraduates, part-time and full-time students. You also don’t need to bank with Santander to get involved. So be sure to share with your friends, coursemates and anyone else who could benefit from this opportunity.

Enter by 23:00 on 25 April 2024 for your chance to win!

Enter Now

two students laughing in front of laptop

New for 2024/25: an easier way to log your attendance

If you are currently using Moodle to log your attendance at class, from September 2024 you’ll be moving across to the new and improved attendance system – Presto Student.

What is Presto Student?

✨ Presto Student is the new system you will use to log your attendance at class from September 2024.

📱 Presto Student makes it easier for you to self-register attendance or absence on any device using single sign on (SSO).

📅 Like Moodle, it uses a 6-digit or QR code and provides an easy-to-navigate timetable and dashboard to view your attendance for the term.

👉🏽 It’s all about providing the right support and intervention to students who need it, ensuring that everyone has a chance to succeed.

📣 Throughout the 2024/ 25 academic year, more functionality will be added to make sure Kent students have the best possible experience.

❔ If you have any questions or feedback on Presto Student, you can email attendance@kent.ac.uk

student looking at laptop

View your exam timetable

If you have exams at Kent in May/June 2024, you can now view your exam timetable in KentVision.

See how to view your exam timetable.

Get exams ready

There’s loads of free events and support to get you ready for exams this year, including:

📚 Revision and exam prep sessions from your School and the Student Learning Advisory Service.

🌈 Wellbeing events and support from our Student Support and Wellbeing Team.

💻 Library and IT resources to help with your studies and revision.

❔ If you have any questions about exams, your Divisional Team is on hand to help or you can email exams@kent.ac.uk

See all exams support and guidance

flowers on campus

Events roundup: 25 – 31 March

Find out what’s on this week including exam preparation events, ways to destress and Canterbury Varsity – Go Team Kent! 

It is also a bank holiday weekend from Friday 29 March until Monday 1 April, with many of the University services either closed or on reduced hours. See bank holiday opening hours.  

Monday 25 March: Exam prep, Holi celebrations (Medway) and Blind Date with a Book 

Feeling worried about exams? Join this online workshop focused on exam techniques and managing stress.   

At Medway campus you can join Holi celebrations to enjoy colour throwing and an after party at The Deep End.  

Try a blind date with a book in Templeman Library! Bring your own pre-loved book and wrap it and decorate it. Then choose another wrapped up book to take home with you and enjoy.  

Tuesday 26 March: Career Action Plan, part-time jobs (Medway) and Exam Room Experience 

In your final year? Join this online event to reflect and help you make decisions about your career action plan after you graduate 

Do you need some guidance finding a part-time job? Join this event in Pilkington building, Medway, to find out more about different part-time work options and where to find them.

You can also meet some cute spring animals at the Hub on Tuesday!  

If the idea of an in-person exam makes you feel stressed, why not try out an exam room experience in Canterbury to help you ease your anxieties. Explore your own stress response to exams and learn techniques in how to deal with them.  

Wednesday 27 March: Women’s Business Market, Exam Room Experience (Medway) and launch of FACE X HORNIMAN exhibition 

As part of Women’s History Month, Kent Union is running a Women’s Business Market in the plaza. Come along and explore a wide variety of women-led student businesses.  

If the idea of an in-person exam makes you feel nervous, why not try out an exam room experience in Medway to help ease your anxieties. This is an opportunity for you to experience what it is like to take an ‘exam’, explore your own stress response to exams and learn techniques in how to deal with them.  

As part of #Black365, March 2024 sees the launch of FACE X HORNIMAN: Hair Stories exhibition in Keynes. FACE and the Horniman Museum explores and celebrates the influence, importance and personal narratives attached to hair from Black, Brown and Asian perspectives within the UK. Join us at the launch of the exhibition for an evening of art, culture and Jamaican pasties and tropical juice.  

Thursday 28 March: Relaxation sessions (Medway) and Easter Pub Quiz 

On Thursday you can enjoy some relaxation sessions at The Hub. Choose from a 15-minute back massage or a gel manicure.  

Test your knowledge, enjoy good company, and win exciting prizes at the Mungo’s Easter Pub Quiz 

See more student events.
 

Opportunities and reminders 

  • Online Module Registration (OMR) is open for students to choose undergraduate modules for the next academic year. OMR closes at 9:00 on Tuesday 2 April.  
  • Looking for an elective module that will provide you with leadership skills and develop your Global Citizenship?  Go for GOLD5000.

See more student opportunities

Daffodils on campus with Canterbury Cathedral in background

Spring Break 2024: Opening Times

During the spring vacation period, which is from 6 April to 6 May, most of the University’s services are still available, some with amended opening hours. Many are closed on the national bank holidays, which are Friday 29 March, Monday 1 April and Monday 6 May.

Here’s a list of services and opening times:

  • Borrow books and study: Templeman Library at Canterbury opening times, and Drill Hall Library at Medway opening times 
  • Ask Nexus: From 6 April – 5 May, Nexus is open Monday – Friday 09:00 – 19:00, Saturdays 12:00-18:00 and closed on Sundays. Nexus will be closed for the Bank Holiday weekend Fri 29 March – Mon 1 April.
  • Food and drink on campus: Canterbury catering opening times will be different during the Spring Break. See vacation opening times for catering outlets on the Canterbury campus.
  • Support: Student Support and Wellbeing reception remains open 09:00-17:00 throughout the Spring break, apart from national bank holidays. You can also get in the moment support and counselling from our telephone, text and app for wellbeing support and activities 24/7 from our wellbeing partners Spectrum Life
  • Exam preparation and study support: The Student Learning Advisory Service remains open throughout the Spring break, apart from: national bank holidays, 10:00-13:00 on 11 April and 10:00-16:00 on 18 April. You can book face-to-face and online appointments on all areas of study support, including exam preparation.
  • Reception areas: Some receptions will be operating on different opening hours during the vacation. See reception opening hours.
  • Sport and exercise: You can still use facilities and join classes over the break. Please note there will be reduced hours on bank holidays. Check outKent Sport opening hours.
  • Kent Union services and outlets: See Kent Union’s services and outlets opening times.
  • Campus Shuttle: The Campus Shuttle will run a reduced service on Friday 29 March, Monday 1 April and Monday 6 May. Aside from these dates, the shuttle will operate to the usual timetable during term-time only. See Campus Shuttle timetable.
  • Careers advice and activity: The Careers and Employability Service remains open 09:00-17:00 throughout the Spring break (apart from the national bank holidays), so you can continue to book appointments and work on your career.

And of course, Campus Security staff are on duty 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

We wish you a restful break!

You will need photo ID to vote at a polling station on 2 May

You will need photo ID to vote on 2 May

On Thursday 2 May 2024, the Police and Crime Commissioner elections are taking place.

If you are not already registered, the deadline to register to vote is Tuesday 16 April 2024. The easiest way to register is online.

At these elections, you will need to bring photo ID to be able to vote at your polling station (the name on your ID should be the same name you used to register to vote). NUS cards are not accepted.

If you don’t have an accepted form of ID, you can apply for a free Voter Authority Certificate. The deadline to apply is 17:00 on Wednesday 24 April 2024.

Alternatively email Electoral Services at electoral.services@canterbury.gov.uk or call Electoral Services on 01227 862 007.