Read the University’s alcohol and drugs misuse policies for support services, guidance and more.

UKM Student Natalie shares her advice for this year’s freshers.

Starting university can be a daunting concept. Being away from home for the first time, away from your parents, from your friends, in a new place. But that’s just the fun of it!

You can do and be whoever you want in this new place, and the first step to this is making sure you get involved in all that Welcome Week has to offer.

During Welcome Week make sure you go to you school’s induction events, explore the campus and discover all the societies you can join at the Freshers Fair.

The other side of Welcome Week is the social events and making friends. So here’s my list of things you should pack for freshers.

1 – Face-paint

Whether you use this for a themed night or for a corridor party, face-paint is an absolute must for Welcome Week, and indeed the rest of your university partying career. Looking ahead to the rest of the year, Halloween tends to be a big night, so if you’ve got some leftover, be sure to keep it for that.

2 – Fancy dress

While we’re on the note of nights out, a lot of them involve fancy dress. Whether you want to be a fairy, Harry Potter, or a tiger, come as what you like, but sticking an old school uniform in your bag probably won’t go amiss!

3 – Your favourite pick-me-up

Welcome Week is almost certainly going to involve a few late nights (even if you’re not a night owl). Finding things out and meeting new people is going take it out of you.

If you’ve got a favourite breakfast or pick-me-up to get you going in the morning (or maybe early afternoon) make sure you bring some with you or stock up when you arrive. I can’t even begin to tell you how much bacon and bread I bought during my first year!

4 – A dressing gown

This might seem like a strange recommendation, and if you don’t want to take me up on it, at least make sure you have a hoodie or something comfortable to pull on over your pyjamas when the person upstairs sets off the fire alarm at 4am making toast. You could be outside for a while, and let’s face it, no matter what time of year it is, baby, it’s cold outside!

5 – Photos of friends and family

Photos of friends and family are an important item to have all year round, but especially during the first few weeks. It’s completely natural to feel homesick over the first couple of weeks, but with trinkets from home around you, you’ll hopefully start to feel more comfortable in no time.

So there we go, a few important essentials to bring with you when you move in to your new place. Hopefully these items will make your first few weeks as manageable and hassle free as possible, and you’ll be settled in in no time!

Image credits
Author: Jeremy Keith
Title: Bacon butty
Source: Flickr
Link: https://flic.kr/p/chxbeL
License: CC BY 2.0

Earlier this week the draft timetable was published to students via the Student Guide. We had anticipated having the final version of the timetable ready for Friday 18 September.

Unfortunately, we have been unable to complete the allocation of students to some modules and the Timetabling Office is working with schools this week and next to resolve any outstanding issues before the start of term.

Please continue to go back and check your timetable regularly for updates including other events.

If you do have concerns about your timetable please check the Timetabling Office FAQs or contact your school.

This Welcome by the International Development Office will provide key information and an opportunity to have any specific questions answered (for International and EU students).

The event will start at 10.30 outside the Clock Tower Building, Historic Dockyard.

Following the Welcome Talk and Tour there will be a Welcome Buffet for all new international students in The Commissioners House in the Historic Dockyard.

On Monday 21 September, please come along to the Welcome Talk in The Church Lecture Theatre, Historic Dockyard at the appropriate time for your Academic School/Centre as below: 

11.00        School of Social Policy, Sociology and Social Research

                   School of Music and Fine Art 

11.45        Kent Business School

                   School of Computing 

12.30        School of Sport and Exercise Sciences

                   Kent Law School

                   Centre for Journalism 

Following the talks there will be a Welcome Lunch for all new students in the Marquee on the Rochester Lawn (next to No. 1 Bistro).

Once you have registered make sure you get involved in all that Welcome Week (or as some people call it, ‘week 0’) has to offer.

This week is a helpful introduction to the University and its’ services, including the Library and your students’ union, getting you ready for when teaching starts.

Even if you’re not living in University accommodation you still need to attend Welcome Week.

Get the most from Welcome Week and make sure you…

• Go to the Welcome talk and lunch on Monday 21 September.
• Go to the Welcome Fair on Wednesday 23 September, 11.00-15.00, in Pilkington and Coopers. This is your opportunity to find out more about all the societies and sports teams you can join. You can also pick up a few freebies from local businesses.Attend your school’s induction events. School induction events are a great opportunity to meet fellow students studying similar courses to you, while discovering the wide range of support services provided by your school. Contact your school for more information.
• Take the Library tour. When studying at university the library will be a key resource, so it’s important you know how to use all the services and where to go for help.

International student?

As well as all the Welcome Week activities, there’s a special welcome programme for international students. Including the International Students’ Welcome Event on Friday 25 September.

Postgraduate student?

If you’re a postgraduate student there is a range of induction events designed specifically for you, as well as the general Welcome Week events everyone can attend.

We are delighted to welcome you into the Templeman Library’s new wing.

Templeman West is a light, comfortable space with new facilities including more study spaces, as well as the Library’s collections and services that have moved into the new extension. The Ground Floor and Floor 1 will be open from Monday 14 September.

New Library entrance

The only way into the Library will be the front doors of the new West entrance. The old entrance, through the front doors in the central section, will be closed.

New help desk locations

Several Library help desks are moving into Templeman West:

• The Welcome Desk will be at the new West entrance on the Ground Floor
• IT & Library Support will be on Floor 1 West
• The Loan Desk has already moved to Ground Floor West, next to the Core Text Collection

There will also be a Help Point on Ground Floor East.

Library café

The café will be closed for a week while it moves to its new location in Templeman West. It opens again on Monday 21 September on the Ground Floor next to the social study area, with longer opening hours and new ranges of food and drinks.

Find out more about what’s in Templeman West

Library opening hours

View all the social events and activities happening on the Medway campus over the first term.

Welcome back! If you’re returning to Kent after the summer break, here’s a helpful summary for settling back in.

• Timetables will be on the Student Guide before term starts on 28 September. Continue to go back and check your timetable regularly for updates including other events. Read our Timetabling FAQs.

• You will need to register on SDS from Tuesday 22 September so we know you’re definitely coming back.

• Term starts on Monday 28 September. Welcome Week is the week before (21-25 September). View term dates.

• If you’ve got a new phone, tablet or laptop, get it Kent WiFi-ready before you come back to campus by running our WiFi setup tool.

• Living off campus is very different from living in University accommodation. Read our community webpages for information on bills, bins, neighbours and much more!

• Construction on your new Students’ Union building is moving along nicely. The new hording design will be in place for the start of term…you can’t miss it though, it’s bright purple!Listening events throughout the first term means you will have your say on the name of the new Student Hub.View a Q&A about the Student Hub, as well as all the latest photos.

• New teaching facilities at the Historic Dockyard – including a new home for Kent Business School at Medway and a 316-seat lecture theatre.

• Important information for parking at the Historic Dockyard. 

Have a great 2015-16 at Kent!