Author Archives: Miriam Sandiford

campus sign

Air India incident support

Following this morning’s tragic Air India incident in India, we are monitoring developments and working to ensure everyone connected to the University is safe. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by this very sad situation.

Support available

If you concerned about this news would like support, you can get in touch with Student Support and Wellbeing Monday-Friday 9:00-17:00:

Or you can access 24/7 support via our partner Spectrum Life, who offer online, text and telephone support.

Internship Experience UK. The UK's No 1 virtual internship

Bright Network Internship Experience, 14-17 July

Internship Experience UK (or IEUK) is the Bright Network’s 4-day virtual internship programme taking place on the 14-17 July 2025.

This year, the experience is designed specifically for first, second and penultimate year undergraduates who are preparing to launch their early career.

Agenda, 14th July skillbuilding, 15th July sector deep dive, 16th July sector skills project and graduate insights, 17th July reflections and wrap up

Over 145,000 students have completed the live version of IEUK since it began in 2020. It’s a staple part of your university experience — don’t miss out on connecting with like-minded students and 37 industry-leading employers!

Person folding clothes

Moving out soon? Donating unwanted items and bin amnesty (Canterbury)

As we approach the end of term, you’re probably starting to pack up to move out of your accommodation or student house. Find out about where you can donate unwanted items as well as Canterbury City Council’s Bin Amnesty.

KSU Donation drive

Kent Students’ Union is making it even easier to give back to the student community. On Wednesday and Thursday, they are doing donation drives for the Campus Pantry and Freecycle, so you can donate food and homeware items. You can donate:

  • Unopened, in-date, non-perishable food items to the Campus Pantry
  • Clean, usable homeware items (kitchen utensils, plates, bowls, books, décor etc)

Donation points

  • Tuesday 10 June – Park Wood, 11:00 – 13:00 and 14:00 – 16:00
  • Wednesday 11 June – The Plaza (outside The Venue), 11:00 – 13:00 and 14:00 – 16:00

Other places to donate on campus

You can donate clothes, shoes and homewares to Parky’s, the charity shop on campus. Parky’s supports the Parkinson’s Centre for Integrated Therapies, helping people affected by Parkinson’s Disease.

We also have British Heart Foundation recycling points across campus, located near accommodations. You can drop off clothes and shoes into the donation banks.

Canterbury City Council Bin Amnesty

Each year Canterbury City Council run a bin amnesty where they collect rubbish on additional days to support students moving out of the city.

This year the bin amnesty will run from 16 June for 2 weeks. If you place your rubbish in the bin amnesty streets included 2025 during this time, it will be collected. The Council has asked that you ensure that bags are double bagged and tied tightly so that foxes and seagulls do not rip open the bags.

 

 

Students walking down Rochester highstreet

Events roundup: 9 – 15 June

It’s the last week of the Summer term and the last week of the academic year for our undergrads!

Staying on or near campus over the Summer? See our Summer at Kent webpage for events, support and facility and service opening times.

Monday 9 June: Whitstable trip and planning your career

If you live in on-campus accommodation, you can take a break from exams and join your RLAs for a relaxing day trip to the charming coastal town of Whitstable! Known for its colourful beach huts, fresh seafood, and artsy vibes, Whitstable is the perfect day trip for those looking to unwind and explore somewhere new.

Need help planning your career? This online session will help you plan your career and consider how you may need to be more flexible and creative in your career strategy.

Tuesday 10 June: Mindful colouring with Counselling team and graduation career help

Members of the counselling team will be available to answer any queries you may have about therapy and mindfulness in Nexus on Tuesday 12:00-14:00. There will also be mindful colouring on offer.

If you’re graduating soon, learn about key services provided to students and graduates as well as useful tools to help you in your next steps. Don’t forget, you can continue to access the Careers and Employability Service for three years after you graduate!

Wednesday 11 June: KSU donation drive, butterfly walk and therapy dog

Moving out soon? Kent Students’ Union is making it even easier to give back to the student community. On Wednesday and Thursday, they are doing donation drives for the Campus Pantry and Freecycle, so you can donate food and homeware items. On Tuesday the donation point is in Park Wood and on Wednesday it’s The Plaza outside the Venue. Find out what you can donate.

On Wednesday afternoon you can join Bella from Kent Wildlife Trust in the Kent Community Oasis Garden to learn about butterflies and moths and Wilder Blean. You’ll be observing and counting species to report to the Butterfly Conservation.

It’s the final Pause for Paws event of the academic year! Say hello to Coco the therapy dog in Nexus and take some time to de-stress and recharge.

Thursday 12 June: CV and cover letter support

Need some help with your CV or cover letter? This online session contains practical information, hints and tips to create CVs and cover letters with impact.

Friday 13 June: Gardening

Everyone is welcome at Kent Community Oasis Garden, whether you’re an expert gardener, a complete beginner, or just coming along for a chat. There are open volunteering sessions at Kent COG every Wednesday and Friday, 10:00-14:00 (drop in).

Saturday 14 June: Charity table tennis event

On Saturday, the University of Kent Table Tennis Society and Canterbury Table Tennis Club are organising a charity table tennis day in support of Ping Pong Parkinson (PPP) and Parkinson’s Centre for Integrated Therapies (PCIT), which is based at our Canterbury campus.

The event is taking place at The Prince of Wales Youth Club and is £7.50 per player to attend. The day is about having fun, building connections, and encouraging accessible activity for everyone—no matter your experience or ability.

Opportunities and reminders

 

Students sat on bench chatting

Summer service and facility opening times

Living on or near campus over the Summer? Here’s a list of summer service and facility opening times:

  • Borrowing books and studying in the library: See opening times for Templeman Library, Canterbury and Drill Hall Library, Medway.
  • Asking your queries at Nexus: Nexus in Templeman Library is open 9:00-18:00 Monday to Friday and 12:00-18:00 on Saturdays (closed Sundays). Check the Nexus webpage for the latest updates and to access Nexus online.
  • Accessing wellbeing and disability support: Student Support and Wellbeing are open Monday to Friday 9:00-13:00 and 14:00 – 16:45.
  • Eating on campus: Our catering outlets have different opening days and times over the summer. See catering outlet opening times. For the campus shops, Library café and Woody’s, see the KSU website or visit their Instagram @kentstudentunion.
  • Getting careers advice: The Careers and Employability Service remains open 9:00-17:00, Monday – Friday throughout the summer, so you can continue to book appointments and work on your career.
  • Getting study support: The Skills for Academic Success team are available Monday to Friday 9:00-17:00.
  • Collecting post or asking questions at your accommodation reception: See reception opening times.
  • Spending time at Medway campus: The Hub will remain open throughout the summer but at limited times. Follow The Hub on Instagram to stay up to date. The Deep End is now closed until September. Reminder – the Campus Shuttle does not run outside of term-time.
  • Keeping active: You can still use the campus sport and fitness facilities over the summer, check out the Kent Sport vacation opening hours. A full timetable of social sports and classes runs throughout the vacation.
  • Accessing KSU services: For KSU services including the Campus Pantry, Advice Service and more, see the KSU website or visit their Instagram @kentstudentunion.

Please note, most services and facilities will be closed on the summer bank holiday (Monday 25 August).

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

See our Summer at Kent webpage for all events and support for students living on or near campus over the Summer.

Volleyball team at Medway Activity Awards

Kent Stars: Volleyball Victory

Congratulations to Brendan, captain of the Volleyball team at Medway, who recently won the ‘Outstanding Contribution to Sport’ award as well as ‘Best Team’ and ‘Best Society’ for Volleyball at the Medway Activity Awards! Hear from Brendan:

“My name is Brendan Papp, and I am in my last year as a Journalism student at the University of Kent. I have been the volleyball president for two years here in Medway, and I am also the Editor-In-Chief of Inquire, the student newspaper at Kent. On top of those, I am the sole student representative for my class, as well as the longest tenured International Student Advisory Board member. Aside from school, I primarily play football and write. I grew up in Washington D.C. and moved to England for university in 2022.”

Brendan wearing sports top playing volleyball

Congrats for your recent awards in volleyball at the Medway Activity Awards! Can you tell us about the volleyball team you captain and what this experience has meant to you?

“I was very lucky when I joined the volleyball team around three years ago. Alex Kitchen was the president at the time and became a mentor. Alex was not only a phenomenal player, he was also a great leader and a great coach. Alex constantly inspired the team around him through not only his words but his actions too. That stuck with me. I saw the community he was trying to build, and when he left, I knew I wanted to continue his outstanding legacy. Though I was never the player, or the natural leader he was, I had to try. Thankfully, with the team around me, we were more than successful.

Medway is a difficult place to drive engagement as it is a much smaller campus than Canterbury with a much smaller student body. Creating a community with volleyball at its centre had its roots, but we had to expand it to continue volleyball as a sport.

We surpassed all expectations for what a Medway sport is thought of achieving. We had up to 50 people come to games, for both men’s and women’s. People showed up in theme, costumes and colours, to show team support. We proved that the stereotype of apathy in Medway does not actually exist. We do have passionate people here. Students care and will work hard to create something we could all be very proud of. This is my legacy.

Volleyball team smiling together

I am so happy to have been part of the team that created the best volleyball community in the country. We play in the park weekly now that the season has ended. Afterwards, we play mafia or watch a movie; we stick together. First year, only a couple of my friends played the sport; now, nearly every single one of my friends plays the sport. We are growing yearly, and I am excited to see how we grow next. Konstantin Schmidt and Prakriti Gurung are going to do amazing things for this society and for the entirety of the Medway campus. That continuation means more than any award I will ever receive.”

 What advice would you give to other students?

“I wrote an editorial column this year for Inquire. In each edition, I gave a different piece of advice, but it was all under the same umbrella. Self-love is so important. It is the first piece of a puzzle; if you do not have it, you need to find a way to find it. The rest of the puzzle pieces are a lot easier to fill: teamwork, passion, and doing your best. I hate the notion of being a try-hard being a bad thing. It is not, it is a great thing. It means you have a competitive drive in whatever you do, to be your very best at it. You cannot get stronger unless you push yourself further than you thought you could. Your mentality is the same. When you feel like giving up, do not stop, because that is when you just passed the starting line.”

Volleyball players on court

What are your plans for the next year?

I will be moving to Madrid in October to start my sports management course with Real Madrid. When doing my work with volleyball and Inquire, I realised how much I loved working with other people. It was my true passion. I am excited to start my master’s there, and it will be my first step to impact the world of sport. I have many different dreams in how I will use that degree, but one is starting to stick out. Community engagement: I love watching a community grow around a central idea or sport, and I want to help people who might not have access to this type of community gain access to it. I am confident I will learn and acquire the tools to help people in new ways.”

Do you know an inspirational student or student group? Let us know.

Learn more about the Kent Stars campaign.

Student in library looking at bookshelves

Please return your library books

Please take any opportunity when you’re visiting campus to return books you no longer need, especially if you’re a final year student and are leaving Kent this year, or are going to be away from campus over the summer. Books you have borrowed can still be reserved by other people during the vacation.

Your options for returning books

  • If you’re on the Canterbury campus, use the book returns drop off point in the Welcome Hall or the external book drop on Library Road.
  • If you live in the Medway area, you can return Templeman Library books to the Drill Hall Library at the Universities of Medway campus.
  • Posting books: depending on weight and volume, you could consider breaking up a large parcel into smaller ones. Courier services might be cheaper than Royal Mail and pick up the parcel from you. Whatever method you use, please make sure you get a receipt.

Our postal address is:

Book Returns,
Templeman Library,
University of Kent,
Canterbury, Kent,
CT2 7NU

If you’re unable to return your books by any of these methods, please get in touch with us and we’ll work out a solution with you.

Contact us

Please contact us if you need any help or advice around returning books or any other library query. Our staff are here to help you:

Canterbury Pride parade

Events roundup: 2 – 8 June

Find out what’s on this week including Career’s PG Week and Pride Canterbury.

Monday 2 June: Your elevator pitch

Whether it’s for networking, interviews, starting your own business or pitching, being able to confidently and competently explain your experience and expertise is really important. Join this online Career’s Elevator Pitch session to learn how to tell your story with impact.

Tuesday 3 June: Making materials for Pride Canterbury and Physics evening open lecture

On Tuesday you can come along to the Venue between 11:00 and 16:00 to make placards, badges and posters for Pride Canterbury at the weekend. Kent Students’ Union will provide all the materials, you just bring the creativity.

Do you have an interest in physics? On Tuesday evening you’re invited to join the Kent Physics Centre open lecture ‘Exploring the Solar System via Hypervelocity Impacts’. The speaker, Prof Mark Burchell, is an Emeritus Professor of Space Science at the University of Kent and his contributions to science have earned multiple awards from NASA!

Wednesday 4 June: Gardening and therapy dog

Why not get outside and enjoy spending time in the Kent Community Oasis Garden? Everyone is welcome at KentCOG, whether you’re an expert gardener, a complete beginner, or just coming along for a chat.

Take a break from exams with Coco the Therapy Dog in Nexus, Templeman Library.  She is a certified Pets as Therapy dog and is very friendly, calm and loves being fussed over.

Thursday 5 June: PGR Yoga and Writing Retreat and working abroad

PGR students are invited to a Yoga and Writing Retreat, a day workshop consisting of guided yoga sessions mixed with opportunities to get on with your writing. With breaks for refreshments and a short, guided meditation after lunch, the yoga and writing retreat creates a peaceful and relaxed environment to work.

Thinking of working abroad? Join this online session to find out how you can work abroad as part of your degree, summer break or after graduation. The session includes an introduction to GoingGlobal, a platform for Kent students to find opportunities and detailed info for working abroad.

Friday 6 June: Making the most of the vacation and Board Games Night

For students who live in on-campus accommodation, you’re invited to a board games night in DG-01 in Templeman Library. There will be a variety of games available including Catan, Guess Who and Uno, as well as the Nintendo Switch to play Mario Party.

As we get closer to the end of term, why not join this online session from the Careers team about how you can make the most of the vacation and use it as a time to upskill yourself and explore career options.

Saturday 7 June: Pride Canterbury!

Canterbury Pride takes place on Saturday and is a spectacular LGBTQ+ celebration. As a significant sponsor of Pride, Kent has reserved spaces for students and staff to take part in the Pride Parade that precedes the main event, this year taking place in the Westgate Gardens. Parade participants get automatic entry to the main event.

Anyone who wishes to take part in the Pride parade on Saturday must be wearing a Parade Wristband prior to entry to the staging area. There are a limited number, and these will be given out on a first come, first served basis. Find out where to pick up your free Pride wristband earlier in the week.

See more student events.

Opportunities

  • Calling all Black student changemakers – there’s a paid opportunity to influence and inspire at a national level through the Living Black at University Commission.
  • If you’re considering postgraduate study, join us for our Virtual Postgraduate Open Event on Wednesday 18 June. Find out about PG courses, ask questions about fees and funding and learn how to make an application. See Summer PG Open Events.

See more student opportunities.

People wearing masks on a stage

Community as a superpower: how we’re celebrating Refugee Week

Kent is looking forward to celebrating this year’s Refugee Week (16-22 June 2025) reflecting on how we can continue to be a home for all, as well as our role in advocating for the rights of displaced individuals. 

Alongside taking the time to reflect on our work supporting Sanctuary scholars, displaced academics and the local community, Kent will be hosting and supporting a number of local events.   

Performing arts workshops for migrants, with Projekt Europa 

As part of the celebration, we are proud and excited to welcome Projekt Europa back to campus for a second successive year of the free community engagement programme, PROJEKT ENCOUNTER, a free twenty-week theatre workshop for refugees, asylum seekers, and first-generation migrants in Kent. Hosted by Drama in the School of Arts and Architecture, the workshops culminate in a final performance – in the Aphra Theatre – on 17 June, followed by a Q&A with the cast and company. Tickets are free, but limited – book yours now 

The University is supporting a number of our Sanctuary scholars to attend an evening of Music and Food from Around the World at Canterbury Cathedral on 16 June. The event will celebrate the rich and vibrant culture and cuisine that refugees and asylum seekers bring to the countries in which they settle. The evening will celebrate that valuable contribution and also give attendees the chance to enjoy a feast of food, friendship and music. 

There are a series of free events at Canterbury Cathedral celebrating Refugee Week, open to all. Organised with The Social Justice Network and the Kent Refugee Action Network (KRAN) – two of Kent’s partners in the Sanctuary space – the events celebrate the power of community to bring people together. 

Refugee and Asylum Seekers Memorial Boards Display: Monday 16 – Sunday 22 June, during visiting hours 

Throughout Refugee Week at Canterbury Cathedral, there will be an exhibition of name boards displaying and memorialising the names of those who have died in Calais or at sea over the past few years – a moving response to the danger that seeking asylum can involve and a reminder of why we must care for those fleeing danger and persecution. This is included with a Cathedral admissions ticket. Tickets are free to Kent students.  

Discussion Panel on Safe Routes with National and Local Experts: Wednesday 18 June, 18:30-20:00 in the Clagett Auditorium, Cathedral Lodge 

Successive governments have pledged to ‘stop the boats’, whilst the number of asylum seekers crossing the English Channel continues to rise year on year. Statistics tell us that the majority of those who arrive on our shores after the treacherous journey have a legitimate claim to asylum. But could a better system of claiming that asylum be devised and created? Do our government’s policies need revision? Does the rhetoric need to change?  

This thought-provoking and timely discussion will feature key panellists including Lord Alf Dubs (of the Dubs amendment), Bishop Rose of Dover, Domenica Pecoraro, Kent Refugee Programmes Manager for the Social Justice Network, Bradon Muilenburg, Anglican Refugee Support Lead in Northern France, Dilys Alam, National Public Policy Advisor to the Church of England and will be chaired by the Very Revd Dr David Monteith, the Dean of Canterbury. Book your free place here 

Find out about more of the events taking place at the Cathedral

Students in Pride Parade

How to take part in Canterbury Pride Parade, 7 June

Canterbury Pride takes place on Saturday 7 June and is a spectacular LGBTQ+ celebration. As a significant sponsor of Pride, Kent has reserved spaces for students and staff to take part in the Pride Parade that precedes the main event, this year taking place in the Westgate Gardens. Parade participants get automatic entry to the main event.

How to get your free Pride wristband

Anyone who wishes to take part in the Pride parade on Saturday must be wearing a Parade Wristband prior to entry to the staging area. There are a limited number, and these will be given out on a first come, first served basis.

All reserved and unallocated wristbands can be collected from Becky Lamyman at the following times and dates:

  • Thursday 5 June, 10:00-12:00, Gulbenkian Café
  • Friday 6 June, 12:00-14:00, M1.06 Keynes College (upstairs next to the lift door)

If you have any queries please email EqualityandDiversity@kent.ac.uk