Exams can take many shapes and forms, but one thing they all have in common is that they make a lot of people anxious. Fear of the unknown, poor preparation, lack of confidence in your abilities in the exam room are all causes of stress. The Student Learning Advisory Service (SLAS) has produced guidance including SkillsBuilder videos around exams that will help you manage those anxieties.
It’s a good idea to start your revision as early as possible. Here are a few other stress-busting tips:
Eliminate the unknown: Find out about the exams you are taking, when, where and how will they take place, and what modules and topics they will cover. If you are unclear, ask your module convenor for more information. You’ll feel better for knowing, and be able to organise your revision effectively.
Plan your revision: Work out which modules and topics you need to revise most. Using a calendar or term-planner, create a revision schedule so that you revise each topic efficiently in time for the relevant exam.
Test and practise: As you revise, test yourself to see what you know and what you still need to remember. Sitting an exam is a form of performance, so rehearse, by practising answering questions under timed conditions using past papers.
Tuesday 12 March: Get help finding a part-time job and writing your dissertation, plus find out about therapy and mindfulness
Thinking about finding a part time role? Come along to this session to find out what steps you can take to secure a part-time role you can fit around your studies.
Wednesday 13 March: Language tasters, grad scheme advice and revision tips
Want to know more about what a graduate scheme is, what they involve and hints and tips on how to get one? Then don’t miss this grad scheme information event at Wednesday lunchtime.
Finally, get help managing exam stress and learn exam techniques at study workshops in Canterbury (in person) and online.
Friday 15 March: Iftar dinner, WorldFest Quiz and LinkendIn Drop-in
On Friday, join the International Student Voices group for a free, memorable Iftar dinner experience and a chance to have your say in how the University can improve the international student experience. Or if you’re based at Medway, you can join the Medway Islamic Society’s annual Iftar celebration event.
Get a team together and take part in our WorldFest Quiz Night run by our student Global Officers.
KentVision will be unavailable on Monday 11 March, from 08:00-12:00, due to planned maintenance. Sorry for the inconvenience, you can find out more on the Student Guide.
From Monday 18 March to 09:00 on Tuesday 2 April 2024, Online Module Registration (OMR) is open for you to choose the undergraduate modules that you wish to study in 2024/25.
You will receive an email when OMR is open. Prior to this, you should read your Subject Requirements and view our guidance to make sure that you are fully prepared. If you are not sure which modules to choose, please speak to your Academic Adviser.
OMR is not first come first served. In order to give you the best opportunity to register for your preferred choice of module, please ensure that you have submitted your selections by 09:00 (GMT) on Tuesday 2 April 2024.
You do not need to select modules if:
You’re on a Year in Industry in 2024/2025
You’re going abroad as part of your course in 2024/2025
Your modules are entirely compulsory
If you are on a course that is affected by the course consultation changes, you do not have to register your modules by 2 April. We will be in touch with you once your module options are finalised so you can confirm your choices from an up-to-date list of options. Thank you for your patience in this moment of transition.
If you have any questions, please contact the Student Record Administration Office:
As you may know, consultation closed on 7 March on proposals to cease recruitment to some subject disciplines (Anthropology; Art History; Comparative Literature; English Language and Linguistics; Health and Social Care; Journalism; Modern Languages; Music and Audio Technology; and Philosophy and Religious Studies) at the University of Kent. Counter proposals submitted by staff in those areas are now being reviewed, with recommendations then made to Executive Group colleagues to decide on the way forward, meaning that final outcomes are likely to be known towards the end of March.
If it affects you, we’ll be in touch
Once outcomes are shared in late March, we will be in touch with students who are affected to explain what this means for the future of their particular subject areas. There will then be more details to work out in terms of teach-out for any area where the final decision is to cease recruitment. We will keep affected students updated by email each step of the way as those plans are scoped out, as we have more clarity on individual student circumstances and options, and can share how we will support you through the remainder of your degree, whatever your stage and type of study.
Opportunity for all students to hear more and ask questions
We invite you to sign up for an Undergraduate Student Open Forum from 12:00-13:00 on Thursday 28 March or to sign up for an Postgraduate Student Open Forum from 14:00-15:00 on Wednesday 3 April to hear from Richard Reece, Deputy Vice Chancellor for Education & Student Experience, and Mica Rose, Head of Student Experience. They’ll explain updates on Kent 2030 plans and what they mean for students, and invite you to ask questions. These online meeting will be recorded and shared afterwards, so don’t worry if you are not able to attend. We will continue to update information and FAQs on the Kent 2030 student webpage.
In support of University Mental Health Day (Thursday 14 March) and Red Nose Day (Friday 15 March), Kent Sport will be offering 180 free spaces on our fitness and dance class timetable across both days to allow everyone within our community to join in exercise for free. This includes many popular classes such as Zumba and pilates, as well as our range of exciting virtual instructor-led classes from LES MILLS.
To book a free class as a Plus, Pay to Play, or non-member, visit the Sports Centre reception and fill out the paper form for the class(es) you would like to join. There are 10 free spaces in each class so sign up quickly before they’re gone! If you’re a Premium Plus member, all classes are included in your membership so you can book online as usual.
If you’re not yet a Kent Sport member, you’ll need to create a free Pay to Play membership before you’ll be able to join the classes. You can create an account quickly and easily through our online booking system.
Voting is now open for your Kent Union full-time Officers.
The full-time Officers work and support the student priorities that are picked by students for students. These make up the core campaigns of Kent Union’s Officer team. We currently have five full-time Officer positions that all focus on different remits for students:
There are three days of voting and there will be five polling stations spread around campus, plus you can vote onlineat any time during these three days. Voting closes Thursday at 17:00.
There are also chances to win a range of prizes if you vote in the Kent Union elections. Some of the top prizes include an Apple iPad, Xbox X and weekend getaways for two.
This month’s Kent Star is Jack, Environmental Social Sciences student, who was named the 2023 BBC Countryfile Young Countryside Champion! Jack won the award for the horticultural work and public engagement initiatives he is involved in. Alongside running his own horticulture business, Jack works closely with his supply chains and customers. Hear from Jack:
Video transcription below.
“I’m Jack Scott. I study Environmental Social Science at the University of Kent in my last year, four more months to go. I also grow vegetables at Nonnington Farms, as well as being a farm advisor for Farming Wildlife Advisory Group South East.
An interesting fact about me is I won the BBC Countryfile Champion Award for 2023. BBC Countryfile came to the farm in August. We picked vegetables and delivered them up to one of our Michelin starred restaurants, Angela’s in Margate, so the TV crew could experience the whole farm to fork process. The awards ceremony was in late October and November in Newport in Wales.”
How did you feel about winning the 2023 BBC Countryfile Young Countryside Champion award?
“It felt weird being on national TV. It felt good too. Getting recognition for something that you’re attempting to achieve, the food to fork scheme, better knowledge, bringing education into it with children coming on to the farm through school visits.
We don’t just grow vegetables, we have the soil we look after. We’ve also got hedgerows we look after and we’ve got the nature element we try to incorporate. So sunflowers bring in the pollinators and supply bird feed for the winter months. So that just element there, you’re not just producing food that goes to someone who eats it, you’re also providing a habitat, you’re providing food for nature. So the two in harmony it makes me more joyful.”
Do you have advice for other students?
“So I think just give it a go. The university runs quite a few initiatives for students to get involved in, such as the gleaning project. If you look at the university campus, on the north side, you’re surrounded by farms; go and ask them for a job. There’s loads of farmers out there wanting fruit pickers and general farm hands. Just get involved -you never know where it could lead.”
What are your plans for next year?
“We are a small agricultural business. We just finished our trial year where we experimented on what we can grow, if the market wants it and whether it’s profitable or suitable for the ground. So we’ve done that on one acre this year and it’s going really well.
For the future it is scaling up, so if we can increase our scale, we can start doing some of our larger orders and, we can start pick up a bit more the market in turn that should allow us to bring in employees or apprenticeships and business further financial sustainability.”
What does the Right to Food mean to you?
“For me, the Right to Food is the right to food. So it’s having access to food, having the access to seeing how food is produced or reared. I think it’s just the enabling of better communications and generally just being involved, seeing it and buying more local. So buying it within five miles of the campus, it for me is vital to food and awareness.”
Find out what’s on this week including therapy dogs, writing retreat and attempt the Ninja Warrior obstacles.
Monday 26 February: Medway Global Hangout and LGBTQ+ Social Mixer
The Global and Lifelong Learning Team and the Student Experience Team are teaming up to bring you a Global Hangout in Medway. There will be a selection of games, crafts and activities as well as lunch provided. You can come to all of the event or just drop in for part of it around your classes. All students are welcome.
This LGBT+ History Month, the LGBTQ+ Students Network are organising a social get-together for students and staff. The LGBTQ+ Social Mixer aims to bring together everyone on campus who identifies as being part of the LGBTQ+ community, as well as friends and allies.
Tuesday 27 February: CV drop-in and Bubble Football
Want to improve your CV? Come along to the CV drop-in session in Sibson. The Careers Team will have prompts ready for you to check your CV and be there to answer your questions. You can also join an online session about how to find a part-time job.
Have you tried Bubble Football before? Give bubble football a go and bounce your way to victory. No football experience is needed.
Wednesday 28 February: ResLife Rodeo, Pause for Paws and Ninja Warrior (Medway)
The ResLife Team are hosting the ResLife Rodeo, an afternoon of tasty treats, fun, activities and entertainment for students living on campus. Ride the rodeo bull and see how long you can stay on for. The student who lives in on-campus accommodation who stay on the longest will win a £50 amazon voucher! Enjoy complimentary burgers, curries and hot drinks as well as doughnuts, popcorn and candy floss for students in our accommodation (burgers will be available to purchase for students not in our accommodation).
Take a break with Coco the therapy dog at the Pause for Paws event in Nexus, Templeman Library. Spending some time with Coco is a great way to de-stress and recharge.
If you’re based at Medway and want an adventure, join the Hub trip to the Ninja Warrior centre for an action-packed afternoon. Test your skills on challenging obstacles and cheer on your friends.
Thursday 29 February: Yoga and Writing Retreat, talk by founder of LGBT History Month and Leap Year Birthday Party (Medway)
If you’re a postgrad researcher, consider joining this Yoga and Writing Retreat in Cornwallis East, Canterbury. It’s a mix of guided yoga sessions with opportunities for you to get on with your writing in a relaxed setting.
Come along to a talk by Sue Sanders, founder of LGBT History Month and Schools Out. Sue is an “out and proud” lesbian and a British LGBTQ+ rights activist who has specialised in challenging oppression in the public and voluntary sectors for over forty years. This is an in-person talk in Keynes Seminar Room 4. All welcome.
Thursday is also the 29th February, an extra day due to 2024 being a leap year! At The Hub, you can join this Leap Year Birthday Party, celebrating those who were born on February 29th and just an excuse to have some fun with some tasty treats and tunes.
Sunday 3 March: Bowling
If you live in on-campus accommodation, you can join the ResLife Ambassadors for an hour of ten pin bowling in Canterbury.
Enter the Kent CyberAnything competition for your chance to win cash prizes. Tell a story through a photo, short video, essay, poem (or other media form) about living, learning and connecting in the cyber or cyber-physical world in the past, at present, and/or in the future. Deadline to apply is Friday 1 March 2024.
Next week is Student Money Week (4-8 March), and the theme is ‘Less Risk, More Reward: Maintaining your financial wellbeing at university.’ Find out what events are coming up and where you can go to for support around your finances.
Upcoming workshops to help you manage your finances, 18-19 March
Our Careers Team are running some StudyPlus workshops in March to help you develop your budgeting skills and get a better grasp on your finances.
These events are taking place online and are open to all Kent students.
Don’t become a money mule
Be cautious if someone asks you to transfer money for them. You might become a money mule.
Recruiters may try to befriend you and ask you to transfer money between accounts for them, giving you a small cut for doing so. You may think you are doing someone a favour, but you could be transferring criminal money. If you get caught, you could get a criminal record and up to 14 years in prison.
We offer a range of emergency financial support for students who are in financial difficulty. The emergency funding webpage provides information on support available and how you can apply. Take a look at all our emergency funds below. At the bottom of this page you can find additional ways to access support if you are experiencing emergency financial hardship.
Where to go for support
Kent Union’s Advice Service at Canterbury and at Medway through the Hub offer free, confidential and impartial advice to all Kent students. They can help with financial topics such as student funding, bursaries, budgeting and hardship.
You can also see our finance contacts webpage for more ways to access support at the University and other useful finance contacts and resources.
Our Cost of Living Support website also summarises support on offer and initiatives by the University and Kent Union to help students with the rising cost of living.
