We hope you enjoyed the bank holiday weekend! Here’s a few ways you can get creative and relax this week.

Tuesday 28 May: Studying, mindfulness colouring and free breakfast (Medway)

On Tuesday evening you can join the ResLife Ambassadors for a quiet environment where you can do some studying intermixed with mindfulness colouring to help you unwind.

At Medway, you can enjoy a free breakfast between 10:00-12:00 at The Hub. Come together with friends and enjoy a tasty meal.

Wednesday 29 May:  Wellbeing in research and free cinema screening of Wonka

If you’re a PGR student, join this online session about improving wellbeing in research to learn more about stresses and coping strategies for academics.

For students living in on-campus accommodation, you’re invited to the Gulbenkian cinema for a free showing of Wonka. Register on the Home at Halls app.

Thursday 30 May: Painting on the Library Lawn and graduating information session

Take a break from revision and exams and join Kent Union for some painting on the Library Lawn. They’ll provide the paints and canvases, you just show up and enjoy the views. This event has been cancelled due to poor weather forecasts. 

Graduating soon? Find out how the Careers Service can help you in your next steps at this online session.

There’s another chance for a free breakfast at Medway on Thursday. These free breakfast sessions symbolise our ongoing dedication to tackling food insecurity.

Friday 31 May: Taylor Swift conference, rock climbing (Medway) and Kent Community Oasis Garden

On Friday, Kent will host the first ever European Taylor Swift conference! Swift’s feminist reputation will be explored, while the conference will also host the first ever academic discussion of her new album, The Tortured Poets Department (which has been dismissed by critics but praised by fans worldwide). See the conference programme.

Do you enjoy rock climbing or fancy giving it a go? The Hub is running a trip to a brand new climbing centre at Dockside so you can try it out.

Join an open volunteering session at the Kent Community Oasis Garden near Park Wood. Kent COG is a collection of students, staff and community members working to create a sustainability hub centred around growing food.

Saturday 1 June: 1920s themed afternoon tea and the Summer Ball

Students living in on-campus accommodation are invited to this special 1920s themed afternoon tea with live music on the lawn by the Registry building. There will be prizes for the best fancy dress. Register on the Home at Halls app.

Come together on Saturday night for the Summer Ball! Get dressed up and enjoy some huge acts and celebrating with friends.

See more student events.

Opportunities

• Are you interested in the Kent Refugee Action Network? Find out how you can support their project by contributing to transcriptions for the oral histories being recorded.
• Complete the Kent Sport Student Activity Survey to let us know how we can shape our services to allow you to be more active. Chance to win a £250 Amazon voucher.
• Applications for the Santander Universities Research Awards 2024 are now open, they are giving away 50 awards of £1000. This is open to all postgraduate students.

See more student opportunities.

Over the Spring break work has started to move all University of Kent activity at Medway to the Medway Building for September 2024.

Something that has already moved is the Oasis Lounge. The new and improved Oasis Lounge can now be found on the 1st floor of the Medway Building and is a place you can meet friends, study, heat up lunch and grab a drink.

You will still find Student Support in the Gillingham Building until the end of the 2023/24 academic year if you need student support or careers advice.

Exams are scheduled to take place in the Medway Building this term.  However, Journalism exams will take place in the existing newsrooms on the first and second floor of the Gillingham Building. You will find where your exam is taking place in your exams timetable.

We are pleased to announce that the Campus Shuttle booking system in now live.

It is essential that you Book a Seat prior to travelling from the first day of Summer Term, 6 May.

Visit zeelo.co or download the Zeelo app for iOS or android and search for your University of Kent Campus Shuttle. Purchase a free University of Kent Travel pass and then book your journeys. We recommend you use the Zeelo app so you can be notified of any disruption to your booked journeys. This will replace updates to the @CampusShuttle account on X (formerly twitter).

All passes are valid for any of the serviced stops (Keynes stop, Piers Quay, Historic Dockyard or Pembroke) between Canterbury and Medway campuses. If you are using the Piers Quay or Historic Dockyard stops, make sure to check the pick-up/drop-off times on the timetable. This will differ slightly from the time shown in your app and on your booking (from Canterbury or Medway).

For steps on how to book or cancel a seat, please watch the booking video or read the booking guide.

We are delighted to announce that double-MOBO winning musician and broadcaster YolanDa Brown OBE DL has been appointed to the role of Chancellor, succeeding Gavin Esler who has retired from the position after almost 10 years.

Having graduated with a first-class undergraduate masters degree in European Management Science with Spanish from Kent Business School, before going on to achieve her second masters degree and undertake a PhD, YolanDa will be installed as Chancellor during one of the University’s graduation ceremonies in July.

“My time at the University was character building, life affirming, and a bucket full of emotions. Every single time I am on campus a new memory returns, so you can imagine my joy accepting this role as Chancellor. The University has always been at the forefront of fostering a diverse, inclusive, and vibrant community…I am excited to work alongside the talented staff and students to build on this foundation as the University strives towards new heights of achievement.”

YolanDa’s commitment to music and education has been synonymous throughout her career. As well as releasing critically acclaimed albums and touring with the likes of The Temptations, Jools Holland, Billy Ocean, Dave Stewart and more, YolanDa was Chair of Youth Music for six years and is currently a sitting member of the Arts Council, Chair of the BPI - the representative voice for record labels in the UK – and an ambassador for the Prince’s Trust, among other positions. She was also recently appointed a member of the Arts and Media Honours Committee by Prime Minster Rishi Sunak.

In her role as Chancellor, YolanDa’s duties will include conferring degrees, chairing the University’s Court and representing the University on special occasions. She takes up the role at a time when the University is preparing to celebrate its 60th Anniversary.

Find out more about YolanDa.