If you are facing financial hardship due to Covid-19, please take a look at our financial support options.
We have emergency short-term loans and other hardship funds available if you do find yourself in financial difficulty.
So, please get in touch with our Student Finance Team today.
During the last national lockdown, we asked Kent students for their tips on how to stay to stay productive in lockdown. Here are their suggestions and tips!
Tanya Iyer (Stage 2 Law Student) – “Make to-do lists the night before and keep them small with specific tasks, rather than vague big ones…You feel more productive and motivated as you can tick things off quickly!”
Daniella Barnes (Stage 3 Law Student) – “Staying productive in lockdown only works if you have a positive mentality. I start each week with planning my prospective workload. I give myself aims and tasks to complete so at the end of the week I have a visual checklist of how productive I’ve been. Be kind to yourself, practice self-care and don’t overload yourself.”
Ismail Abdi (Stage 2 Marketing Student) – “I stay productive by using a schedule, essentially placing times on my calendar to do my university work and other things outside of my course. I also use a checklist so I can tick off and see what needs to be completed for the week.”
Sofia Howard (Stage 2 Law Student) – “I take short breaks, walk around, eat, and spend time away from my screen. If I feel like I’ve been in front of a screen for too long, I will have the day off and continue the next day. I feel like it refreshes my mind! I also work out in the mornings, which seems to give me more motivation throughout the day.”
Shanell Cornwall (Stage 3 Psychology Student) – “I personally stay motivated by setting 3 goals everyday – one big goal and two little ones. I think doing it this way really helps track progress which makes me feel more productive. It’s crucial to take time out and give yourself time to recharge between workloads.”
Faye Farhan (Stage 2 Law Student) – “If you have to tackle a lot of reading tasks, it’s best to allocate a particular time in the day for reading, and to overestimate how much time you need! Plan 5-10 minute breaks for every hour you read for.”
Lauren Whitfield (Stage 2 Marketing Student) – “I have been getting ahead on my work, watching lectures in advance and doing any further reading that could aid me in my studies. I also took this as an opportunity to start my reports in advance, giving me more time to conduct my research and form a thorough plan.”
Ellie House (Stage 2 Law Student) – “Making sure you take a break from work and set time aside for yourself is definitely important. I like to keep evenings away from work to spend time socialising or even just watching TV. I always find doing this helps me feel more productive the next day as I’ve had some time to refresh!”
Gemma Overy (Stage 2 Psychology Student) – “Set deadlines for yourself – not just the deadline for a project but when you want to achieve each smaller section by. Start revision early if you feel like you have nothing to do, even if it’s only a couple of hours a week.’
James Hulme (Stage 2 Biomedical Engineering Student) – “List your tasks and deadlines and try to prioritise them. Try to timetable your work so you have a structure, but still take regular breaks.”
Ayesha Shirgill (Stage 3 Law and Spanish Language Student) – “Set yourself deadlines of what time to work up until each day to ensure you can look forward to enjoying some free time.”
Dylan Thakker (Stage 2 Law Student) – “Take frequent breaks to reward work. Taking a break can be anything from having a call with your parents to having a quick walk – then I get back to work promptly. I break work down into smaller sections and reward myself with breaks when I get certain bits done.”
For more information on managing your studies during lockdown, and particularly how to stay motivated, take a look at Rowena and Megan’s Instagram Live.
‘A team of Kent students has recently been selected for the finals of the 4th Annual UK Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge. This is the first time the University and Kent’s new Institute for Advanced Studies in Cyber Security and Conflict (SoCyETAL) will be represented at the competition.
The team of 4, coached by Dr Gareth Mott, is comprised of a 50:50 split of male and female Undergraduate and Postgraduate students from the School of Computing, Kent Law School and the School of Politics and International Relations.
The Kentish Cyber Team:
In this strategy challenge, competitors will take on the role of senior advisors to government and industry, in facing a complex escalating cyber-attack. They will use their varied technical and non-technical expertise from different disciplines to assess the unfolding threat, before briefing a panel of senior UK and international cyber leaders on potential mitigation strategies.
Dr Gareth Mott said: “We are elated and proud that Kentish Cyber have made it through to the final of the UK Cyber 9/12 Strategy Challenge. We hope that our students make the most of this fantastic interactive learning experience and ‘real-life’ scenario-based challenge. This is a great opportunity for our team to gain first-hand experience with the critical challenge of ensuring cyber-security in an increasingly interconnected world. Our staff and students are delighted to be a part of this endeavour for the first time of hopefully many. Kentish Cyber will embrace the chance to showcase the strength and breadth of ‘big tent’ interdisciplinary teaching and research in cyber security at the University of Kent”.
The virtual event, hosted by the Atlantic Council UK, will take place 16-17 February.
Best of luck to Kentish Cyber!
We’ve set aside a limited number of rooms across campus exclusively for returning students, so whether you are in your second, third or fourth year you can enjoy the great benefits of living on campus once again with online applications accepted from 10.00 Thursday 14 January!
We understand the pressure you’re under at the moment and our returning student offer has been designed to make things easier for you by including:
Check your emails from the Accommodation Team or visit our Returning Student Accommodation page for more information including our handy FAQ Guide.
So, remove the worry of finding a new place to live, and instead apply online now and relax knowing you can live with friends and have the great facilities available on campus to return to next year.
While you are probably very familiar with online study by now, we want to share some practical tips to get you back into the online learning headspace after the Winter vacation.
We hope these tips are helpful. The start of term is the perfect time to fix any ongoing technical issues you might have been ignoring. Contact the IT and Library Support Desk who will do their best to help you.
Are you feeling blue?
The start of the new term this year coincides with the annual ‘Blue Monday’ which claims to be the most depressing day of the year.
This year has been challenging and the start of the Spring term isn’t what anyone hoped for. You have already overcome many challenges and that is something you should be proud of. However, it is important to remember you are not alone and there are loads of great support services at the University.
So, let’s change ‘Blue Monday’ to ‘Brew Monday’ this year and take the opportunity to virtually catch-up with friends, course mates and family with a cup of tea, coffee or whatever your preferred brew is!
It’s important, now more than ever, to check in on one another, and create safe spaces for friends.
There is an abundance of support available throughout the University, from a free counselling service to peer-support groups and online resources.
Please follow @UniKentSSW on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook for news on other events and peer support groups taking place throughout the year.
Other resources that are available to you
Togetherall: University of Kent students wherever they are located can access free, 24/7 online support for issues around mental health and wellbeing.
Student Minds: a UK student mental health charity.
While the obstacles remain different to previous years, the new term can offer a fresh start, take the opportunity of Brew Monday and know that you are not alone.
Walking buddy (on campus)
Stuck in your room and need to get out, but nobody is around to go for a walk? We can put you in touch with a walking buddy. This is a great opportunity to get out, meet another student and energise your mind! Find a reason to leave your accommodation, get outside and enjoy the fresh air with someone else.
Just Coffee (virtual coffee break)
If you’d like to take part and find a buddy, simply email wellbeingevents@kent.ac.uk from your Kent email address giving your mobile number and saying that you’d like to be matched for a Walking Buddy stating which campus (Canterbury or Medway) by midday on Friday, and we’ll randomly match you with another student to meet the following week.
For more information and to sign up, check out the Student Support and Wellbeing Events Calendar.
Please note: From 5 January 2021, England has entered a third national lockdown. You are able to meet with one other person from another household in a public place for exercise. Make you maintain social distancing (stay 2 metres apart from anyone not in your household.)
Want to have a virtual coffee break and fancy meeting someone new? We can put you in touch with someone who wants to meet up (virtually).
In the busy days of the start of a new term, you might like to have a virtual coffee or tea (or other beverage!) break with someone else but find that your usual network isn’t available.
If you’d like to be matched to meet someone new next week, just email wellbeingevents@kent.ac.uk from your Kent email address giving your number. We’ll randomly match you with another student who’s looking for a coffee break buddy and email you their contact details so you can get in touch to arrange when to virtually meet.
Share a photo of your virtual meet up with #KentWellbeingIdeas tagging @UniKentSSW for a chance to win free drinks in future!
Please follow @UniKentSSW on Instagram, Twitter or Facebook for news on other events and peer support groups taking place throughout the year.
From Professor Richard Reece | Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience
Latest guidance on national lockdown
Following my latest email to you and last week’s Student WebChat, we have received further guidance on what the Government’s latest lockdown restrictions mean for universities and for you.
The main message of the lockdown is that you must stay at home apart from in a small number of exceptional circumstances. The UK Government has declared this lockdown in England in order to control the spread of new-variant Covid-19, and reducing travel and social contact are key to that.
There are exceptional circumstances for Higher Education contained in the guidance, and these are now included in our new set of Spring return and travel FAQs. You should only travel to your term-time address if you meet one of these criteria and it is absolutely necessary. Students who have already returned should remain at their term-time address and follow the guidance provided.
Rent reduction
Included in the FAQs are details of the University’s Spring term rent reduction scheme for those on the Canterbury campus and further information for those in Pier Quays at Medway. In addition, we are committed to supporting Kent Union in their work representing those of you in private accommodation.
Academic mitigation and support
We remain committed to ensuring that no student is disadvantaged by the pandemic using our academic mitigation processes. We are currently updating our ‘no detriment’ processes and will continue to offer flexibility in applications for mitigation to ensure that we can support your needs as quickly as possible.
In addition, whilst we expect most students to meet their current coursework deadlines, students with deadlines between now and the end of the second week of term (29 January) who have been unable to submit will now be given an additional week’s extension automatically. For further academic support or advice, please contact your academic school.
Weekly Student WebChats and regular communications
Thank you to those of you who have asked questions about the current situation and provided feedback over the last week including during last week’s WebChat. We are working to complete answers to all those questions in line with the latest Government guidance.
So that we can hear from you more regularly and keep you up to date, we are now arranging weekly Student WebChats. Please sign up for the next one on Wednesday 13 January 2021.
We have also introduced a new feature to our sign-up form where you can ask questions in advance to help us address as many points as we can on the day.
In addition to the WebChats, I will be contacting you more regularly over the next few weeks and we will continue updating our website as often as we can. Please do continue to email CovidSupport@kent.ac.uk with any urgent enquiries and we will respond as soon as possible.
My very best wishes to you, your friends and your family.
Richard
Professor Richard Reece | Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience
From Professor Richard Reece, Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience.
Dear Student,
I am writing to you following yesterday’s announcement by the Prime Minister that we are now in a third national lockdown, and to update you on our current position.
Unlike the second lockdown in November, universities have been asked to pause face-to-face teaching during this time apart from to those on medicine, pharmacy or social work courses.
As a result, all our teaching will be delivered online until the end of February unless you are studying on one of the above courses. The start of term remains 18 January 2021.
You should follow Government guidance and not move between your home and term-time addresses. Unless you are already living on campus, please do not come onto campus until you hear from the University that it is possible to do so. We will continue to support you and your studies no matter where you are.
If you have University accommodation which you are currently not able to access due to these latest Government restrictions, please be aware that we are looking into the implications of this situation and will update you over the next few weeks.
If you are already living on campus, the Government has recommended that you stay in your University accommodation and has stressed that university campuses are regarded as COVID-safe. Library and catering facilities will remain available.
This announcement supersedes all previous arrangements. I apologise for any confusion this may cause but, as you will appreciate, we are in a rapidly changing environment.
I will continue to keep in touch over the next few weeks and we will update the website with new information as it becomes available.
If you have not already done so, please sign up for tomorrow’s (6 January 2021) Web Chat during which we will answer your questions about these latest changes as well as any others about the Spring term. The booking form is now open so please do sign up.
Our priority remains to keep you and our community safe while still providing the highest quality teaching and student experience.
We know that this is a worrying time, and we are here to support and advise you wherever you may be. If you have any concerns or queries, please check our student Coronavirus webpages or email CovidSupport@kent.ac.uk and we will respond as soon as possible.
My very best wishes to you, your friends and your family.
Richard
Professor Richard Reece | Deputy Vice-Chancellor Education and Student Experience