Careers & Employability Service have created a new series of online workshops and events to help students to plan for life after graduation. This is in addition to their ongoing 1-2-1 support sessions. The aim is to give students the support they need to prepare for life after University.

Online Live Q&A

Wednesday 20 May at 14:00

There is an online Q and A sessions with careers staff to answer questions and deal with your concerns regarding job opportunities, virtual volunteering and preparing for virtual job interviews.

You can register at careers@kent.ac.uk

There are also a number of Webinars to assist you with gaining employment, working as a virtual volunteer and how to enhance your public persona.

Employability sessions

Tuesday 26 May

11:00 – Virtual volunteering

Wednesday 27 May

10.00 – Finding experience in uncertain times

Thursday 28 May

11:00 – Tier 2 jobs simplified by Student Circus

14:00 – Succeeding in applications

15:00 – CV evaluation activity

16:00 Kent Alumni Drop-in – Finance, Fintech, Law and Actuarial Science

Friday 29 May

NBA Careers & The Sports Industry

12:00 – Get into Teaching, Department for Education

You can register at careers@kent.ac.uk

The deadline for applications for the Year In programme has been extended to Monday 11 May. This is an initiative where students can broaden their degree experience by adding an additional year but in a different subject. Regardless of which courses you are studying, you could obtain skills and experience in Computing, Data Analytics or Journalism.

Your additional year can be taken between stage 2 and 3, or after you have completed stage 3. The programme will be added to your degree title, letting employers know about your increased employability. This is a real opportunity to learn about a completely different area and gain some industry skills, experience as well as contacts.

For more information about Year In, please visit their website.

Whether you are a first year Undergraduate student or finishing off your PHD, this could be a very stressful time for you. Assessments and exams while self isolating and social distancing is new for all of us. Here are some ways for you to manage your anxiety and fears during Coronavirus.

Identify your triggers

The first thing to do to manage your anxiety is to identify what triggers them. Sometimes they can be obvious, like caffeine, drinking alcohol, or smoking. Other times they can be less obvious, so try and keep a diary of what it is that makes you anxious.

Work out

Sometimes, the best way to stop anxious thoughts is to walk away from the situation. However, taking some time to focus on your body and not your mind may help relieve your anxiety. So we highly recommend doing 15 minutes of yoga each day to keep you nice and relaxed.

Kent Sport have launched their #KentSportStayWellAtHome initiative so you can stay connected and active while at home.

Breathing

Controlled breathing can gives you feelings of calm and relaxation and most breathing techniques can be used just about anywhere. Try deep breathing in for four counts and breathing out for four counts for five minutes total. By doing this, you’ll slow your heart rate which should help calm you down

Meditation

Starting in early April, Student Support and Wellbeing and the Student Learning Advisory Centre are running free online meditation sessions each week via zoom. The sessions are 40 minutes long and there is a focus on dealing with anxiety and strategies for remaining focused.

Write down your thoughts

Writing down what is making you anxious is a great way to ease your anxiety. It gets it out of your head and can make it less daunting. You can either use a notepad, or journal or an app.

Limit the news

You can’t switch on the TV or radio without hearing the latest about Coronavirus. The best thing to do is realise your limits and reduce yourself to an hour of news a day.

Listen to a podcast

What did we ever do without podcasts? There is one that serves every need and purpose; so whether you are interested in popular culture, sport, music, interviews with personalities, you will find a podcast that is perfect for you.

Schedule face time with family and close friends

Sometimes chatting in a group chat on WhatsApp is simply not enough, so why not schedule some time in with your close friends and family to have a catch up.

You can get in contact with Student Support & Wellbeing if you need to speak to someone about your anxiety. Email Student Support and Wellbeing at wellbeing@kent.ac.uk to arrange phone or online support.

Where to go for support

Kent Union De-Stress

Kent Union have created the De-Stress website, which is an online hub full of advice, support and activities to help you during this period.

Big White Wall

Wherever you are located, you can access free, 24/7 online support for issues around mental health and wellbeing. The Big White Wall (BWW) is a Care Quality Commission registered service recognised nationally through awards by the NHS and is a safe environment overseen by qualified therapists called Wall Guides.

In order to gain access to this service click on the BWW link using your Kent email address to gain access only. As part of the registration process, do not use your KENT account password for this service. Note, you may, upon completion of the registration process change your contact email address to a non-Kent email account. Big White Wall take privacy very seriously, so please read their privacy policy for more information.

Access Big White Wall

Please use the following code: KENT1

Student Support and Wellbeing

If you use Twitter, Instagram or Facebook, follow @UniKentSSW for advice and information to help you keep calm and safe, and connected to others in the Kent community. #KentTogetherAtHome

We have also collaborated on a video about how to manage your anxiety.

The summer term has kicked off and you will be busy with assessments and exams. As you know exams will be conducted online due to COVID-19. We have some tips on how to prepare for your end of year assessments.

The library have a variety of resources that will help you to prepare.

Chat to a librarian

This is a service on Teams where you can ask about referencing, researching and digital resources.

Moodle

There is a a new interactive module on Moodle to support all your research skills. You can access the resources you need for your studies remotely through the digital library. You have online access to a huge range of high-quality digital resources, such as e-books, e-journals, databases, newspapers, and multimedia.

LibrarySearch Digital

There is also a curated selection of online articles and resources to help you relax and unwind your mind.

New Microsoft Teams Student Guide

There is a Microsoft Teams Student Guide available for you to use. Microsoft Teams is a great tool that you can use to communicate and collaborate with your lecturers and other students. You will have been added to a team for each of your modules.

Cancelled fines and extended return dates

You will be pleased to know the library have extended the return dates for books and cancelled overdue item fines.

Kent Union De-Stress Platform

Kent Union have launched the De-Stress platform to support students during COVID-19 and the exam period. They have created a website that acts as a hub for the advice, support and activities that are available over the next few weeks.

If you are struggling financially and need assistance to get through your Summer term, you might be eligible for additional funding. The University has a variety of support packages specific to your course, location and fee status.

Kent Financial Support Package

The Kent Financial Support Package (KFSP) 2019 is a financial support package of £4,500 for eligible undergraduate students across three stages of full-time study. Eligible students studying a full time four year undergraduate programme with a sandwich year or an integrated Masters year will receive a further cash bursary of £1,500.

New part-time students may be eligible for a pro rata cash bursary in each year of study as part of the KFSP.

Further information on KFSP

Kent Emergency Student Loan

The Kent Emergency Student Loan (KESL) is a loan from the University of up to £240 to help with immediate essential living costs, such as rent, food and travel. This is available to all undergraduate and postgraduate, Home, EU or International, full time or part time students. The loan will need to be paid back.

Further information on KESL

Access to Learning Fund

The Access to Learning Fund (ALF) provides financial assistance to UK students so they can access and remain in Higher Education, particularly those students who need financial help to meet extra costs that cannot be met from other sources of support. The amount will depend on your circumstances and how many applications the fund receives.

Further information on ALF

European Financial Support

The European Financial Support (EFS) fund can provide up to £500 financial support per year to full time non-UK students eligible to pay tuition fees at the ‘EU’ rate experiencing emergency situations or those experiencing a financial deficit over the academic year. The EFS cannot be used for paying tuition fees.

Further information on EFS

International Hardship Fund

The International Hardship Fund (IHF) can provide emergency financial assistance to all full time non-UK students eligible to pay tuition fees at the ‘overseas’ rate. The IHF cannot be used for paying tuition fees.

Further information on IHF