Launching this term, join the Circle of Trees Group for seasonal sessions that aim to support good health and wellbeing by connecting you with nature. These sessions are run by East Kent Mind as part of the Kent Community Oasis Garden Partnership.

Benefits of Ecotherapy

Ecotherapy improves mental wellbeing and helps people to become more physically active. It gives people the skills to get back into work, training and education, and it helps people who are lonely or socially isolated to broaden their networks. These are all important factors that can prevent people developing a mental health problem to start with.

Summer Term Sessions

• Session 1 – Thursday 12 May – 12.00-14.00 – Finding comfort in Nature at times of pressure
• Session 2 – Thursday 19 May – 12.00-14.00 – Overcoming obstacles
• Session 3 – Thursday 26 May – 12.00-14.00 – Honouring strengths and feelings
• Session 4 – Monday 30 May – 14.00-16.00 – Finding power from within
• Session 5 – Thursday 9 June 12.00-14.00 – ‘Old me, New me’
• Session 6 – Monday 13 June – 12.00-14.00 – Shining our light

You are encouraged to sign up to all 6 to get the full benefits of the course but please do get in touch with us if you can only attend a few.

What does a session look like?

Each session will include a sensory awareness practice, a team-building nature based ice-breaker (30 mins) and a main task encapsulating the month’s energy (1 hour). All things we create will involve simple materials found in nature.  The Group concludes with sharing and tea and biscuits!

How to book

You can book onto the sessions and ask any questions you may have by emailing kentcog@kent.ac.uk where the KentCOG Coordinator Debi will be able to sign you up and answer any queries. You can also visit the Ecotherapy KentCOG website to learn more.

Email kentcog@kent.ac.uk to book your place

Need a boost in your revision? Get some ideas for how to improve your revision with these tips from our current students:

“Look at past exam papers to identify patterns in questions. This will settle any nerves prior to the day.”

Tereza Koshi – 2nd year Law.

“Why not give ‘study-with-me’ videos a go. You can find these online, and they can help to focus on the task at hand,  break the revision into manageable chunks, and provide a sense of completion!”

Antti Lattula, MSc Organisational and Business Psychology.

“Make sure that you have an adequate amount of breaks when revising. I like to study for half an hour and then half a ten minute break. Look back at the essays you’ve written throughout the year to see what you can improve on.”

Lucy Dixon – 2nd year International Business.

“I like making colourful flashcards and using Quizlet and Notion to test myself.”

Lily Colwell – 2nd year Forensic Psychology.

“Group study can help you focus and supplement your knowledge as it’s great to pick up things off of other people that you might not have thought of before.”

Emily Flint – 2nd year History.

“I like to condense all of the most important information into one document and go through and highlight key pieces of legislation and cases. This means that in an online exam I can quickly refer to this to find what I need. I also like to add in comments of critical thought from different readings that might be useful in my essays.”

Ellie House – 3rd year Law.

“Use active recall and make sure you plan out your time in advance depending on when your exams are so you can prioritise modules.”

Gemma Overy – 3rd year Psychology.

“Pick a topic and write out a mind map of everything you can remember from it — only when you’re totally stuck do you look at your notes. This always helps me figure where I actually need to focus my revision rather than going over things I already understand”

Tanya Iyer – 3rd year Law.

“It’s important to structure your days out so that you have a clear plan on what you need to get through that day. This will make things feel more achievable, and make you feel like you are progressing well through your day.”

Stephanie Colairo – 3rd year Law.

Follow us on Instagram @UniKentLive as we’ll be sharing more revision tips on Instagram stories in the lead up to and throughout the exams period.

Helpful exam webpages:

• Guidance for Online Exams 2022
• Planning, Revision and Preparation for Online Exams
• Technical Guidance for Online Exams
• Exam Calm support and events
• Listen to Kent Voices Exam Calm podcast

*You can also listen to the new Kent Voices Exam Calm podcast to hear from Kent students and staff about how to get the most from your revision*

Current student Ellie shares her top tips for how to prepare for exam season:

1. Make the most of the Easter break

Just because exams are online, don’t think this means you won’t need to revise and prepare. Make the most of the Easter break by using this time to go over all of the content you’ve studied throughout the year, and to practise how you will answer exam questions. Of course, also use the break to relax, but don’t forget that it is also a great time to catch up or get ahead on work.

2. Be aware of how you’re going to be examined

Exams run differently in different subjects and modules, so don’t assume that every exam will be the same. They also often differ from coursework in style, length and criteria, so it’s important to be aware of how this might change the way you revise. Make sure you’re adapting your revision techniques to this, and that you read through different example questions to get an understanding of how the exam will look on the day. Also, if you do any wild modules, it’s important to consider how different schools mark and examine as this could be very different from what you’re used to! See the Guidance for Online Exams 2022.

3. It’s never too late to start

The run up to exams can often feel overwhelming for students, and it can be tempting to keep putting off your revision. However, it’s important to start as soon as possible, as any extra time you can put towards exam preparation will help you! If you’ve found yourself in a position where you feel it’s too late to start, DON’T GIVE UP! Start now as it’s never too late to get some extra practice in, and it really will help you when you’re under the pressure of an exam. Check out the Planning, Revision and Preparation for Online Exams webpage for lots of advice to help you get prepared.

4. Make efficient use of your resources

As most exams are online, this often means that you are allowed to use your notes and textbooks (but please check for each individual exam before assuming this). However, don’t let this become a safety blanket to ignore working hard. Go through your resources before the exam and make note of important quotes, pages and articles that may be relevant later so that you can access them efficiently under timed conditions. This will help you in the actual exam as you won’t be rifling through hundreds of online articles whilst trying to get your answers completed in a short space of time. There are plenty of online resources including time planner templates so you can make your own revision timetable.

5. Try to keep a positive mindset

This is easier said than done, but keeping a positive mindset about exams can really help you to remain confident and do well. Try to remember that exams are simply a way to show what you can do, and that as long as you’re prepared and you try your hardest, there’s nothing more you can do. By keeping a positive mindset, you can really focus on what needs to be done to achieve the grades you want. The Exam Calm website also has tips, resources and events to help you prepare, connect and be calm during the exam period.

We hope these tips help you feel a little more prepared, and that you can use them to impact the way you revise and prepare. Good luck in your exams!

It’s the last week of the Spring Term! Here’s a roundup of this week’s top student events:

Monday: Aromatherapy workshop and Community Litter Pick

Join an Aromatherapy Workshop at Medway in the Drill Hall Library, 12.00-14.00 on Monday. Relax with essential oils and try making your very own Aromatherapy reed diffuser, room spray or mini air freshener.

Get involved in our Community Litter Pick, meeting outside the Careers and Employability building at 12.30 on Monday. Give back and clean up our public spaces. It’s also a great opportunity to earn Employability Points while getting out in nature. Can’t make it on Monday? There’s also a Community Litter Pick on Wednesday.

Tuesday: Preparation for exams and Medway Social Spaces Celebration – Oasis Lounge 

Starting to think about exams? Come to Templeman Library on Tuesday 13.00-15.00 to get some advice about library resources for revision and to pick up some free fruit and other healthy snacks.

At 15.00 you can join an online Bitesize session from the Student Learning Advisory Service (SLAS) about how to write essays in exams. SLAS provide a wealth of online resources to help you get prepared for your exams.

To celebrate our new social spaces at Medway, we’re holding a celebration event in the Oasis Lounge, Rochester building. Catch up with friends before term ends with free food, drink and music.

Wednesday: Inflatable assault course at Library Lawn and live music at The Hook Lounge (Medway)

Grab some friends and head to the Library Lawn for the inflatable assault course and games. It’s a great opportunity to have fun some fun with friends before the end of term.

Following Tuesday’s Medway social space celebration, we’ve got another one in store for you on Wednesday. This time at The Hook Lounge in the Clocktower building. Come along for free food, drinks and live music!

Thursday: Compassion meditation for postgrad students

Join a guided compassion meditation with other postgrads at 17.00 on Thursday in Cornwallis North West. The meditation has a focus on health, happiness and wellbeing. This is a safe and open space for postgraduate students to join and feel welcome, stay for the hour-long session and for refreshments afterwards.

Sunday: Deadline for Graham-Roger £1000 academic prize

How would you change the world? Sunday is the deadline to enter the Graham Roger Prize. Submissions can take the form of an essay, article, poem, speech or video. A Kent student will win £1000 prize and the runner up will receive a £100 gift voucher, so it’s worth entering!

Browse all student events.

Step up, stand out and specialize, discover our career-focused programmes at Kent. We’ll be holding our Open Event on Saturday 2 April 2022. The event offers both face-to-face and virtual options, providing an opportunity to meet our staff and current students, across our UK and European campuses.

Join a community that’s already shaping tomorrow’s world and discover where it could take you.

Book your place at the virtual event [10.00 – 13.00 UK time]

Book your place at the campus event [10.00 – 13.00 UK time]

What to expect at the Open Event:

Book a place at our open event here

Sharpen your focus and step up in your career this 2022. We look forward to seeing you soon.

See a roundup of our top events this week:

All week: South Asian Heritage Week

At Kent, we are proud to be celebrating our first South Asian Heritage Week. Throughout the week you’ll see an array of events celebrating South Asian Heritage and British South Asian culture. Try out South Asian sweets in the Plaza, hear from author Babatdor Dkhar and join a South Asian inspired film night. See all South Asian Heritage Week events and resources.

Monday: Author talk and Harry Potter quiz

As part of South Asian Heritage Week, you’re invited to Templeman Library at 17.00 to hear from author Babatdor Dkhar about his forthcoming novel ‘The Khasi Album’. The novel is set in Shillong, a town in the Northeast of India, and is a work of satire, black comedy, romance and tragedy. Babatdor will discuss the difficulties in making Northeast Indian characters and stories part of mainstream of South Asian literature.

Are you a Harry Potter fan? Run by your Residential Life Assistants in conjunction with the Kent Hogwarts Society, this Harry Potter quiz will put your wizarding world knowledge to the test and prove your Potterhead status. Book your place and head to K-Bar for 19.00.

Tuesday: Free Gulbenkian performance of ‘Frankenstein: How to Make a Monster’

Kent students can get FREE student tickets to the opening night of ‘Frankenstein: How to Make a Monster‘ on Tuesday evening. Featuring a talented young cast from Battersea Arts Centre Beatbox Academy and their take-on the classic Frankenstein. They use the telling of the story to cleverly draw-out parallels and issues of relevance to young people now – identity, bullying, social media – all done through a breath-taking blend of theatre, song and beatboxing.

Wednesday: Line Dancing and University Community Choir

Give line dancing a go on Wednesday afternoon in Keynes Senior Common Room. Get together with friends and housemate for a college introduction to popular dancing style of Line Dancing!

Love to sing? Become a part of the University Community Choir. It’s free join and there are no auditions. Head to Sibson Lecture Theatre 1 for 14.00. Come along to meet others, or bring a friend.

Thursday: Free massages at Medway, Roller Disco and Film Night

Need to de-stress? On Thursday you can get a free 15-minute massage at the Drill Hall Library, Medway. Book your slot on the day, first come first served.

On Thursday evening Kent Union are hosting a free Roller Disco from 19.00 in the Sports Centre. Book your free slot (skates included) and give skating a go.

Or if you fancy something more chilled, this month’s film and popcorn night celebrates South Asian Heritage Week with the 2002 film ‘Bend it like Beckham’. It’s a vibrant and colourful British comedy about a young girl from a Sikh family who desperately wants to play football against the wishes of her traditional parents. Come along to Keynes Lecture Theatre 6 from 18.00.

Saturday: Postgraduate Open Event

Interested in a Master’s or research degree? Join us at our Postgraduate Open Event on Saturday 10.00-13.00 in Sibson (or online) to find out about all the Master’s, PhD and Research Programmes as well as funding opportunities. You can also speak to academic staff, support staff and current students. Book your place now.

And huge congratulations to our Class of 2020 who are graduating in Canterbury Cathedral this week! Look out for photos and videos from the ceremonies on our social media.

Browse all student events.