Category Archives: Student Guide

Support at Kent

Now the Welcome Week madness is over, it’s probably a good time to start exploring Kent and the support services on offer. Watch our support, health and wellbeing video.

You can also read our short pdf guide to support at Kent.

Support with your studies

Studying for a degree is very different to studying at school. You have a lot more control over your learning and greater independence.

You will also be asked to do things you’ve never had to do before (eg referencing in a certain way, dissertations, vivas…) this is where the Student Learning and Advisory Service (SLAS for short) steps in.

SLAS can help you with everything from perfecting your essay writing to learning how to reference properly. You can learn in your own time using our online guides or attend one of SLAS’ many workshops.

Don’t forget your school is also there to help you with your studies and offer a range of study support.

Have you registered with Student Support and Wellbeing?

If you have a disability you should contact Student Support. They can provide not only academic support but can help with funding applications.

If you’re going through a difficult time or just don’t feel happy – staff in our Wellbeing Team are always available to listen.

They also run a series of well-being workshops to help you get the best out of University life.

Advice Centre

From money worries to getting on with your housemates, Kent Union’s Advice Centre is available to help. All advice is free to Kent students – so make the most of it!

Medical advice

Kent has its own NHS general practice on campus. There’s also an independent pharmacy next door, so you don’t have to go far when you’re feeling under the weather.

If you need any medical advice, treatment of a minor illness/injury or contraceptive advice, you can visit the ‘drop-in’ nursing service in Keynes College.

Master’s Office

When you arrived at Kent you automatically joined a college. Your Master’s Office is there to give advice and can be used as a first port of call for any questions you may have.

Resident Support Officers

Each college accommodation has Resident Support Officers who work closely with College Masters to provide a safe and harmonious environment on campus as well as support on practical assistance if students have concerns about a flat mate, noise on campus or if there are problems with cleanliness in accommodation.

Chaplaincy

University Chaplains run a wide range of religious and social events (including a very festive carol service in the Cathedral). They are also a good contact for advice and support.

International students

As well as all the other support services available to students, international students can visit International Team in the Registry Building. They can help with any international related queries and run a series of cultural events.

Kent Union

The Vice-President (Welfare) officer at Kent Union campaigns on well-being related matters so if students have any queries or issues they would like to discuss they can contact Omolade directly: O.Adedapo@kent.ac.uk 

canterbury campus

Public consultation on Campus Masterplan

A public consultation on our Campus Masterplan takes place in October. We’ll share our vision for the future evolution of the campus to best meet the needs of the University and of the wider city and region.

The Framework Masterplan proposals detail the framework within which we will make decisions on the future development of our estate in the short-term (2018 to 2021) and medium-term (2021 to 2031), covering the period defined within Canterbury City Council’s District Local Plan.

This latest version of the Masterplan takes into account the feedback that staff, students, local amenity groups and residents provided during the initial stages of consultation in 2016 and 2017.

We learned a lot from that feedback and we now invite you to share your views on the Framework Masterplan by attending our consultation events. They take place as follows:

  • Saturday 6 October 2018, 10.00-16.00 at Westgate Hall, Canterbury
  • Thursday 11 October 2018, 14.00-20.00 at Tyler Hill Memorial Hall
  • Friday 12 October 2018, 14.00-20.00 at Blean Village Hall
  • Thursday 18 October 2018, 10.00-16.00 Darwin Conference Suite,  Canterbury campus

Our response to the views you express during this stage of the consultation will be published in a Consultation Statement later this year. This will feed into the final stages of development of the Framework Masterplan document, which will be presented to Canterbury City Council at the end of the year.

More information about the Masterplan and copies of previous consultation statements are available on our Masterplan web pages.

Music Technology

CMAT forms Music Academic Partnership with UK Music

The University of Kent’s Centre for Music and Audio Technology has formed a Music Academic Partnership (MAP) with UK Music.

MAP is a ground-breaking collaboration between a select number of educational institutions and UK Music, a campaigning and lobbying group which represents every part of the recorded and live music industry from artists, musicians, songwriters, composers, record labels, publishers, producers and music licensing groups.

Academic members, who must be invited to become a part of MAP, benefit from this membership with a number of initiatives that include exclusive networking, collaborative research, a parliamentary programme, rehearsal spaces, and a range of student opportunities, including the BBC Introducing Pilot, MAP Music Technology Prize and access to exclusive Production Days and industry showcases.

This partnership is the latest example of CMAT’s excellent links to the music industry and commitment to the employability of its students. CMAT works with leading music bodies across the industry, including the British Academy of Songwriters, Composers, and Authors (BASCA), the Music Managers Forum and the Council for Music Makers.

Job Shop and Volunteering Fair

Medway Jobshop and Volunteering Fair

GK Unions is proud to announce the debut Jobshop and Volunteering Fair, which takes place on Thursday 4 October at the Student Hub, Medway campus.

The fair gives you the chance to come and speak to a variety of organisations offering paid work and volunteering opportunities, from one-off projects on campus to long-term projects with community organisations and much more!

It is organised by GK Unions, Jobshop and Volunteering. You can find out which community groups and employers will be attending at the event Facebook page.

canterbury campus

Changes to Giles Lane car park

Giles Lane has now become one car park designated pink zone. This means that blue zone permit holders can no longer park in this car park.

Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) barriers are due to be installed in Giles Lane car park to improve parking enforcement and traffic management.

Blue zone car parks

Blue zone parking is still available in the Sports Centre blue zone, Park Wood Courts, Pavilion and Oaks car parks. Please see our interactive car park map which shows the number of parking spaces within each parking area.

Accessible parking

Accessible parking on campus remains the same and is marked on our interactive car park map. See if you’re eligible for an accessible parking permit.

Find out more

For more information, view our Giles Lane changes webpage. If you have any questions please email TransportTeam@kent.ac.uk.

Do you need to travel by car?

If it is an option for you why not consider changing up your travel to campus by walking, cycling or taking the bus? The University encourages sustainable travel wherever possible through the University’s Travel Plans.

Purchase the Stagecoach Unirider bus ticket for only £180 (if purchased before 2 October 2018) for unlimited travel on any Stagecoach bus in East Kent and East Sussex.

Or you can hire a recycled bike for £40 per term (plus £60 refundable deposit) to help you get around easily.

Use your KentOne card to register at lectures

From the start of the 2018/19 academic year, we are trialling the use of KentOne card scanners to register your attendance at some of our larger lecture theatres on the Canterbury Campus. Watch the video to find out more.

Is my school part of the trial?

If you belong to one of the following schools you will be able to scan your card to register your attendance at certain lectures:

– School of Mathematics, Statistics and Actuarial Science

– Kent Business School

– Kent Law School

– School of Computing

– School of Economics

– School of Physical Sciences

– School of Psychology

Which lecture theatres are part of the trial?

– Woolf Lecture Theatre (W-LT)

– Rutherford Lecture Theatre 1 (RLT1)

– Marlowe Lecture Theatre 1 (MarLT1)

–  Keynes Lecture Theatre 1 (KLT1)

– Cornwallis Lecture Theatre 2 (COLT2)

– Woolf seminar rooms 1-6 (W1 – SR 1 to SR 6)

We are only trialling the card scanners in larger lecture theatres initially to check the system works effectively.

What are the benefits?

This new system will do away with paper registers and improve attendance monitoring. This will not only save time and costs but improve reliability and the overall student experience.

Feedback and questions

If you have any feedback or questions during this trial, which you would like to be included in the future development of this system, you can let us know by contacting the project team.

Time is running out to submit your Pride Award nominations

The PRIDE (Personal Responsibility In Delivering Excellence) Award recognises members of Kent Hospitality staff who go out of their way to deliver excellent customer service.

Any Kent Hospitality staff member (permanent or casual) may be nominated from Canterbury and Medway campuses. The award is given out four times a year with each winner receiving £100 of shopping vouchers, a certificate and badge.

Nominations can be made by any member of University staff, students or visitors. Make your nomination online or alternatively you can pick up a paper form next to the red nomination boxes located in all Kent Hospitality’s catering outlets in Canterbury and Medway, as well College reception areas.

The closing date for submitting your nominations is before 12.00 pm on Wednesday 26 September.

Please make your nominations detailed, providing as much information as possible why the nominee is being put forward for a Pride Award. The panel are looking for staff who achieve more than just what is expected in their role (i.e. hardworking, professional, positive and friendly attitude).

Congratulations to March’s Pride Award winner – Dave Jordan, Health & Safety and Food Safety Advisor.

For further information or for guidance on submitting nominations please contact: pride@kent.ac.uk

Returning to Kent?

Welcome back! If you’re returning to Kent after the summer break, here’s a helpful summary for settling back in.

  • Timetables will be on the Student Guide before term starts on 24 September. Continue to go back and check your timetable regularly for updates including other events. Read our Timetabling FAQs.
  • You will need to register on SDS from Tuesday 18 September so we know you’re definitely coming back. To ensure swift payment of your student loan, you are advised to re-register by Wednesday 19 September. It takes 3-5 working days from the point of registration for funds to be released to your account. Read more.
  • Term starts on Monday 24 September. Welcome Week is the week before (17-21 September). View term dates.
  • If you’ve got a new phone, tablet or laptop, get it Kent WiFi-ready before you come back to campus by running our WiFi setup tool.
  • Living off campus is very different from living in University accommodation. Read our community webpages for information on bills, bins, neighbours and much more!
  • Canterbury campus developments are taking place in Park Wood developing a new SU shop, expanding Woody’s with 60 extra seats, a balcony, garden, and creating a Study Hub with rooftop and studio spaces. CEWL has also moved to the Chipperfield building with more dedicated teaching and social space for staff and students and the School of Economics expansion is still taking place.
  • Find out what’s changed in the Templeman Library and in campus study space from Information Services.

Have a great 2018-2019 at Kent!

Free welcome activities for students

If you’re wondering how to spend your time at the University of Kent, what would be fun and where to meet new people, then you’ll want to know about these free events open to all. Kent Sport and Kent Union hope you can join us to try something different at the University of Kent Canterbury campus through Welcome Week and beyond. Get a taste of Kent Sport at these free events and make the most of our Student Saver membership offer to stay active all year!

 Events are varied and include:

 Check out the full timetable of exciting free activities and just turn up and join in, membership not required.

 To get up to date with Kent Sport news and events, find UniKentSports on social media and visit the Kent Sport events calendar to see what else is on.

Unirider discounted bus tickets

The cheapest way for Canterbury students to travel around the local area is the Stagecoach Unirider, which allows unlimited travel across Kent and East Sussex. The Unirider ticket is valid for the academic year and the discount is exclusive to University of Kent students.

 For the first two weeks of term, the Unirider will be available to buy from the Unibus parked on the lawn outside the Registry building on the Canterbury Campus between 10:00 and 16:00. It is also available to buy online from the Stagecoach website.

 Remember to purchase up to and including 1 October for the early bird discount of £180 for the academic year. This is a saving of 77% on the public price. After the 1 October, the price will change to £255 for the academic year.

 For more information about bus routes, timetables and discounts visit our Canterbury bus webpage.