Category Archives: Student Guide

International Student Experience Fair, 20 Oct

Are you are new or returning international student?

Come along to the International Student Experience Fair on Thursday 20 October (12.00-14.00) in Darwin Conference Suite, and learn how you can enhance both your studies and employability. Enjoy an afternoon of cake and refreshments, and find out more about the support services available to international students.

We are delighted to have the following teams represented at this event:

Student Learning Advisory Service
International Programmes
Kent Union Advice Centre
Kent Union International Student Network
Job Shop
Careers & Employability Points
Graduate & Researcher College
Student Support & Wellbeing
Chaplaincy
Medical Centre
Design & Print
Waste & Recycling
Campus Security
Transport
International Partnerships
Community and College Life Team
Kent Sport

Perhaps you need help with your studies, want to find out about opportunities available to you, or you’d like to attend workshops to improve your learning experience? Find out more at the fair! They’ll be a prize draw and the chance to win some vouchers.

Remember, there is no need to book this event, just turn up on the day. It is definitely an event not to be missed!

Discount: Cathedral Shine: Let there be light event, 3 Nov

** Discounted tickets have now run out. We are checking to see if we can access more discounted tickets and will update soon**

Canterbury Festival is taking place 15 October – 5 November with lots of events across venues in Canterbury.

Kent students and staff can get a discount for the ‘Shine: Let there be light’ event at Canterbury cathedral for the 20.15 display on Thursday 3 November. The discounted rate will be £6.00 (inc booking fee).

To enjoy this offer, use the code UKCShineCF22 when booking either through the website or over the phone.

Courageous Conversations: Being Black at Kent, 19 Oct

A panel of 8 University of Kent academics and students discuss what it means to be Black at Kent.

In celebration of Black History Month, the University of Kent Nigerian society and Afro Caribbean society have organised a panel discussion in collaboration with University of Kent, Kent Student Union, and Student Success.

Entitled “Courageous Conversations – Being Black at Kent”, this is going to be an interactive panel of Kent staff sharing their experiences and attendees will be allowed to ask questions to keep the conversation going!

We hope to see you there.

This FREE to attend event is open to all students and staff and will be taking place on: Wednesday 19 October 2022 at Keynes College, Lecture Theatre 1.

Networking from 18.00-19.00. Panel discussion from 19.15-20.45.

Refreshments will be provided.

In collaboration with UKCNS and ACS.

Supported by the University of Kent, Kent Union and the Student Success Department.

Book your free place now.

Postgraduate Open Event, 16 November

Join us at our postgraduate Open Event on Wednesday 16 November, book your place today.

Our Open Events offer both face-to-face and virtual options, providing an opportunity to meet our staff and current students across our UK and European campuses.

Find out more about our funding and scholarship offers and January start Master’s degrees.

Take your ambition further.

Events roundup: 10-16 October

It’s going to be a busy week with plenty to get involved in, including World Mental Health Day, Employability Festival and Black History Month events! Here’s a roundup for you:

All week: Employability Festival #EmpFest22

Our Employability Festival is back! Develop employability skills and gain valuable industry insights from staff, alumni, guest speakers and industry experts. Browse all the EmpFest events.

Monday: World Mental Health Day activities and covid vaccination pop-up (Medway)

There’s plenty happening at our campuses on Monday for World Mental Health Day. At Canterbury you can get a free hot drink and biscuits (11.00-14.00), do some mindful colouring and talk to mental health advisers and other support staff. Plus you can join the Wellbeing Café or the Climate Café in the afternoon.

At Medway, you can go along to the Wellbeing Fair in Pilkington, see cute dogs in Drill Hall Library and even get a massage or your nails done at the Hub!

There is a covid vaccination pop up at the Deep End (Student Hub) at the Medway campus 10.00-15.00. Find out if you are eligible.

Tuesday: LinkedIn headshots and 10,000 Black Interns launch

Want a professional LinkedIn headshot? Matt Cook photography is at our Canterbury campus to take your photo for free.

If you want to know more about what to look for in a graduate job, come along to this Finding a Graduate Job session at our Medway campus.

Tuesday is the launch of the 10,000 Black interns programme. Join online and find out about the interns offered to Black students and graduates across the UK, as well as training and professional development.

Wednesday: Jobshop part-time jobs fair and inspirational speaker

The Jobshop part-time, temporary and seasonal Jobs Fair is a great opportunity to find a job for Christmas, next year or just to network.

As part of Black History Month, tune in to watch inspirational speaker Ezechi Britton ‘The Journey from software developer to VC and MBE’, and hear his tips for success.

You can also do some pretzel decorating at The Hub for Oktoberfest. Choose from sweet and savoury toppings.

If you’re in stage 2 and planning to Study Abroad next year, come along to this Study Abroad session to find out about finance and the application process.

Thursday: BHM Canvas painting and EmpFest events

Express what Black History Month or the Black experience means to you by painting mini canvasses with pictures, patterns, words, or whatever you want at the Venue.

There’s lots of EmpFest events on Thursday including Finding Disability Confident Employers, Simplifying the Job Search for International Students and Women and Careers in Finance.

Sunday: Sustainability Walk

On Sunday you can take a guided sustainability walk across campus, taking in the changing seasons. Meet outside Templeman Library.

Opportunities

Ten Kent students will win £1,000 for simply registering online with the Santander Scholarship programme by 20 November. Register for free now.
Get involved in the Black Student Voices project
What makes you smile? Medway photo competition for World Mental Health Day
Be part of the University Community Choir

See more student events on the Student Guide.

Gender Affirmation Fund (trans, non-binary and gender-neutral students)

**This fund has now closed**

At Kent we want all our students to be able to live, work and study to the fullest of their abilities, and we want to ensure that we are removing as many barriers to that success as possible.

We recognise that transgender, non-binary and gender-neutral individuals face additional mental health pressures that are directly related to their gender identity. Many of these additional stresses are directly caused by the potential misalignment between how an individual presents in terms of clothing and appearance, and their own identity. This stress can have a direct impact upon an individual’s ability to work, study and engage in their academic commitments. A significant barrier causing this misalignment is the cost of having to purchase additional items to reduce gender dysphoria.

As part of our commitment to supporting students with their mental health, we have created the Gender Affirmation Fund. This fund is available to students who identify as transgender, non-binary or gender neutral and can be used to help support students with the costs of gender affirming items such as binders, clothing, packers, makeup, hair extensions, pouches, Stand To Pee devices, gendered religious headwear or clothing and minor cosmetic procedures such as ear piercing or for managing body hair to help individuals feel more comfortable in their own bodies.

Applications are now open, and the fund is available to any student who identifies as transgender, non-binary or gender neutral and can be accessed once in your academic career. The only eligibility criteria is that you must be a registered student enrolled on any University of Kent academic programme.

Find out more about the fund and apply.

How to prepare for the South East Virtual Careers Fair 2022

The South East Virtual Careers Fair 2022 takes place on Wednesday 19 October, and here’s how you can prepare:

Register early
University of Kent students have early access to book appointments with exhibitors. Register now.
Create a profile
Exhibitors can search the attendee profiles for students that meet their recruitment criteria and reach out to invite you to chat.
Do your research.
View the company profiles and virtual booths and find out about their opportunities. Many staff representatives add their LinkedIn information. Take a look at who you will be meeting with; what field do they work in? Any projects that interest you?
Exhibitors will be giving live “pitch” presentations on zoom throughout the day.
Check out the list on the platform and decide on which ones you want to attend. Write down any questions you have during the session, then visit the virtual booth to find out more.
What will an employer want to know about you?
Have in mind a short overview about your background, studies and career goals. You’ll then have a clearer idea about what you want to say when meeting.
If there is the option, always turn your video on
It looks more professional and helps to build rapport when you can see who you are speaking with. If you do not have video capability or a poor connection, let the recruiter know.
Be engaged in the conversation and actively listen.
Smile and try to maintain good eye contact, looking into the camera when speaking.
Follow up.
If you had a good conversation, connect with the employer afterwards e.g., on LinkedIn.
Apply!
Make a note of deadlines and start your applications. Mention any valuable conversations in your application, highlighting what you learnt and why that’s encouraged you to apply!

Nexus – your campus help point

We have opened Nexus in Templeman Library (Canterbury) so you can go to one place on campus for all your student questions.

Nexus is open to help Monday to Friday, from 9.00 – 17.00. From November, we will extend the opening times to 9:00-19:00.

There is also social and study space for you to use so make sure you come along and say hi!

Where is Nexus?

You will find Nexus in Templeman Library. Go in the main entrance, through the turnstiles, and take the first right. See the map for directions (pdf).

If you can’t make the trip to campus, you can also get support online and find support services on the Student Guide.

Here to help

Nexus can help with any query and will signpost you in the right direction. In Nexus you will find the following support services:

Accommodation
Careers and Employability
Central Student Admin
College and Community Life (in Nexus every day to help)
E-learning
Finance
IT and Library support
Kent Union
Student Support and Wellbeing

Let us know what you think

We have introduced Nexus in response to student feedback that you want to go to one place to get help and advice.

This is a trial service that we want to develop in response to your feedback. So if you have any feedback or aren’t satisfied with our response, let the staff in Nexus know or use the Your Uni Your Say webpages. Or you can email your feedback.

Travel disruption in October

There are some disruptions to Southeastern train and Arriva bus services planned for October which may affect your travel to Canterbury and Medway campuses.

If you usually use those services to travel to campus, we recommend you find alternative modes of travel where possible on train/bus strike days and check our Campus Travel Updates webpage.

If you cannot find alternative travel and are expected on campus for teaching on a train/bus strike day, please follow your Division’s process for applying for an authorised absence or contact your Student Support Team.

To catch up on missed teaching, please check your Moodle module page for any resources made available or alternatively arrange to see your seminar/class leader during office/student consultation hours or speak to your academic adviser.

Teaching will continue as planned, and our campuses and services will remain open during the disruption. You will continue to be notified of any changes.

Get together on campus for World Mental Health Day 2022

To mark World Mental Health Day on Monday 10 October 2022, all members of the University of Kent community are invited to gather together and find out more about support available.

To recognise the importance of community and belonging in maintaining good mental health, we are hosting World Mental Health activities in both Canterbury and Medway for students and staff. Come on your own or bring your friends, flatmates, course mates, or colleagues and find out lots of ways you can boost your mental health and wellbeing at Kent.

For full details of what’s on at each location, please visit kent.ac.uk/wellbeing.

Canterbury wellbeing highlights

Staff and students on the Canterbury campus are invited to come and get a free hot drink and biscuit from the Templeman Library Terrace from 11.00-14.00 on Monday 10 October. Bring your own reusable cup if you can to help the health of the planet, and the first 180 people to come along can also take a free new Kent mug! Chat to the College and Community Life team student Residential Life Assistants about a variety of activities to connect with yourself and others, get creative with some colouring activities to do, and find out more about wellbeing initiatives coming up such as the Climate Cafe and Wellbeing Cafe.

Medway wellbeing highlights

Fancy winning some Amazon vouchers? The World Mental Health Day photo challenge is a free photography competition open to all Medway campus students and staff – share an image or moment that made you smile.

On campus on Monday? Come along to Pilkington building to meet with different support teams from the Universities at Medway as well as local mental health charities, who will be giving out some freebies and explaining what support is on offer. Drop into the Hub between 11.00-15.00 to get your nails done or have a free massage, or head to the Drill Hall Library for Pets as Therapy (cute dogs) and some books on wellbeing. See Medway World Mental Health Day events.

Student Support and Wellbeing – professional support for all students at Kent

Could you use professional help for your mental health? Did you know that Kent has a professional support service of over 100 specialist staff providing support in person and online? We’re here to support you with mental health, disabilities, and neurodiversity such as specific learning difficulties or autism, through 1:1 support as well as peer support groups and events.

There will be Student Support and Wellbeing staff at both Canterbury and Medway events where you can get advice on how to find support. You can also check out our Mental Health webpages and a short video of top mental health tips from our mental health team.

Look out for #UniKentWellbeing on the socials for more information year-round on what’s happening across the University for you.

24/7 support

Feel like you really need to talk to someone but the Student Support offices are closed? Check out the Emergency Support page with details on online, text, and telephone support available round the clock.

Written by Joshua Stevens and Natalia Crisanti, Student Services, updated 03.10.22