With a parliamentary election taking place on 4 July 2024, please take note of the following:

• We know many of you will have left your term-time address until the start of the next academic year, and so you are reminded to make sure that you register to vote each time you change address.
• While you may register at your home address and also your term-time address, you can only vote ONCE. It is a criminal offence to vote more than once in this election.
• The deadline to register to vote is 23:59 on 18 June and you can register online Register to Vote. You can check whether you are registered at your local council electoral registration office.
• If you remain registered to vote at your term-time address you can still choose to use your one vote there instead of at your home address.
• Don’t forget that as well as registering, you will need valid voter ID on the day. The NUS has produced some helpful guidance for students covering both topics. NUS guidance – voter registration and voter ID FAQs.

About the Santander Universities Research Awards

As part of Santander Universities’ commitment to supporting higher education, they’ve launched this initiative exclusively for postgraduate students and academic staff providing them with the funds they need to support or develop their research.

Santander Universities are giving away 50 awards of £1,000. The funding can be used on resources, equipment, travel, workshop or conference attendance and any other research-based expenses.

Who’s eligible to apply?
This opportunity is open to any postgraduate student (masters, postgrad taught or research, PhD) and academic staff conducting research at any UK-based university. You can be conducting research in any field, but you must be conducting the research in the 2023/2024 or the 2024/2025 academic year.

How to apply
To apply, visit the Santander Open Academy platform, where you’ll need to register for an account (if you don’t already have one). After registering, you’ll get a confirmation email. Once you verify your account you can then apply for the Santander Universities Research Awards initiative.

The application process is quick and easy. You’ll need to:

• provide a valid university student or staff ID number,
• confirm which university you attend or work at, and
• complete a brief personal profile which includes your education/employment details and your area of research.

Applications close on 11 July 2024.

Learn more about the Santander Universities Research Awards and apply now here.

Summer is just around the corner, but that doesn’t mean that learning has to take a backseat. In fact, with the right tools you can make this summer your most productive yet and fully prepare for the new academic year.

That’s why we’re thrilled to announce Santander’s iPad Prize Draw. They’re giving away 25 tablets to enhance your study experience.

How do I enter?
To enter, visit the Santander Open Academy platform where you’ll need to register for an account (if you haven’t already got one). After registering, you’ll get a confirmation email. Click on the link in the email to verify your account and then you can log on and apply for the prize draw. Once entries close on 27 June, Santander will pick 25 students at random.

Who can enter?
All university students can enter including undergraduates, postgraduates, part-time and full-time students.

You also don’t need to bank with Santander to get involved. So be sure to share with your friends, coursemates and anyone else who could benefit from this opportunity.

Key dates:
Entries to the prize draw close at 11pm on the 27 June 2024. So don’t hesitate and get your entries in pronto!

Giving you the tools you need to build a brighter future
This is just the latest in a series of initiatives that Santander are running throughout the year to help students.

On the Santander Open Academy platform, you can browse free on-demand learning content to help with your studies. You can also apply for free learning programmes ran in partnership with world-leading educational institutes.

Santander is committed to connecting anyone, anywhere with whatever they need to make their better happen.

By offering cutting-edge tools and unique learning opportunities, they’re paving the way for a future generation full of thinkers, creators, and leaders.

Enter the prize draw now and let’s make your academic journey extraordinary together!

Enter now

What is Internship Experience UK (IEUK)?

Internship Experience UK or IEUK is a four-day virtual internship programme (17 – 20 June) which takes place every summer with a new programme each year. Designed to have the most value for university students, IEUK is an immersive programme packed with valuable insights and opportunities to help you navigate your career path. Whether you’re unsure what sector to pursue, curious about specific industries, or seeking practical skills to stand out to employers, IEUK empowers you to explore diverse career possibilities and gain a competitive edge post-graduation.

So far, over 150,000+ students and graduates have taken part and reaped the rewards of spending a few days of their summer with the world’s top employers. Over 10,000 of them have even secured roles with the firms they met on the experience.

Applications are open – apply to your chosen sector stream now!

As well as relaxing in the sunshine, summer is a great time to meet new people, develop your skills and explore!

Starting in May, Summer at Kent is a series of events aimed at students who are staying on campus, whether that’s for a few weeks or the whole summer.

There are lots of opportunities to get outside by volunteering at Kent Community Oasis Garden, going on nature walks and working together to create a ResLife garden in Keynes College Courtyard. There’s also the annual BioBlitz event with workshops and activities to record as many living species as possible at our Canterbury campus.

You can learn new skills and get creative with a Sign Language Class for Beginners, painting on the lawn and mindfulness colouring.

Plus events to help you to de-stress such as the Chill Zone where you can play Nintendo Switch and boardgames, Pause for Paws and try out a virtual reality session.

If you are a postgraduate student, look out for events to help you focus on your studies or career with ‘Shut up and write’ and a yoga and writing retreat for postgraduate researchers and PG Careers Week events in June.

More events will be added throughout the summer, so make sure to check back on the Summer at Kent website.

Are you looking to earn some money this summer?

Kent’s Catering team are currently seeking warm, positive people with bags of energy to help out over the busy summer season.

Ideal candidates must be reliable, punctual, and possess excellent communication skills. They should have a friendly and approachable personality, with the ability to work well in a fast-paced, high-energy environment.

If you’re looking to start a career in hospitality, or just want to learn new skills while you study, this could be the perfect job for you!

Responsibilities will include:

• Greeting customers and taking orders
• Serving food and drinks in a timely and efficient manner
• Ensuring a clean and organized dining/kitchen area
• Handling payments

Candidates must be available to work flexible hours (possibly including evenings and weekends), throughout the summer season. Prior experience is not necessary, but it is desirable.

How to apply?

If you’re interested in applying for this role (Food & Beverage Assistant), please send your CV, along with a potential start date, to catering@kent.ac.uk

Application deadline: Friday 14 June 2024

If you’re looking to get active this summer, Kent Sport have a number of affordable options to suit any budget.

Monthly payments

Students can pay for their Kent Sport membership in smaller, more wallet-friendly amounts by signing up for a monthly payment plan*. The prices for the monthly payment plans are:

Premium Plus – £18.99 per month

Our all-inclusive membership option includes all the Plus member benefits, as well as access to the gym, classes, and free access to our ALL Active social sports programme, as well as 7-day advanced booking.

Plus – £13.99 per month

Our sport-only option provides recreational sport bookings, free access to our ALL Active social sports programme and 7-day advanced booking.

Purchase your membership online

*All student memberships automatically expire on 31 August 2024, including monthly payment plans.

Summer membership offer

If you just want a one-month membership over the summer, then watch out for details of our summer membership offer coming soon! The offer will be available throughout June to August 2024.

Pay to Play membership

If you only want to trial sports and fitness facilities on campus or you’re only here for a short time, our flexible Pay to Play membership might suit you better. There’s no joining fee, and you only pay for the sessions you want to book. For students, that’s just £5 per session and gives you access to all the Kent Sport facilities on campus.

Or, join an ALL Active session for only £2 per session! These non-competitive, turn-up-and-play recreational sessions are ideal for students and staff who want to try new activities, meet new people and maintain a healthy lifestyle regardless of ability or age.

Create your free Pay to Play membership online

We’re delighted to announce that our partner, Santander Universities has launched their latest student prize draw. Open to all UK uni students, you have a chance to win 1 of 10 lots of £1,000.

We’ve now promoted many prize draws and grants delivered in collaboration with Santander Universities. Many of our students have benefitted greatly from these. Here’s one story from Kent student and Santander Scholar Abi.

You can enter in minutes by following these 3 easy steps:
1) Register for Santander Open Academy – a free online learning platform (if you haven’t already)
2) Tap on the verification link in your confirmation email
3) Log on and choose ‘Get Started’ to complete your entry into the Santander Universities £10k Cash Prize Draw.

Entries close at 23:00 on 25 April 2024.

All UK university students can enter, including undergraduates, postgraduates, part-time and full-time students. You also don’t need to bank with Santander to get involved. So be sure to share with your friends, coursemates and anyone else who could benefit from this opportunity.

Enter by 23:00 on 25 April 2024 for your chance to win!

Enter Now

Join us as we race against the clock on campus to document as many species as possible and attempt to beat last years record.

BioBlitz is an interactive, participatory, one-day event bringing together families, school groups, and local community members to engage in nature-based learning with University of Kent students, scientists, and local wildlife experts (e.g. Kent Wildlife Trust; Butterfly Conservation; Kent Moth Group). Hosted by the School of Anthropology and Conservation’s Sustainability Working Group and the Durrell Institute of Conservation and Ecology (DICE), the aim of the event is to record as many species of wildlife as possible on campus.

But BioBlitz is more than just a scientific survey; it’s a celebration of life in all its forms. As we race against the clock to uncover and document as many species as possible within the University of Kent campus, we’ll be uncovering the secrets of our natural world and gaining invaluable insights into the intricate web of life.

Whether you’re a seasoned nature enthusiast or simply curious about the wonders of the outdoors, there’s something for everyone at BioBlitz 2024. From thrilling nature detective trails to enchanting pond dipping adventures, and engaging species surveys, there’s no shortage of excitement and learning opportunities. During BioBlitz 2023, we recorded 322 species on campus, so that is the target to beat this year. Come join us this year to help us record 323 species!

Meet us at the Coyler-Fergusson Hall, on the University of Kent in Canterbury on Saturday 18 May where you can connect with like-minded individuals, explore interactive stalls hosted by our esteemed partnership organizations, and deepen your understanding of conservation efforts.

Curious to see what BioBlitz is all about? Check out this video from our 2023 event.

Follow Kent Bio Blitz on Instagram and Twitter.

Register and be part of an unforgettable experience that celebrates the beauty and diversity of life in our part of this planet.