Complete the University’s Travel Plan Survey by midnight on Friday 22 November for the chance to win £100 Amazon voucher.
The Travel Plan Survey is essential to enable us to report the carbon emission data as well as gathering your feedback so we can work to improve your travel experience.
The survey only takes 5-10 minutes to complete.
Complete the Travel Plan Survey now or use the QR code below. If scanning the QR code on mobile, you will need to select ‘continue to browser’.
Find out what’s on this week including careers events, the start of Disability History Month and an opportunity to ask your questions to the Vice-Chancellor.
Feeling disorganised? Join this online Study Plus workshop on time management essentials. Learn how to identify and prioritise your most important tasks, time management techniques and more.
At Medway campus there’s a games afternoon you can join at The Hub.
Good negotiation skills are important in both your work life and home life. PGT students are invited to join this two-hour workshop where you can explore effective negotiation techniques and theory through a series of practical exercises.
As part of the University’s Right to Food initiative, on Tuesday you can pick up some fresh fruit for free from Templeman Library! And while you’re there you can check out the new Right to Food exhibition which sheds a light on key issues related to food justice, health and sustainability.
Find out more about our mentoring scheme which connects you with a Career Mentor from our global alumni community. Learn about the benefits of mentoring, choosing the right mentor and making the most out of the mentoring relationship.
At Medway campus you can join a session about utilising LinkedIn for the application process, including job searching, commercial awareness and interview preparation.
Improve your essay writing skills with an advanced essay writing skills workshop from the Skills for Academic Success Team. This workshop will include techniques to help you make the effective transition from beginner to advance essay writer. The workshop is taking place at both Canterbury and Medway campuses.
Enjoy a free lunchtime concert from Cellist William Jack in the Colyer-Fergusson on Wednesday. William is best known for incorporating his jazz guitar background into an unconventional style of cello playing, with a passion for breaking boundaries between genres and cultures.
Do you have a question for the Vice-Chancellor? This is your opportunity to put questions to the Acting Vice-Chancellor, Professor Georgina Randlsey de Moura in the Gulbenkian Cinema. Your Kent Students’ Union president Lulu Collins will ask your questions. You can submit a question in advance.
Get help with CVs and cover letters at this session in Medway. Critique an example CV and cover letter and reflect on your individual next steps for updating your CV and cover letter.
Come and meet your EP team who will explain what the Employability Points scheme is and how it benefits you during your studies at Kent. Find out more about how the scheme works, claiming Employability Points and when you will be able to apply for rewards.
On Thursday evening at The Deep End you can join the LGBTQ+ Society and Debate Society for comedy open mic night!
For many people speaking in meetings, in public and in 1:1s can be one of the most nerve-wracking aspects of work. But it’s also one of the most necessary. This building confidence for speaking and presenting in the workplace online session gets the attendees talking, with practical exercises and tips on how to structure how to speak to build teams and get things done.
If you are considering postgrad study, join this online session about how to write a postgraduate personal statement. Explore differences between a PG and UG application, look at examples of application requirements and find out top tips for how to structure your personal statement.
If you live on campus and want to get creative, try one of the ResLife events including friendship bracelet making, a nail tech night or a calligraphy session.
From Kents Students’ Union (KSU)
We’re working on developing a new strategy (check out our current Strategy here) and need your input to make sure we’re delivering the best service possible for our students!
We’re also going to be working on a new look as part of a rebrand, so want to know how the KSU brand makes you feel. Finally, we are collecting some information about how we can best work with the university to support you in your journey as a Kent student!
By completing the survey, you can also enter to win one of these amazing prizes!
The survey will close at 10:00 on Friday 15 November 2024.
Brighter Futures Grants are back! That means 10 students will have the chance to win
£1,000 each.
The funds can be spent on rent, bills, or study resources you need for university work. This is just the latest in a series of initiatives run by our partner Santander, helping students to take studies to the next level and break down barriers.
All of our students are eligible to enter, including undergraduates, postgraduates, part-time and full-time students.
You also don’t need to bank with Santander to get involved. Spread the word, share with your friends, coursemates and housemates.
Entering is quick and easy:
1. If you haven’t already, register for Santander Open Academy – a free online learning platform
2. Follow the verification link in your confirmation email
3. Log in and choose ‘Get Started’ to complete your entry into the Brighter Futures Grants programme. From the menu you need to select University of Kent.
4. Get your entries submitted by 23:00 on 5 December 2024.
What are you waiting for? Enter by 5 December 2024 for your chance to win.
Find out what’s on this week including workshops to improve your confidence, money management and essay writing skills.
Prepare for Thursday’s Kent Law Fair by attending this online session which will cover the benefits of attending, tips and how to follow up with new contacts.
Do you wish you were more confident? Join this Study Plus workshop all around confidence, courage and self-belief. Learn techniques to build a positive internal monologue and tap into your courage to build you confidence.
Join this online managing your money workshop to learn about the realities of a starting salary, how to set a budget, understanding money and more.
If you’ve been diagnosed with ADHD (or awaiting assessment), you’re welcome to join the Social Running for ADHD group. All you need is a pair of trainers and a sense of humour. All abilities welcome.
It’s US Election time! You can join experts for a discussion and Q&A session on the US presidential election, brought to you by the School of Politics and International Relations, School of History and UKC History Society. And then later, you can watch the news coverage and early results of the American election with students and staff in Keynes.
Following Black History Month, there’s an opportunity to explore Black history in the University’s archives and book collections. You will learn archive research techniques and your discoveries will be added to our list of sources supporting the study of Black history in the archive collections. There will also be some free pizza!
Could your essays be improved? Join this workshop about the structure and content of a good introduction and conclusion at Canterbury and Medway and find out why it can be helpful to write your introduction last.
There’s also lots of ResLife events on Wednesday including a trip to the local bouldering centre, slime making and a cosy movie night.
Interested in a career in law? Visit the Kent Law Fair on Thursday in Colyer-Fergusson Concert Hall. There will be over 28 stands including law firms, chambers and other legal organisations.
Learn how to answer interview questions at Medway, including common interview questions and types of questions and their purpose.
At The Hub you can join a Crafternoon to paint your own tote bag!.
Interested in volunteering? Join this session to find out how volunteering can give you valuable skills and experience and where to look for volunteering opportunities.
ResLife Ambassadors May and Taylor are hosting an LGBTQ+ friendly social in DG01-02 in the library with hot drinks, biscuits, board games, colouring, Nintendo Switch and more. However you identify, come and chat to others in your community in our safe space in the library.
The Home Office is replacing physical immigration documents with an eVisa. All Biometric Residence Permits (BRPs) are due to expire at the end of 2024. If you are heading home over the winter break, it’s important you have created a UKVI account to access your eVisa before you travel, so you can return to the UK for the rest of your studies without issues at the UK Border.
What do Biometric Resident Permit (BRP) holders need to do?
If you have a BRP you need to create a UKVI account to access an eVisa.
If you hold a BRP that expires on 31 December 2024 and have immigration permission to be in the UK beyond this date, you should follow the instructions on this Home Office page to create a UKVI account now.
Creating a UKVI account is free and straightforward. Once you have created your UKVI account, you should update your account with any new passport or contact details.
Who is affected by this change?
Everyone that uses a BRP who does not already have an eVisa is affected by this change, as all BRPs are due to expire at the end of 2024. Please note, this means the card will expire – not your immigration permission. However, you need the eVisa to evidence your continued right to be in the UK.
What if students already have a UKVI account and an eVisa as well as a BRP?
If you already have a BRP as well as an eVisa, then you do not need to do anything else. Students who already have an eVisa should ensure that their UKVI account is kept up to date with their latest contact information and any passport which they intend to travel with.
What happens if students do not create an account to access their eVisa?
BRP holders should take steps to create a UKVI account and access their eVisa before it expires to prevent any unnecessary delays in proving their rights. Students with expired BRPs may not be able to use them to travel internationally.
Further support
Further information, including details of the eVisa support available, can be found at www.gov.uk/evisa.
Kent Students’ Union Advisers are trained to give immigration advice to Kent students, so can help support you with this process. See the KSU Advice Service website to learn more.
If you have a product that would make the perfect gift, get in touch with us now. Discovery Park in Sandwich is a thriving business park and home to over 3,000 residents! Here’s an opportunity to join their annual indoor Christmas Market and showcase your business.
Join us for a festive celebration at the Discovery Park Christmas Market!
Date: Wednesday, 4 December 2024
Time: 11:00 – 14:00 (including travel time – transport from/to campus provided)
Location: The Gateway, Discovery Park, Sandwich
This is your chance to showcase your business! Are you a keen creator of any of the following or similar products?
We want to showcase your talents! We’re calling on all companies and individuals with products to sell at our Christmas Market. Don’t miss this opportunity to share your craft with our community.
To reserve your free stall, email: ASPIRE@kent.ac.uk
Be sure to reserve your stall by Friday 15 November.
Learn more about how ASPIRE can help your business.
Let’s make this Christmas season extra special together.
The rising cost of living is difficult for many of our students, and we understand that some extra help may be needed at this time. Here are some student tips to help you save on your food shop.
The best place to start is having a weekly budget to work out how much you can realistically afford to spend each week on food. Start by working out your income – whether you have a part-time job or you’re getting money from your parents, every income you have should be accounted for. You’ll then need to make a note of your regular expenses and subtract this from your income. This should then leave you with the amount you have available for food, activities, shopping, and anything else you need to buy over the week. Make sure you set aside a fair amount for food and necessities, and use this weekly budget to inform your spending decisions and plan your food shopping accordingly. For more information on budgeting, check out our Budgeting Guide.
Make sure you check your cupboards before you head to the shop so you don’t buy duplicate items that you won’t need, and jot down any ingredients you’re missing. This also helps you use up food before it goes out of date. Try to plan what meals you might like to have for the week and make a list of what you need. It can also be helpful to make extra food so you have leftovers for the next day’s lunch. We have microwaves on campus so you can reheat leftovers. Making a list of what you actually need will help to keep you on track with your shopping.
Most supermarkets start reducing the price of food after about 18:00 so that they can get rid of stock before the end of the day, and make things cheaper that they will no longer be able to sell as ‘fresh’ the next morning. This is great for getting a cheaper food shop – the food will still be fine to eat, just less expensive.
Buying in bulk can work out cheaper in the long run. For items with a long shelf life that you know you’ll use – like pasta, rice, and washing up liquid – it’s cheaper and easier to buy larger quantities than to keep getting small packets. Look out for the price per kg or per litre on these items to make sure you’re getting a good deal. If you can afford it, it can make more sense to bulk buy items once rather than buying smaller amounts of items each week.
There are lots of money-saving discounts online and in stores. As students, you should be able to access student discounts for a range of shops and restaurants, so make sure you always ask if this is available when shopping. For discounts on the Canterbury campus, grab yourself a Totum discount card or a Co-op membership to access rewards and offers in our two Co-op stores. It’s also a good idea to do your food shops at cheaper supermarkets (like Aldi and Lidl) if possible, as this will save you a lot of money in the long run.
You can also access the Kent Students’ Union Campus Pantry at Mandela Student Centre, and can speak to their Advice Service about any extra support or advice you might need. We also offer a range of emergency financial support options.
See our cost of living website for more support.
As part of our initiatives to help you with the rising cost of living, learn more about our £3.50 Meal Deals available at our Canterbury campus.
Head to Rutherford Dining Hall for the popular £3.50 Meal Deal. There are two dishes to choose from every day, including a plant-based option. The hot Rutherford Meal Deal is available every day of the week, 12:00-14:00 for lunch and 17:00-21:00 for dinner.
This term, we’ve seen new dishes including Sweet Potato Chilli, Cauliflower Cheese Lasagne, and Tandoori Sweet Potato with Lemon Pilau Rice. These additions will join popular favourites such as Katsu Curry, Tortellini, and the ever-classic Sausage and Mash.
The meal deal offers vegetarian and vegan options, and Halal sourced meat is used wherever possible. See the weekly menu.
On Tuesday 24 September, Rutherford Dining Hall served its 100,000th cost of living hot meal since its launch in November 2022!
The lucky recipient of this milestone meal was Danylo Stepaniuk, a foundation economics student from Ukraine. Danylo, who regularly eats at Rutherford Dining Hall, shared that he prefers dining there because of the £3.50 meals. His favourite dish is the four cheese tortellini, which he always has with vegetables or salad.
Chicken Katsu with rice
The sandwich meal deal includes a sandwich, crisps/fruit and a drink for £3.50, and is available across campus in Dolche Vita, Gulbenkian Cafe, Sibson Cafe, Mungo’s, and Rutherford Dining Hall.
If you are facing financial hardship, please see our financial support webpages or visit the Cost of Living Support webpage.
Halley from our Student Welfare & Community Life team shares top tips for handling issues with flatmates…
Whether you are living on or off campus, we know that sharing space and living with other people can sometimes be stressful, and if you are having ongoing issues with flatmates then this can have a negative impact on your experience at University and on your studies.
Whether it is issues with noise and guests, messy kitchens, shared household responsibilities, etc most of the flat issues that students have are related to not communicating, and not addressing issues when they first arise.
Address issues right away: Report, get help, or try to resolve issues when things first happen, to minimise the negative impact on you and your flatmates. The longer you leave it, the more stressful it will become.
Communicate: Sometimes a conversation is all that you need. Try speaking to the person or people involved directly and let them know:
Focus on a plan: Whatever the issue, try not to blame anyone and instead try to agree on a plan that will help everyone feel comfortable and take shared responsibility.
Do not assume: It will help you to resolve issues if you try to remember that everyone has a different background and perspective. People have different personal habits and different ideas of what is normal. People may be personally struggling with things that you are not aware of which can lead them to act in ways that negatively impact everyone in the flat.
For all students on-and-off-campus: Student Welfare & Community Life is available to email, call or visit:
Final word of advice – if you are having issues with flatmates, remember that we are here to help!