Find out what’s on this week including Career’s PG Week and Pride Canterbury.

Monday 2 June: Your elevator pitch

Whether it’s for networking, interviews, starting your own business or pitching, being able to confidently and competently explain your experience and expertise is really important. Join this online Career’s Elevator Pitch session to learn how to tell your story with impact.

Tuesday 3 June: Making materials for Pride Canterbury and Physics evening open lecture

On Tuesday you can come along to the Venue between 11:00 and 16:00 to make placards, badges and posters for Pride Canterbury at the weekend. Kent Students’ Union will provide all the materials, you just bring the creativity.

Do you have an interest in physics? On Tuesday evening you’re invited to join the Kent Physics Centre open lecture ‘Exploring the Solar System via Hypervelocity Impacts’. The speaker, Prof Mark Burchell, is an Emeritus Professor of Space Science at the University of Kent and his contributions to science have earned multiple awards from NASA!

Wednesday 4 June: Gardening and therapy dog

Why not get outside and enjoy spending time in the Kent Community Oasis Garden? Everyone is welcome at KentCOG, whether you’re an expert gardener, a complete beginner, or just coming along for a chat.

Take a break from exams with Coco the Therapy Dog in Nexus, Templeman Library.  She is a certified Pets as Therapy dog and is very friendly, calm and loves being fussed over.

Thursday 5 June: PGR Yoga and Writing Retreat and working abroad

PGR students are invited to a Yoga and Writing Retreat, a day workshop consisting of guided yoga sessions mixed with opportunities to get on with your writing. With breaks for refreshments and a short, guided meditation after lunch, the yoga and writing retreat creates a peaceful and relaxed environment to work.

Thinking of working abroad? Join this online session to find out how you can work abroad as part of your degree, summer break or after graduation. The session includes an introduction to GoingGlobal, a platform for Kent students to find opportunities and detailed info for working abroad.

Friday 6 June: Making the most of the vacation and Board Games Night

For students who live in on-campus accommodation, you’re invited to a board games night in DG-01 in Templeman Library. There will be a variety of games available including Catan, Guess Who and Uno, as well as the Nintendo Switch to play Mario Party.

As we get closer to the end of term, why not join this online session from the Careers team about how you can make the most of the vacation and use it as a time to upskill yourself and explore career options.

Saturday 7 June: Pride Canterbury!

Canterbury Pride takes place on Saturday and is a spectacular LGBTQ+ celebration. As a significant sponsor of Pride, Kent has reserved spaces for students and staff to take part in the Pride Parade that precedes the main event, this year taking place in the Westgate Gardens. Parade participants get automatic entry to the main event.

Anyone who wishes to take part in the Pride parade on Saturday must be wearing a Parade Wristband prior to entry to the staging area. There are a limited number, and these will be given out on a first come, first served basis. Find out where to pick up your free Pride wristband earlier in the week.

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Opportunities

• Calling all Black student changemakers – there’s a paid opportunity to influence and inspire at a national level through the Living Black at University Commission.
• If you’re considering postgraduate study, join us for our Virtual Postgraduate Open Event on Wednesday 18 June. Find out about PG courses, ask questions about fees and funding and learn how to make an application. See Summer PG Open Events.

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After many years on our Canterbury Campus, we have been informed that Blackwell’s Bookstore has made the decision to end their lease, and will be closing on Wednesday 28 May. While their lease was originally due to expire this summer, their decision to close has come sooner than anticipated and is in line with closures of their sites at a number of other university campus sites.

As a result of this closure, Café Nero, which operates under a concession through a commercial arrangement with Blackwell’s, not the University, may be affected while next steps are being assessed.

We had already been exploring the future use of the Blackwell’s space from the end of the lease to ensure we continue offering a vibrant mix of services and facilities on campus. We will share further updates on this once plans progress.

We hope you had a lovely bank holiday weekend. Find out what’s on this week including watching a free film at the Gulbenkian and the Summer Ball!

Tuesday 27 May: Beach litter pick, free cinema tickets and live music

Get outside and help the environment by joining us for a beach litter pick at Seasalter. Transport and equipment will be provided.

On Tuesday evening, the Gulbenkian Student Arts Committee invites you to celebrate the last ‘2 for Tuesdays’ student night of the term, with free movie tickets and live music by student performers, including bands from the Live Music Society. De-stress and celebrate with music at the Gulbenkian café stage from 18:00 before the screening of Mission: Impossible The Final Reckoning at 19:00.

Wednesday 28 May: Nature walk and henna tattoo event

Join us for a guided, nature-based wellbeing session designed to get you up close with nature at the Kent Community Oasis Garden. Debi and Emily will guide you through activities that allow you to spend time reconnecting with the natural world all within the peaceful setting of the garden. This session is ‘Take Flight!’ – what are the flying creatures that call the garden home, and how can we support them?

Join your ResLife Assistants Himadri and Neemisha for one final Henna Tattoo event this term in DG01-02 in Templeman Library. Bring your creative selves to the event and learn more about the art of henna tattoo and have some fun while enjoying some Bollywood music! A perfect way to de-stress and relax amidst the exam season.

Thursday 29 May: Graduation action plan and film night

In your final year? Join this online session from our Careers and Employability Service to help consider how ‘work ready’ you are and to create an action plan you can use as you prepare to move on from university.

On Thursday if you live in on-campus accommodation there’s two chances to watch a film in Eliot College. You can watch a Bollywood film or Pitch Perfect (or even both!)

Friday 30 May: Gardening and careers events ‍

Get outside and volunteer at the Kent Community Oasis Garden. They have open volunteering sessions on Wednesdays and Fridays, 10:00-14:00. You can drop in for as long as you want and there is no previous experience necessary. Enjoy being out in nature and trying something new.

There’s lots of online careers events on Friday with a session on how to clarify your career goals with the help of a mentor, plus refreshing your CV and cover letter and making applications to grad schemes, other job roles and PG study.

Saturday 31 May: The Summer Ball

Kent Students’ Union’s biggest event of the year is back – The Summer Ball! Celebrate the end of the academic year with friends with outdoor fairground rides, street food, fair games and much more during the day. Followed by exciting headline acts in The Venue from 22:00-03:00 (if you have purchased a day and night ticket).

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Opportunities and reminders 

• To celebrate the end of exams (getting there!) and the start of Summer, the Gulbenkian is giving away 500 free movie tickets to Kent students!
• Graduating in July? You can book Bed & Breakfast accommodation on campus for you and your supporters.
• Returning to your studies in September? Don’t forget to apply for a student loan.

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Find out what’s on this week including outdoor activities and award ceremonies.

Monday 19 May: Medway Summer Global Hangout and finding a part-time job

Join us for the Medway Summer Global Hangout on Monday. You can plant your own seeds and decorate a pot, get creative with crafts, or join in with fun games and refreshments. It’s a chance to relax, meet with existing friends and make some new ones.

Thinking about finding a part-time role? Come along to this online session to find out what steps you can take to secure a part-time job.

Tuesday 20 May: ResLife Social and navigating the UK graduate job market

If you live in on-campus accommodation, you’re invited to join your ResLife Ambassadors in the Sports Pavilion for a social with free pizza, table tennis, pool, Nintendo switch and board games. There will also be a quiet crafting room if games aren’t your thing.

On Tuesday afternoon you can join this external career webinar about navigating the UK graduate job market, which includes a Q&A with industry expert Brian Sinclair. The webinar will include job boards and beyond, LinkedIn and social media, direct applications and recruiter insights.

Wednesday 21 May: Guided nature walk and Archery Tag

Come join us for a guided nature-based wellbeing session designed to get you up close with nature at the Kent Community Oasis Garden. Debi and Emily will guide you through activities that allow you to spend time reconnecting with the natural world all within the peaceful setting of the garden. This session is ‘The Secret Life of Plants’ – noticing the variety of plants we have and how plants can support our wellbeing.

ResLife and Kent Sport are delighted to host our new Archery Tag session. Think Nerf and Dodgeball but with Bows and Arrows! You can drop in any time between 16:30 and 19:30 and have a go. This session is free and open to all.

Thursday 22 May: Introduction to placements, mindfulness colouring and Activity Awards

Taking a placement year can be of many benefits and industry experience is highly recommended when it comes to your graduate job search. Find out all you need to know in this Placements introduction session.

Join us in DG-01 in Templeman Library for a gentle and welcoming mindfulness colouring session designed for relaxation and self-care.

On Thursday evening it’s Kent Students’ Union Activity Awards, celebrating the very best societies, fundraisers and volunteers this year.

Friday 23 May: Working abroad and Team Kent Awards

Thinking of working abroad? Join this online session to find out information and tips on how to find opportunities abroad.

Friday evening is Kent Students’ Union Team Kent Awards, a chance to celebrate the very best Sports Clubs of the year.

Saturday 24 May: ResLife Afternoon tea and lawn games

On Saturday, if you live in on-campus accommodation ResLife are inviting you to tea! Join them for an afternoon tea with sandwiches, cakes and scones as well as lawn games to enjoy with friends. Tickets are limited so be sure to book on the Home At Halls app.

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Opportunities

• Are you a postgraduate student? Register for the annual Postgraduate Conference on Wednesday 25 June. It’s a collaboration between the Graduate and Researcher College (GRC) and all the academic Schools. There’s also a Research Talk competition and Research Poster competition, as well as GRC prizes.
• If you need a quiet, convenient place to stay during the exam period, we’re offering on-campus accommodation in Keynes College for £52.50 per night, which includes £14 daily credit to spend in any of the University of Kent food outlets.
• Or if you’re looking for longer term accommodation on campus over Summer, take a look at our options in Darwin and Woolf Colleges.

See more student opportunities.