Joining a course through Clearing might feel like you’re on the back foot, but that doesn’t have to be the case. With these tips from our dedicated Student Services Team, you can be sure to get yourself sorted and caught up for when you start your studies.
Find digs
If you’re moving into student accommodation, determine your budget and start looking for a place to stay immediately. Our Studentpad webpage is a great place to start because you can find approved accommodation near each of our centres as well as loads of advice on things like council tax and TV licensing. Alternatively, if you’re looking for a housemate in the area, you should check out our Facebook page Housemate Hub.
Get online
Once you accept your place, you’ll receive an email with the link to The University of Law’s online system – ELITE. From ELITE, you can activate and access your student email and take a look at your class timetable. Syncing these with your phone is a great idea so that you get notifications of any short-notice changes. And don’t forget to like us on Facebook to stay up to date with all ULaw matters.
Financial bits
If you’re taking out a student loan to pay for your course, you’ll need to apply as soon as you can. As every situation is different, it’s best to email the Student Finance team if you have any queries. If you’ve already made arrangements for a student loan but you’ve changed course or university, you’ll need to inform your loan provider straight away. Give them a call as soon as you receive confirmation of your new course details.
As a university student, you’re entitled to an NUS TOTUM card, which offers discounts at over 250 shops, restaurants, bars, hotels, gyms and tons of other places. TOTUM offers three membership levels. TOTUM Digital app is completely free and available to verified UK students and includes loads of top brand discounts and offers. TOTUM includes a complete list of student discounts and offers, a free 12-month International Student Identity Card (ISIC) bolt-on and the option to include PASS-accredited Proof of age ID too. TOTUM PRO is for professional learners and members of some professional organisations. It includes access to loads of fantastic discounts and offers from a huge range of high street and online brands. Prices for TOTUM and TOTUM PRO start at £14.99.
If you’re a full-time student in London, you can save 30% off your travel with a student oyster card, so it’s well worth the investment right from the start.
Catch up
As soon as you can, contact your Personal Tutor and arrange a meeting. They’ll be able to provide you with advice on how to catch up on any sessions you may need to. As they’ve all worked professionally as solicitors or barristers for a variety of law firms they’re well-versed in what you need to know and how to make the most of the facilities ULaw has to offer.
If you’ve missed a lecture or workshop for any reason try and make up for it by attending an alternative session. The practical approach to learning during workshops make them the place where the relevance of all your reading starts to click into place. All ULaw lectures are recorded, so watching it online is another good way of catching up on anything you’ve missed.
It’s a good idea to try and get ahead with your reading too. You’ll be sent some pre-course information from your Programme Leader which you’ll need to do before your first sessions.
Plan around your timetable
You might find yourself juggling a few different subjects in your first semester, with your timetable changing from week to week. This could make it tricky to establish a working routine. The best thing is to plan ahead: look at the classes you’ve got for the following week and schedule your work around them. If in doubt, ask your Personal Tutor to help you prioritise.
Prep your paperwork
There are a bunch of documents you’ll need to have organised for your first day. Be sure to bring your passport or driving licence, your birth certificate and your eligibility documents to your induction date. You’ll also be sent a few pre-enrolment tasks to complete, including uploading your photo so we can have your student ID card ready for when you arrive.
Get stuck in
Employers will want to see that you’re still engaging in activities outside of your course, which is why ULaw has a variety of clubs & societies available to join when you start. Sign up to as many as you can, give them a try, then stick only with your favourites. The Students' Union will be available at the Fresher’s Fair to tell you what’s available and talk about what you might be interested in setting up. There are also pro bono opportunities, which can help boost your CV.
We still have Clearing places available at ULaw, so give us a call and speak to one of our friendly Clearing team on 0808 3019834 or find out more by visiting our Clearing page.
