Hello Winch - Student Life Magazine

WINCHESTER STUDENT BUCKET LIST How many will you check off?

LIFE IN HALLS First year student Olivia shares her top tips

Spotted on campus:

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HOW TO BE A SAVVY STUDENT How will you rank on our savvy scale?

UNIVERSITY OF WINCHESTER STUDENT LIFE MAGAZINE ISSUE 1 SPRING 2018

WELCOME!

INTRODUCTION W

elcome to our first issue of Hello Winch, a brand new magazine covering everything to do with student life and studying at Winchester.

CONTENTS Semester highlights...........................................2 The Winchester student bucket list................................................................... 4

Inside, you’ll find top tips, uni hacks and lots of advice from our current students and graduates.

Get a feel for our city and discover what it’s like to live and study at Winchester.

Can’t get enough? Head over to our student blog at winchester.ac.uk/uwin to read more of what our students have to say. Even better, why not come and say ‘hello’ at one of our open days and experience it all for yourself!

Gracie’s guide to an alternative night out......................................... 8

UniversityofWinchester

Top tips for living in halls............................. 9

uniwinchester

alt-J are in the studio..................................... 12

@_UoW UniofWinchester UniofWinchester #hellowinch

MEET OUR STUDENT CONTRIBUTORS

A day in the life of a Winchester Ray.................................................... 14 Cheap and healthy student meals.......................................................18

Andrea Johansen

Lydia Green

Studying Primary Education at Winchester........................................................22 My placement year with Jaguar Land Rover............................................24 How to be a savvy student........................ 26

Gracie Cliffe

Neve Hodgen

Ally White

Yasmin Froud

Eight tips to help you manage part-time work and your degree......... 28

How to write your personal statement in three easy steps............... 30

Jack Hardwicke

Bjorn Gunnlaugsson

Life after Winchester: what’s Francesca up to now?.................................... 31 1

SEMESTER HIGHLIGHTS WE ASKED OUR STUDENTS WHAT THEIR FAVOURITE THING HAS BEEN THIS SEMESTER AT WINCHESTER. WHAT WILL YOURS BE? Find out more about student life at winchester.ac.uk/studentlife

Education Studies and Drama (Year 2) “I’ve been on placement at Westgate School in Winchester. We’ve been running workshops with students, and devising theatre with them around the subject of climate change. It’s been great to get out there and work with secondary school children.”

BRIAN WILSON

SARAH WOOD

Politics and Global Studies (Year 1) “Winchester itself is a really lovely place.

I’m from Northern Ireland, and it’s been great to come to the friendly, close-knit community of the University. The city itself is small and welcoming and reminds me of my hometown. Plus, all of our lecturers are brilliant people and our Programme Leader has been great. I’m standing for Environment Officer in the upcoming SU elections, which has been an amazing experience so far.”

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GEMMA BOYLAN

Creative Writing (Year 3) “This semester has been the best yet! I’m in my final year and we’re coming to the end now with dissertation period. Because I’m doing Creative Writing we get to write a creative piece as our dissertation. Part of this is publication and researching agents, which is great for my job prospects after university. I feel really supported by my lecturers, and my dissertation tutor has been amazing.”

JACK PEARSON

MAJA BERGAN

Drama (Year 2) “We’re working on a film project for one of our modules called Digital Performance, and we’ve started making a film which we’ve called Dystopia. It’s very exciting because I do Drama, and making a film is really different from what I’ve done so far.

It’s been great to do a lot of practical work this semester.”

Sociology (Year 2) “Doing a case study for the first time and getting a First! It was something I had never done before and I wasn’t very confident to begin with, but I worked hard and was so happy with the result. It was such a highlight and has been such a boost for the rest of the Semester!”

LYDIA GREEN

SASKIA HOLMES

Sociology (Year 3) “Being involved with Student Volunteering Week! I helped to organise the LinkAges Tea Party, we had a huge turnout of volunteers and it was really nice to support elderly people from local homes. I’m part of the Student Committee for Winchester Hub, so I also got involved with the Green Acts of Kindness social media competition.

We had lots of students join in, which was great!”

SOPHIE WRIGHT

Sociology (Year 2) “Being the Vice-Captain for the University Volleyball Team, it’s our first year as a competitive team for several years. We’ve come a long way from last year, and it’s been brilliant to be a part of such a great squad! I’ve met so many new people, and because of Volleyball I have made friends that will probably turn into lifelong friendships.”

Drama (Year 2) “Creating a ghost tour on campus last semester! We were given free rein to be creative, make our own pieces and do any project we wanted to. It’s been really enjoyable and fun to branch out and create our own performances. (BOP has been great too!)”

HARRY MAYALL

Philosophy, Politics and Economics (Year 1) “The social aspect has been my highlight. I came from quite a small school, so coming to a big place like this has been so much fun. The SU are incredible and put on some great entertainment; they do a great job with events, including quizzes. Every night is a good night at BOP! (Honestly, I love meeting new people and BOP really is the best way to break the ice!).”

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THE WINCHESTER STUDENT BUCKET LIST FROM COUNTLESS INDEPENDENT COFFEE SHOPS TO ST CATHERINE’S HILL, CREATIVE WRITING STUDENT, ANDREA, SHARES HER SEVEN MUST-SEE SPOTS AROUND OUR CITY. HOW MANY WILL YOU CHECK OFF?

ANDREA JOHANSEN BA (Hons) Creative Writing Year 3

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1. ST GILES VIEWPOINT A short walk from the Broadway, up some stone steps hidden from view by ivy and tall trees, you’ll find St Giles Viewpoint. From here, you can see the High Street curve like a river through the town centre, and you get an overview of the city, from the King Alfred statue and all the way up to the university. This is also a great location for stargazing on a clear night.

2. WINCHESTER ANTIQUE BOOKS The stairs never end! Here you’ll find books you never knew existed, everything from 1940s manuals on how to put together small airplane models to Swedish-French dictionaries. It’s also the perfect place to search for hidden gems, like cheap fiction and beautiful, old children’s books. Winchester has a lot of great second hand book shops.

3. THE CATHEDRAL AND CATHEDRAL GROUNDS As soon as the sun comes out in Spring, the park in front of the grand Cathedral, comes to life. Situated in the city centre, this is a great meeting spot for students, somewhere to relax and just enjoy the sun on your face and the view of the stained glass windows.

4. LOTS OF INDEPENDENT CAFÉS Whether you want a quick coffee on the go or a quiet spot to catch up with your friends, Winchester has it all. From Forte Kitchen to Rawberry to Café Winchester, there is always a little independent café waiting for you, serving everything from a traditional cream or afternoon tea to vegan milkshakes and halloumi bagels.

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5. WALK ALONG THE RIVER ITCHEN This walk is beautiful no matter the season, but it’s quite something in the spring. Follow the river, walk under the tall trees, and you might get a glimpse of the local wildlife, with its grey herons, swans and squirrels. There are plenty of benches along the way for a quick breather, and it’s a lovely place to enjoy a hot chocolate and a chat, while listening to the river Itchen as it runs along.

6. ST CATHERINE’S HILL You can’t really live in Winchester without trekking up St Catherine’s Hill at some point. It used to hold a fort in the Iron Age and a chapel in the 12th century, but today St Catherine’s Hill towers above the rest of the city, a place for peace and contemplation. From here you can see all of Winchester, both the city and the countryside around it. The walk up is beautiful, and as you make your way up the grassy hills surrounded by trees and greenery, it’s easy to forget that you’re only twenty minutes away from the bustling city centre.

7. ST CROSS GARDENS One of England’s oldest, continuing Almshouses can be found tucked away by the Winchester Water Meadows. St Cross Hospital is open to visitors and can offer a Norman church, a Tudor cloister, plus medieval halls and gardens. This is truly a place to feel the history in the walls, the decades under your fingers. There is nothing calmer on a sunny day than sitting on a bench in front of the ponds in the gardens, to smell the flowers and the trees in bloom, while looking up at St Catherine’s Hill.

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Our campus is located just a 10 minute walk away from the city centre. Why not come and have a look around for yourself at an open day? winchester.ac.uk/winchopenday

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GRACIE CLIFFE BA (Hons) Media, Communication and Social Media, Year 2

GRACIE’S GUIDE TO AN ALTERNATIVE NIGHT OUT WHEN PEOPLE TALK ABOUT UNIVERSITY, THEY TALK ABOUT HOW IT’S THE PLACE WHERE YOU FIND YOURSELF, YOU ARE GOING TO DISCOVER A ‘NEW’ YOU.

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his journey is usually masked with high amounts of alcohol and a few too many regretful Snapchat stories. However, this is not the only path that you can take. There is an alternative path, filled with just as much fun with no ID required. Here are my top things to do when you are a student at Winchester and you want to skip the shots and headaches.

If Freshers week has you freaking out, make the most of the alternatives the Student Union has to offer. When I was a fresher, I went to a yoga class and the Union offers plenty of other events such as movie nights and quiz nights.

Most people probably don’t make the association between university and a good exercise regime, but when you go to Winchester, and you’re faced with the hills at the end of every road, exercise is done on the daily. But why not make the most of Winchester’s uneven landscape? Both St Catherines Hill and St Giles look-out point have beautiful views and the fresh air will definitely clear your mind. Enjoy

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it in either the sunshine or snow, and just know that Winchester is a city that brings with it a countryside feel away from all the noise.

When you are faced with the task of having to get to know new people, new housemates, new couresemates, why not do it over a big stack of pancakes? Tucked away in Winchester town is a café called Josie’s. This is one of the best spots in the city where every meal is Insta-worthy. Watch the city go by, talk about what you miss about home, and what you do NOT miss… friends that breakfast together stay together.

Never underestimate the power of retail therapy.

Just a few train stops away from Winchester is West Quay shopping centre, located in Southampton. But we all know that student loans don’t go very far so I have two pieces of advice. First, go to student lockin. At the start of the semester, they host a night for students that runs until late in the evening and most of the shops have FAB discounts. Second, Black Friday. It’s crazy, it’s a bit wild, but it’s an excuse to get together with friends and window shop all the things you want to put on your Christmas list.

These are only a few things that I learnt in my first year of university, but the more time you spend in Winchester, the more you’ll learn about what makes it home for you. The best piece of advice I can give is that once you’re here, you will find your own set of things to do, it just takes a leap of faith when trying new things. When you don’t have a lecture, and you’ve done all the readings, try your hardest not to sit in your room. Create a university bucket list, and there is no better time than NOW to start ticking things off.

OLIVIA TAYLOR BEd (Hons) Primary Education with QTS, Year 1

TOP TIPS FOR LIVING IN HALLS NO ONE QUITE PREPARES YOU FOR STARTING UNIVERSITY. ACADEMICALLY YOU ARE READY, MAYBE MENTALLY YOU ARE EXCITED TO JUST GET GOING, BUT WHAT ABOUT THE MIX OF PEOPLE YOU ARE GOING TO HAVE TO SHARE THE NEXT NINE MONTHS WITH? 9

I’M OLIVIA AND I LIVE ON THE TOP FLOOR OF BURMA ROAD, BLOCK B. HERE’S MY EXPERIENCE OF LIVING IN HALLS

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e are a flat of eight people; five girls and three boys, studying Psychology, Criminology, History, Drama, American Studies, Fashion Marketing and Primary Education, with our ages ranging from 18 to 20. We are a lovely mix-andmatch flat, with many different interests and

personalities. We have a couple of societies within our flat such as climbing and sport, demonstrating the magnitude of hobbies that a group of eight different people can bring to a group.

At the end of the summer before uni started, we found out where and who we would be sharing with for our first year away from home. We searched for one another and got to know the other seven people within our flat - mostly through ‘stalking’ on Facebook! Social media sites were truly useful for our flat, as we got to see who each other was and what they were interested in before we even set foot into our new home. This took the edge off a bit on the first day as we already recognised faces. We couldn’t help imagining what it would have been like in the 80s and 90s, when our parents were students, how they survived without that initial contact and conversation on Facebook!

We’ve been ranked in the top 15 for accommodation! winchester.ac.uk/halls

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Nonetheless, the first day meeting everyone was undoubtedly nerve-wracking, that first moment of realising that it is all becoming real. The wait was over. We were finally all at university. Once our parents had gone and we’d each had our little moments to ourselves, we all sat in the kitchen and got to know each other even better, talking about siblings, our courses and friends. This first moment was always going to be slightly weird and scary for anyone, but once that was over, we settled into our rooms and we were ready to start this experience. Everyone is in the same boat!

All eight of us still get on so well, with many of our flat going clubbing together as well as cooking a wonderful curry on Friday nights. Additionally, one of the main highlights of our year as a flat so far has to be our flat quizzes. The competitiveness and random knowledge facts was a hilarious way to see the true personalities of Flat 28 shining through. The score board still hangs proudly on our notice board in the kitchen!

It goes without saying that not every flat will all get on so well, but by living with seven other students of similar ages to you, you are bound to find at least one you get along with. There are always opportunities to meet new people from other flats and in societies. This was the case for our flat, as we felt we needed to branch out and meet new people too.

The flat across the hallway from us, Flat 27, also had some lovely people who we got along with, who still come around to our flat for drinks or a quick catch up - our flat family was ever expanding!

MY TOP TIPS FOR LIVING IN HALLS Start with an open-mind, of course you will miss your best friend who you have known since you were 11 or your family, but push yourself to get to know the other people next door to you by starting up a conversation or finding similar interests.

Sometimes, you have to jump into the deep-end so that you can swim smoothly through the rest of the year. Join a society and get to know names speaking to other people on your course after lectures and find yourself a ‘study-buddy’. Four of us from Flat 28 will be living together next year, showing that the friendships you make in your halls really can become strong and may remain in place for the rest of your time at university and beyond.

MEET OUR RESIDENTIAL ASSISTANTS At Winchester, we have a team of Residential Assistants (RAs) who check in on students in halls every week to make sure they’re settling in okay. Meet Alex, Charlotte and Jake who are all current students themselves…

ALEX MAY LLB (Hons) Law, Year 3 ‘Having been an RA for two years now, I believe I have a true understanding of how the role is vital to the student experience. RA’s allow for peer to peer interaction for students living in accommodation, giving them an opportunity to rely on and benefit from the knowledge and support of students who have done it all before, both academically and socially’.

CHARLOTTE MAPLESDEN BSc (Hons) Psychology, Year 3 ‘Being an RA has shown me the importance of having older students providing support to first year students when they need it most, having left home and started something completely new. I have really enjoyed sharing my experiences and knowledge whilst being the first point of contact for students with any issues or worries, and also being part of an amazing support system here at the University’.

JAKE HAWDEN BA (Hons) History, Year 3 ‘The Residential Assistant role is a fantastic opportunity to work with a variety of students from all walks of life. Engaging with students is incredibly enjoyable as they’re people of your own age, going through the same stresses as yourself, making them really easy to relate to’.

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ALT-J ARE IN THE STUDIO!

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“WE’RE BLOWN AWAY BY THE FACILITIES HERE, WHICH ARE OUTSTANDING. WE’VE RECORDED IN A LOT OF STUDIOS OVER THE YEARS AND THIS DEFINITELY BEATS SOME OF THE PROFESSIONAL NONUNIVERSITY FACILITIES THAT WE’VE USED AND SEEN” Frontman Joe Newman and keyboardist Gus Hamilton-Unger launches our new sound production studio

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THE WINCHES

A DAY IN LIFE OF A STER RAY

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AS WE PULL UP TO THE HOTEL IN THE PITCH BLACK OF 12AM, I LET OUT A SIGH OF RELIEF AS WE MANAGED TO SAFELY DRIVE ALL THE WAY FROM WINCHESTER TO SHEFFIELD.

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fter spending five hours squashed in a minibus being subject to some dodgy DJing, we hurriedly all pile out shivering in the February cold.

With everyone in their rooms, I crash out on the bed ready to get a couple of hours rest before tomorrow.

My alarm goes off at 6:30am and for once I jump out of bed. Race day is here! All the training I’ve put in, in and out of the pool will hopefully pay off today.

As I begin to get ready my excitement is building.

I pack as much food as possible into my bag and head down to breakfast to be greeted by a very subdued team…clearly my energy at this time is not shared!

At the pool we head to the changing rooms to squeeze into our racing suits. After a lot of huffing and puffing, red faces and contorting into awkward positions we have jammed our bodies into the suits.

Maybe need to think about getting bigger ones next year. But phew! At least the first challenge is over.

We girls are up first for the warm-up, so we head down to the pool.

The amount of people charging up and down the lanes is intimidating. The pool is a sea of multicoloured hats boasting their university logos. We

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find a quieter lane to join and dive in. The fresh, cold water properly wakes me up; my first arm pull reminds me of how much I love swimming and drives me forward to warm-up my muscles ready for my 50m freestyle.

As the morning races start, the nerves start to build.

Behind our seats we have swimmers pounding out press-ups and sit-ups and stretching into yoga positions. As they line up at the start blocks I can see them crazily swinging their arms around to warm-up. The boys are slapping their pecs, to show-off or to get their blood flowing – I am always unsure.

But with swimmers smashing their PB’s in every heat, clearly they’re doing something right. Events come and go, and the team keep smashing their times, achieving PB’s and placing in the heats. But there’s one race everyone is waiting for… the boys 50m Individual Medley relay.

The race comes around and the boys are ready to go. Game faces on, they begin. The atmosphere turns immediately electric. The boys do not disappoint, with each smashing their stint and setting a very hard to beat time.

With the day over, it’s time to celebrate and a couple of hours later we’re all squeezed into the hotel room for pre-drinks. The room is filled with multiple Where’s Wallys, complete with stripy socks, glasses and hats; we pulled out all the stops with the outfits tonight.

As the night continues it becomes more confusing to identify who is who but when we get out to town we have one up on everyone else. You can spot our team from a mile away. We head from Spoons to pubs and onto the clubs with our team bonding together and readying ourselves for some more races…

We shall see how the second day of racing goes!

ALLY WHITE MEd (Hons) Primary Education with QTS, Year 3

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CHEAP AND HEALTHY STUDENT MEALS LYDIA GREEN AND JACK HARDWICKE ARE THIRD YEAR SOCIOLOGY STUDENTS DEDICATED TO HELPING OTHER STUDENTS TO MAKE CHEAP AND HEALTHY MEALS WHILST AT UNI. HERE ARE THEIR TOP TIPS TO GET YOU READY FOR SEPTEMBER!

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UNIVERSITY IS GREAT FOR MEETING NEW FRIENDS, TRYING OUT NEW OPPORTUNITIES, HAVING FUN AND ENJOYING A NEW TYPE OF INDEPENDENCE… BUT INDEPENDENCE ALSO COMES WITH RESPONSIBILITY!

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aking care of yourself comes with a heap of new tasks and we both understand how this can be overwhelming and challenging having experienced it first-hand. If done right, the transition from home to university can be rewarding, and teach you more than just how to wash your clothes and brush up on your cooking skills (we promise!)

During our second year at University we took part in the University’s Student Fellows Scheme. Our chosen area was to conduct a research project looking into the healthy eating measures and support systems in place for first year students coming to the University. One of the main outcomes of our work was the creation of an Instagram account @uowcheapandhealthy to utilize the popularity of social media amongst students to provide an accessible and interactive system to engage with healthy cooking ideas, recipes and tips specific to the university lifestyle.

LYDIA GREEN and JACK HARDWICKE Both BA (Hons) Sociology, Year 3

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So, without further ado, we have created a short list of some of our top tips for leading a successful and smooth first year at university: ■■

Prepare lunches the day before – it saves money and means you’re more likely to eat your own healthier food

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Make sure there is something ‘from the ground’ in every meal – the more colourful the better!

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Be careful using jar sauces – they are surprisingly high in sugars and sat fats!

There are numerous alternatives and recipes available to make a healthier sauce from scratch for a similar cost

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Remember to portion control, and if you overestimate save for lunches the next day

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Opt for water or squash rather than other soft drinks

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Buy more frozen veg – it still has the same amount of nutrients and is more convenient for cooking for one person as its lasts for ages

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Make up batch meals and freeze portions in Tupperware for evenings you don’t want to cook or are in a rush Buy ingredients with multiples uses, e.g. mince for Bolognese, chilli, burritos

Find us on Instagram and use #uowcheapandhealthy to share your healthy recipe ideas with us!

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For inspiration here’s one of our quick and easy goto recipes!

This meal costs £6.92 which includes the cost of the whole product and not just the measured amount.

This recipe works great because the ingredients are super cheap – especially if supermarket own brands are purchased – it’s very low in fat and fills you up. If made in a big batch, any leftovers can be used for lunch the following couple of days.

CHICKEN JAMBALAYA (Serves 4) Ingredients 1 tbsp. sunflower oil 2 frozen chicken breasts 1 onion 1 red pepper 2 garlic cloves 1 tbsp. Cajun seasoning 250g long grain rice 400g chopped tomatoes 350ml chicken stock Method Heat oil in a large frying pan with a lid and fry the chicken off for 5-8 minutes. Remove from the pan and set aside.

Cut and tip in the onion and cook for 3-4 mins until soft.

Add the chopped pepper, garlic and Cajun seasoning in to the pan, and cook for 5 mins more.

Stir the chicken back in and add the rice, chopped tomatoes and chicken stock. Cover and leave to simmer for 20-25 mins until the rice is tender.

Check out more recipies from Jack and Lydia over on the student blog winchester.ac.uk/cheap+healthy

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NEVE HODGEN BEd (Hons) Primary Education with QTS, Year 3

STUDYING PRIMARY EDUCATION AT WINCHESTER 22

AS A STUDENT AMBASSADOR, I AM CONSTANTLY TALKING TO HUNDREDS OF NEW PEOPLE, WHO USUALLY HAVE THE SAME REACTION WHEN THEY FIRST MEET ME… ‘YOU’RE A LONG WAY FROM HOME.’

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nd my response always seems to shock them.

You see, travelling from Northern Ireland to get a degree was a big step in my life, but Winchester has acted as a second home for the past three years. Without a doubt, there is no other place in this country that I would feel more welcomed by a town and its university.

Yet the option of being a teacher wasn’t always clear to me. In fact, it wasn’t until my friends and colleagues made me aware of how well I worked with children that I began to think about a career in education.

Studying Primary Education at the University of Winchester has allowed me to explore a range of modules that have addressed current issues in education and have challenged my subject knowledge. What’s great is that you are taught by lecturers who have experienced the job firsthand, so you’re receiving guidance from the very best!

The facilities at the university provide us with everything we need to progress in our training. For instance, the library has a whole floor dedicated to school resources that anyone - not just Primary Education students - can loan. I am constantly borrowing children’s books, puppets, and musical instruments for my teaching, especially maths resources for a Year 2 child that I tutor in my spare time. Above all of that, we also have access to the Resource Base where the staff who work there can provide you with almost anything under the sun, which is particularly helpful for me as I am a science specialist - a very practical subject at times!

Most importantly, this course has improved my professional development as a trainee teacher, especially through placements. In my opinion, real-life experiences prepare you for what’s really out there, which is definitely true for the nature of this course! Learning theories can only do so much, but personally I have benefited the most from involving myself in the life of the classroom.

During my time at Winchester, I have been on placement every year (usually in Hampshire) which the university organises, including travel.

Normally, students get the opportunity to teach a different year group each time which helps us figure out which age we prefer teaching and why.

Fortunately, I have also had the opportunity to experience a variety of settings in my spare time through placements that I have organised myself (known as self-directed placement). My most memorable one was probably last Easter, where I was based in a hospital school teaching sick children one-to-one. It was then that I realised how important it is for teachers to be nurturing and caring figures for children, despite the type of setting.

I think one of the best things I’ve learned whilst being on placement is the communication between teachers and how their relationship with each other builds the foundation of a good learning environment. It’s not about how learning in the school revolves around the children but that it also involves the teachers, other staff members and even the parents of the children.

"My advice is for any prospective student who is interested in studying Primary Education is to not only think that they would be a good teacher, but to know that they would be a good teacher."

George Bernard Shaw once said, ‘He who can, does. He who cannot, teaches’ – a saying which I’ve heard multiple times and definitely reflects the stereotype associated with teachers. Obviously…

I disagree! Being a teacher has only made me more competent in the skills that I’ve already accomplished, and by having this career by no means whatsoever shows that I am incapable of doing these things. In fact, being a teacher means that you are not only good at a subject, but skilled enough to actually pass your wisdom onto the future generation. And when you realise this - that you are influencing the young minds of this country – you will see that teaching is a great responsibility to have!

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YASMIN FROUD BA (Hons) Business Management, Year 4

MY PLACEMENT YEAR WITH JAGUAR LAND ROVER 24

EVER FANCIED WORKING FOR A GLOBAL COMPANY AS PART OF YOUR DEGREE? WE SPOKE TO BA (HONS) BUSINESS MANAGEMENT STUDENT, YASMIN FROUD, WHO SPENT HER THIRD YEAR ON PLACEMENT WORKING AT JAGUAR LAND ROVER. SHE TOLD US ALL ABOUT HER TIME ON PLACEMENT AND HOW IT HAS IMPROVED HER EMPLOYMENT PROSPECTS AFTER GRADUATION…

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i, I’m Yasmin and I’m in my fourth-year here at Winchester. I sought a placement having already worked full-time before coming to university, and had already seen the value that real-world experience can add alongside education.

When I first started looking at where I would like to study, I’d specifically looked for a university offering a placement year option, and Winchester provided the flexibility of being able to do this.

expectations and taught me more than I could have imagined, working on strategic projects that would really benefit the organisation. Not only has this given me advanced skills and knowledge ahead of starting a job as a graduate, but it has largely benefited me having returned to university for my final year.

Since retuning back to Winchester, I have found that I can really apply what I learnt on placement within my studies and has provided me considerably more insight into the business world. Since looking for graduate opportunities, it has become apparent how valuable my placement has been while being able to apply real-life work experiences to applications, interviews and assessment centres.

There is no doubt that having experience in the business world will put you ahead in applying for graduate jobs!

“I would recommend a placement opportunity to anyone” Looking back at my time on placement, I realised the invaluable opportunity it provided me to develop my skills, business and HR knowledge and network. I was also able to return to the organisation to undertake my dissertation research, which again has been hugely beneficial.

I would recommend a placement opportunity to anyone, and encourage students to apply for these, whether it is a 3, 6, 12 or 15-month placement. The applications can be time consuming, however it is worth it! Starting your search in September means you get your applications in ahead of assignment deadlines, and (here’s a tip!) some of the best ones close early! Keep an open mind on the location too – I originally didn’t plan to move 160 miles for over a year, but it was the best decision I made, and I will be moving back for my graduate job with the same company!

I already knew that I was interested in a career in Human Resources (HR), so I began to focus my search around this area when looking for my perfect placement, which ended up being a 15-month placement at Jaguar Land Rover within the HR department. This was a fantastic company to join, providing great opportunities given the global-scale and growth of the organisation, as well a chance to test some of the cars!

I expected to be involved in small projects, undertaking basic administration tasks to give me an insight into the HR world. However, I was given much more responsibility, which far exceeded my

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HOW TO BE A $AVVY $TUDENT DO YOU DREAM OF NEW CLOTHES AND EXPENSIVE FOOD WHILST YOU COUNT YOUR PENNIES JUST TO BUY A CUP OF TEA? FOLLOW OUR GUIDE TO BECOME A SAVVY STUDENT AND YOU’LL BE SIPPING A POSH DRINK, POOLSIDE IN CANNES IN NO TIME (WELL MAYBE NOT, BUT DON’T STOP DREAMING).

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THE SAVVY SCALE Quite savvy Really savvy Super savvy

IN YOUR HOME SAVE EVERY CRUMB Tempting as it is to run around Tesco like you’re in an episode of Supermarket Sweep, planning your food shop can save you loads of money. Before you go shopping, make a meal plan for the week so you avoid overspending on ingredients you don’t need.

CLAIM BACK YOUR TV LICENSE Off on your summer break? Don’t forget if you have a full three months left on your TV licence, you can claim these months back and get a refund.

IN TOWN GET A RAILCARD This will save you hundreds of pounds when you’re buying train tickets. With a 16-25 railcard, you’ll get a third off of your train ticket. Making a day trip from Winchester to London Waterloo, £23.95 instead of £36.30!*.

NUS EXTRA With discounts and vouchers for pretty much everything, by the time your NUS card expires this membership will have paid for itself. So everyone knows you’re the savviest of students ask every time you pay for something if there’s student discount - sometimes it isn’t advertised and you never know unless you ask!

FREE COFFEE Literally music to every student’s ears. If you order a filter coffee at Starbucks, they’ll refill your cup for free. You just have to give your empty mug back to the barista and they’ll fill it back up for you.

DITCH THE CINEMA Winchester Student Union show films fresh out of the cinema for free all through the semester. Follow UOW Film Society to keep up to date with all their upcoming screenings @UoWFilmSociety.

COOKING TOGETHER If you’re in one of those flats where you and your housemates have morphed into a little family, then sharing the cooking is a great way to save both time and money. Arrange a rota and cook for everyone just once a week. Yes, you’ve got to buy enough ingredients for everyone but it’s way cheaper than buying yourself food for seven different meals.

2-4-1 Love the cinema too much to stop going? Compare the Market have 2-4-1 cinema tickets every Tuesday and Wednesday. You have to have bought insurance through the site, but buy some for a couple pounds (like a day’s travel insurance) and you’ll have 2-4-1 tickets all year.

PLAYLISTS FOR LESS As a student you can get 50% off of a Spotify membership, so you can listen to all those BOP anthems ad-free.

GET PAID TO HAVE A PINT Yep, you read that right. If you’re aged between 18-19 (sorry third years and mature students) you can sign up with Serve Legal as a mystery shopper.

Once you’ve signed up, you’ll be asked to go to pubs and clubs to check they ID you before serving.

You get paid for each visit and you’ll be reimbursed for the drink you buy! #winning

SHARE ACCOUNTS You can have multiple users for Netflix and Spotify when you subscribe to a family membership. That means five of you could listen to Spotify Premium for as little as £3 a month per person!

Congrats, you’re now a fully qualified Savvy Student! Can you think of anything we’ve missed?

Share your wisdom by tweeting us at @_UoW * Prices correct at time of publication.

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For more top tips head over to the student blog winchester.ac.uk/toptips

EIGHT TIPS TO HELP YOU MANAGE PART-TIME WORK AND YOUR DEGREE 28

GETTING A JOB IS PART OF THE UNIVERSITY EXPERIENCE FOR A LOT OF STUDENTS…

5. STAY ORGANISED

W

...if possible! That’s another reason why it’s good to only take on a few hours a week – if you work a less flexible job, you might not realise how many hours that really is until you have a few exams or deadlines looming.

hether you need some extra cash for your bills or you want to become more independent, getting a job is a great way to improve your CV whilst also learning how to manage your finances and your time. Here are some tips for making sure that you balance work and study, so that you can excel in both.

1. TRY TO HAVE A FLEXIBLE JOB ...such as at the Student Union or places where hours are flexible. This will enable you to change how much you work depending on what you need.

One week you may power through and get lots done so you can pick up another shift, but another week you may have more uni work than you expected.

Make sure you have enough time for work and yourself. Timetable your week and keep on top of assignment deadlines and other important dates.

Make a list each week of all the things you need to do each day, especially if you work in the evening and need to get things done before.

6. REDUCE YOUR HOURS AROUND EXAMS AND DEADLINES

7. USE IT TO YOUR ADVANTAGE As you have less hours to fit everything in, you’ll probably find this will help you manage your time more effectively and become much more productive!

8. ASK FOR SUPPORT IF YOU NEED IT If you’re struggling financially, or just with time management, Student Services can offer some advice to help get back on track.

2. WORK LESS THAN 15 HOURS A WEEK It may be tempting to pick up every extra shift, but that £20 won’t make as much difference as a good night’s sleep and a finished essay!

3. WORK OVER THE HOLIDAYS Christmas is a great time to get a lot of hours in or work a temporary job. Summer is long for most students so there’s time for everything. Many thirdyear students are leaving their jobs behind in the summer, so it’s a great time for first and secondyear students to swoop in and get a job.

4. WORK CLOSE TO WHERE YOU LIVE Especially if you commute to uni. The time can be productive, but for most of us we aren’t going to be doing useful revision or studying on the way to or from work. A short commute is fine, but if it’s in an entirely different town that takes three buses and then a 20 minute walk to get to, you might consider working somewhere that’s easy to reach!

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HOW TO WRITE YOUR PERSONAL STATEMENT IN THREE EASY STEPS THE PERSONAL STATEMENT – YOUR OPPORTUNITY TO BRING YOURSELF TO LIFE FOR UNIVERSITIES AND TO SHOWCASE YOUR TALENTS AND YOUR POTENTIAL TO SOAR ON THEIR COURSE. SO, NO PRESSURE THEN.

STEP ONE Revisit the course information ■■ Show that you know what the course you want to study is all about ■■

Make sure your personal statement is relevant to all of your uni course choices

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Look for common skills from each course and reflect back on why you are interested in studying this subject

STEP THREE Match them up ■■ Make links between your experiences and dreams and what the courses have to offer ■■

Show off something you do in your spare time and demonstrate awareness of the course in one swoop

YOU CAN DO IT! Cheesy but true, believe in yourself. That stands both for the content of what you are writing and the very act of writing your personal statement. You can do it and keep it in perspective; you’re doing this all for the bigger purpose of getting you onto the next amazing step of your life.

STEP TWO It’s all about you ■■ Include your hobbies, work experience, achievements and volunteering – we want to get to know you ■■

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Don’t sell yourself short. Forget modesty for a minute and do a giant mind map of everything that is great about you

Read our blog for more tips on acing your personal statement winchester.ac.uk/ps-tips

LIFE AFTER WINCHESTER: WHAT’S FRANCESCA UP TO NOW? IT’S BEEN NEARLY TWO YEARS SINCE FRANCESCA JONES GRADUATED, HAVING STUDIED THEOLOGY AND RELIGIOUS STUDIES WITH US. WE WANTED TO CATCH UP WITH HER TO SEE WHERE HER CAREER HAS TAKEN HER AFTER LIFE AT WINCHESTER.

T

he University of Winchester has provided me with opportunities and ambitions for my future career which I could not have imagined possible when beginning my journey there. My course in Theology and Religious Studies allowed me to explore philosophical, ethical and cultural issues in depth,

helping me to gain a wider understanding of all religious traditions in society today. The knowledge and wisdom shared with me by all lecturers has prepared me for my life as a teacher now, along with my trip to Nepal on the course, which enabled me to experience cultures and religious traditions vastly different to my own.

The course at Winchester is unique in the amount of quality support offered to all students by lecturers and the high levels of research-led teaching. It is my experience in my three years at Winchester which has helped me to achieve my PGDipEd qualification and begin my first year as an NQT in a Sikh, MultiFaith ethos school in the heart of Birmingham.

FRANCESCA JONES BA (Hons) Theology and Religious Studies graduate

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Have you seen our student blog?

READ EVEN MORE ABOUT WHY OUR STUDENTS LOVE LIVING AND STUDYING IN WINCHESTER OVER ON THE UWIN STUDENT BLOG! OUR BLOGGERS POST ABOUT ANYTHING AND EVERYTHING TO DO WITH STUDENT LIFE – FROM SETTLING INTO UNI TO SOCIETIES, STUDENT HACKS AND PREPARING FOR LIFE AFTER GRADUATION. Find out about the latest field trips and study abroad experiences, get top tips, explore how-to guides, and experience a ‘day in the life’- all written by students currently or recently graduated from Winchester.

Head over to winchester.ac.uk/uwin to read the latest posts.

WANT TO BE IN WITH THE CHANCE TO WIN A £25 AMAZON VOUCHER? Follow us on Instagram and share a picture of you with your issue of HELLO WINCH using #hellowinch and we’ll pick our favourite entry to win a £25 amazon voucher! uniwinchester

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WE HOPE YOU’VE GOT A TASTE FOR WHAT IT’S LIKE AT WINCHESTER – WE’D LOVE FOR YOU TO COME AND SAY ‘HELLO’ AT ONE OF OUR OPEN DAYS! SATURDAY . 7 JULY 2018 SATURDAY . 29 SEPTEMBER 2018 SATURDAY . 13 OCTOBER 2018 SATURDAY . 27 OCTOBER 2018 SATURDAY . 24 NOVEMBER 2018 SATURDAY . 8 DECEMBER 2018 SATURDAY . 12 JANUARY 2019

Have the opportunity to chat to our current students and academics, look around our Insta-worthy campus and take a leisurely stroll into the city centre to discover all the wonderful places in Winchester.

To book your place and find out more, head over to winchester.ac.uk/winchopenday

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BE CURIOUS DREAM BIG GIVE BACK ■■

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Find us on

winchester.ac.uk

#hellowinch