Are you about to start your journey as a CSU student? No matter if you are studying on campus, online or internationally, here are some tips to help you in your first year!
1. Socialise and find your people online:
No matter how you are studying; online, on campus or internationally, being able to connect with people who are also at uni and even studying your course can enhance your uni experience dramatically. Being able to discuss assessments or course details with other students can help in all aspects of uni.
A great way for all students, especially online and international students to connect is through CSUSocial! This is a great resource for on-campus and online students to get in touch with others who are doing the same course as you.
2. Get yourself some merchandise and show your CSU pride:
Get yourself a CSU hoodie (there’s nothing comfier in winter) or a t-shirt and wear it with pride!
3. Join a club:
Joining a club is a great way to make friends, learn new things and round out your uni experience. There is a range of academic, cultural, social and sporting clubs available and if there isn’t a club supporting your particular activity or interest, you can set up your own!
4. Find your SRC:
Your Student Representative Committee (SRC) represents you at CSU. The SRCs promote networking opportunities for all students at CSU and you can raise an idea or issue with your SRC.
5. Look into scholarships:
Enquiring about scholarships is something that is definitely worthwhile. There are all different types of scholarships for different courses and you don’t have to be in financial hardship to be eligible. It is very straightforward to be able to see which scholarships are available to apply for.
6. Plan, plan, plan:
There is no worse feeling than being overwhelmed with a load of work all at once. Although we all have our moments, whether we are procrastinating or have other life commitments, planning ahead is actually more beneficial to save you time in the long run. Something that can aid with planning is registering with workshops provided by CSU. Many are offered online and help with, memorising, writing and referencing.
7. Know where you have to be and when:
It can be overwhelming when you first see your timetable for your course, with all available classes listed. But once you get in and select the classes that suit you, then you can create your own timetable. You can view your classes for Session 1 from Monday, 4 February.
If you’re an online student, Res School can be an important aspect of your course. Not all courses include a Res School, but the ones that do give you the opportunity to visit one of CSU’s campuses for a hands-on learning experience with people who are also studying the same course as you. A Residential School is a block of immersive study that can last up to a week.
8. Time management is key:
Keeping all parts of your life afloat can prove difficult when starting uni, as it is primarily based on self-motivation. It is important to know when to prioritise the different parts of your life; work, uni, leisure, and sleep. Being able to adapt these different parts of your life as every week is not always the same with workload etc is the best way to succeed overall.
9. Don’t be afraid to ask questions or seek support:
Being able to build a rapport with your lecturers is important, especially in the first year of your degree. On the first page of your subject outline, it provides you with your lecturer’s contact details and the appropriate times and methods to ask questions.
If your questions are related to another aspect of your time at uni one of the great resources is Student Central who can direct and help you with a variety of questions, such as enrolment. You can email or call and there is also an extensive knowledge base where many questions have already been answered.
With many new things and adjustments that come with starting a degree, the first year of uni can be overwhelming no matter what mode of study you are doing. By using the resources available to you, having a support network and asking your lecturers questions this should help reduce your stress levels. If it gets too much or you’d just like someone to talk to CSU offers counselling and support services.
10. Use resources available:
CSU provides you with many online and physical resources to assist with your studies. The on-campus and online libraries have a large array of books and journals to help with assessments and class work. If you are an online student they also have a free return postage scheme if you need hard copies.
