Welcome back. We hope that you had a wonderful break and spent time with friends, family or doing the things you enjoy. Time away from your usual busy schedule is healthy, but as we approach the start of a new semester, this is an ideal time to reflect on the past few months and plan what we need to do to achieve our goals in the near future. Here is some useful information to help you get the semester off to a good start.
Looking back over the previous year, we have celebrated the 150th anniversary of women's admission to the University of London, along with the centenaries of Armistice Day and the Representation of the People Act 1918. Find out more about the Queen Mary community's role in these events.
The impact of many of our academics has been reflected in the media over the past year, and here we explore some of our media highlights from 2018.
You’re likely to be starting new modules, which means a new timetable and different teaching rooms. Download the QMUL mobile app to easily check your course timetable and campus maps for buildings and locations while you’re on the go.
On Wednesday 16 January, the Students’ Union will host the Welcome Back Fair in the Students’ Union Hub at Mile End, where you can explore clubs, societies, student media groups and much more! This is the perfect time to get involved with these activities if you didn’t get round to it last semester. Remember, first-year undergraduates who have been assessed by Student Finance as having a household income between £20,000 and £42,000 can apply for the Queen Mary Wellbeing Fund for a contribution towards the costs associated with participating in societies, sports or undertaking volunteering opportunities.
If you find that your finances aren’t as healthy as they could be at this time of year, the Advice and Counselling Service offers a wealth of support and information to help you get back on track. They offer tools and tips for managing your money, including their budget planner and useful budget planning video. They also offer tips on how to improve your finances in the new year, from using their online budgeting tools to making use of discounts available to you.
If you struggled with a particular issue last semester, or you think that you may need more support going into the new term, then don’t forget that there are many support services at Queen Mary that aim to support and advise you, and help make your student experience the best it can possibly be. The start of term is a great time to meet with your academic adviser. Don’t worry if you haven’t met with them before – use this time to introduce yourself and see how they can help. You can check who your academic advisor is on MySIS.
Make sure you’re aware of all the deals and discounts you could be getting as a Queen Mary student. From only £12 a year, TOTUM (formerly NUS Extra), gives you access to hundreds of exclusive offers to help make being a student more affordable. Check out Save the Student and UNiDAYS for more ideas on how to save money.
Take a look at the IT deals for free and discounted software and hardware from popular brands. Once fully enrolled, you can apply for a travel card called an 18+ Student Oyster photocard, which can save you a lot of money when travelling around London. Full-time students can also apply for a 16-25 Railcard which offers a third off travel across the country for £30 a year. Check out our deals and discounts page for more.
Qmotion Sport and Fitness Centre at Mile End is offering 20 per cent off peak and off-peak membership prices until midnight on Thursday 31 January. There are also discounted ‘rest of academic year’ membership options available. Make use of the excellent on-campus facilities, get a free personalised training programme and access to over 25 weekly group exercise classes. All staff are well trained, receive the London Living Wage, and are available to provide personalised assistance when you need it.
While Christmas and New Year may be behind us, winter certainly is not, and the evenings are still cold and dark. Although east London is generally a great and safe place to study and socialise in, it's always sensible to take precautions to minimise risk to your personal safety and personal belongings. Take a look at the guidance provided by Queen Mary Security, IT Services and the Metropolitan Police on things from keeping your belongings safe, being aware of your surroundings and knowing how to spot online scams and fraud.
Nominations in the Students’ Union elections open on Monday 14 January. There are many positions you could nominate yourself for including full-time paid and part-time voluntary positions. Find out more.
The Future Global Leaders Forum is a new programme enabling students to work and learn together and build the skills, mindset and cultural agility needed in a future global leader. It has three project streams designed to develop your leadership skills and drive positive change across our campuses and local community. All Queen Mary students are eligible to apply, and an information session will be held tomorrow, Wednesday 9 January. Applications will close on Monday 14 January. Find out more and apply.
If you’re starting to think about what comes after university, and you’re interested in applying to the Civil Service Fast Stream or any large graduate scheme, why not apply for the QInsight programme? You’ll get exclusive tips on how to tackle assessment centres and situational judgement tests and even get the chance to visit Whitehall offices and network with senior civil servants. Applications close at 10am on Monday 28 January.
Have you been sitting on the next big business or social enterprise idea, putting off taking action until a better time when you’re less busy and have fewer commitments? This could be the perfect time to get started. The QEnterprise Funding Awards run by the Careers and Enterprise team are open once again, and the team are seeking game-changing start-up and social enterprise talent among the Queen Mary student community. They’re offering budding students with entrepreneurial ambitions the chance to win a significant bundle of start-up support and a cash prize of up to £10,000. You’ll get a place on the QIncubator or QAccelerator programmes supported by Santander Universities, and 1-2-1 support and coaching from QEnterprise. Find out more and hear about some of our student success stories.