By Lauren, fourth-year Politics student from Scotland

So, the Welcome Week buzz is over, and reality has begun to set in – you’re now at university, in Edinburgh, and studying for a degree that you’ve been working towards! Whether you’re coming to university for the first time or continuing your studies, the nerves about settling in after Welcome Week always seem to creep up on you. As a fourth-year student, here are my top tips for settling into university. 

Create a routine 

One of my best bits of advice for settling into university is to create a routine and stick to it. Once your classes have started, this becomes a bit easier, but I find that waking up and going to bed at the same time each day and going for a daily walk around The Meadows really helps me. Weekly coffee catch-ups or library trips with friends are another way to find a routine and they can help you socialise and take breaks. It’s also good to create a rest day or afternoon for yourself, to help you take time away from your laptop and books and focus on you! 

Create a budget  

Moving to university can be a daunting process, especially if this will be the first time living outside of home and managing your own money. In your first few weeks, it’s a great idea to figure out a rough weekly budget to help you manage your money, food shops and other weekly or monthly expenses. A few of our current students created a series of Money Diaries, so check them out to get an idea of what it’s like living in Edinburgh! 

Read the student Money Diaries series

Get used to the systems the University uses 

One of the things I still sometimes struggle to get my head around is the different systems the University uses, such as MyEd, Learn and Blackboard. As a result, it’s a good idea to spend some time in your first week getting used to the different platforms across MyEd, as well as services such as the library. The University has put together some helpful resources for this, which you can find on the New Students website.

Check out the support for new students about the University platforms

Two of the most important systems to get used to, that you’ll use throughout your time at university is MyEd and your student email. MyEd is the main hub to find your timetable, classes, course contacts, library resources and so, so much more! Through MyEd you can also access your student email, where your course organisers, student services, and other resources will contact you through. Your student email will be the main way you and the university will communicate throughout your time, so make sure you check it regularly to avoid missing events, deadlines, and key information. A bonus is that you can also access your timetable through your email! 

Explore the University campuses and the city 

One of the best and worst things about the University campus is that it’s spread out around the city, and you can easily get lost going from lecture to lecture. My top tip is to try to explore as many of our buildings and campuses as you can. My personal goal for this year is to visit Kings Buildings and the Nucleus, as all my classes have been on the central campus. If you’re a student travelling to KB, make sure you also check out the free shuttle bus, which can take you from Bristo Square to Kings Building by showing your student card. 

If you’re new to Edinburgh, spend your first few weekends in the city exploring. Many of the museums and art galleries are free and within walking distance of each other, making them ideal for hopping between on a spare Saturday. Exploring in your own time will also help you get orientated in the vast city and find all the different routes between campus and your accommodation.  

One of the best ways to do this if you’re under 22, is to sign up for a Young Scot card bus pass, which will allow you to travel by bus around Scotland for free! I’ve used my pass to explore the city and beyond – recently I took a trip to visit St Andrews, and often use my pass to visit my little sister in Dundee. If you are eligible, make sure you sign up on the Young Scot website as soon as possible to avoid paying for the bus!

View information on how to apply for a Young Scot card bus pass

Keep up with your favourite societies or sports clubs 

Another way to get used to the University is by keeping up with your favourite sports or society groups and attending their events. By going to society or sports events, you can connect with your peers while developing your skills and knowledge. As a Politics student, I go to the Edinburgh Political Union, which helps me chat with my peers outside of lectures, and meet people interested in politics who might not be studying it. The group also host speaker events throughout the year, which helps my understanding of the political world. 

If you haven’t found the perfect society or sport yet, don’t worry! You can join societies at any point in the year, and most groups will welcome you regardless of whether you join in week one or week ten! In January, the University and EUSA also run a ‘Give it a go’ week, where you can attend taster sessions for different groups for free. They also run an Activities Fair if you’re unsure about what society is best for you. 

Set up points cards 

Okay, so this tip sounds a bit silly, but I promise you it’s worth it! Once you have started settling into university, it’s a great idea to sign up for loyalty schemes. Most of the big supermarkets have free-to-join loyalty cards, and every time you shop and swipe you get points or discounts on your shopping.  

Tesco, for example, have ‘Clubcard prices’ which are significant discounts on your shopping, as well as a points system, which you can redeem for money off vouchers in-store or in restaurants. These will help you save money, and they can act as a little boost to your day if you get a freebie! 

Speak to University services that might be able to help you

If you find yourself struggling with adjusting to university, or simply need a chat, the University has a lot of useful resources to help you out! One of the services I spoke to was the Disability and Learning support service, which was able to help with adjusting to moving and living in a new city with my disability. If you have a disability, learning difference, mental health condition, or are neurodiverse, you can contact them at any time throughout your studies – but the earlier the better! 

View Disability and Learning Support Service information

Overall, although the end of Welcome Week and the start of the first semester can be scary at first, once you get settled into the city, you will get used to the routine of university life, and the next chapter of your life!