Things to do in September to ensure a smooth move in/beginning of the year!

The month of September is a particularly hectic one for all students, be it the academic/administrative preparation for the upcoming year or the physical aspect of moving into a new place. As an international student stepping into my final year of university, I relate to the workload and the stress this month brings with it a bit too much. So, here are some tips to make the whole process a little easier:

1. Set up your house (as thoroughly as you can!)

When I say set up your house, I am not referring to just the unpacking of suitcases and boxes of all your stuff (although you definitely should do that as soon as possible, instead of leaving it for later!). I am more importantly talking about living in your house for a few days and stocking it up with the necessities and ensuring that everything works well in the house. The number of maintenance issues that you’ll notice once you start living in a place, combined with the lack of items that you personally require, can be headache-inducing so it’s crucial that you sort these out before the start of the academic year. These things can also take a while so ensure you space them out a bit.

2. Create/ revive friendships

This second step is one of the most ignored ones on my list but believe me when I say that being friends with your flatmates can truly make all the difference in the world. Living away from home can get lonely and tense sometimes… in moments like these, friends form your biggest support system and being friends with your flatmates only makes it better because you are constantly surrounded by them. As such, it is important that you jump past the initial awkwardness and create strong bonds with your flatmates in the month of September. It’s also easier to do this early in the year as most people are available and there are numerous opportunities to make friends, such as fresher’s fairs and club nights.

If you are moving in with people you know already, this is the time to move past the wide summer gap and set boundaries pertaining to how household chores are handled.

3. Find a job

Yup, the most stressful tip I have for you is to find a job in September itself. This is because not only are there a higher number of openings in this month but also because having a stable source of income, set up from the very start, will allow you to have a less stressful year ahead and you can focus on your academics and social life. Living as a student in the UK can get expensive, especially with the rising cost of living, so ensure that you get this out of the way before your term begins.

4. Prepare for your course

In September, students pick out their optional modules and get initial emails from their respective schools about the upcoming classes. This is thus the perfect time to go over the materials that will be covered in these classes and get a head start on the compulsory readings and the readings that truly interest you. Moreover, due to the low number of students in Cardiff in this period, you’ll easily be able to borrow books from the libraries around you and read for free!