The One-Page Business Plan

Posted on 16 April 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Sage are here to give you the full lowdown on why a Business Model Canvas IS the new Business Plan If you’re looking to start a business or want to expand, writing a plan is a key part of the process. An effective business plan will outline what you want to achieve and highlight problems
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Top tips for meeting employers at careers fairs: what to do next!

Posted on 16 April 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Former Cardiff Uni graduate Clare, now Senior Student Recruitment Associate at EY, advises on how you can make yourself stand out at a careers fair. With the Big Grad Fair only days away, I got to thinking back to my time as a Social Science student at Cardiff University, before I joined EY in 2016.
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Stand with LGBT+

Posted on 16 April 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Jo, Wellbeing Practitioner, talks about the Students’ Union’s new LGBT+ Mental Health Campaign: Stand with LGBT+, and how you can show support and get involved! For the LGBT+ Community, the risk of struggling with poor mental health is higher.   What does LGBT+ mean? ‘LGBT+’ stands for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans and other identities. The phrase
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Why Cardiff is such a great place for new graduates to thrive

Posted on 9 April 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

FOR Cardiff exists to make Cardiff city centre a better place to do business and one of the things we’re keen to do is convince lovely new graduates like you to stay in the city.   Yes this might be a little bit selfish but keeping hold of graduates is good for Cardiff but let’s
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Reasons why all year groups won’t want to miss #BigGradFair

Posted on 3 April 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Laura from Employer Engagement explains how all students, from all year groups, can benefit from attending the #BigGradFair… The #BigGradFair is coming! On Friday 27 April, Careers and Employability will play host to over 50 top UK employers with loads of amazing opportunities for students. You can visit the Big Grad Fair from 11:00 –
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SPARK’d Out – What have our entrepreneurs learnt so far?

Posted on 2 April 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Get the full roundup of everything SPARK 2018 and the life lessons our applicants picked up along the way First off, a HUGE congratulations to our SPARK Winners for Plan and Venture! Find out who’s won over on our Facebook! Another year, another SPARK. It was a hugely successful year for everyone who applied for
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Tips on coping with anxiety before and during exams

Posted on 28 March 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Rachel, Wellbeing Practitioner from the Counselling, Health & Wellbeing Service, shares tips on coping with anxiety before and during exams. It is natural to feel anxious prior to an exam. In fact, a little anxiety can actually help performance. Anxiety and stress cause the body to release adrenalin which can be helpful when responding to challenging
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Top tips to help you manage exam stress

Posted on 28 March 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Amy from our Wellbeing Team shares some useful tips to help you cope with exam stress. It is normal to feel a little bit of stress (some level of stress can help you focus), but too much of it can lead you to feel out of control and can make it harder for you to take
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Top tips to help you revise effectively

Posted on 28 March 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Rachel from the Student Wellbeing Team shares tips on how to manage your revision time effectively.   It can be really hard to find self-motivation as the exam period gets closer. It requires a great deal of discipline and organisation to revise, especially when the joint demands of different courses or modules become overwhelming. Good planning
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In-exam guidance: Three golden rules

Posted on 28 March 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Chloe, from our Disability and Dyslexia Team shares three golden rules for the exam relevant to all students… With exams looming, here are three golden rules from us at the Disability and Dyslexia Team relevant to all students!
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Organisation, revision and exam strategies for success

Posted on 28 March 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Ann, our Academic Study Skills Manager, shares organisation, revision and exam strategies for success… Prior planning and preparation are the keys to exam success. So let me introduce my exams guide, with organisation, revision and in-exam strategies to help you set a course and stay on track. From planning to procrastination and revision notes to
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What to do if something affects your exam performance

Posted on 28 March 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Amy from our Advice and Money Team tells us more about ‘extenuating circumstances’ and how you can make sure that a difficult time in your life does not unduly impact your academic chances… Despite your best efforts to concentrate and revise it’s quite possible that Murphy’s Law will strike and anything that can go wrong, will go
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Presentation Panic? Tips to help

Posted on 28 March 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Victoria, Student Intern, shares her advice on preparing for a presentation… Most students experience a bit of presentation panic at some point. Your stomach drops, your mouth goes dry, your knees wobble beneath you and a lump forms in your throat. It can be especially terrifying if it’s marked. However, burying your head in the sand
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Join us in supporting Trans Day of Visibility

Posted on 27 March 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Tamzin, Student Wellbeing Champion, tells us more about Trans Day of Visibility and how you can show your support for the transgender community. Saturday 31 March is Trans Day of Visibility (TDOV), part of the LGBT+ awareness days. TDOV is an opportunity to celebrate diversity and show your encouragement and support for trans rights and
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Exams and your tier 4 visa

Posted on 25 March 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Kristina Bowers, International Student Advisor, tells us more about Exams and Your Tier 4 Visa… Exam season is almost upon us and I’m sure that all our students have been hard at work! With good preparation and sound study, hopefully everyone will get the results that they are hoping for. However, things don’t always go quite to
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Commercial Awareness: What you need to know

Posted on 21 March 2018 by Your Student Life Supported

Emily McCarthy from the Work Experience Team explains what commercial awareness is and what you can do to be more commercially aware… What is commercial awareness? Commercial awareness is a term that refers to a candidate’s general knowledge of business, their business experiences (or work experience) and, specifically, their understanding of the industry which they
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Brexit and your graduate job prospects

Posted on 21 March 2018 by Your Student Life Supported

Emily from the Work Experience team discusses Brexit, the possible effect on the graduate job market and how you can negate it effectively. On 23 June 2016, the UK held a referendum on whether Britain should withdraw from the European Union. With a 52% vote in favour of leave, the UK Government triggered Article 50
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Married students – is your partner paying too much tax?

Posted on 21 March 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Are you a married student? Money Adviser, Max, shares how your partner could save some tax… Marriage.  An institution as old as the hills. Maybe even as old as some of my jokes. And it has seen a lot of change through history (Henry VIII even created a whole new church to get out of
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Speaking out about Social Anxiety

Posted on 20 March 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Final year geography student, Callie, discusses her experience of social anxiety and the impact that being more open about mental health can have. In 2016, I finally admitted I had Social Anxiety and found help at University. This year I helped to launch a University Campaign and found out I have an interview for my
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5 top tips on getting your funding right for your Placement Year

Posted on 20 March 2018 by Your Student Life Supported

Siobhan and Tania from our Advice and Money Team explains what students need to do to apply for their placement year funding … It’s that time of year again when you have to reapply for your funding. If you are on a Sandwich course, the application this time will be slightly different because next academic
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Make time for conversation

Posted on 20 March 2018 by Your Student Life Supported

The 19 – 25 March is National Conversation Week and, in an era where much conversation has been replaced with staring at phones, it has never been more needed! Social Media Cleanse? Social Media can be great – catching up with friends or just seeing what’s going on in the world – but it’s so
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5 Top Tips for Creating Great Visual Content

Posted on 19 March 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Sean, Enterprise Officer, gives you his 5 top tips to creating social media content that can help boost your following and brand awareness. One marketing trend that is hard to ignore is the power and value of visual content in your social media.  Posts that contain images produce 650% higher engagement than text-only posts.  Having
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My Student Innovation Experience

Posted on 12 March 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Idoia, Innovation Ambassador, tells us more about her involvement in the Student Innovation Festival and the event she helped organise… Volunteering in an area related to your professional aspirations is one of the best things I would recommend every single student to do. Is all about gaining valuable experience without the fear of failing or
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Working Hard Or Hardly Working? Striking A Balance When Your Office Is At Home

Posted on 5 March 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Caspar, our Enterprise Intern, tells us how you can stay focused on your start-up when you’re working from home It’s been full steam ahead for the past week at Enterprise. Between supporting students with their last minute SPARK applications and getting the Student Innovation Festival ready for launch, we really needed all the office hours
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What’s on your mind? #LetsShare

Posted on 21 February 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Jo, Wellbeing Practitioner and Time to Change Champion, talks about Cardiff University’s new Mental Health Campaign: What’s on your mind? #LetsShare, encouraging us all to share more when it comes to mental health… Mental health problems are common. One in four of us will be affected at some point in our lives. So being able
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5 Skills You Need To Start Up Your Own Business

Posted on 19 February 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Stuart McClure, co-founder of LoveTheSales.com, lets us in on his 14 years of business management experience and how his LoveTheSales is all the better for it. Starting your own business is tough. It takes a lot of hard work, effort and emotion, but most people understand that the rewards of doing so outweighs the toil of
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Move out (with a full deposit!)

Posted on 16 February 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Our student intern, Victoria, gives advice on how you can avoid a disastrous departure from your student digs… If you’ve caused significant damage that clearly isn’t general wear and tear, the likelihood is that you won’t get all of your bond back. These things happen. In my second year I blew up my oven because
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Housing hacks

Posted on 14 February 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Siobhan from the Advice and Money Team, shares some housing hacks that all students should know this Student Money Week… You’ve completed your first-term and there’s a whole host of people you’ve yet to even meet. Some will be acing the independent living, though maybe you still haven’t quite figured out how to use the oven without
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Could you knock £1500 from your Student Loan debt?

Posted on 14 February 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Are you a Welsh student (and apply to Student Finance Wales for funding?) Do you want to knock £1500 from your student loan debt? If you started a course in Sept 2010, or later, and you took out a maintenance loan of at least £1505 in one academic year from Student Finance Wales, then you should
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Guarantor Scheme for care leavers and estranged students

Posted on 13 February 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Are you a care leaver or an estranged student unable to find someone to act as a guarantor to secure accommodation in the private sector? If so, Cardiff University has a Guarantor Scheme to assist you. Basically, this means that the University will act as your guarantor so you can secure somewhere to live in the private sector
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Valentines Gifts on a Budget

Posted on 12 February 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Kate, Student Intern shares 10 DIY Valentine’s treats to share with loved ones without breaking the bank… Love is in the air, but for us students that doesn’t mean money magically appears from the air as well! There’s no need to spend a fortune on cards, flowers and gifts; here are some meaningful Valentine’s gift
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Speak about your mental health, creatively

Posted on 9 February 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Student Wellbeing Champion, Tamzin, discusses creative ways to speak about your mental health and improve your wellbeing. I’m one of over a hundred Student Wellbeing Champions (trained students who offer peer to peer support around campus and via online instant messaging) and reducing the stigma that surrounds mental health is something we’re all passionate about. On
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Why become a Student Mentor?

Posted on 8 February 2018 by Your Student Life Supported

Three current Student Mentors talk about their experience of the role and what they’ve gained from it… Many students starting university have questions and queries and sometimes it is difficult to know who to turn to for support. As a Student Mentor you are able to help first year students from your academic school settle
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STEM Careers Fair: Why should you consider a career at Barclays Partner Finance

Posted on 7 February 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Formerly Cardiff University graduate, Sami Souabni tells us about settling in at Barclays Partner Finance and why it’s such a great place to launch your career… In 2017, I decided to join Barclays Partner Finance, based on the outskirts of Cardiff. Joining in May, my introduction to BPF was particularly warm: great weather, a lunch
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Get Networking Working for You

Posted on 5 February 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Our Enterprise Project Officer, Claire, talks about how effective networking impacted her music career and how networking can improve student employability. Not to give away my age, but back when I first set myself up in business and launched my career in music 20 years ago, I didn’t realise that what I was doing was, in fact,
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Violence and abuse against students, #ItsNotOk and is #NotOn!

Posted on 5 February 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

We know violence and abuse affects our students. IT’s NOT ON and we are addressing it. We are here to help you if you are affected, and you can help by recognising the signs and telling us if you know a student is at risk.  Violence and abuse can happen to people of all ages,
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Let me tell you how you can do something positive, develop your skills and help other students

Posted on 30 January 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Sophie, Graduate Intern (and dog lover), tells us about the events and activity you can get involved in to help yourself and others this February… Getting involved in student causes and volunteering your time at University to support others can be a great way to boost your wellbeing and CV – I’ve done it and
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Why you should Chat to a Champion

Posted on 29 January 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Hannah, one of our Student Wellbeing Champions, talks about Online Peer Support and the new Chat to a Champion service. The Chat to a Champion online drop-in launched last term! It’s a great way for us Wellbeing Champions to offer peer support to students over the internet. What I think is so great about it
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New year, new you, new experiences

Posted on 23 January 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

2018…Let’s make it all about you! Emily McCarthy from the work experience team explains how you can make this your year… It’s a fresh new year, a time for new starts and as the once popular boyband McFly serenaded us once, ‘It’s all about you’. Let’s make an agreement that this year, 2018, is going
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The rise of the ‘Portfolio Career’

Posted on 22 January 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Sean, Cardiff University Enterprise Manager, tells us how the world of work has changed and it isn’t turning back any time soon. In the past many people would stay in the same job for the whole of their working life. Today, that luxury is gone and it’s unlikely that you’ll even stay on the same career path
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A Summer at Centrica – The Wonders of Work Experience

Posted on 22 January 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Michael graduated from Cardiff in 2017 with a degree in Mathematics, Operational Research and Statistics, and can tell you first-hand the importance of completing a summer internship… We seem to be constantly in the process of making decisions, and at university it’s no different. If anything, it’s even more daunting. Whilst studying Maths, Operational Research
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SPARK 2018 – It’s Back and BIGGER Than Ever!

Posted on 8 January 2018 by Your Student Life, Supported

Pitch your business plan or your business’ growth strategy to win up to 20,000 in cash and support! SPARK 2018 continues with your chance to share a prize pot of over £20,000 in cash and support! The annual ideas competition for Cardiff University Students and Graduates started in November with the Ideas stage, where 12
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Student bursary. Are you eligible?

Posted on 11 December 2017 by Your Student Life Supported

Rachel, our student intern, discusses student bursaries and what to do if you think you are eligible but haven’t yet received any information… The winter recess is nearly upon us and everyone can go a bit spending crazy during the festive period. So now’s the time to consider whether you are eligible for a student bursary.
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Is your January rent sorted?

Posted on 11 December 2017 by Your Student Life Supported

If you are funded through Student Finance Wales or Student Finance England, you will not receive your second student loan payment until Monday 8 January. Rachel, our student intern, talks about what to do if you’re not already prepared… With Christmas around the corner and New Year’s celebrations just after, we know that this might be
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Winter survival guide: Information, advice and guidance for students

Posted on 11 December 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

With the holidays fast approaching, our winter survival guide is here to provide information, advice and guidance for Cardiff University students. Whatever your plans over the winter recess, we have created a series of blogs to help give you some fun ideas on what to do and offer practical advice on your wellbeing during the holidays.
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December Downloads: Apps to keep you on the right track

Posted on 11 December 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

Nichola, Counselling, Health and Wellbeing placement student, shares her recommendations on the best apps to support your wellbeing, study and finances… December is known for its festive activities which bring joy to many but can also be frustrating for others. Winter recess is that time of the year when many student houses empty for a couple
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Why Christmas time can escalate relationship abuse and how to get support if you are affected

Posted on 8 December 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

If you’ve experienced violence and abuse of any kind, please know that you are not alone and our Disclosure Response Team are here to offer practical support and advice. Money tensions, unrealistic expectations and increased alcohol consumption make the Christmas period a peak time for relationship abuse/domestic violence. If your partner is controlling, coercive or threatening towards
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Staying in Cardiff over the holidays and feeling homesick?

Posted on 8 December 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

One of our Wellbeing Champions, Tsvetina, shares tips on coping with homesickness… Staying in Cardiff over the holidays is a decision or necessity for some students due to a number of reasons. If you are staying in Cardiff over the winter recess, please rest assured that it is normal to feel a bit off-balance when lectures
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Get career ready this winter

Posted on 8 December 2017 by Your Student Life Supported

Our student intern, Rachel, talks about how you can have a great Christmas holiday and also get career ready… Christmas time is the best time to relax, catch up with family and friends and get ready for the next year ahead of us. But remember, we are only half way through the academic year and
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A Careers Christmas Carol

Posted on 8 December 2017 by Your Student Life, Supported

Emily from the Work Experience Team gives a careers twist on a well-known tale… We all know the seasonal story of Charles Dickens’ novella, A Christmas Carol, and if you don’t then I would advise watching the Muppets version of this classic at once. In this post, we will visit the three Careers Ghosts of
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