Birmingham is a big city, so it only makes sense that its universities are pretty big too. As such, it can be pretty easy to get side tracked and miss out on things when it comes to campus life at UoB, so here are 10 fail safe ways to stay in the know.
At the start of every new academic year there’s a series of fresher’s fairs (usually in the sports hall or Guild of Students), open to all students. The whole point of these fairs is to provide information about opportunities, events and clubs on campus, so whatever year you’re in, this should be your first port of call if you want to find out what you can get involved in at UoB.
One of the key focuses of UoB is on sport and fitness; there’s a gym, sports pitches, and numerous sports teams, so here, our advice is simple. Join one! Not only are sports teams a great way to keep fit and make friends, but as sport is central to the uni, it’s a crucial part of campus life too. Joining a sport will get you involved with uni-representative events, socials, and most importantly, sports nights, which are based at the Student Union every Wednesday, where you get to meet tonnes of new people from all the other uni sports. It’s a no-brainer, really.
If you’re not a sporty type though, don’t despair. You can join a society instead; acapella, Live Music, theatre, any of these will get you an invite to societies night (also at the guild), and a society that works closely with events on campus, whether that’s through performance or fundraising!
If you’re a fresher at UoB, chances are your accommodation will be part of “The Vale Village”, where the student bar is: The Duck and Scholar. You’ll soon find that “The Duck” is a hub of social activity for all freshers, even those of whom don’t have halls on the Vale, and with drinks deals, food, and a weekly quiz, there’s no better way to integrate yourself into campus life.
“Fab n Fresh” is the uni’s most infamous night out, held at The Guild of Students every Saturday, with extra days added for events like Hallowe’en, Christmas, and St.Patrick’s Day. If you want to meet people, Fab is the place to go, because, believe us, on Saturdays, the world and his wife will be there.
Go to all your classes, your lectures, your seminars- it may sound like an unorthodox suggestion, but think about it: it’s more likely that you’ll hear about stuff going on if you’re on campus to hear it. Plus, frequently there’ll be announcements and things before class, as well as flyers and posters on the noticeboards. Tempting as it is to skip a couple of classes as it gets colder, try to avoid it, it’ll pay off if you do, promise.
We’re a high tech world, there’s no escaping it, so needless to say the majority of our info is high tech too. With this in mind, join the uni’s social media pages: Facebook, Instagram, Twitter, for notifications of events and ideas of getting involved on campus, as well as suggestions for other events and location pages you can follow in relation to becoming a part of the UoB community. (One of the best pages for this is the FabnFresh Official Facebook page, which lets you know about events, and buy tickets from other students.
Try and find your own way around campus. Sometimes, the best way to get to know a place is to get lost in it, so explore! The more you do, the more familiar campus will become.
Nights out aren’t the only things going on at uni, so it’s important to remember that you can get to know campus while you’re sober, too. The Uni has all sorts of events going on: Fireworks at The Vale for Bonfire night, a fair on campus for Christmas, ValeFest, the uni’s own music festival in the summer, so get involved!
Yes, we know what you’re going to say, we have Google Maps, but you might not always have wifi or data, and having to find something yourself on a map really helps you get to know your way around. Plus, on a map of campus you’re more likely to spot places you’ve never been before, encouraging you to get to know the Uni even better. Who knows, you might find your favourite cafe or reading nook for the next three years?
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