Got questions?

 

We know this is going to be a massive change but we’ve got your back the whole way. Below is some tips and tricks to settling in and some answers to some of your questions. If we’ve missed something out never fear, get in touch! We are your Students’ Union, we were set up to help you from the start to the end of you time here at Greenwich.

Our Advice Service is a free, independent and confidential service and assisting on academic, legal and practical problems. No problem is too big or too small for them to tackle so get in touch now or look out for their on the spot ‘Advice Check-Up’ during Freshers Fortnight.

 

Before you arrive


Don’t be scared! University is a great new independent start and a chance for you to make new friends. Be open minded and chat with other students - some people will end up becoming your best friends and others will be completely different to you. If we were all alike the world would be very boring place. Freshers Fortnight is all about making new friends. Check out your Students’ Union’s events and activities, get along to all your course meetings and socials, and don't worry. You’ll know your way around and will have settled in no time! If you need someone to talk to, the Student’s Union offers a free Advice Service and you can pop in and visit one of our friendly Advisers.
Visit our main website. You can also like us on Facebook and follow us on Twitter and Instagram to receive regular updates from us! Our full time Student Officers also have facebook and twitter accounts for regular updates on what they are doing for you.
Yes! Most of our regular club nights are pay on the door only, but for any of our trips you need to buy tickets in advance through our website. Click on each event in the Events Timetable to see what tickets are on sale. When you've completed registration your details will be sent by the University over to the Students' Union so you'll be able to login as a student. However, as you can't complete registration until you're here and Freshers Fortnight is underway, you can purchase all the Freshers Fortnight event tickets using a 'Guest' account on our website. To set up a Guest account for www.suug.co.uk then go to www.suug.co.uk/account/register and chose 'Guest registration'. Once you've arrived and completed registration you can upgrade your Guest account to a full student by emailing suwebsite@gre.ac.uk with your name, student ID number, and the email address you used to register your Guest account.
Make sure you’ve paid the deposit! Accommodation not secured until it’s been paid. It is always best to check with your relevant Accommodation Office to see what is already provided for you before you compile a list of things. For starters, we’ve put together a list of suggested items to bring with you, and what to leave until you get here. We also suggest checking out The Student Room’s comprehensive packing list.
Yes! The Students’ Union will be hosting a few ‘Pre-loved’ sales where you can buy items from previous students. We also recommend signing up to your local Freecycle groups. They are full of local residents giving away quality goods which they no longer need! You can find all sorts of things on the site, including free TV’s and bicycles!
The University has timetables available for your course through your applicants portal, and your Students’ Union has a wide range of events and activities where you can have fun, relax, and meet new people! Our lovely Freshers Helpers will also be available on campus to help you find your way around.

When you arrive


Part 1 of registration is done online before you arrive, using login details that the University will email to you. The University has more information about this at www.gre.ac.uk/current-students/reg. Part 2 of registration is done in person at one of during Freshers Fortnight. You can upload a photo for your student card during Part 1 registration, but usually you’ll have your photo take during Part 2 – so be prepared for how you look that day to be on your card for the duration of your course! Registration Part 2 is at different times in specially set up Registration Halls, which are normally in use as other rooms. The University will have more details available on their registration webpage closer to the time, and we’ll have Freshers Helpers and signs on campus to help you when you arrive! If you’re having problems with any stage of registration then the University has a helpline which you can email or call.
SUUG has two main Receptions; one in Greenwich in Cooper Building (King William Walk) and one in Avery Hill in Jane Seymour Court (next to the Village Shop and The Dome). If you’re living or studying at Medway, please visit the GK Unions office, which is based on the ground floor of Pilkington building. Full addresses, directions and telephone numbers are listed here.
Bar Latitude is located within the Students’ Union building at Cooper Building (King William Walk). Sparrows is located at the rear of Avery Hill campus (Southwood site). It can be accessed via the pathway by the sports pitches and also via Avery Hill Road. Information on the Bar Latitude and Sparrows, including maps and opening hours can be found here.
University operates a frequent inter-campus bus service for students and staff to use which travels between Greenwich, Avery Hill and Medway campuses. Prices: The Greenwich to Avery Hill mini bus service is free to use, however there is a small fee for services to and from Medway. Tickets for the Medway service must be purchased before travelling, and you can purchase these from the Students’ Union shops, with funds going toward campaigns, including the campaign to drop the inter-campus bus fee and extend operating hours.The full University bus service timetable for the 2015-16 academic year can be viewed here.
Of course! All University of Greenwich students are welcome to take part in any of the activities and events at any of our campuses. However, we are aware that Medway is a bit further away from Greenwich and Avery Hill, and so over at Medway there is also 'Greenwich & Kent Students' Unions Together' - where we work with Kent Union to make sure the students from both Universities at Medway campus have events, activities, and support closer to home. Check out GK Unions’ Facebook page for more information, Freshers events listings, and to meet fellow Medway students.
When you've completed registration your details will be sent by the University over to the Students' Union so you'll be able to login as a student. However, as you can't complete registration until you're here and Freshers Fortnight is underway, you can purchase all the Freshers Fortnight event tickets using a 'Guest' account on our website. To set up a Guest account for www.suug.co.uk then go to www.suug.co.uk/account/register/ and chose 'Guest registration'. Once you've arrived and completed registration you can upgrade your Guest account to a full student by emailing suwebsite@gre.ac.uk with your name, student ID number, and the email address you used to register your Guest account.
You can apply an NUS card online here. It will then be delivered to campus for you to collect from either our Greenwich or Avery Hill Reception (depending on which you choose!). Alternatively, you can purchase one in person at either of our Freshers Fairs – be prepared to have your photo taken! You can save money on a range of items including books, clothes, travel, gigs and eating out by investing in an NUS Extra card. The NUS Extra card costs £12 and lasts twelve months.
Room numbers usually correspond to floor level, e.g. room 001 = ground floor; room 101 = first floor; room 201 = second floor. A prefix may be used to indicate which building, e.g. QA001 = Queen Anne, room 001; KW001 = King William, room 001. See the table below for the building abbreviations:
AVERY HILL
B - Bronte
D - David Fussey
F - Fry
G - Grey
H - Honeycombe
M - Mansion
S - Mary Seacole
SF - Sparrows Farm
T - Tower
GREENWICH
DN - Dreadnought
KW - King William
OB - Old Baths (Woolwich)
AQ - Queen Anne
QM - Queen Mary
SL - Stephen Lawrence
SS - Stockwell Street
MEDWAY
A - Anson
B - Blake
DA - Drill Hall
G - Grenville
H - Hawke
J - Jellicoe
L - Link
N - Nelson
P - Pembroke
PK - Pilkington
Make a weekly budget and more importantly - stick to it! Try to limit your expenditure when you go out during the day and at night. Take into account the large one-off payments and deduct from your overall budget, to leave aside what you’re living on from week to week. Don’t forget to budget for things like using your Oystercard to travel, phone bills, toiletries and stuff to clean your home, and programme related things like books, notepads and pens! Only withdraw the amount that you have budgeted for. If you only take a small amount of money out with you, you will find that you will only spend that, and only take your bank card with you in case of emergencies - otherwise you’ll be tempted to go over your budget. If you have a smartphone, we’d suggest downloading your bank’s online banking app so you can keep track of your outgoings with ease, and if you can’t do this, then make sure you check your account statements regularly. The University Student Finance department also have lots of advice for new and continuing students, and offer help like Money Doctors, their student lifestyle calculator, and simple, easy advice from their trained staff.
Unfortunately, yes sometimes it can be! However, there are ways to save money on your travel costs whilst at University. Transport for London (TfL) operate most of the public transport in London and have fare information on their website,. If you’re going to travel regularly on public transport, make sure you apply for a Student Oyster card – you can apply online through the TfL website and save 30% on travelcards and bus passes. It’s important that you don’t apply for this before you have finished registration and have your London address confirmed, as otherwise the automatic system won’t recognise you as being a student. It can take up to 4 weeks at busy times (like Freshers Fortnight) for TfL and the University to process applications, so bear this in mind.

If you aren’t travelling frequently enough to need a travelcard or pass then it’s still worth getting an Oyster card, especially since London buses no longer accept cash payments. When you use an Oyster card you’ll pay lower fares (£1.50 is the standard adult bus fare) and TfL have ‘daily price capping’, which means when using an Oyster you’ll never pay more than the cost of a daily travelcard. If you have a 16-25 railcard you can also add it to your Oyster card and get discounts during off-peak travel. TfL have more information on their website. 16-25 railcards can also be used by full-time students aged over 25, so if you often travel by train then it can save you a lot of money!
Firstly, you should make an appointment to meet a member of the Disability Support Team. They will ask you to provide evidence, which may include teachers’ reports and/or Educational Psychologists' reports. With your consent, the Disability Support Team will then be able to put some support in place. They may advise you to apply for an up-to-date Educational Psychological Assessment. A new assessment can be arranged via DST.

 

 

 

Before you arrive


Make lists. You can never be too organised, preparation is key. We’ve got some helpful lists of things to bring if you live in halls, what to bring if you’re an international student, and the University has lots of information on their webpages for new students.
Everyone has favourite clothes which boost their confidence. If you feel good, you’re more likely to be relaxed in new situations, so plan your Fresher’s wardrobe in advance. That way you won’t waste time stressing about having nothing to wear, and can make the most of the fancy dress themes!
Use our Events Timetable to make sure you don’t miss the things you really want to see and do. We’re hosting loads of events, trips, and activities throughout Freshers Fortnight, so get involved!
If you’re packing ready to move into halls, make sure you have a small bag to hand with the all the information needed for checking in. For the bag, we recommend: your ID (driving licence or passport and a copy of your accommodation licence agreement (electronically or printed – it’s fine to show it on your phone!), and directions to your halls of residence.
Learn a couple of really easy to make meals – it’s no fun eating beans on toast all day! You can get easy recipes for student budgets from websites like: BBC Good Food for tried and tested easy recipes; StudentCooking.TV have recipes handily sorted by categories like ‘Healthy’ and ‘Cheap’; and our Greenwich Sustainability Hub has some advice too.
If you don’t already have a bank account, go to your local branch and open one. Most banks give good freebies when you open or switch to a student account, such as railcards or music downloads – these are great, but don’t be swayed just by these! Think carefully about what you need, especially your overdraft, and where the nearest branches are. SavetheStudent.org has good in-depth information, and we’ve pulled together information on local banks online here.
Don’t go mad and buy brand new copies of everything on your reading list. You will need some though, and the University bookseller John Smiths does packages for certain courses. You can also buy second-hand copies from other students or Amazon.co.uk, or borrow them from the University library.

 

When you arrive


When unpacking your boxes and making your hall room your own, bring a door stop to prop the door open so you can see who else is moving in and say ‘hello’.
If you pack tea and coffee stuff so it’s unpacked first, that’s a great way to break the ice with new flatmates. Similarly, having a radio or some speakers for your player means you can use music as a conversation starter.
Your room is your own personal space, so make it your own with some pictures. If you have favourite posters, blankets or cushions in your room, bring them – a touch of home can help with feeling settled in to somewhere new.
If you are not sure about something, just ask! Do not be afraid to ask questions. You will find out that most people are just as curious (and confused) as you. Our Freshers Helpers and Student Officers will be around on campus throughout the fortnight, so just ask!
Want to escape from work, play sports or socialise over something you’re passionate about? Why not join one of our student groups? Or if there’s something you’re interested in but no student group covers it yet, then you can start your own!
Take advantage of any local area tours and get to know your campus and area. This will be your home for a while, so get familiar with your surroundings. It’s a good idea to do that first shopping run when you arrive and have transport available, but work out a walking route to the nearest supermarket and shops as soon as you can.
Don’t worry, everyone feels it, because university life is big change. Don’t bottle it up - talk to someone. As we say, it’s more common than you would ever imagine.
Plan an evening with your new roommates, grab some food or drinks, chill out and get to know each other. They may be your family for the next year! Find out what everyone’s culinary skills are like by doing a ‘Come Dine With Me’ where people make different courses – and if you can’t cook, then offer to do the washing up!
You will pick up loads of information about the Students’ Union and the University, find out about local jobs and also grab loads of great freebies from local and national companies. Click here to found out when they are!
The University has provided a list of local medical centres or you can check on the NHS website by entering your postcode.
If you’re taking anything expensive with you, like bikes, laptops, jewellery or other electronics, then definitely get insurance! Endsleigh have special student insurance deals that are tailored for whether you’re living in halls, shared accommodation or at home.
If you’re taking a TV with you and plan to watch live TV (not a catch-up service, but directly watching the channels) then you will need to purchase a TV license – don’t count on not having a visit from the TV License people, they especially look out for students! For more information or to buy at TV license visit www.tvlicensing.co.uk.

 

After Freshers


After your first few lectures, as everyone disappears through the door, say "Anyone fancy a coffee?" (because they've all been desperately hoping someone would). That’s the way friendships develop.
Don't stop talking to random people just because Freshers Fortnight finishes. Keep going and keep meeting people. As people settle in they will be more relaxed and more open.
From mid-October onwards, the Students’ Union’s Give it a Go programme will start, giving you lots of chances to get involved with a range of activities and to try something new! This year we’ve received funding from Sport England to increase the Get Active sessions and offer you even more chances to try a new activity. With sessions including dodgeball, volleyball, table tennis, ultimate Frisbee, and Paralympic sports, there’s so much more than just traditional sports to try!
Don’t forget that your Students’ Union Advice service is here for you if you have any problems – we have drop-in sessions and you can book appointments, so don’t feel like you’re on your own. For information on the service and helpful information on a range of issues then visit www.suug.co.uk/welfare.
Student groups are a great way to meet people, try new things, and settle into Uni life! Our clubs and societies will be holding meet and greets, trials, taster sessions, meetings and events all year, so even if you miss out on the Freshers events then you can still easily get involved with any of our groups. Societies are based around your interests – whether related to your course, music, media, culture, religion, faith, campaigning, support, hobbies, or just an area of interest, there’s loads to get involved in!

Sports Clubs will be holding their trials for their teams shortly after Freshers – don’t think that you can’t play just because you aren’t at a top level! Sports clubs are a great way of meeting new people and keeping fit, so give them a try, and don’t worry too much about what team you get in to – sports are more than just taking part in the match, and you can always go to a Get Active taster session to see if you enjoy it.
Whether this is the environment, LGBT+ rights, student safety, Women’s rights, or even wider political issues, then get involved with campaigns run by your elected Student Officers, learn campaigning skills with our activist training, or start a student group to bring together students who feel the same!
Get used to checking your email, and learn how to filter them. Lots of communication from the University and the Union will come via email. Get your student email set up on your smartphone so you can see when your lecturer has emailed to say a lecture has moved or is postponed, and read the weekly SUUG e-newsletter to find out what’s going on.
Make sure you meet your Personal Tutor regularly – they are there to help with your wellbeing, managing your studies, and getting help if you need it. You’ll have regular meetings timetabled during each term, and there’s more information on our Advice Service webpages about personal tutors.
Experiment and find out which learning style works best for you – do you learn more effectively by reading, listening, writing/doing, or some combination of the three? Most people will use a combination of learning styles, but if you find out what works best for you then you can make the most of your time! The University offer study skills workshops, so use these to help you to study more efficiently.