From the way you’re taught, to the opportunities and experiences you can have, university is very different to school or college. But don’t worry, you’ll be supported through the changes all the way.
A bit like when you chose your GCSEs and post 16 subjects, you get to choose what you want to study – but now you only need to choose your favourite! Universities have hundreds of courses to choose from so you can find the right course for you and don’t have to study things you don’t enjoy.
The teaching style at university is one of the biggest differences you’ll discover. You’re not in classrooms every day between 9am and 3pm. Instead, you’ll have lectures in large lecture halls, and seminars or tutorials. Depending on the course, lectures could have as many as 200 students whereas seminars are a much smaller group. Don’t let the numbers worry you – think of it as an opportunity to meet lots of new friends.
In lectures, the lecturer will present information and you’ll be expected to take notes. You can usually ask questions at the end or contact the lecturer afterwards.
Seminars are more interactive and you’ll be expected to participate in discussions with other students and the teacher. They’re a chance to talk, in a small group, about things covered in the lectures.
You won’t be in lectures or seminars all day - or even every day - so you will be expected to do a fair amount of independent study.
At DMU, you will have a simple, modular timetable. The year is split into four blocks of seven weeks and you’ll study, and be assessed in, one topic per block. This is different from school, where you usually juggle several subjects at once, as block teaching lets you focus on one subject at a time, helping you stay organised, manage your workload more easily, and fully immerse yourself in each topic.
Rather than the school terms, DMU uses semesters – two per year. Semester one starts in September and ends in January with a three-week break in December. Semester two starts in February and ends in May with a three-week break in April.
There are also three Enhancement Weeks in November, February, and June where you don’t have lectures and can take part in community engagement or career enhancing activities that can boost your CV.
Your simple timetable will mean you’ll have time to work part-time and make the most of university, getting a good study-life balance.
Although going to university means more independence and responsibility for you, there is lots of help and support available. Every student has an academic tutor who will guide and support them to fulfil their potential, both personally and academically.
There are also many student support services from financial advice, disability support, settling into student life, mental health and wellbeing, and careers advice.
A big part of going to university is the people you’ll meet and the experiences you’ll have. As well as people on your course, you’ll be able to join societies and clubs based on your interests and hobbies, play sports both competitively and for fun, and join in social events organised by the students’ union.
University will be a big change but an exciting one. And remember, you’ll be supported every step of the way to become more confident, independent, and to achieve your goals.