Settling into the University of St Andrews

1 What does it mean to be an independent learner?

Studying at university involves a lot more independent (self) study than in secondary school.

You will probably find that your time is a little less structured, than what you are used to. There will be timetabled lectures and seminars which you will be expected to attend on a weekly basis. If you are doing an Arts based subject such as History, Classics or English you may have lectures/seminars for 10 hours (or less) a week. In the rest of your time, you will be expected to do some of your own independent reading and research. This also gives you time to work on your assignments and prepare for exams, class tests or presentations. If you are doing a Science based subject eg. Chemistry, Mathematics, Computer Science there will be labs for you to attend which might last for a morning (e.g. 9-12pm) or an afternoon (e.g. 2-5pm).

This means that you might need a little bit of support and guidance to manage the transition from having a very full time table when you were at school and college, to studying at University. There are lots of resources to help you with this.

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3 Studying remotely in times of social distancing

The article provides practical assistance with studying during and after the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting lockdown. It covers mental health and well-being considerations as well as guidance in navigating university systems, services and people you can liaise with. We also offer guidance on prioritising your work, taking into account a healthy work-life balance.

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4 Healthy living

This article focuses on the importance of healthy habits for wellbeing. The article provides useful tips and information regarding physical wellbeing, diet, responsible alcohol use, exercise and sleep.

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5 Managing Anxiety

Experiencing some stress, worry or anxiety while being at university is normal, and happens to everyone at some point in their life. It is common to experience a rise in anxiety levels during your transition year to university, which can be especially tough being in a new environment.

At times small amounts of anxiety can help motivate us, for example, to create a structured revision plan. When anxiety is prolonged, intense and starts to get in the way of day-to-day functioning it becomes a problem. It can be difficult to control worries, leading to a constant feeling of worry and anxiety that can have a detrimental impact on your life. Anxiety can negatively impact how we see ourselves, others, and our future.

 

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6 University of St Andrews Traditions

As befits a 600-year-old institution, the University of St Andrews has many traditions which students may take part in if they wish. Taking part is not a requirement, but most students enjoy the traditions as a unique aspect of the St Andrews experience.  The traditions are optional, and you can choose to watch or take part if you want to.

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7 Covid-19 guidance- staying safe on campus

You can find the latest Covid-19 guidance here which is regularly updated.

https://www.st-andrews.ac.uk/coronavirus/

If you often wear a Sunflower lanyard (see: A symbol for non-visible disabilities (hiddendisabilitiesstore.com) ), you may wish to continue doing so whilst you are at university. The lanyards can help you to communicate to people who you are meeting for the first time that the may need some extra support and/or that would appreciate a bit of extra space.

You can find details of the St Andrews ‘Covid code’ here: The Covid Code – Coronavirus information – University of St Andrews (st-andrews.ac.uk)

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8 How to manage exams

This section looks at how to manage exams. This includes information about what to expect, how to prepare for an exam and practical tips to help you perform well.

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11 How to reduce anxiety and stress

It is normal to feel anxious when starting something new, like a university course, and everyone feels stress at difficult times of the year like exam periods or when there is a lot happening in their lives. It can sometimes be hard to relax. This activity is about helping you to manage these feelings and includes tips from other autistic students.

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