And at this point in the semester there’s quite a lot of life admin to keep on top of. Here are some of the most essential to keep this year safe, healthy and hassle-free.
1. Register with a GP
We have our own GP practice on the University campus and you can register with them in less than ten minutes here.
GPs, sometimes known as family doctors, can treat all common medical conditions, provide examinations, prescriptions, vaccinations, and referrals to other medical services for specialist treatment if required. Your on-campus GP practice, which is in Crawford House, also runs a sexual health clinic and can support with drug and alcohol use. If you live further away from campus, you can find a local GP on the NHS website.
2. Get up to date with your vaccines
You might have already succumbed to this year’s freshers’ flu but you can reduce your risk of picking up anymore nasties by getting up to date with your vaccinations.
- Check with your GP to see if you’re up to date with your childhood vaccinations, including the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine and Meningitis ACWY (MenACWY) vaccine.
- Flu: Respiratory illnesses like flu circulate more in winter. If you’re eligible for a free flu vaccine, you can book an appoint on the NHS website. If not, you can get one at Boots in the Arndale Centre, in Hulme Asda or from your local pharmacy.
3. Make sure you’re clear on consent
We want to make sure that you are informed about harassment and sexual misconduct, and that you understand what the University is doing to protect you. All new undergraduates and foundation year students will get an email to training on consent, harassment and bystander intervention. All new PGT and PGR students will receive information on training as part of induction.
Our student training is mandatory because we want to make sure everyone feels confident about the values we stand for and the role we all play in creating a safe, supportive environment for everyone. If you’re a new UG student, keep an eye out for the email in your inbox.
4. Get on top of your finances
As a student, we know that every penny counts, student Hannah shares her top tips to help you make your money go further. Whether you’re a first, second or final year student, living in halls or commuting to Uni, we’ve got you covered.
Find out more about the financial support you can get from the University, from accessing free cosy campus spaces to emergency financial help. Visit the Cost of Living support pages for more information.
5. Purchase your TV License
If you don’t want the BBC to come knocking, either let TV Licensing know you don’t require a TV License (if you don’t watch live TV, stream BBC iPlayer or ITVX, Sky Go, Amazon Prime and YouTube) or purchase a license here.
If you need a way to split the cost with housemates, you can use SplitWise to help you out.
6. Sort your council tax
Did you know that unless you live in halls of residence you need to contact your local council to claim a council tax exemption? If you live in a Manchester City Council area, you can claim a council tax exemption here.
All student-only houses are exempt from paying council tax, and houses that have a student living there with other people working are eligible for a discount. If you’re unsure, there’s more information here for you to double check whether you need to be paying.
7. Check out CareerConnect
As a University of Manchester student, you have access to CareerConnect from the University Careers Service. Part-time job roles that you can undertake alongside your studies are posted daily, alongside internships, grad roles and a multitude of careers events and opportunities.
- Find out more about the range of support available on the Careers Service website
- Check out useful info to help you find a part-time job
- Take a look at the on-campus careers events coming up in the next few months
8. Download SafeZone
SafeZone is our safety and wellbeing app, designed to give you extra peace of mind on campuses across the city or living in accommodation. It’s free to download, easy to use and we recommend that all students have it on their phones — search ‘SafeZone’ on your app store to download.
You can use SafeZone to call for help in areas of Fallowfield and Victoria Park, The University of Manchester campus, Manchester Metropolitan University campus and University of Salford campus.