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New Students

Hello Freshers!

Welcome to the BMS SOC website, and welcome to Sheffield, we hope you are enjoying your time here so far.

We hope that you will find the following tips useful for Intro Week and further on into your time in Sheffield.

Student's Union

Students’ Union Buildings

Hints and tips for new students

  • Dont forget to go to the department’s intro meetings (dates and times will be in the pack sent to you before term starts) – this is where you will be told lots of important information, about practical sessions and given your timetables. These are essential as they contain all the dates and locations of your lectures. There is lots of information on where to go and what to expect on the departmental webpage for new students – click here to view
  • Make sure you check out the freshers fair for enough free pens to last a lifetime, money off vouchers and various other goodies from local companies.
  • Go to the activites fair – where you can sign up to BMS SOC and other wonderful societies, and also the sports fair – get involved!
  • Always ask for student discounts, and carry your UCard with you (given to you at registration) to prove you are a student – loads of companies will give you 10-20% off. Also, check out studentbeans.com for extra discounts and vouchers which will save you loads of money.
  • TRY to go to all your lectures – it can be very hard to catch up from internet resources alone, and definitely don’t miss lab sessions. First year results don’t count towards your degree classification but they ARE useful for job/internship applications in the summer.
  • If you get stuck at any point, or aren’t sure what to do next, look on the University of Sheffield New Students section of the website, or go to the Student Services information Desk (SSiD) inside the Union for help.
  • Make sure you get a student bank account with an interest free overdraft – and don’t go over the limit as the bank will charge lots in interest. Be careful when choosing your account and make sure you explore all your options first. Look on sites such as moneysavingexpert and gocompare.com for comparison tables.
  • Dont forget to register with the University Health Service on West St (more information on this will be in your welcome packs) – essential if you come down with the notorious ‘freshers flu’.
  • Textbooks – the department should send you a list of recommended textbooks in the post before term starts but don’t rush out and buy all the books on it straight away. It is much better to wait until you get here, look in the library to see which ones you prefer most and just select a couple of key texts to buy for at home. Also, look out for deals on sites such as amazon.co.uk, Blackwells and Waterstones.
  • Go out, have fun and party – but try not to drink your own weight in “Vodkat” in the first week – it will come back to haunt you in the second week. There are also plenty of alcohol free events for students who prefer not to drink – see the Union’s intro week activities calendar for more details.
  • Don’t be afraid to decorate your room to feel more at home. Try putting up photos of your family and friends from home, keeping souvenirs out and displaying favourite posters. Fusion and Foundry (in the union) have a great poster sale once a week – usually on a Tuesday or Thursday – where you can pick up some bargains. Personalising your room will help you to feel less homesick and is also a great conversation starter with your new flatmates!
  • Keep an eye out around the Union for “Whats On” schedules and the award winning student newspaper The Forge Press.
  • Have fun! And don’t miss out on all the BMS SOC events!

For more information and advice check out:

Nights out in Sheffield

In freshers week, most of your nights will probably be spent at the amazing events at the Students Union, but don’t forget that Sheffield city itself has some of the best night life in the country! Entry prices are usually around £4 and a taxi to West Street will be about a quid each if 5 share a taxi from Endcliffe. Here are a few ideas of where’s best to go when:

  • Mondays Check out “Population” at the Union for a great night of current music or pre-drink at Players at Static on West Street – drinks offer prices range from 60p to £1 – then move on to Embrace (just jump in a taxi – should be about a fiver) for a night of “Bedlam” or to Leadmill for their Monday “Shag”!
  • Tuesdays Head to Foundry and Fusion (the Union) for “The Tuesday Club” – a night of dubstep, hip-hop and drum and bass. Alternatively try Crystal on West Street for their “Billionaire” R’n’B night
  • Wednesdays “ROAR” at the union promises to be fun and messy (favourite night of the sports teams – enough said)! If that doesn’t float your boat, try £1 drinks at The Place in Broomhill followed by the Corporation “Skool Disco” – the venue’s a little grimy, but entry is free in school uniform! – or “Vodka Nationwide” at the O2 Academy. Static does a ‘Random Pre-Bar’ night if you fancy games and giggles!
  • Thursdays Following the demise of our Union’s famous “Fuzz Club” Thursdays, there are plans for something new and even better, so watch this space! In the meantime, pre drink at Cavendish, Players or Varsity – £1 drinks a plenty! – then give “Jump Around” at Plug (my personal favourite) a go for an amazing night out! For an R’n’B night go to “Koochi Koo” at Static.
  • Fridays “Space” at the Union promises to be a brilliant evening, or else try Leadmill for current music, Plug for a “Rewind Disko” or “Pet Sounds” at the O2 Academy for a night of indie.
  • Weekends Prices tend to rocket and the number of students dwindles to make room for locals. I recommend you do most of your going out on weeknights, but if you’re desperate check out http://www.sheffieldnights.com/nights/ for inspiration!

Also look out for the occasional headphone discos at the union or Plug – they sound bizarre but are some of the best nights I’ve been to! And of course, don’t forget to keep an eye out for the BMS SOC reduced price socials and bar crawls 🙂

Links

Enjoy! 🙂