our-guidetohallam-blog

[our-guidetohallam-blog]

Commuting!

You may want to stay at home whilst studying at University. Commuting can be difficult but can also be very rewarding.  Remember to factor in time to walk to your class. It is best to be in Sheffield 10 minutes before your class starts so that you have plenty of time to get there. Parking is expensive and very hard to find in Sheffield so I definitely recommend taking the train or coach instead of driving. It will save you a lot of money and you can read or bring your laptop and work on assignments on a train or coach! Don’t forget your earphones though, public transport can be annoyingly noisy. 

Here are a couple of options to make your travel cheaper.

16 - 25 Railcard Website

If you open a student bank account with Santander you get a 4 year railcard for free! It takes 4 minutes to get to the Owen building from Sheffield train station.

National Express Young Persons Coach Card Website

If you open a student bank account with Natwest you get a 4 year coach card for free! It takes 6 minutes to get to the Owen building from the Sheffield Interchange.

[our-guidetohallam-blog]

Going into the Libary (ADSETTS CENTRE) for the first time

When you first go to the Libary (ADSETTS CENTRE) at Hallam you will most likely be at first slightly intimidated by the amount of old fashioned books, alongside all the scanners, electric swinging doors and those book checkout things. Its also quite large with multiple floors increasing the fear you feel when looking for a book. However once you pick up a book you feel instantly safer. Instead of looking around awkwardly you can now pretend to focus on the book you just picked up. But the book only keeps you safe for so long. If you need to check this book out your gonna have to confront the checkout machine. A lot like the ones at Tesco or Sainsbury’s; no one actually likes using them its just a better way to avoid more human interaction, and a quicker way of getting out. But if your like me the paranoia of “god i hope this machine doesn’t go haywire on me” starts to set in. You approach the machine slowly like its going to attack you somehow, you place your books down on the scanner bed hoping the machine approves of your offerings. As the machine scans your worthiness you stand there in anticipation of what happens next... the machine then approves of your books, you see the approval in its eyes(the small screen thing) then you grab your books and leave with a sigh of relief. Don’t forget your shucard as well. The machine wont accept your gifts without one, then there’s a problem.

     Overall though the libary (ADSETTS CENTRE) isn’t that hard to use, its pretty easy to be fair. Don’t sweat it.

[our-guidetohallam-blog]

Student support at Sheffield Hallam

Sheffield Hallam University is a big place. With two campuses and multiple buildings, it’s easy to get lost. It can be even more difficult when you need support and advice, and you don’t know where to go. All support services at Hallam are confidential and you can either drop in for a quick chat or make an appointment. Here is a useful list of places which will be your source of contact during your time at Hallam.

 General student help

The student help centre, located in the Owen building, is a life saver during your first few weeks of university. If you are unsure about anything at Sheffield Hallam, you can just visit, and a member of staff can give you advice. I think it’s important to use the student help centre to your advantage, as they are usually your first method of contact, and can usually answer general questions for you.

 Careers and employability

The careers and employability centre is also located in the Owen building. The staff can provide you help to find your dream job for when you graduate. They can also help you find placements, and volunteering opportunities. If you are struggling to find a job while studying, the careers and employability centre can find you many jobs on and off campus, which would usually be hard to find on commercial job sites.

 Disability centre

If you have a disability, long term medical condition, a learning disability, or mental health issues, the disability centre can give you support. Located in the Owen building, there’s a lot of academic support available. You can even have a personal learning contract arranged for you, so you can get support in your lectures. If you are concerned whether the fact you have a learning disability, you can get tested at the Sheffield Regional Assessment centre, located as well in the Owen building. You can also book an appointment to speak with a disability specialist, or attend the disability drop in every, Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

 Sexual and general health

It’s important to stay safe while at university. Sheffield Hallam has a sexual health centre based in the Surrey building at city campus. A range of different contraception is available for students including free condoms. STI screenings and general advice is also available. The Sheffield Hallam general health centre is also in the Surrey building. As it is important to stay up to date, you can get a free meningitis jab at the health centre.

 Accommodation services

Accommodation services is located on Howard Street at city campus. They can help you with any queries and get you a house or apartment for your second year. They are an easy form of contract if you’re unsure where to start when looking for your new place.

[our-guidetohallam-blog]

You’ll probably wish you had remembered...

Moving into student accommodation can be very stressful, its a big step forward for any young person, so its easily done to forget certain things that you took for granted when you were living home. 

HERE ARE SOME THINGS YOU MAY HAVE FORGOTTEN OR NEVER EVEN THOUGHT ABOUT TO TAKE TO UNI:  

hangers to hang your clothes 

a colander 

potato masher

a tin opener

pan

cutlery

frying pan

duvet and pillows

extension lead

chopping board

your toothbrush!

a lamp is always nice 

a blanket for the colder months

scissors 

a sharp knife to slice your veggies

push pins

tupperware

potato peeler 

[our-guidetohallam-blog]

Practice makes perfect!

Before leaving home and setting off to uni its always a good idea to begin your independence by learning some easy, cheap but delicious recipes. Nobody wants to live off pot noodles and toast. Here are three great recipes to get you started. 

A delish pasta dish:

YOU WILL NEED: salt, black pepper, basil, oregano. pasta and tinned tomato's. garlic, peppers and spring onion.

STEP ONE: chop up garlic, peppers and spring onion

STEP TWO: cook pasta to boil and fry all your veggies for 4mins.

STEP THREE: Once pasta is cooked and veggies are fried, mix both the pasta and veggies together as well as adding a tin a chopped tomato's

STEP FOUR: Now all ingredients are covered in the chopped tomatoes, add oregano, basil, black pepper and a pinch of salt. 

Quick homemade pizza:

YOU WILL NEED: tortilla wraps, cheese, tomato puree. As well as toppings of your choice. a baking tray.

STEP ONE: Lay out your tortilla wrap, and smear on tomato puree

STEP TWO: Now, add your cheese evenly as well as adding toppings of your own choice.

STEP THREE: Place in an oven on a baking tray, on gas mark 6 for 10-15mins (or until cheese is fully melted) 

TIP: you could always fold your pizza before placing in the oven to create a calzone. 

Stir fry to die for:

YOU WILL NEED: egg noodles, chicken, soy sauce. onions, spring onions, mushrooms and bean sprouts.

STEP ONE; Heat oil in wok, add the chicken, stir fry for around 3mins, then add the onion.

STEP TWO: when the onion has turned golden, add a splash of soy sauce, along with the mushrooms and spring onions.

STEP THREE: stir-fry for around 4 mins, till the vegetables have softened, then add the bean sprouts, and another splash of soy sauce.

STEP FOUR: cook for around 2mins, before adding the egg noodles (followed by another 2mins of frying). Then garnish. 

TIP: add a little balsamic vinegar and agave syrup if you use too much soy sauce to where the dish is tooooo salty. 

[our-guidetohallam-blog]

Safety should always come first on your nights out. If you’re alone or you and your friends ever find yourselves without any cash for a taxi don’t panic. Just follow these steps:

1. Call city taxis on 0114 2393939 and quote “Hallam safe taxi scheme”

2. Hand your SHU card to the driver as a deposit for your fare

3. Wait 48 hours, then collect your SHU card and pay for your taxi fare at the reception desk in the Hallam union (HUBS).

[our-guidetohallam-blog]

[our-guidetohallam-blog]

Music Music Music!

Sheffield is home to such a diverse range of musical talent, to come to university and waste this range of experiences would be a crime. 

Sheffield homegrown talent

Ever heard of the Arctic Monkeys? Thought so. That song you keep singing ‘Mardy bum’, you best believe that is the very best of yorkshire dialect and you’re more than welcome for that. Other bands from Sheffield include Pulp, Reverand and the makers and for the more intense head bangers; Def Leppard and Bring Me The Horizon.

The genre of bassline was actually founded in Sheffield in 2009. Yes, it isn’t a ‘London thing’. Toddla T is from Sheffield, the first third of TQD who have performed at Leeds fest, Reading fest, Boomtown and more. Additionally Off me Nut records were formed in Sheffield, a group of 10+ dj’s who have performed bassline, hardcore, dnb and jungle in Sheffield, Manchester, Cornwall, Plymouth, Bristol, Nottingham, Leeds, etc.

Music Venues 

If clubbing isn’t your thing then no bother, Sheffield provides a wide range of places to have a boogie. The O2 academy is a perfect example, located in the centre of Sheffield by the owen building, the O2 often boasts big names including BBK, pearl jam and Mike Skinner. More alternative locations include The Night Kitchen, Yellow Arch studios, The Harley and Plot 22. These music venues usually house dj’s and mcs from Sheffield and close-by citys. Throughout the year you can also find other types of nights at these locations including dancing lessons, a food tasting festival and many other quirky alternatives to dying in corp.

Disclaimer: any music event you attend you should always go in a group and leave in a group. Make friends but make sure to stick with people you know throughout. Stay safe and always be aware of your surroundings.

Tramlines

Tramlines is one of, if not, the best inner city festival in England. Utilising the city’s trams, you can get from one stage to the next in less than five minutes. Tramlines is usually at the end of July and is well worth the £25-50 you will pay for the three day experience. To give you an idea Sheffield has seen massive names like Loyle Carner, Kano, Lucy Spraggan, Lady Leshurr, Bassment Jaxx, Sugar Hill Gang and Wolf Alice.

What are you waiting for Fresher!

[our-guidetohallam-blog]

Night life in Sheffield

So you’re brand new on the scene of alcohol and going out, I’m guessing... if not I’m sure you still enjoy and appreciate fine music and alcohol. Sheffield has more than enough to offer on that front! 

Bars - In Sheffield you have a wide range of relaxing places to sit and chat with friends. Maybe you fancy a pint in Bungalows and Bears known for their chilled atmosphere which at night time can be turned into a ‘dance hall’ type rave. The Great Gatsby also has this feel but you’ll find it has an upper class vibe. These two bars can be found on division street, S1. 

OHM, Vodka Rev, Walkabout have a much classier dress code and drink prices. Here you can enjoy a whole night out and probably find yourself on their facebook pages in club photos the morning after!

For those of you who just want to grab a drink with friends or chill out in a funky beer garden; Cavendish, The Graduate, The Bloomery and Wetherpoon (Benjamin Huntsman) may be for you. These pubs boast cheap prices, nice seating areas and a perfect place to just meet up and hang out with new uni friends. All central to town it’s not hard to all meet up together. Additionally visit any of the first 3 on a Tuesday and get 25p churros and on a Wednesday get 25p chicken wings!

Clubs - Corp, you’ll hate it but you’ll absolutely love it. £1 entry before 10:30? Predrinks last longer? £5 before midnight! The white room is home to classics and chart music, the black room home to garage and bassline and downstairs... if you venture there you’ll be in for a surprise with a mix of everything or rock music. Sticky floors, 80p mixers, death stairs, “come for a chat in the smoking area?” “Was that you I saw on corp TV last week?” This is the place you will live to forget. In a good way. Sheffield Is also home to Plug, Code, West Street Live, Pop world (worst club in the U.K according to the tab!) and OMG (a gay bar, that also serves great food in the day) so, yeah. You’ve definitely picked the right University for night life that also doesn’t break the bank.

[our-guidetohallam-blog]

✨  back to school printables bundle  ✨

back to school season has started, yay! As a ‘thank you’ to all 1000 people who followed me I made this printables bundle with everything you may need during your school year. I’m on uni so this is more of a ‘back to uni’ thingy, but I bet hs students will make a great use of it too! Anyway, thank you for following me and here goes!

Click one of the links below to download a PDF file:

▪️  grid note taking sheet  [prev] ▪️  lined note taking sheet ▪️  to do list ▪️  keyboard stickers ▪️  2017/18 school calendar ▪️  class schedule  [prev] ▪️  term+definition sheet [A BUNDLE DOWNLOAD] - a zip file including more colors & PNG files! Please reblog/like this post if you found this useful!

[our-guidetohallam-blog]

Organisation!

The first few weeks of University can be overwhelming. All these module guides and lecture notes are being thrown at you from all angles and all you turned up with is a pen and notebook. Here are some useful tips on how to stay on top of it all.

Get a Folder

You need a folder! No matter what course you’re on I highly recommend investing in a folder to keep all your loose notes together. It’s no use just keeping a pile, that pile will get lost and you will regret not following my advice. Buying a folder has helped me out so much in keeping all my work together. You can get cheap folders from stores like B&M and Home Bargains. You can also buy a lot of stationary from WHSmith but I find them quite expensive. It’s up to you!

Keep Updated with Class

There are bound to be days when you are too ill or tired to go to class. Impress your lecturers by emailing them when you are absent and they will make sure you get the required reading and notes. If not, see them the next time you’re in class and ask them then. Every lecture and seminar is important and if you miss out on notes it will make your assignments so much harder. Remember, you’re paying 9 grand to be at University so make the most out of your lecturers.

Check Your Emails

Don’t let those emails build up! I try to check them once a day so that I can delete the ones that aren’t important to me and keep the ones I need. If a class is cancelled you’ll get an email about it so use that as motivation to keep on top of them! You don’t want to wake up at 7am and come into class just to realise you could have had a much needed lay in. A good idea is to organise your emails into folders.

Find Your Learning Type

You have probably heard about the different types of learners from school. Everybody has a certain type of learning that works best for them. There are auditory, visual and kinesthetic learners. I am a visual learner! This means that I learn best when I read and write. I highlight important information and write lots of colourful notes and I’ll sometimes use pictures and diagrams too. Lectures make a lot more sense when you are aware of what your learning type is. Try out this website if you are unsure.

Organise Your Notes

Alongside having a folder for all your loose bits of paper, I find it helpful to keep a separate book for each module and to keep a planner. That way it is much easier to find notes if you want a specific piece of information. I title every page with the date, the topic and whether it’s a lecture or a seminar. A planner will help you keep track of all your reading and assignments! Sometimes your lecturers will ask you to research a topic for the seminar, with a planner you will always be prepared!

Keep a Timetable

I have my timetable up on my wall so that I remember when my classes are, my memory is awful. A good idea is to set certain times during the week to read and revise. That way you have a structured guide to stick to if all the work is getting on top of you. Here is a timetable that may help you create your own!

[our-guidetohallam-blog]

Keeping Positive!

University is a complex time for everybody no matter how different we all are. For me, coming to Sheffield Hallam was my second attempt at settling into University life. The first time I floundered under the pressure and ended up dropping out, something that cost me a lot of money and really lowered my self confidence. It took me a year to gather the courage and support to have another go, and this time I have succeeded at keeping on top of all my responsibilities.

I would hate for anyone else to have to go through what I did so I am here to give you some advice and resources on keeping positive and succeeding at your studies.

Regular Sleep

Yes I know you have probably heard this one multiple times from everyone but I cannot stress how important sleep really is in keeping yourself happy and healthy. It is recommended that young adults get from 7 to 9 hours of sleep a night. If you repeatedly miss these important hours of sleep it will definitely impact your life at University. I recommend going to your GP if you are struggling with it. After moving out of your parent’s house it is so tempting to spend your newly acquired freedom staying up late binging Netflix and not having to worry about getting caught, but regular sleep will help you get through those awful 9ams with flying colours!

Exercise and Keeping Healthy

Experts tell us that a healthy dose of exercise can help us with all sorts of issues, and they’re right! Exercising makes your body release endorphins, a chemical that triggers a positive feeling in the body and creates what is known as a ‘runner’s high’. Gyms can be horrifically expensive (unless you’re like me who gets a free one with their accommodation!) but there are exercises you can do without one. Walking, cycling and running are the easiest and Sheffield is great for these. There are also exercises you can do in the comfort of your own home! Here is a useful website from the NHS.

Balancing Social Life and Study

This was a huge problem for me last year. I didn’t take part in Freshers as I hate partying, but instead of making sure I dedicated days to seeing friends and family I decided to coop up in my tiny room and spend all my time studying. This really lowered my mood, and instead of excelling at University I stopped coming to class and slept in instead because I felt lonely. Dedicate days to meeting up with friends and to going home to see your family. It won’t just improve your mood but will also improve theirs! Bonus if you have a family dog to pet, that can solve pretty much any problem!

Hobbies and Having Fun

One thing that I found really helpful is having something you can do for fun. For me it’s playing games! I use them as motivation to get my work done by setting them as a reward for completing all my work. I also spend an hour playing games if I’m in the middle of work and I’m finding myself getting stressed. It is much better to take a break than to spend an hour staring at your screen and crying. Another thing I have that helps me get through University is a journal! When I’m upset I either write in it or I read back on happy entries, it helps me to cheer up and keep positive.

[our-guidetohallam-blog]

Mistakes nearly everyone makes during fresher’s

Ah fresher’s week. One of the most memorable weeks of your life. Being thrown into an unknown environment when you haven’t even cooked or used a laundrette in your life may sound daunting. But then you throw a bunch of strangers into the mix, it’s one heck of a crazy week.  Here are some mistakes which many of us made during fresher’s week, so you can prevent them.

  Forgetting essentials

From the moment you receive your university place, it’s a hectic trip to the shops to buy everything which you’ll need to start your new life. It’s an exciting but overwhelming experience buying your new household supplies, and feeling like an adult, but it’s so easy to forget things. My advice would be to look at online university shopping lists and decide what you do and don’t need, but not forgetting the basics. Moving day is hectic enough, but when all you want is a 5 minute breather and you don’t even have a fork for your pot noodle, you’ll wonder how you’ll cope for the next 3 years.

 Not saving up money beforehand

You are likely to spend a lot of money during fresher’s. Being in a new city, with lots of things happening, means that you could quickly burn a whole in your pocket. You may even go into your overdraft, which is very risky. My advice would be to save a good amount of money before you arrive, so you can have fun but not blow all your money which you need for important things. Your student loan doesn’t usually arrive into your account until your second week either, so you’ll need some money to survive till then.

Latching onto a group too early

It feels like a huge sigh of relief when you find friends in your first few hours of uni. You sort of feel you need to quickly make friends, so you’re not left out. But it’s important not to make your little group exclusive and not branch out into other groups. You haven’t known everyone long and you don’t truly know what they are like. There are thousands of students at Sheffield Hallam. Why stick to one group? You need to find the people who are right for you.

Being the drunkest person in fresher’s

Say goodbye to your liver during fresher’s week, because there will be a lot of drinking, especially drinking games. From my own personal experience, don’t start drinking the moment you arrive at university. Having your flatmate holding your head over the toilet basin while you projectile vomit, is definitely something that people won’t forget about you. Everyone feels invincible during fresher’s, but please know your limits. Drinking games are fun at first, but be careful not to reveal too many of your deepest secrets to strangers.

 Getting fresher’s flu

The sad truth, fresher’s flu is unavoidable. Going out every night, not sleeping, and drinking double your weight in alcohol, takes its toll. You diet will probably be atrocious too, as you can now eat what you like. Fresher’s flu doesn’t feel like a regular hangover, it feels like you’re dying, and you wish you actually were. Once the sore throat, headache, and fever hits, there’s no going back. Remember to drink plenty of water and stock up on paracetamol, as you’ll need them.

  Hooking up with your neighbours

Before university, we were all told not to get with someone you live with. But after too many jagerbombs, the flirty boy next door seems appealing at 4am. You’re likely to be going out clubbing with large groups which mainly consist of your flatmates and people from your accommodation complex. But try not to get into situation which will leave your entire body cringing in the morning. Plus bumping into your fresher’s fling is pretty awkward.

Joining almost every society

The fresher’s fair feels like an absolute goldmine. Free pizza, vouchers, and the society stands – oh god the society stands. It’s easy to convince yourself that you’ll have time for the ‘tea appreciation society’, or the ‘knitting society’, but trust me you won’t. All you want is free pens, and then you end up signing up to almost everything. And to make things worse, you’ll spend 3 years being bombarded by Facebook notifications and spam emails. After fresher’s week is over, you’ll be left with membership fee shaped holes in your bank account, from a society which you have never even visited. My advice would be to join one society which you would really be interested in, and stick with it.

Setting the fire alarm off at 3am

University is a good time to learn how to cook, if you don’t know already. But the tiniest whiff of burnt food will set off the extremely sensitive fire alarms in your accommodation, and it always happens at 3am. This will result in everyone being evaluated, arguing about who set the alarm off, and your hungover self crying whilst laid on the concrete. Rustling up some delicious post-night out toast is not a good idea when the whole kitchen is full of smoke and you’re running out of your flat, forgetting your shoes and keys.

Being too worried to enjoy it

It’s completely normal to be scared about moving to uni. However, some people are so worried about making friends or fitting in, you don’t allow themselves to have fun. Some even lock themselves in their rooms for the entirety of fresher’s. Don’t be that person! Fresher’s week is the best time to meet new people and explore a new city. You don’t even need to drink. There are plenty of events for non – drinkers. So, get yourself out there. Just remember that everyone is in the same situation as you, and just as nervous, even though they may not seem it.

[our-guidetohallam-blog]

Welcome to Our Guide to Hallam!

Are you a new student at Sheffield Hallam University, or any University at all ?

We are here to give you some useful tips for starting the next stage in your life! Feel free to ask us any questions here and to share our posts for other students to read. We will post about everything you need to know to make your first few weeks at University as smooth as possible. All of us that run this blog have been there and we hope that our guidance and experience will help you out!