Month: March 2021

Reflecting on a year during COVID for World Art Day 2021

Posted on by Laura

In celebration of  World Art Day on 15 April 2021. ResiLife is launching a student competition for all budding artists, photographers and creators. The subject for all entries is to reflect “A year at UOB during COVID-19”.

Over the past year, students at the University of Bristol have shown huge resilience through the many different challenges that no one could have anticipated. We would like to celebrate World Art Day by reflecting on 2020 through a student’s eyes, using art to express the resilience shown and many challenges overcome. Thinking about your time here at Bristol this year, we would like your help to capture this and create something spectacular that will last for many years to come.

The subject of your work must reflect ‘A year at the University of Bristol during COVID-19‘  and can be interpreted however you wish. Work will be judged based on interpretation, reflection, creativity, skill, originality and impact. We will accept all 2D and 3D artworks such as paintings, drawings, photography, etchings and sculptures on any medium (e.g. canvas, wood, digital etc.).

Prizes on offer include the following:

  • 1st prize £150 cash
  • 2nd prize, £150 art supplies sourced from CASSART
  • 3rd prize is £50 gift voucher for CASSART or a takeaway of choice for two people.

Depending on number of entries, we will choose some of the best works to be printed and displayed within University buildings. Work may also be included in a public exhibition, when COVID regulations allow.

How to enter

Entries may be physically sent to or dropped off at:

  • West Village Student Support Centre – Clifton Hill House, Lower Clifton Hill, BS81BX
  • East Village Student Support Centre – The Hawthorns, Woodland Road, BS81UQ
  • North Village student Support Centre – Parry’s Lane, Bristol, BS91AD

You must label your entry Resilife World Art Day Comp and also ensure you include;

  • · Your name & student number
  • · DOB
  • · Course subject and year of study.
  • · Description of your work and how it reflects a year at UOB during COVID 19.

Digital entries can be sent to resilife@bristol.ac.uk with the subject as ‘Resilife World Art Day Comp’

The competition is open from 28 March to 18 April 2021.

Written by: Senior Resident Rhiannon Roberts

 

Resilife World Art Day Competition Terms & Conditions

“A year at UOB during COVID-19”.

Artwork eligibility

The Resilife World Art Day Competition will open this weekend (29th March 2021). We accept all 2D and 3D artworks such as paintings, drawings, photography, etchings, sculptures etc. on any support such as canvas, wood, digital, etc. The subject of your work must reflect “A year at UOB during COVID-19” this can be interpreted however you wish.  Work will be judged based on interpretation, reflection, creativity, skill, originality and impact.

Artist eligibility

The Resilife World Art Day Competition is open to all current UOB students, regardless of age, country of origin/residence, sex or religion.

Prize

1st prize £150 cash, 2nd prize, £150 art supplies, sourced from CassART Bristol, 3rd prize is £50 gift voucher for CassART or a takeaway of choice for two people.

Depending on number of entries, we will choose some of the best works to be printed and displayed within UOB buildings. Work will be chosen to also be included in a public exhibition, when COVID regulations allow. All students will be contacted of this event and if their work has been chosen.

Deadline and winners

Deadline for submissions will be Sunday 18 March 2021 at 10pm.

Winners will be announced live on Facebook ‘UOB Resilife’ on Monday 26 April at 10am. Winners will also be emailed. Artwork that is to be included in the exhibition will also be contacted.

How to enter

Entries may be physically sent or dropped of to;

  • West Village Student Support Centre – Clifton Hill House, Lower Clifton Hill, BS81BX
  • East Village Student Support Centre – The Hawthorns, Woodland Road, BS81UQ
  • North Village student Support Centre – Parry’s Lane, Bristol, BS91AD

Digital entries can be sent to ‘Resilife-events@bristol.ac.uk’ with the subject as ‘Resilife World Art Day Comp’

You must label your entry Resilife World Art Day Comp and also ensure you include;

  • Your name & student number
  • DOB
  • Course subject and year of study.
  • Description of your work and how it reflects a year at UOB during COVID 19.

Disclaimer

  1. The submitting artist must have full rights to the submitted work and be the original artist. If the work is found to not be original UOB Resilife, nor its partners, founder or affiliates bear responsibility or liability for copyright infringement. The work/s in question will also be disqualified and immediately removed from our websites.
  2. The selection of works by the jurors is final and the decision can not be appealed on any grounds.
  3. The winners and finalists are required to allow their works to be shown and promoted on the University of Bristol website, social media, blogs and email newsletters for a period of twelve (12) months after the announcement of the winners.
  4. If a chosen (Winner/Finalist) artist does not want their artwork shown or promoted for any reason an email with the subject line “Artwork Removal” must be sent to resiLife-events@bristol.ac.uk within 48 hours of winner notification.
  5. Entering this award gives us permission to use your image to promote and market you and your work through the University of Bristol, where you will be credited, on our website and social media. Any questions, concerns or requests to remove in relation to use of artwork can be directed to resiLife-events@bristol.ac.uk with the email subject line being “Artwork Image Use Query”.

By participating in and submitting to the Resilife World Art Day Competition, the artist acknowledges their unconditional acceptance of the rules and privacy terms.

Joint University of Bristol and Bristol Students’ Union statement in response to murder of Sarah Everard (March 2021)

Posted on by Laura

Dear student

The sad and shocking news of the death of Sarah Everard  (March 2021) highlights the vital importance of the safety and wellbeing of women and people of historically oppressed genders. The University of Bristol and Bristol Students’ Union are tackling gender-based harassment and violence together, and will continue this critical work to ensure all students feel as safe as possible wherever they are, both on and around campus.

Public sexual harassment and sexual violence at UK universities and across our society is a serious issue. We have a robust and confidential system in place to help students report incidents and to support anyone impacted by these recent events.

Access support

We understand this may be a very distressing time for our students who have experienced gender-based violence or sexual assault: we are here to support you.

A team of externally trained Sexual Violence Liaison Officers is available to provide specialised support and advice, drawing on help both from external organisations and from the University. You can also talk to a Wellbeing Adviser, have an informal conversation with The Student Complaints Officer, (telephone: 0117 394 1820) or access immediate, 24/7 support from The Bridge.

How to report

If something happens to you, or if you witness unacceptable behaviour by others, you can report anonymously via our online Report and Support tool. Should you choose to provide contact details, a member of the team will be in touch to provide appropriate support.

You will not be penalised for breaking COVID restrictions if you make a report and need to take action urgently.

We encourage students to report these types of incidents to the police but do recognise that you may choose not to or feel unable to do this. Allegations made against other students can also be investigated as part of the University’s Disciplinary regulations, where appropriate action will be taken.

Culture change

We will work in partnership with other Bristol-based organisations to eliminate gender-based violence from our campus, and our city. As demonstrated by the appalling behaviour of some of our community interrupting a virtual vigil held in memory of Sarah Everard (17 March 2021) we know that part of this vital work is education: changing attitudes and behaviour, building respect for one another and understanding consent.

This is at the heart of us living safe and well in our University community. We will continue to work together to develop appropriate resources and activities to train and educate, engender a culture of respect, care and tolerance, and tackle the wider issue of sexual harassment and violence.

Please read our new webpage for further information.

Kind regards,

Professor Sarah Purdy, Pro Vice-Chancellor, Student Experience, and The Bristol SU Officer Team

Resources and services

What is the Coronavirus Impact Fund and how is it supporting students? 

Posted on by Kate

Andy Stafford, one of the Student Funding Advisors, explains what funds are available to help you if you’ve been financially affected by the pandemic, and how you can apply. 

Andy Stafford

Our team helps students get their funding sorted out, whether that’s help with budgeting, access to the Coronavirus Impact Fund, or offering financial advice via bookable 15-minutes video calls. 

We launched the fund when we first went into lockdown in 2020 to help students who were financially affected by the COVID-19 pandemic. 

Who can apply?

  • It’s open to all students! Undergraduate, postgraduate, part-time, full-time, international or home, it doesn’t matter.  
  • You can also apply if you’re studying with us from outside the UK e.g. from your home country.  
  • You must have been financially affected by the pandemic. This could include being furloughed or losing your job, being unable to find a new job, or losing family support due to their finances being affected by Coronavirus. It also includes specific IT or travel costs you’ve had to pay because of the pandemic. 

What sort of thing can the fund help with?

  • Essential living costs: food, bills, rent, or priority debts. 
  • Technology to help you learn online: things like a laptop, better broadband, a printer or ink cartridges. 
  • Unexpected travel you’ve had to undertake e.g., to return home. 
  • Charges your landlord isn’t willing to waive e.g. if you had to leave your accommodation suddenly.  

What do you need to apply to the fund?

  • A bank statement with your balance showing for the month you apply in. 
  • Evidence of any other income you have coming in. 
  • How much you spend each month on rent. 

How much could I get?

  • The amount of the award varies depending on your circumstances and need, it could be as little as £70 or up to a maximum of £4,000. 
  • We may not be able to cover the whole amount of the support you need, but we can help with a contribution towards those costs. 
  • You can apply to the fund more than once in an academic year. 

How do I apply?

  • Email student-funding@bristol.ac.uk briefly explaining why you want to apply. 
  • Andrew and his team can advise you on the funds you may be able to access. 
  • When an application is submitted, they will look at your income and expenses from when you apply to the fund until 18th June to calculate if you are eligible for an award. 
  • If you’re applying for technology to help with online learning, let us know what IT you have at the moment, why it’s not fit for purpose, and submit evidence of the cost of the new equipment e.g. a photo of a product on the Argos website, or a receipt for some equipment you’ve already bought. Equipment must have been purchased within a month of applying to the fund. 
  • The closing date for all applications is 7 June 2021 and applications will be assessed up to the 18  June 2021. 

Top tips on applying for a scholarship

Posted on by Frankie

Scholarships can be a very important part of applying to university; for many students, winning a scholarship is a huge factor in where to study. This is especially true for international students, as studying overseas can be expensive.

At the University of Bristol, we understand that scholarships are invaluable and are proud to offer Think Big, our flagship scholarship scheme for talented, ambitious international students.

Scholarships are often very competitive, with many students applying for a limited number of places. This is true of the Think Big scheme, which attracts thousands of applications every year. This list of Dos and Don’ts will give you the best chance of success in your scholarship applications.

Student writing

Tip 1: DO make sure you’re answering the question

It sounds obvious, but try not to drift off-topic when you’re writing – it‘s easy to do, especially when you have lots of achievements and activities you want to talk about. For example, if a question asks specifically about recent achievements, avoid talking about your swimming certificates from a young age. Most scholarship applications have a word limit, so don’t lose valuable words talking about things that aren’t relevant.

Tip 2: DON’T focus too much on grades

The University of Bristol is a prestigious institution, and students must achieve very good grades to study here. If you have an offer to study at Bristol, we already know you have an excellent academic record. Focus on your other achievements. Have you done any volunteering or an internship that sparked your interest in your course? Tell us about it!

Tip 3: DO give yourself plenty of time to apply

While you don’t need to submit your application weeks before the deadline, starting early will give you more time to consider your answers and revisit them a few times to make them as strong as possible. You can also ask a friend or family member to proofread your answers for typographical errors or spelling mistakes. You also may write better when you’re not stressed about the deadline!

Tip 4: DON’T forget to read the website carefully

There is lots of information about University of Bristol scholarships online, just as there is for many other institutions. You don’t want to waste your time applying for a scholarship that won’t be enough to fund your studies, or that doesn’t apply to your course. Before applying, make sure you’ve read all the information.

Here is some advice from current University of Bristol scholarship winners:

‘Planning for your scholarship application in advance is very important. One must ensure that they are well versed with the university, the course they will be pursuing and how their interests fit well into this. Your answers must be unique and your lived experiences and personal development must also be portrayed.’

Photo of Zoe
Zoe, MSc International Development

‘Firstly, don’t be scared of applying. The scholarships are competitive, but you never know, you can be one of the recipients. Secondly, instead of using unnecessary words, write what describes you best. Be precise and to the point. And lastly, know that only what you write in these short essays is what you will be judged on, so give it your best shot.’

Phot of Zubair
Zubair, BSc Accounting and Finance

If you are an international applicant and you have any questions about applying for scholarships at the University of Bristol, you can contact the International Scholarships and Sponsors team at international-partnerships@bristol.ac.uk. We also recommend that you visit our international scholarship web pages to see what funding opportunities may be available to you.

Help the university make real change

Posted on by Kate

Flo Ingram, chair of the Education Network, writes about the importance of using your student voice.

What works and what doesn’t?

Making degrees better would be far more difficult without feedback from other students. Without feedback, there is little way to inform the staff who build your programmes, individual units and assessments what works well and what just doesn’t. This is why the National Student Survey (NSS) is so important.

Tell us about your experience

As you complete your degree and regardless of whether you begin your career or continue your education further, the NSS gives you one last opportunity to give feedback about your experience on your course. By providing feedback about the good and the bad that you have experienced throughout your time at Bristol, you provide invaluable information from which real changes can be made. This is especially important with the introduction of the blended learning environment: what aspects of this learning will stick around? What will the future of higher education look like? Your feedback will help to determine the answers in this crucial year.

You can drive real change

Lecture Re/Play, an increase in the library hours cap and assessment mitigations this year are just some of the changes which have been driven by the hard work of student reps as a result of student feedback. Of course, the National Student Survey is one of many ways to provide this feedback; there are countless other ways throughout the duration of your degree. Course reps regularly feedback the information gathered from cohorts about your units, which is more important than ever with reduced lecturer interaction from the pandemic. Education Network Forums and Surveys are also great ways to discuss your experiences in a safe environment, at a faculty or university wide level.

Take the NSS – it only takes 15 minutes

Your feedback through the NSS will ensure that Bristol maintains its reputation for providing an excellent education going forward, so you can continue to have pride in your University of Bristol degree throughout your life.

Take the survey now.