Bristol Students’ Union and our University work together to give you the best university experience possible. Student course reps are an important part of the picture; they play a key role in sharing your concerns and issues with teams in the University who can make a difference.
Course reps are your ‘on-the-ground’ students, democratically elected to represent your academic interests and any concerns to the University. They can directly influence change in the schools they represent, making sure student voices are heard. Their job is to find out the things their course mates like or would like changed; anything from deadlines being too close together to not having enough bins in buildings.
Course reps share these items with University colleagues and work out ways that they can be changed – or find out why they can’t be. They have done amazing work to benefit students: for example, getting printer credits put on course accounts, feeding into building proposals, and moving the dates of reading weeks.
Staff in schools want to make student life the best it can be, but they often don’t know what the issues are. If you think of something, tell your course rep, so they can let University staff know. Find out who your course rep is on the Bristol SU website.
Course rep elections, run by the SU, are held in March and October. Keep an eye out around campus for your chance to nominate yourself or to recommend a friend. Being a course rep is an effective way of influencing change in your school and of getting a sense of what happens behind the scenes at our University. It also looks great on a CV.
If you’re staying in Bristol during the holidays, there’s still plenty going on including seasonal activities at the newly launched Bristol SU Living Room taking place from 17 – 20 December. You can also hear more about events taking place in the local area while the University is closed and meet other students who might be staying in Bristol during this time.
The holiday season is the perfect time to take a breather and unwind ahead of the New Year. You don’t need us to tell you about all the benefits of sport and activity; it’s well known how positive an effect it can have on your mental and physical wellbeing. For those staying in Bristol, the indoor sports centre will still be open part of the time together with the Students’ Health Service. You can find out about opening hours here.
Academic support
Ease the pressure of the January exam period by getting clued up on all the academic support and tools available to you on the Study Support pages. Brush up on your revision techniques and exam preparation with these online tutorials; Revision planning, Revision techniques, Exam papers & questions and Exams & Wellbeing. If you’re feeling overwhelmed with your studies, maybe take some time to reflect on what you think could help you when we reopen. Start a portfolio with Personal Development Planning (PDP) and jot down which areas you feel you could use some guidance on.
Many of our services are still open while you’re away from your studies; even during the University closure dates we have study areas open and some of our services running. You can see the opening hours here.
Stay connected
We know that the festive season isn’t easy for everyone so if you want to talk to someone, you will be able to access support via our Residential Life Support Centre, open to all students for urgent issues, whether you live in Uni residences or not. There are also self-help tools to provide support, including Big White Wall.
While students are not officially back until 14 January, the University reopens on 3 January and we’ll be here for you if you have any questions. You can contact your Personal Tutor, speak to our Information Point and use the libraries and study areas.
From all of us at the University of Bristol, we wish you a restful break. Happy Holidays!
To help you enjoy the break and take some time to look after yourself we’ve got Academic Support all wrapped up for you.
Before the break we have extra Academic Support on offer through our Faculty Study Skills workshops. These are running until 19 December – check out what’s still available.
Many of our services are still open while you’re away from your studies; even during the University closure dates we have study areas open and some of our services running. You can see the opening hours for these services online.
While students are not officially back until 14 January, the University reopens on 3 January and we’ll be here for you if you have any questions. You can contact your Personal Tutor, speak to our Student Information Service and use the libraries and study areas.
While you’re away, if you’re feeling overwhelmed with your studies, maybe take some time to reflect on what you think could help you when we reopen. Start a portfolio with Personal Development Planning (PDP) and jot down which areas you feel you could use some guidance on.
As the term comes to a close, some will be preparing to return home to friends and family, while others will be staying put for ‘Bristmas’ in the city.
Whatever you have planned for the festive period, be sure to make the most of your break by enjoying time with others and finding time to unwind.
Stay connected
Those spending the break in Bristol are invited to join in with a variety of festivities.
The newly launched Bristol SU Living Room on the fourth floor of Senate House is running lots of seasonal activities, including Christmas crafts, old school games and traditional nibbles to ease you into the holiday season. Look out for the daily Festive Mingle events from 17 – 20 December too.
This is a great opportunity to find out about events taking place in the local area while the University is closed and meet other students who might be staying in Bristol during this time.
All students staying in Bristol over Christmas are welcome to enjoy Christmas lunch with all the trimmings and take a Boxing Day Tour around the historic listed Goldney Gardens and Grotto. Join the UoB Staying in Bristol at Christmas Facebook page to stay in touch and keep posted on other festive events taking place during the holiday.
Relax
The holiday season is the perfect time to take a breather from the busyness of the first term, unwind and nurture your wellbeing ahead of the New Year.
For those staying in Bristol, please find out about our opening hours during the holidays including study spaces, the Students’ Health Service and the sports facilities.
If you want to talk to someone over the festive season, you will be able to access support via our Residential Life Support Centre, open to all students for urgent issues, whether you live in University residences or not.
After the festive break comes the January exam period. Ease the pressure by getting clued up on all the academic support and tools available to you on the Study Support pages.
Hi! I’m Rosa, Student Activities Officer in the University’s Law School. My role is unique at Bristol; I’m here to provide Law students and societies more support throughout your time with us. I’m the main point of contact for our growing number of student societies and also work as part of our Employability team to deliver a range of exciting and informative careers events. Make sure you look out for our weekly employability bulletin too – there’s a lot going on this term so be sure not to miss out!
Rosa outside the Wills Memorial Building
We’ve been very busy in the Law School getting ready for your arrival in Welcome Week. You are in for a treat – Law is based in (arguably) the best building on campus, so you’ll get that Hogwarts experience you’ve always dreamed of.
Law students in the Wills Memorial Building
Strike a pose!
Law School staff have been taking the new academic year seriously at a recent photo shoot enabling them to get new professional head shots. This will help you identify who is who on our website – there’s a lot of us!
Words of wisdom
Feeling a bit nervous? Not sure what to expect? Our new Director of Employability, Dr Roseanne Russell and Director of Recruitment, Dr Judy Laing shared some words of wisdom below to help you feel welcome:
Roseanne Russell
Roseanne says: ‘Welcome to Bristol! Welcome Week should be one of the best weeks of your university life so make the most of it. Throw yourself into all the activities on offer, take time to explore our fantastic extra-curricular provision, and most of all remember that everyone else is feeling as nervous and excited as you.’
‘The best bit of my Welcome Week was meeting students who remain my closest friends over twenty years later. As Director of Employability I am looking forward to working with you over the next few years as you pursue your passions and begin thinking about your career aspirations.’
Dr Judy Laing
Judy says: ‘I’d like to extend a very warm welcome to all our new and returning students in the law school this year. For those of you who are joining us for the first time, I very much hope that you enjoy your time here and make the most of all the fantastic opportunities that are available to you. It can be overwhelming when you first arrive with so much going on and lots to remember.’
‘Don’t forget that you are not alone. We’ve got 400 new first year undergraduate law students joining us and there are plenty of staff and students around to support you, if you need it.’
Who said study spaces needed to be boring?
If you’re a postgraduate student, keep reading… We recently opened a new study space for you with fancy (and very bright!) new sofas and handy study spaces. The room is located on the fifth floor of Wills Memorial Building in room 5.69. Have a wander up during Welcome Week and see it for yourself.
The best things in life are free… Our undergraduate and postgraduate teams have been busy stuffing your welcome packs, which include lots of important information such as your programme guide, welcome week timetable and employability brochure – but perhaps most importantly they contain free pens and jelly beans! 😊
You’ll receive your pack during student registration in Welcome Week. Make sure you keep hold of these documents as they will come in handy during your first few weeks and let you know where you should go if you have any questions (you’ll have lots of questions, don’t worry).
Practice makes perfect You will see much more of this room during the academic year – this is our Moot Court which you will use for honing your mooting, debating and negotiation skills. Here are some photos of some of our recent graduates making good use of it!
And finally, a note from our Head of School, Professor Ken Oliphant:
‘I’m hugely excited to be starting a new academic year as Head of School and looking forward to meeting you all on your arrival in Bristol, as well as welcoming returning students as they come back. Here you will be inspired and challenged to be the very best you can be. Enjoy!’
From all of us at the Law School. We look forward to meeting you very soon…
