The beginning of September is an exciting time, new start in so many ways. One choice that comes around quickly for students is selecting their extracurricular activities for the first term, and perusing the choices for later on. It can be quite overwhelming with so many choices available, it’s important to highlight why ECA’s are relevant and how certain types of activities can truly impact your child’s skill set through the school years and beyond.

Benefits

The benefits of extracurricular activities are exponential. First of all, students get the chance to build their skills and interests in an environment without the pressures of a formal classroom setting. While they have to try trigonometry out of necessity in Maths, they can attempt calligraphy out of interest and at their own pace. Plus ECA’s offer a great opportunity to enhance skills that are not on offer through the school curriculum.

Another advantage is that students get to know people outside of their friend groups and classes. They may be working with students younger or older than themselves or simply with some students they wouldn’t normally come into contact with. It’s a great opportunity to find similarities with others and build new friendships.

In addition, extracurricular activities can challenge your child to push their own boundaries and excel at an activity or skill. There is only so much time in the school day and there are so many tangents where educators pique their students’ interests, and extracurricular activities are a great place for them to follow through on these. Whether it be technologically, academically, or physically based, extracurricular activities can hone your child’s interests and lead them to success above and beyond the set curriculum.

It is worth bearing in mind that the ultimate goal of these activities is not to take up more of your child’s day, but to help them become a more of a well-rounded student. Moreover, the skills they acquire and the experiences that they have, can help to give your child a competitive edge when it comes to school and university applications.

Choices

When looking over the options for extracurriculars it’s important to consider your child’s strengths and areas for improvement, so the activity has the maximum impact on their progress and accomplishments. Bear in mind your child’s interests and even dreams and also consider areas where perhaps they have not really pushed themselves.

It’s also important to consider the future value of the skill sets they will acquire – although mandala colouring is very relaxing and soothing after a hectic school day, it isn’t perhaps as useful as graphic novel creation or vlogging.

Top choices for building transferrable skills:

 

Model United Nations (MUN)

If your child is an academic, loves history, debating, researching and writing, and is looking for a way to develop these skills, MUN is for them. This club usually starts in senior school, although some schools offer a MiniMUN for Year 6 upwards.

After learning the basics of how the United Nations works, each student or small group of students is given a country to research, they have to create a country report and then practice defending that country on a wide range of issues that come up in the United Nations.

These can be anything from looking at green energy, natural resources to human rights issues. MUN culminates in a conference where teams represent their country, going up against students from other schools both locally and internationally to defend their chosen nation. The greatest benefits from MUN are definitely the vocabulary building, research skills, succinct report writing, and public speaking.

 

Vlogging & Podcasting

Five years ago most parents would never have heard these two words….. But now traditional blogging is so yesterday! Vlogging on the other hand is the social media of the future and hugely popular on social media channels such as Instagram and Facebook.

There are many benefits for students learning this art, as they work on skills such as lighting, sound, video editing, content creation and speaking confidence, all valuable transferable skills. Moreover, it can help a child to find a topic they are passionate about and research it in order to create a series of vlogs on that subject.

Podcasting is similar and needs technical skills such as broadcasting, sound, and content creation and allows a student to take a focus on almost any topic of interest. It gives a keen student a chance to flex their creative writing skills and to have a forum to talk about their passion whether it be archaeology or cooking, their favourite author or their latest travels.

 

Sports

Some children are just naturally gifted in sports and others need to work harder in order to accomplish those abilities, but the benefits of sports are clear: teamwork, respect, social interaction skills, leadership, and dexterity.

Extracurricular sports offers a chance to play a sport they may not be able to do in timetabled time or to ‘play out’ their passion if they didn’t make the team. In addition, these extracurricular activities often offer something different such as boxing or ballet, fencing or golf. A great opportunity to let your child try something new and find out if it is a good fit for them.

 

Leadership/Volunteering

If the regular comment at parent-teacher conferences is the fact your child needs to participate more or raise their hand or be part of the discussion, then seeking ECA’s which offer leadership skills is a great opportunity for them to come out of their shell in a non-threatening environment and to build their confidence.

Volunteering programmes often mean they will be part of a mentorship program with younger students or go to local businesses to see how they could be of service. These situations can help students to learn how to write proposals, to speak to new people, as well as take the initiative in certain situations. The leadership prowess they acquire will then spill over into the classroom and life outside of school, too.

 

Robotics

New in the last couple years, robotics and coding clubs are a great addition to any student’s skill set. These areas help to build integral STEM skills needed for the future and can lead to particular career paths. ECA’s give students more time to utilize maths, coding, social interaction and competition capabilities through robotics activities and all in a fun environment

Although the list might be long and time may be short, extracurricular activities are worth the effort. The skills they build to enhance a child’s expertise, ingenuity and versatility to prepare them for their future, near and far, are priceless and can ignite a passion and set them apart in the long run both inside and outside the school gates.

The original version of this article appeared in Absolutely Emirates Education magazine.

When making a decision about which university is right for you, open days are one of the most beneficial ways to get an insight into a prospective location. All universities in the UK have open days, a day in which prospective students can visit the campus, see university facilities and meet some of the professors.

These days offer the opportunity to get a feel for the university itself, and to ask questions about areas of interest or concern in an informative, and face-to-face setting. Crucially, they also give you chance to visit the location of the university and get a feel if the campus or city is a right fit for you.

Why is visiting the university important?

An undergraduate degree in the UK generally lasts 3 or 4 years, so it is important to use these informative opportunities to gain as much information as possible, and to find the most beneficial fit. After all, you are going to be spending a lot of time there!

If you have a particular extracurricular interest, ranging from the arts to sport, take the time to ask members of the Student Union whether the facilities are on offer. For example, if you are an avid equestrian or golfer, The University of St Andrews in the Scottish countryside might be an ideal location.

Open days are a way to go beyond the generalities of a website, and to grasp the atmosphere of a place and institution. For international students, who will be moving far away from home, using these opportunities to feel comfortable and settled is extremely important.

A chance to sample where you will be living

Open days also allow you to preview the location of the university itself. The UK has a huge number of different universities, located in rural locations (such as St Andrews & Durham) or urban city-centers (LSE, SOAS & UCL). These offer very different student experiences.

Students in rural locations benefit from the close social connections made from living together in smaller settings. Whereas students studying in a city reap the benefits of vast cultural access at their fingertips. Both are fantastic, but it is important to the setting as well as the university itself to know whether you are an ideal fit.

What is a campus university?

Campus universities have most of their buildings close together in one place that is usually just outside a city. A campus has the same feel as a very small town with student accommodation, leisure facilities, lecture halls, libraries and teaching and research facilities very close together.

These universities were founded in the UK to help open access to higher education for students who found traditional city settings impractical. This is the benefit of a campus university – all facilities are combined. Campus universities are easy to access and create a community-type feel that can often be seen in small towns. Examples of campus universities include Warwick, Sussex, Nottingham, and Reading.

What is a city university?

City universities have their buildings and accommodation spread across the city or town where they are based. Even though it is slightly less convenient for students, the advantage stems from the availability of cultural resources at your fingertips.

City universities offer a well-rounded experience of living in a city. With student dorms usually located centrally, easy travel access and cultural experiences on your doorstep. Living in a city also means that you have more options when it comes to sporting facilities and socialising.

Which is right for you?

If you are undecided about which setting suits you, or potentially lie between both campus and city university, a good recommendation would be to visit some of the smaller cities in the UK.

Beyond the capital, there are a list of fantastic cultural hubs which each offer their own prospective list of cultural heritage. Examples include Edinburgh, with its beautiful architecture, or Newcastle with its growing arts and music scene. These cities are often overshadowed by London but offer a brilliant way to see another side of the United Kingdom. Examples of city universities include LSE, SOAS, Manchester, Edinburgh University and Birmingham.

Need help choosing between campus or city universities? Our team of higher education advisers are experts in finding the right fit for you. Get in touch to find out more.

Where did the time go? What happened to the little baby you held in your arms and rocked to sleep? They are now walking and talking and off to nursery! We share our top tips to help with smooth the transition.

The first day

The first day of nursery is undoubtedly one of the hardest for parents. One is obliged to have a huge amount of trust in virtual strangers who are about to take care of your most precious little person. It is also the first foray into the next 18 years of education and probably the first time one has thought about education since they were a student themselves. However, the experience is most likely going to be much harder for you than it is for your child. Your child is very unlikely going to remember it! We know that is not the case for all children but for a lot it is a wonderful new adventure and the next stage of discovery.

The nursery

Many nurseries have a gentle approach to leaving your child with them. Quite often you can stay with them for some time on the first few days and if you are not actually in the classroom, you can stay on site in case your child is having difficulties settling in. Be assured that the nursery will contact you if your child is very unhappy. It is in nobody’s interest to let a child be continually upset.

Your child

Lots of children walk into nursery without a backward glance which is almost just as upsetting for a parent! For them this is a whole new world of exploration and new toys. What fun, particularly in this weather when the confines of home can get a bit limited. The confident child can wobble later and don’t be surprised if they do. The change of routine can be disruptive, and it does take a while to get used to.

Our top tips for the first day

1. Hold your child’s hand and introduce yourself and your child to their teacher. Explain to your child that this is their teacher and that they will look after them. The child will see that you know the teacher and have approval from you that they are not a stranger.
2. When you say goodbye, tell your child that you will be coming back to pick them up.
3. Don’t make it a long goodbye. Short and sweet is best.
4. Be brave. Try and save your tears for when you have left the nursery.
5. Keep busy. Have something organised or someone to meet up with as soon as you have dropped your little one off.

Gabbitas are experts in helping find the right nursery and early years curriculum for your child. Our team of advisers can help, get in touch today.

As part of your application for a sixth form place, you may be required to produce a personal statement. Natallia Patsaluyonak, Director of UK Operations at Gabbitas, shares her top tips on how to write a personal statement for sixth form.

Writing a Sixth Form Personal Statement

The purpose of the personal statement is for the school to see your motivations, interests and writing skills, but it is also an opportunity to show off your talents. You should be aiming for a statement that covers 3 main points: what you love, your plan for the future and why this school.

All of your points must be backed up as much as possible with evidence of your achievements, or by showing that you have researched the matter. You should aim to write at least 500-1000 words.

 

How to structure your Personal Statement

A good personal statement, like an essay, will contain a basic structure which will help you present yourself in the best light possible. This can be broken down into the following sections:

1. Introduction
2. Your main passion (academic/non-academic)
3. Your chosen subjects for A-Level or IB
4. Other interests
5. Conclusion

Of course, there will be overlap between the sections, and the end result may not completely resemble this structure, but it is a good way to help you prepare your first draft.

1. Introduction – who are you?

In your introduction, you should summarise your argument. Briefly describe where you currently study, what your aims and objectives are and why this school is the right choice for you. Remember, this is your core pitch, it should be concise, clear and individual to you.

2. Your passion – what do you love?

Here is where you get to talk about what makes you, you. You should be able to talk about your greatest achievements and plans for the future. Your greatest passion could be an academic subject, sport, hobby or musical instrument, but whatever it is, you need to be able to demonstrate how the school can help you develop this passion and why you love it.

3. Your chosen subjects

Here you need to be able to demonstrate why it is that you have chosen these subjects. You should mention what it is about the subject you love, examples of particular topics that you find interesting, and how studying this at A-level/IB will help you succeed in the future.

You may want to add something specific about how you’ve followed up on your interest in this subject outside of school. Furthermore, you should be able to describe how your other interests have helped you grow into the person you are today.

Also your A-Level/IB choices should reflect what you want to do in the future, if you can draw links between your future, your studies and your interests, this is how you create a lasting impact.

4. Other interests

You should mention here anything else about yourself that you believe will help your application. Talk about your other interests, achievements, books you have read, and your background. If you have recently read a news article recently that is relevant to your chosen subjects or yourself, say what you thought about it. Don’t be afraid to let your personality come through!

5. Conclusion

Here you should concisely reiterate your main argument of why you want to study at the school and why you are an ideal candidate for the school.

Final top tips

You should always keep in mind these 5 points when writing your personal statement to help keep it relevant, persuasive and interesting:

1. Do your research

The school wants to know why you want to go there, think about why they are your number one choice and what makes this school standout for you. You might get more of a feel for the school through a visit.

2. Be concise

No need to ramble on or use unnecessary language, you’ll make a bigger impact if you stick to the most important points. If you’re given a word count, make sure you stick to it.

3. Think about your future

Make sure you demonstrate how this is an essential stepping stone for your future education or career. They want to see someone who has a clear idea of their future and what will be required to get there.

4. Be passionate about your subjects

Have conviction in your subject choices and use examples of how you have previously shown interest or aptitude for them.

5. Be yourself

Don’t be afraid to let a bit of your personality out as well.

Writing a personal statement gives you the chance to think about what you have achieved and what you want to do with your future, it will help with any interview preparation as well. Remember this is your chance to sell yourself on paper and Gabbitas consultants are always on hand to help! You can contact us by emailing info@gabbitas.com or call +44 203 026 7443.

As the long lazy days of summer come to an end there is the dawning realisation that next week brings early mornings, the school run, packed lunches and the dreaded homework challenge.

Some children will be excited about seeing their school friends again and sharing tales of summer adventures but for others it can be a time of anxiety and nervousness. How can you help your child prepare for the new school year?

Routine

After a few weeks of late bedtimes and morning ‘lie ins’ it is key for families to get back into a routine before the beginning of the school year. Pull back the bedtime by a bit each day and the children will hardly notice. It also helps to start getting them up a little bit earlier each morning to make sure that first start is not too much of a shock.

Re-engaging the brain

School work will probably have been a dim and distant memory during the summer months but now is the time to start waking up those brain cells and getting them to re-engage. Start cutting down on screen time and introduce activities focussed around reading together, playing word games and mental arithmetic.

Kitting them out

Having just settled the school fees, it is always rather a worry to discover that last year’s uniform is now outgrown, the shoes too small and the backpack has disintegrated. Time to get out the credit card again! Check out the second-hand shop at school for uniform and grit your teeth as you buy new trainers, school shoes and football boots. Engage the children in the fun of buying new stationary, pencil cases and lunch boxes; choosing new things to take back to school can help to distract them from the nervousness of a new term.

Focus on the positives

There are so many good things to look forward to about a new term, talk to your children about seeing their friends again, the fun school activities and field trips ahead all the extra-curricular activities they can sign up for and remind them of all the fun times they had in the previous year at school.

Listen to your child

Although to an adult eye the concerns and anxieties about returning to school may appear insignificant, for your child they are hugely important and deserve attention. Listen to them and given them your full attention and let them feel free to express what is worrying them, whether it is friendship issues, worry about the workload or just feeling blue that the long summer is over.

Reading lists

Finally, here are some good books to read and films to watch to get you back into the school spirit.

Books

• I don’t want to go back to school by Marisabina Russo
• The Worst Witch by Jill Murphy
• A Little Princess by Frances Hodgson Burnett
• Mallory Towers by Enid Blyton
• Harry Potter by JK Rowling

Films

• Mighty Ducks
• St Trinians
• Dead Poet’s Society
• The Breakfast Club
• October Sky
• Wild Child

Have a great start to the new school year!

If you loved your Philosophy A Level or the Philosophy component of your IB at school, then you will already know that this might well be the higher education course for you. But what if you haven’t studied Philosophy at school – how do you know whether you should consider it at university? In this blog, we look at this interesting degree subject and if it might be a good fit for you.

Course Content

This will obviously vary from university to university. Logic is a very common topic in the first year (sometimes even first term) and you will undoubtedly have an ‘Introduction to Philosophy’ in your first term. In ‘Theory of Knowledge’, you will most likely study thinkers such as Descartes and Hume. In ‘Ethics’, you will probably be reading J.S. Mill’s Utilitarianism. In second and third years, it is likely that you will be able to choose electives alongside core modules. These could include ‘Philosophy of Religion’, ‘History of Philosophy’ from Descartes to Kant, ‘Philosophy of Mathematics’, and ‘Medieval Philosophy’. Philosophy also combines well with other degree subjects for a joint honours course, e.g. Philosophy and Economics, Modern Language or International Relations.

If your school has any Philosophy teachers, see if you can have a chat with them. Explain your enthusiasm in the subject, discuss some of your favourite philosophical topics with them. That can then give you a flavour of some of the discussions you would have with your professors at university.

Careers

If you’re considering studying Philosophy, you may well get well-meaning and worried relatives asking you what on earth you can then ‘do’ with your degree. After all, there aren’t many jobs out there advertising for a Philosopher. But in fact, most employers recognise a Philosophy degree in the same way they would any other Arts discipline such as English or History. A good degree in any of these disciplines indicates that the individual has had a broad education, can analyse information effectively, can write well, can meet deadlines and can absorb mountains of complex information. These are all very useful skills.

Top Five UK Universities

St Andrew’s

Oxford

Cambridge

London Schools of Economics

Exeter

Entry Requirements

Range from A*AA/41 IB at Oxford and Cambridge to AAA/ 38 IB at LSE or AAB/35 at St Andrew’s and ABB/34 at Cardiff.

Further Reading & Listening

Get your hands on some key texts that most Philosophy first years will be required to study. Check out The Logic Manual by V. Halbach, Utilitarianism by J.S. Mill, Think by S. Blackburn, An Introduction to Philosophical Analysis by J. Hospers, Plato’s Meno. Remember that philosophy books should be read super slowly! Don’t feel you have to read the book cover-to-cover. Try and take notes as you read, write down any questions that come up, jot down thoughts and observations on what you have read. If you enjoy the process, then it’s likely you’ll enjoy the degree. Here’s a Cambridge University Philosophy Reading List for those intending to study Philosophy at degree level.

After reading the books, try and explain what you’ve learnt to family and friends. It’s surprisingly difficult! This will help you get used to discussing complex concepts and the process of something, and having to answer questions about it, is the best way of making sure you really understand it, too.

Sometimes there just isn’t enough time to read as much as we like to. Here some podcasts to listen to whilst you’re on your way to school or brushing your teeth! It’s worth trying to jot down some keywords on a post-it after you’ve listened to the podcast, otherwise it is all too easy for the information to go in one ear, and out the other… BBC’s In Our Time offers a great range of forty minute podcasts on key philosophers and important concepts here.

Thinking of applying to study philosophy at university? Gabbitas can help every step of the way, contact us to find out how.

As results day draws nearer, the panic about what if you have not done as well as you had hoped start to build. Should this happen, what do you do next?

Every year tens of thousands of students find a place at a UK university through UCAS Clearing, so you are not alone. However, this can be a daunting and time-pressured process. So, whether you expect to go through Clearing or not, it is best to be fully prepared to make it as stress-free as possible.

In this blog, we look at how you can confidently make a Clearing call, make a good impression and importantly secure a place at the best university for you.

You must call

The number one point about making a Clearing call is that it must be you that calls. The university wants to speak to you directly, not your parents or teacher. So be brave, prepare and get ready to make a great impression.

It could be an interview

Whilst the call could be simply confirming your grades and checking availability, it is more likely that you will be asked some questions to test your suitability. Therefore, it is important that you prepare for what could be an informal interview.

Do your research

In advance of the call make sure you do some research about the course and university. The person on the other end of the phone wants to see that you’ve done your homework and are serious about applying. Look up what modules are offered, what common career routes are after graduating and other key factors that interest you about the course.

You will likely be asked ‘Why do you want to study this course?’ so make sure you know! Have some notes prepared on why this course and university appeals to you. Also, have some questions ready for them, the call it is just as much figuring out if you want to study there.

It can be easy to rush and immediately call the university after receiving your grades. But taking your time to prepare and conduct a bit of research in advance will really help you sell yourself when you’re on the call.

Practice

Before making any call, have a run through of the common questions you will be asked and practice to ensure you sound natural. Gabbitas advisers can be on hand on results day to help you with this and conduct a mock Clearing interview to ensure you are prepared before making the call.

Before the call

Before picking up the phone, make sure you find a quiet room, your phone is fully charged and make sure you have the following at hand:

• Your UCAS Personal ID and Clearing number – this will be the first thing they ask for
• The codes of the courses you’re interested in
• Your grades including GCSEs
• A copy of your personal statement (having re-read this in advance!)
• Notepad and pen to make notes
• A positive attitude!

During the call

Remember, the phone lines at universities during clearing can be busy so don’t panic if you’re on hold for a while. However, if you can’t get through, don’t dwell and move on to the next university on your list.

Make sure you ask the name and phone number of the person you are speaking to – in case you need to call them back.

Be confident, honest and sell yourself. Remember, the person on the other end wants to help you so take your time and go through the reasons why you would be a great fit for the university and course.

If you are offered a place, ask about how long the offer is guaranteed and what happens next.

After the call

When you have received your verbal offer, you will most likely also receive this in an email. Once you’ve made sure that you want to go to that university, then head to UCAS Track to update your place. Next you will need to make sure to sort out your accommodation and update your Student Loan. After that, it is time to get excited! Start researching the city, things to do, public transport etc.

Remember, this process it is just as much about finding out whether the course and university it is a good fit for you. Be positive, proactive and get ready to sell yourself. Remember thousands of students go through this process every year and find a spot at a fantastic university.

Gabbitas advisers are here to support you every step of the way through Clearing.

Contact us today to see how we can help leading up to results day.

Whether you are thinking about moving your child to a new school locally or contemplating looking further afield for your child’s education, for families living abroad you need to start thinking about it earlier than you may think. Sara Boomsma of Gabbitas Middle East shares some key milestones to consider when planning for your child’s educational future.

 

Choosing a school

Choosing a secondary school for your child can seem a far-off dream when you are still getting to know your child’s new Year 5 teacher but actually by this stage the next move should be firmly on your agenda. Too often our advisers meet with parents who are delighted to tell us that they have found the perfect school for their Year 7 child, only for us to have to gently break the news that they have missed all the registration and assessment deadlines and that all the places in that school have already been allocated.

 

When to move

One of the challenges for international families is that for many they are not quite sure how long they will be here and when they may have to move; whilst jobs and economics can play a role in this decision, we would argue that education should also be a key consideration where possible. There are certain transition times, particularly at secondary level, which make moving a relatively straight forward process both in the UAE and the UK, such as Year 7 or Year 9 respectively or Year 12. However, there are some that you definitely need to try and avoid; moving in Year 11 or Year 13 in the British system would mean moving half way through a 2 year exam programme GCSEs or A Levels and similarly with the International IB programme once you start in Grade 11 you are really committed to two years.

 

Start early

So how can you avoid disrupting your child’s education at critical stages and give them the best chances of success without restricting the family’s movements? Information is key! And the earlier the better. One of the many services we offer our clients is the ‘Education Road Map’. Starting a few years before any key transition points are on the horizon, we identify a range of schools both here and in the UK that would be suitable for the family given their potential location or family ties. An education road map can then pull together of all the options and choices and key dates that everyone needs to be aware of in order to secure a place at the chosen schools and to be sure that no deadlines are missed.

 

Schools in the UAE

For many British curriculum schools in Dubai the Year 7 entry assessments take place in the November of Year 6. Registration dates will often be early in the autumn term and because of the competitive nature of the applications these deadlines are rigorously enforced. Prior to the registration there is plenty to prepare for; information days in the schools, taking your child to look around, collating all the information required for submitting an application, notifying the child’s current school. Then it is important to be aware of what form the assessments will take, the dates they are offered and what preparation your child will need to do to be in the best frame of mind to take the tests.

 

Schools in the UK

If you are considering applying to schools in the UK, then you need to start even earlier. Highly selective schools such as Winchester College, will want to meet your child when they are still in Year 4. At this point they will have the opportunity to meet up to three Housemasters and registration must be submitted by the end of Year 5.  Students will then be invited to take the ISEB Common Pre Test in October/November of Year 6 and if successful they will be invited back for interview between January and March of Year 6. If offered a provisional place at this point, a student will still need to take the Winchester Entrance exam in the April/May of Year 8 before being able to take up their Year 9 place. So a 5 year process from start to finish.

Other well-known schools operate a similar timeline with Eton requiring prospective students to be registered by the summer of Year 5 and others by the first term of Year 6. Many UK schools such as Wellington College, Charterhouse or Bradfield, require prospective pupils to sit the ISEB test in the November of Year 6. Successful candidates will then be invited for interviews and assessment days the following spring. So, for families considering this option it is best to start early and be prepared even if you decide not to action it later on.

 

Sixth form

For a move to 6^th form the timeline is less pressured. Most schools will expect you to be registered by the September and many will offer assessments in the November of the year preceding taking up a place. But again, it is wise to be aware of all of the dates and the requirements for entry.

 

In conclusion

There are, of course, a wide range of other schools in the UAE and the UK who operate more of a rolling programme of admissions, so there is absolutely no need to despair that all avenues will be closed! There will always be great schools who will have a less rigorous approach and be happy to accommodate a last minute application.

Being forewarned is to be prepared and arming yourself with an Education Road Map can give you a clear time line, a heads up about the when you need to act and how your child needs to prepare and most importantly peace of mind so you do miss out on a place in your child’s dream school. Interested in sourcing an Education Road Map for your family? Get in touch with us today.

In this second part of the Gabbitas Guide to University series, we look at the practicalities of arriving at university and key things to do or think about in those first few weeks away from home.

Before you arrive

You can see what we recommend to pack before you head to university here.

We would also suggest revisiting the welcome emails from your university to make sure you have all the information you need ahead of making the move. We also recommend following their various social media channels to keep up to date with their advice and updates. If available, have a look at your timetable in advance so you know what your schedule will look like.

Do some research into the best student bank account deals and, if you can, set this up in advance. See below for some more top tips about managing your finances.

When you get there

Our number one tip is to move into your halls as soon as you can. Friendships are formed quickly in halls and you don’t want to be on the back foot here. Be brave and leave home as soon as possible.

With this in mind, make sure you put yourself out there and don’t keep yourself hidden in your room. Remember, everyone is in the same boat so get out there and introduce yourself.

When you are not out there making friends, make sure you get unpacked and your room sorted in those first few days. The first few weeks are jammed packed and a case of home sickness is inevitable, so make sure your room is as homely as possible.

If you need help – ask! Universities have brilliant student support teams to help anyone who might be struggling in those first few weeks, so do use them if you need them.

Personal safety

Wherever you go to university, it is unlikely to be as safe as home so make sure you take appropriate precautions. Some key tips to remember:

• Keep valuable items such as phones out of sight, even when walking down streets
• Avoid travelling alone in secluded areas at night
• Walk facing the traffic so you can see oncoming cars
• Be extra vigilant when using cash machines and protect your pin
• Never leave your drink unattended
• Let someone know where you are when you are out
• Only use authorised taxis

Freshers Week

On the first few days make sure you get out and about to start to get familiar with your surroundings. For example, in your halls it would be worth sussing out where the laundry room is, the nearest library etc. Then hunt around for the nearest supermarket and perhaps test your route to your lectures.

Once familiar with your surroundings, make sure you check out the Freshers Fair! This is a great opportunity to find out what societies are on offer in your university, trust us some are very weird and wonderful! These fairs are also full of freebies so you can stock up on pens and other stash to your hearts content. Societies are a really great way to make friends so make sure you take this opportunity to either continue with something you love or try something completely new!

There will be plenty of events on during the first week from movie nights to bar crawls to fancy dress parties, make sure you get involved and make the most of your time without lectures.

Your finances

For international students arriving in the UK, make sure you set up a bank account as soon as you can. Take time to research the best deals, there will be lots of information out there at the beginning of term. If you are taking out a student loan, make sure it has been deposited in your account.

Living in a big city can typically add 20% to your costs so once you’ve budgeted, make sure you stick to it. If you think you might not have enough to survive, it is time to look for a part time job!

Read more about keeping on top of your finances here.

In the next part of this blog series, we will be looking at study tips for university. Look out for the next blog!

Gabbitas is delighted to announce the appointment of Sophie Casben as Director MENA.

With a strong professional background in marketing, Sophie joins the team after a career break to raise her two children. She previously attended Downe House School and graduated from Durham University with a degree in Business and Modern Languages.
She has lived in Dubai for over 10 years and joins Gabbitas with first-hand experience of being a parent of children attending both international school in the Middle East and then transitioning to boarding school in the UK.

Her children have previously attended Kings Dubai and Foremarke School in Dubai and are now attending Windlesham House School, a full boarding prep school in West Sussex.

Vanessa Miner, Managing Director at Gabbitas, said of her appointment “I am delighted to welcome Sophie Casben as our new Client Services Director who will be leading our team in the UAE.

Sophie is a long-time Dubai resident who has been heavily involved in fundraising and volunteering programmes in the region and has personal experience of the challenges in making the right educational choices for her family both in Dubai and the UK. The Gabbitas network which provides detailed advice on British and IB schools together with advice on British Universities in the region and internationally is unrivalled.

Sophie will be facilitating services through our local hub in Dubai ensuring that our clients in the region have the benefit of accessing the expertise in our global network”.

Sophie provided this comment on joining the Gabbitas team “I am excited to be joining an industry that I have always taken a keen personal interest in. I am especially pleased to become a member of the Gabbitas team and look forward to working with my colleagues to drive our Middle Eastern business forward over the coming months and years.”

Welcome to the team Sophie!