Be open and get involved

Master of Creative Industries student, Joyce, feels that one of the most important things new students can do is say “yes” to opportunities.

“Be open and take initiative,” she says. “Get a mentor, join events, and explore the campus.”

Joyce says it is important not to rush through those first few days. Instead, she encourages students to take time to appreciate the little things around campus, from the local wildlife to the quieter pace of life in Canberra.

“Take time to appreciate where you are, even something as simple as seeing kangaroos and rabbits and birds around campus is part of the experience,” she says.

She also recommends following UC’s social media channels, visiting or contacting the Student Centre and not being afraid to ask for help when you need it.

“The people here are always willing to help,” she says. “You just have to reach out and take things one step at a time.”

Stay organised (as much as you can)

For Mathematics Education PhD candidate Kamirsyah, the first week is a good time to start planning ahead.

“Be familiar with your study timelines and set a plan to meet those timelines,” he says.

For other PhD and research students in particular, he recommends getting across important milestones early, such as your ethics application and confirmation seminar.

Kamirsyah also encourages students to make the most of any training or development opportunities available through UC.

The first week or two of a new study year is often the best time to start finding out what extra workshops, seminars and programs are available. Particularly for busy postgraduate students, those ‘quieter’ first few weeks are a good opportunity to get them in your calendar before you find yourself too busy.

One opportunity he recommends is the Three Minute Thesis (3MT) competition, which challenges students to explain their research in just three minutes.

Find your people

Making friends can be one of the most nerveracking parts of moving to a new country, but  Business, Politics and International Relations student, Anita, says for her, it was also one of the most important.

“I find it very helpful making friends with other international students,” she says. “But also the domestic students as well. This semester and last semester I made some friends with domestic students and it was really good.”

Anita has made many of her connections through attending on-campus social groups, many of which are advertised during university Orientation Week. When she first arrived in Canberra she joined a church group run by other international students. She says those connections in particular helped sustain her not only emotionally and spiritually and academically.

Making friends across different cultures, she says, can also help improve confidence with English, particularly for students who speak it as a second language.

If you’re worried about making friends in a new place, joining a UC social group or society can be a really great way of meeting other people with similar interests and values.

And just remember, you’re not expected to be on top of everything in that first week. Good things can take a little time, but it’s worth putting in the energy where you can early to ensure you not only have a great first week, but a great overall experience at UC!