We’re incredibly proud of our students and the way they’ve adjusted to life during Covid-19.
It hasn’t always been easy, but while our campuses are temporarily closed, University life has moved online – and into our students’ homes. Studying at home brings its own challenges and opportunities – and, according to a recent Student Hut report into concerns during coronavirus: “Over half of students say they’re concerned about the impact Covid-19 will have on their health. But what is surprising is that they’re more concerned about the impact and disruption this will have on their education.”
We spoke to a few of our students to see how they’re getting on, and how they’re adapting to studying at home.
"This is a pivotal moment in all our lives as we navigate through an exam season like none other. The libraries are closed, all of my lectures are online, and I find myself having to concentrate in an environment where I usually relax. To tackle a situation such as this I have created a dedicated study space, so that I can split my day up between revising and enjoying some downtime. I pay particular attention to keeping my study space as tidy as possible, with a focus on lighting and tidiness, to ensure I can fully concentrate while studying. I also created a to-do list which I have pasted in front of my study table so I can regularly gauge how much work I have done and have got left. This helps keep me on track and makes sure I also recognise my achievements.
I am lucky to have lecturers that are very empathetic and understanding!— Mughees Asif, 2nd-year Aerospace Engineering
"One of the biggest factors propelling my revision strategy is keeping to a schedule; getting up at 9am, exercising regularly and sleeping well ensures I can work efficiently. As always, taking breaks is very important. I have been going cycling for exercise and taking a daily walk with my housemates to ensure I have proper breaks. Engineering can get quite complex and without proper support, it can seem like an unachievable task. I am lucky to have lecturers that are very empathetic and understanding! They reply back to queries in a timely manner and ensure to point me in the right direction if I require further support. I am also on Unibuddy and more than happy to answer any queries regarding studying at university or share some more study tips!"
"So far, studying from home has been a positive experience, as we’ve been able to learn a lot from it, and ultimately, we’re now better prepared for the world of work. If you think about it, employees in any business or organisation have online meetings with their overseas colleagues and clients, and through moving to online learning, we’ve had a chance to immerse ourselves in online communications utilising a variety of tools such as Microsoft Teams, Zoom, and Skype.
"As exams are approaching, and we revise from home, having all the resources we need online is extremely helpful. Also, being able to schedule meetings with our lecturers via MS Teams has allowed me to access them on a day or time suitable for both of us, thus we have more flexibility. I do miss going to campus and seeing my friends, but I am hopeful and positive that, soon, we’ll be able to go back to normality, as we all do our best to help make this ‘recovery’.
"I understand that this might be causing some anxiety for everyone, particularly you who’ll be joining us in September, but trust me, nobody is left behind as the University puts its best efforts to help its community – and we, as colleagues and friends, are always there for each other too. If you feel like you want to talk more about this, or anything else, or have any questions, do reach out to me on Unibuddy – I'd be happy to have a chat! Keep safe!"
"In the beginning, it was a bit challenging for me adjusting to studying at home. Normally I would do most of my studying on campus and finish off at home. Something that helped was making sure I had a to-do list. Ticking off the tasks for the day (doing notes, attending online lectures) was a good way to keep track of things. I also made sure that the space I was using to study was neat and had no distractions like loud music. Writing a dissertation at home was also something I had to get used to. I found it was best to let my family know when I needed to concentrate and remind them why this was very important. If you have any more questions on how I was able to stay productive and study at home, you can ask me on Unibuddy."