{"id":16031,"date":"2020-09-17T09:18:48","date_gmt":"2020-09-17T08:18:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.cityblock.co.uk\/blog\/?p=16031"},"modified":"2025-09-04T12:06:23","modified_gmt":"2025-09-04T11:06:23","slug":"first-month-university-bucket-list","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.cityblock.co.uk\/blog\/first-month-university-bucket-list\/","title":{"rendered":"First Month of University Bucket List"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Attending university for the first time is a mixture of excitement and anticipation but can also be filled with worry and concern. It might be the first time you\u2019ve lived away from your parents, and you might be looking forward to all your newfound freedom and independence. Attending university is also about experiencing things you\u2019ve never done before and making the most of your time there.<\/p>\n<p>This coming academic year might not be quite what you expected with all the changes that COVID-19 has brought into our lives, but that doesn\u2019t mean you can\u2019t still take advantage of all the fun goings-on at university and experience student life. Here\u2019s a look at all the bucket list things to check off during your first month of university.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<center><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"giphy-embed\" src=\"https:\/\/giphy.com\/embed\/pls79N6FKM52M\" width=\"480\" height=\"256\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Explore the Campus<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>There may be some one-way systems in place, or you may be required to wear a mask, but you should still get out there and explore your new university campus. Campus life is a unique experience that will make you feel right at home like you\u2019re part of one big family. As well as your lecture theatres, on campus, you will also find shops, bars, clubs and much more that makes up a small student-exclusive area.<\/p>\n<p>During your first few weeks, find some time to get out and explore the whole campus, discover everything it has to offer and learn all the secret routes and shortcuts to get you around like a pro.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<center><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"giphy-embed\" src=\"https:\/\/giphy.com\/embed\/3o7aCSkauU3lTkzyLe\" width=\"480\" height=\"269\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Get Those Fresher Freebies<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Freshers week may look a little different this academic year, and you\u2019ll have to make sure you follow all the recommended guidelines set out by your institution. There will likely be a one-way system around freshers\u2019 fair, and you will probably need to be wearing a mask, but you can still take advantage of all those awesome freebies.<\/p>\n<p>Companies and university societies will be giving away lots of lovely merchandise. Everything from pens, notepads, bottle openers and fridge magnets will be yours for the taking, as well as snacks and vouchers for goods and services. Grab as much as you can; you never know when you might need that pair of novelty sunglasses.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<center><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"giphy-embed\" src=\"https:\/\/giphy.com\/embed\/Y4t051X1r0bBvHYU37\" width=\"480\" height=\"270\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Make a Home Away from Home<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Part of the fun of moving away from home is making your student accommodation your own little home away from home. As well as all the necessities you need to bring with you to university, don\u2019t forget to throw a few home comforts in your suitcase to help your room feel more homely.<\/p>\n<p>Posters, comfy throws, photos of friends and family, fairy lights etc. these are all wonderful little touches that can help you make your student room look less generic and add your own flair to your space.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<center><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"giphy-embed\" src=\"https:\/\/giphy.com\/embed\/JQWzDjIBgkQWOepD9j\" width=\"480\" height=\"277\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Check Out the City <\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Unless you\u2019re going to university in your hometown, you\u2019re likely in a brand-new city, possibly even in a new country, and you should get out there and explore.<\/p>\n<p>Your university city will be full of places of interest and things to see and do that you might not have had at home. Put aside a weekend to head out by yourself or with your new friends to see what\u2019s what and find all the best places to explore, eat and drink.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<center><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"giphy-embed\" src=\"https:\/\/giphy.com\/embed\/KCdXOVBvvEqeWzFNf8\" width=\"480\" height=\"480\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Join a Society or Club<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>One of the best aspects of university is the sheer number of sports teams and societies that you can join. There\u2019s everything from the typical theatre groups and debate clubs, to the more unusual magic and circus, DJ and chocolate societies. Whatever you\u2019re into, you\u2019re likely to find a society that can cater to it and meet a group of like-minded people to become fast friends with.<\/p>\n<p>You will likely sign up to a lot of societies at freshers\u2019 fair that sound vaguely interesting, but you should pick one or two to actually attend. They\u2019re a great way to meet people, learn new skills and experience things you\u2019ve never done before.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<center><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"giphy-embed\" src=\"https:\/\/giphy.com\/embed\/l2Je1vjG8PuTfzlQs\" width=\"480\" height=\"362\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Make a Budget<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Unfortunately, part of being a student is learning how to budget. That student loan might seem infinite, but it can drain quickly and leave you in your overdraft before the end of the first month.<\/p>\n<p>Look at how much loan you get each term, as well as any additional earnings from a part-time job or your parents, and plan out a budget. It can be as simple as a limit on spending per week \u2013 but don\u2019t forget to factor in nights out, those greasy takeaways won\u2019t pay for themselves.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<center><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"giphy-embed\" src=\"https:\/\/giphy.com\/embed\/TiO83XhZ8nOjr2kWQG\" width=\"480\" height=\"480\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Use Your Student Discount<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Fortunately, as a student, you can take advantage of a multitude of student discounts all over your new city. Everything from restaurants to shops, hairdressers and bike shops offer student discounts. Never be afraid to ask about student discounts wherever you go, you\u2019ll be surprised at how many places will give you money off just for being a student.<\/p>\n<p>If you\u2019re a resident here at CityBlock in Lancaster, you can also take advantage of our exclusive discount card at a wide range of places. Check out our <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cityblock.co.uk\/discounts-and-offers\">discounts and offers<\/a> to find out where you could save just for being a CityBlock resident.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<center><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"giphy-embed\" src=\"https:\/\/giphy.com\/embed\/YS4dPT8CgMFvvTAIoV\" width=\"480\" height=\"270\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Create an Awesome Fancy Dress Costume<\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>You will never wear as much fancy dress as you do at university ever again. So many events revolve around costumes, and this is likely still going to be the case even if the events will look slightly different. Homemade costumes are always a top choice, so bring a few wigs, some face paint and grab some spare cardboard and get to work on those fabulous costumes. And don\u2019t forget to team up with your housemates on a fantastic group costume.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<center><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"giphy-embed\" src=\"https:\/\/giphy.com\/embed\/LUIvcbR6yytz2\" width=\"480\" height=\"400\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<h2><strong>Get Some Uni Merch <\/strong><\/h2>\n<p>Finally, make sure you show your appreciation for your institution by getting yourself a university hoodie or shirt. What\u2019s the point of attending university if you can\u2019t let everyone know about it? Show your university pride with some branded merch, or to bring home to your parents so they can show off their child\u2019s education in the form of a branded mug or keyring.<\/p>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<center><iframe loading=\"lazy\" class=\"giphy-embed\" src=\"https:\/\/giphy.com\/embed\/l46CBIj9os4Ntj7UY\" width=\"480\" height=\"480\" frameborder=\"0\" allowfullscreen=\"allowfullscreen\"><\/iframe><\/center>\n<p>\u00a0<\/p>\n<p>At CityBlock, we hope you have a great first month at university despite the changes expected this year. If you\u2019re looking for outstanding en-suite <a href=\"https:\/\/www.cityblock.co.uk\/student-accommodation-lancaster\">student accommodation in Lancaster<\/a>, contact us today.<\/p>\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Attending university for the first time is a mixture of excitement and anticipation but can also be filled &hellip; <\/p>\n<p class=\"link-more\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.cityblock.co.uk\/blog\/first-month-university-bucket-list\/\" class=\"more-link\">Continue reading<span class=\"screen-reader-text\"> &#8220;First Month of University Bucket List&#8221;<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":15785,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[21],"tags":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cityblock.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16031"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cityblock.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cityblock.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cityblock.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cityblock.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=16031"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/www.cityblock.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16031\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":17603,"href":"https:\/\/www.cityblock.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16031\/revisions\/17603"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cityblock.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/15785"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.cityblock.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=16031"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cityblock.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=16031"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.cityblock.co.uk\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=16031"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}