Moving into halls can be nerve-wracking in terms of packing, especially if you come from outside the UK as you can’t bring everything you might want to decorate your new room with you.

As a 4^th year UCL student, here are my tips on how to decorate your hall room:

1. Take a step back and consider the layout. Most rooms come with a standardised layout, which isn’t necessarily the most efficient disposition. See if you could move the bed or the desk to make more space available. This newly emptied space shouldn’t necessarily be filled with stuff since that room is going to be where you spend most of your time; you need to leave yourself space to live.
2. Be wary of attaching things to the walls. Most accommodation halls require a safety deposit, from which deductions will be made if there is any considerable damage to the room. Often, this includes paint chips on the wall due to blue tac, command hooks, adhesives, etc. To be able to have posters and pictures up on your room walls, I would recommend laying some painter’s tape before putting any adhesive on the wall, so later you can remove it and it will not leave much of a trace.
3. It is also important to have good lighting. One of the biggest shocks for me during the first year was the fact that during winter the sun sets very early (around 4pm). So, it was very important for me to have good lighting in my room since natural light wasn’t an option. I recommend buying an additional bedside lamp with a warm-toned light bulb, especially if the ceiling light feels too white or abrasive.
4. Finally, I would recommend not going too crazy on the decorations, since you will most likely be moving out in 9 months. Your room should be cosy and welcoming without it being too crowded.

Welcome, 1^st year students, good luck moving and happy decoration!

This blog was written by Ines, MEng Biomedical Engineering

London has incredible things to offer, but it becomes tricky to enjoy it when you are a student. Indeed, London prices can be discouraging, but it shouldn’t stop you from discovering what the city has to offer. Allow me then to give you an introduction to the best activities in London when you’re on a budget.

• Sky Garden

London is big, but sometimes we forget just how far the city expands. What better way to get a panoramic view of London than from one of the skyscrapers in the City? The Sky Garden is a in-doors garden on the top floor of the Walkie Talkie shaped building in the City. It allows you to have a 360-degree view of London and tickets are free (we love free entry)! Suggestion: book at sunset to have an unobstructed view of London’s golden hour.

• Hampstead Heath

When a glimpse of sun appears, Londoners throw themselves to the parks of the capital. I know you’ve heard all about Hyde Park and Regent’s Park, however, the most underrated park of the numerous ones in London is North-London’s Hampstead Heath. If you want a quiet undisturbed afternoon and lush green hills with views to the city, this is the place to go. In the summer you can even swim in the ponds for less than £5! Perfect for dog lovers since it is filled with locals walking their dogs.

• South Bank

The walk towards South Bank never disappoints, regardless of what part of London you live. Putting aside sightseeing during the journey, South Bank and Waterloo always have fun thing to do. Book stalls, food markets, performances, skateparks … all while walking along the Thames towards landmarks like the London Eye and the Big Ben. Most of the options for food are affordable but I would recommend the Waterloo food market on Sundays. You can find all kinds of delicious food!

• Kew Gardens

Kew Gardens is a new personal discovery and I regret not having gone sooner! This beautiful botanical garden is accessible to students for £9 (with student ID) and features rose fields, a tropical green house, a palace and individual gardens with a vast variety of magnificent plants, trees and flowers. Located next to Richmond and at the edge of the Thames, it is the perfect place for a picnic during summer.

To finish off, a piece of advice: always check for student discounts. In my experience 80% of the time there is a deduction in the entry price for activities. And go enjoy London!

This blog was written by Ines, MEng Biomedical Engineering

Photo credit: All pictures supplied by Ines

When I applied to university, I could picture myself doing the big things. Going to interesting lectures and doing exciting projects, exploring all that London has to offer during day and night; and making a lot of friends. But what I didn’t pause to think about, which I reckon is the case for most prospective students, is what my routine would look like. So, what would a normal day in the life of a 19-year-old Biomedical Engineering student look like?

Early mornings

Even if I don’t have class, waking up later than 8am is dangerous game for me since I get tempted to stay working in my bed the days I don’t have class. However, I try to still wake up in order to be on campus around 9am to ensure a somewhat productive day.

Morning Light Through my Window

Firing up my brain

I’ve found that waking up and leave immediately does not work for me, so I give myself half an hour to drink my coffee and be in my phone. That way, my brain is already fully awake by the time I sit in class or library.

Out the door

Since I don’t live within walking distance to campus (technically I do but I’m lazy in the mornings) I take the bus. However, my laziness makes my bank account scream since TFL is so expensive now. I normally get to campus 10 minutes early and go grab a coffee at the student centre cafe, since it’s nicer than Pret. Pro tip: if you hand them your reusable cup to use, you get your drink for cheaper!

View of St Pancras from the bus

Prime Focus Time

If I don’t have any classes that day, I’ll go settle into my study space in one of the libraries in campus (science library or student centre preferably), and follow my weekly schedule to keep up to date with content and assignments. This period of the day is crucial since I get the more done in the morning.

Lunch Break

Since the sun is coming out again and it’s getting warmer, I meet my friends for lunch in Gordon Square. Sometimes when you’re in campus it feels like you don’t get enough air since you’re always indoors, so I like to take a breather during lunch. Plus, every opportunity to tan must be seized.

UCL Wilkins Building

Terminating Daily Tasks and Me-Time

After finishing my tasks for the day an afternoon lectures, I head home at around 5pm. When I get home I go to the gym, or at least I try to a couple times a week. I found that working late in the evening does not work well for me, so I give myself a couple hours before watching the last lectures or finishing up anything that was not done on campus.

Sunset sky on my way back home

Finally, I aim to be in bed by 11:30 pm since getting anything less than 8 hours of sleep makes me a zombie the next day. We can’t forget to go out and have fun a couple times a week. At the end of the day, we need to enjoy time with friends to keep our lifestyle balanced and avoid burning out!

This blog was written by Ines, MEng Biomedical Engineering

Photo credit: All pictures supplied by Ines