In this episode, Scott and Freya talk to Ian, a Cardiff University Law Student. Ian chats about why he chose to go to university, what it is like accessing support and making the most of work placements.

00:00 – Intro

00:28 – Meet Ian

08:49 – Accessing student support and DSA

19:15 – Making the most of university with work placements

‘The Need for Different Minds’ by Julie Jaggin https://www.lawsociety.org.uk/topics/lawyers-with-disabilities/the-need-for-different-minds

What do you need to spend money on at university? What should you consider when opening a bank account? Following a special Discovery Project event that happened just before Christmas, Scott and Freya discuss some student budgeting basics and bank accounts.

Average Cardiff student living costs: www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/student-life/living-costs

A useful guide to budgeting and finance created in partnership with Cardiff University alumni Martin Lewis: www.young-enterprise.org.uk/resources/your-money-matters-financial-education-textbook-wales/

NAS Managing Money guidance: www.autism.org.uk/advice-and-guidance/topics/benefits-and-money/personal-finances/managing-money

Examples of online/app banks:

www.starlingbank.com

monzo.com

Branch-based banks with student bank accounts:

www.santander.co.uk/personal/current-accounts/123-student-current-account

www.hsbc.co.uk/current-accounts/products/student/

With so many different options available at university, day-to-day life as a student can vary depending on the course you choose. Scott and Freya chat to current students Kyle and Soamopriya about their daily routines.

You can choose to move away for university or stay at home – or do both! Scott, Freya and several of our Student Ambassadors discuss preparing for university, your first day and top tips for starting university.

00:00 – Introduction

00:56 – What can you do to prepare yourself for starting university?

04:56 – Programmes that help you transition to university

08:25 – Moving into university accommodation and types of residences

11:45 – Residence Life Team at Cardiff

14:47 – Types of university accommodation

16:00 – Discovery Summer School

16:36 – Your first day at university and moving away from home

21:43 – Ask the Students: Astrid’s Moving In Story

22:33 – Ask the Students: Top tips for when you start university

30:39 - Conclusion

Cardiff University Residences

https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/accommodation/residences

https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/accommodation/life-in-student-accommodation/accommodation-preferences

Disability and Dyslexia Service at Cardiff

https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/student-life/student-support/disability-and-dyslexia-service

Looking after yourself when you arrive at university

https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/new-students/when-you-arrive/looking-after-yourself

How can universities (and student finance) support you? Scott and Freya talk through the Disabled Students Allowance, bursaries and how student finance works. Whilst these systems can be difficult to navigate, they can really help you at university!

00:00 – Introduction

03:15 – Support Services at university

09:14 – Disabled Student’s Allowance (DSA)

12:29 – Ask the Students: What did you do to prepare for university?

14:38 – Introduction to Student Finance

19:17 – Applying for Student Finance, Scholarships and Bursaries

21:31 – How where you live affects Student Finance

23:37 – Paying back your Student Finance loan

24:50 – Ask the Students: University accommodation[FM1]

26:44 – Jobshop at Cardiff University and the role of Student Ambassadors

30:28 – Financial support at university

33:06 – Conclusion

Disabled Students Allowance

https://www.ucas.com/finance/additional-funding/disabled-students-allowances-dsas

https://www.disabilityrightsuk.org/applying-disabled-students%E2%80%99-allowances-dsas

Student Finance and Funding

https://www.studentfinancewales.co.uk/

https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/funding

In this episode, Scott and Freya talk about how you apply to university through UCAS and give some top tips. This includes discussing the key parts of the UCAS application process, with a focus on the Personal Statement. They also answer the question of whether you should put a disability, such as autism, on your application.

00:00 – Introduction

00:33 – UCAS application

04:50 – Should I tell UCAS I’m autistic?

06:20 – Support and the Discovery Project

09:54 – UCAS application continued

13:40 – Introduction to the Personal Statement[FM1]

15:03 – Tips for writing your Personal Statement

20:36 – Ask the Students: What type of experiences did you reference in your personal statement?

23:44 – Ask the Students: What was the opening line of your personal statement?

25:10 – Who reads your Personal Statement?

27:19 – Scott and Freya choose 1 top tip for writing a Personal Statement

UCAS Application

https://www.ucas.com/

https://www.ucas.com/undergraduate/applying-university/individual-needs/disabled-students/support-disabled-students-frequently-asked-questions

Personal Statements

https://causeway.education/howto

https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/applying/personal-statement

What qualifications are important when it comes to applying to university? Should you go straight after sixth form/college or not? Scott and Freya discuss grades, course requirements and what happens if you struggle with schoolwork.

00:00 – Introduction

00:35 – Routes to university

08:05 – Qualifications (GCSEs, A-Levels, BTECs and more)

15:12 – Grades and Course Requirements

22:54 – What do you do if you struggle with exams and schoolwork?

25:24 – Game: Guess what these people studied at college and university

Useful links:

For examples of what others interested in certain careers studied

https://www.whatuni.com/degrees/courses/

Course search

https://digital.ucas.com/search

Example of entry requirements and course information via Cardiff University

https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/courses/2022/geology-bsc

Welcome to University, Autism and You! Scott and Freya summarise what university is in practical terms. This includes discussing different elements of university life, types of courses and meeting new people. They're joined by current students Kyle and Zoe.

00:00 – Introduction

01:13 – What is university?

05:13 – Ask the Students: What did you think about university before you went?

06:23 – Different elements of university life

09:35 – BA/BSc and types of courses

17:45 – Meeting new people

20:53 – Ask the Students: What is it like if you don’t know anyone at university?

22:47 – How are you supposed to decide if you want to go to university?

Useful links:

https://www.cardiff.ac.uk/study/undergraduate/teachers-and-careers-advisers/widening-participation