Undergraduates

With the never ending social programme that student life brings, sometimes it's difficult to manage your time. It's important to work hard and play hard, but bear in mind that when you graduate, the results on your CV are more important than how many Sambuca shots you can manage at Jesters!

The information provided here will help you with balancing your social and academic life, especially regarding study skills and exam revision. The Students' Union Advice and Information Centre (SUAIC) is also a good port of call for many issues. Don't forget to look after your welfare too!

Useful resources to consider:

• The University Library provides support material for your course and advice on studying and research.
• The Careers Advisory Service help you to point your career in the right direction.
• Prospects, a Government-driven service to help you get qualified.
• DfES are involved in all aspects of your education, including financing.
• Kent University has a useful guide to learning.

Postgraduates

Every year a postgraduate student is elected as Postgraduate Officer. They work with SUSU to develop facilities for postgraduate students, organise the Postgraduate Committee, as well as representing you in the Union.

Comprehensive information for postrgraduates is available at the postgrad website.

Mature Students

We understand that mature students have different needs and potential issues compared to the “typical” 21 year old. For anything from finances, children and family problems to getting back into learning after time away from the studying, we aim to support you as best we can. SUAIC offers help and advice, your faculty will have support links, and our revision site may also come in handy!

The mature students' Welcome Day runs annually during Freshers' Week, welcoming new mature students to SUSU, and always gets positive feedback. Our entertainment programme, which runs throughout the year, is rapidly expanding to cover all tastes. We hope that the Laughter Lounge, Jazz Lounge and Quiz & Curry nights, to name just a few, might appeal to you.

We also recruit a part-time Mature Student Officer to represent your views and issues in the Union. If you would like to get involved in events for mature students, have any issues you'd like to talk about, or just would like some more information, just email mature@susu.org.

There is also a Mature Students Society who organise ongoing social events.

Part-Time Students

Balancing life at university is hard enough when it's your only concern, so we understand how difficult it can be as a part-time student. If you need some extra support, hopefully we have the facilities to help you. If not, don't hesitate to let us know where we fall short: get in touch at vped@susu.org or express your views on the SUSU forums.

There is a position for Part-Time Students' Officer, who is chosen to represent the views and issues of part-time students with regard to the Students Union itself, and any wider issues around the University. This position is currently vacant, and enquires are welcome to vped@susu.org.

External Students

External students are often treated as though they're part-time students, but at SUSU we recognise your distinctiveness. If you have any comments you'd like SUSU to take on, from any area around the Union or the University, then hopefully you'll find that we're keen listeners. The University looks on us to provide representation for all students, including your views and concerns.

International Students

As international students, SUSU does a great deal for you, and this is ever expanding. Your most notable point of call will more than likely be our Student Union Advice and Information Centre (SUAIC), found within the Student Services Centre on Unversity Road. Here you can gain advice on many issues, as well as sort out your visa. In addition, we organise the extremely important police checks for you at the start of the academic year.

The Students Union also puts on a number of social events which we hope that you will find of interest. A full entertainment programme at the University has a number of events which International Students attend, from weekly karaoke to an annual Brazilian festival, and a cultural diversity week which embraces all cultures within the University community. There is also a night geared especially for International Students, called Mi Casa Tu Casa, which is set to become bigger and better over the next year.

Outside of the Students' Union, we organise a number of social trips for International Students to the surrounding areas in order for you to get a little taste of the UK while you are here.

We are currently recruiting for a part time International Student Officer, to help get the International community more involved within the Union and make sure specific issues are brought to our attention. Please email education@susu.org if you are interested.

Useful links

• Immigration Advisory Service (ISAUK)
• Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI)
• UK Council for International Student Affairs (UKCOSA)
• Immigration & Nationality Directorate
• International Student Organisation
• International Students' information at Prospects
• For many relevant SUSU publications, take a look on SUAIC's publications page
• There is a dedicated SUSU site for international students