University, Autism and You Cardiff University

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