As grants are decreasing more and more students are relying on student loans and getting overdrawn. At first, I spent too much time going out and hardly any time in the library. You learn from your mistakes and you soon learn how to balance it all.I have a grant, a student loan, money from my parents and various holiday jobs to keep me going. I worked out that I have pounds 45 per week for living (after rent). It was difficult at first, what with doing your own washing, ironing and cooking, but you soon get used to it.

Last year I would just eat chips and beans and spend the rest of my money on beer, but this year I'm trying to cut down on the chips and beans and eat a bit more healthily. It's great living in rented accommodation, but sometimes you can have problems with landlords. If you do have any, there's a Student Welfare Service, which advises you on what to do if you have a problem.You have to learn to balance your academic work and social life. I've found it very rewarding, not only with helping other students through university life but also as an extra-curricular activity.I'm in my second year, so I share a house with friends. The good thing about university life is that you are left to your own devices, unlike school, where you're told what to do and how to do it It's important to socialise and meet new friends lt takes some people longer than others. If a student has any problems, about anything, there's student counselling available at all universities, where they try and help out as much as possible. I've been a volunteer for our Student Counselling Scheme for some time now.

SIMON KILLINGTON University of Newcastle-upon-Tyne I found it relatively easy to decide which course to do, it was where to go which I found harder to decide. As good as a course might be, I think it is equally important to live in a town or a city which you can relate to.The main reason for going to university is to get an academic qualification, but personally, I think that the social side of things and developing as a person are equally important. Fewer than 10 per cent of people do, and in many cases it's not for academic reasons.. If an institution is running a two- semester year there are likely to be exams at the end of both semesters. It means that you sit quite a lot of exams, although there is the advantage that you have a good idea of how you are coping with a particular subject and can make adjustments to your programme if necessary.In most cases you have to pass your first year but the marks do not count towards your final degree classification Don't be too anxious about failing the first year.