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