25 Nov 2024 - Switch on for Energy Action Week

Welcome to your postgraduate taught student news summary of key things happening this week.

Following the outage last week that affected some of our IT systems and WiFi, a reminder that you can check our University status board for info and regular updates on problems we’ve identified. It’s a good place to start if you’re experiencing a connection problem. Likewise, for physical disruption on campus, like bus stop changes and road closures, you can also check scheduled works so you can better plan your journey.

All student visa holders must now take steps to set up your UKVI account and eVisa - especially if you are leaving the UK over the winter vacation. Having trouble? Book a slot at an International Student Support Team eVisa help session on Friday (29 November). 

We all share a responsibility to make our buses accessible and inclusive. Small actions can make a big difference. Remember to:

Hoping to bag a bargain in the Black Friday sales this week? Whether you’re making a start on Christmas shopping or just planning to treat yourself, it’s important to be vigilant for shopping scams. 

Get ready to spark some energy-saving fun! As part of the College Sustainability Challenge, Energy Action Week is here. From today until Sunday, plug into exciting activities, switch on to competitions, and get charged up to win prizes—whether you're living on campus or elsewhere. You can also apply for the York SU Sustainable Development Grant to help improve sustainability at York. Let’s make a difference. 

When writing a dissertation, the hardest part is often knowing where to begin. Come to the  Academic Skills Community online session on PGT Dissertation Writing: an introduction on 10 December where we will look at what a dissertation is and show how it differs from other assignment types. The session outlines the opportunities that writing a dissertation offers you and the academic skills you can develop to write one. 

There are events, activities, reading lists, blog posts and competitions to mark Disability History Month 2024. Hear from Ian Rice, who captured iconic sporting images at this year’s Paralympics, or find out about assistive technology in Ancient Greece and Rome. If you have a disability, contact Disability Services to chat through your needs and they will recommend support options best suited to you.

Everyone can benefit from assistive technology to help you study - whether that’s using mind map software for lectures, distraction-reducing software or reading assisting technology. See our accessibility and tech tips. 

We provide a range of support for students who are studying without parental support, including funding, social events, and information and guidance from a dedicated advisor. As part of Estranged Students Solidarity Week, we are holding a Christmas Craft event for independent students to make baubles and we’ll display some on the Student Hub Christmas tree as a sign of our solidarity. You can support our Christmas 2024 stocking appeal to raise money to provide Christmas presents to our independent students.

Thank you to the hundreds of you who participated in Unibattle 2024, taking us close to the top of the Money Smartest Leaderboard - we came a close second place! Remember, Blackbullion can help with loads of financial stuff - including budgeting, how to pay off debt, recognising scams and understanding tax and pensions. Sign up for Blackbullion for free.

Log on to Handshake, our careers platform, for jobs and opportunities:

See all updates for students on our website:

Things to know this week is produced and distributed by the University's Internal Communications Team. Please email any feedback to 
university-internal-comms@york.ac.uk.

University of York
YO10 5DD, United Kingdom
www.york.ac.uk

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