First Year

University can be quite an uncertain and scary prospect for students coming out of a protected environment, such as school. Not only do students have to continue focusing and working towards academic achievement, but also learn to become completely independent, often in a new town/city surrounded by completely new...

Starting university is an exciting time, but can also be incredibly scary. You’re meeting new people, adapting to a new way of living and having to grasp a whole new way of learning in a very short period of time. You’ve got a million and one questions and no...

Laura’s short story reflects on the struggles faced as a young woman starting university. From an early age, I was taught never go anywhere on your own. To take my sister everywhere with me. Especially to public toilets. You hear stories, don’t you? Just last week, as well. All...

The Oxford English Dictionary defines fresher as a “young frog”. In many ways, we are all young frogs. Born small into the big pond flailing, thrust into a world we know nothing of, battling to stay afloat amidst the copious amounts of liquid swirling around us (the liquid in...

Fanfiction is essentially original fiction written using non-original characters, settings, or world-building concepts. That might be a Harry Potter fic using the ‘next generation’ characters and the setting of Hogwarts, but with an original spin on the challenges they encounter. It might be a crossover between characters of two...

Impact Arts asked first-year English student Natalie Henderson about her experience working with the Nottingham New Theatre, and her role as ‘Party Piece’ in the shockingly brilliant play Mercury Fur. What advice would you give to first-year students who want to get involved? The number of first-year students vary year...

As the new term approaches, students starting life at the University of Nottingham will soon be settling into a new home on or around campus. Some will be living in one of the famed Oxbridge-esque halls, while others will settle into the slightly more contemporary-styled student flats. But is...