A-Z of Student Life
Our A-Z of Student Life...
A is for... ACCOMMODATION
This will be the place that comforts you when your entire grant is spent up and there are too many essays to write to even consider going out for a swift pint. So make sure you pick it well. Many places even offer en-suite, high spec kitchens, and spacious living rooms. Check our listings for details...
B is for... BOOZE
No doubt you’ll spend lots of time with this during your College years but remember- it’ll also be your worst enemy when you’ve got a 9 o’clock lecture to get to! So drink responsibly. Many agencies offer responsible drinking advice and support, if you need to speak to someone, contact us here in the SU.
C is for... COMMUNITY
Even if you live in a student area it’s important to remember that you are part of a community. Respect your environment and try to get along with all your neighbours. This is where you’ll be living for a year or longer so treat it well! You can get involved in lots of projects, your local SU will have further information and it will look great on your CV. Also, don't forget that it is possible to help communities overseas. Details of our CSR program can be found here...
D is for... DEBT
Debts are inevitable, but make sure you stay on top of them and try not to blow your whole month’s budget in one week. For debt advice, try the Student Finance website. There are also lots of bursaries out there if you are in real difficulty, drop into your local SU office for more information.
E is for... EARLY MORNINGS
Yep, it’s true there is such thing as an early morning start at College. Going out is great but make sure you wake up for your early morning lectures and attend them all; you’ll be grateful in the long run.
F is for... FRESHERS WEEK
Freshers week is your guide to everything and everyone at DIT. Along with freebies from the Union you’ll get to join any society or group you want and meet as many people as you want! Make sure you get stuck in with all the activities going on. A word of warning though: be prepared. After the buzz and excitement of meeting hundreds of new people and getting minimal sleep, it’s inevitable that you’re going to be slightly run down. Stock up on water, fruit and lemsips and you’ll be ready to go again in no time!G is for... GOVERNING COUNCIL
Governing council does exactly what it says on the tin - it governs DIT Students' Union.
The councillors vote on activities for the Union to focus on and also
which charity will benefit from RAG Week .
It is the means by which your elected officers are held to account, and
the forum where students can contribute to the continual process of
ensuring that the Students' Union is acting in the interests of the
student body. Learn more about your Governing Council here...H is for... HOMESICKNESS
It’s probably inevitable from time to time, but remembering to book early for cheap coach fares will make going home at weekends and holidays more affordable. For all of your guys that live in Dublin and don't experience this... move out and get your own pad, then you'll feel the pain!!!I is for... INSURANCE
It sounds boring, but every year we hear stories in the SU from students whose laptop or whatever has been stolen... Always make room in your budget for insurance. Sometimes landlords offer inclusive insurance, but make sure you top up for your laptop and all your gadgets as these are often left uncovered, and targeted!J is for... JOB
Although spending your days off watching daytime TV and sleeping may sound perfect now, you’ll soon get bored. Getting a job can help you gain work experience, better your CV, earn money and give you something more interesting to do instead of watching The Den. Try our employment section...K is for... KEBAB SHOP
This will become a central part of your nights out and the last stop before you stagger home and into bed. But remember to maintain a balanced diet, as you’ll need as much energy as possible to get you through the next day’s lectures, so get plenty of lettuce on that bad boy! Oh, don't forget the chili sauce!L is for... LATE NIGHTS
Watching the sunrise is not something all students get up for, but watching the sunrise when you’re staggering home from an afterparty is more typical of any student. All work and no play is not good for anyone, so make sure there’s a balance between partying hard and studying hard. But if there is a party to be had, we are probably organising it! Just visit our Ents section for details on upcoming events...M is for... MULTIVITIMINS
The potent cocktail of Booze, Kebab Shops and Late Nights are going to leave your body in short supply... so that get Berocca into you! Seriously, we want to make sure you know how to look after your Welfare (mental & physical) so keep an eye out for one of our Welfare Weeks or visit our Health section for advice.N is for... NIGHTS IN
When you’re grants spent up and it’s nearing exam time then staying in will become the norm. However it can be just as fun as going out. Having good accommodation and great housemates makes it easier to stay in and those little extras such as internet and digital TV make it even better, so it might be worth investing in these at the beginning of the year.O is for... OPTOMETRY - School of - DIT Kevin St
Get your eyes tested completely free by the good people at the School of Optometry - Kevin St, which is also the National Optometry Centre. they are always looking for people to be tested by the students (supervised) and have a prescription service for glasses and contacts. It's a fantastic way to save money while looking after your eyesight. P is for... PARENTS
You’ll be glad to get away from them the minute they’ve helped you move into your accommodation, but before time, you’ll be secretly looking forward to seeing them again. Don’t forget them at College because they can help when your cupboards are bare or you need to buy that essential textbook. And for those of you Dubs living at home, I refer you to letter H!!!Q is for...
Leave this one with me!R is for... REBEL
University is the perfect place to flaunt your individuality. Make the most of rebelling because, once you’ve graduated, chances are it will become a lot harder to do!S is for... SEX
If you think you’re grown up enough to do it, you should be grown up enough to practice safe sex as you don’t want to get a nasty STI. Condoms are usually available from your SU or local family planning clinic. Visit our Welfare section for more information...
T is for... TOILET PAPER
If you attend Bolton Street you know what we are on about here! But also at home toilet paper has the ability to make or break friendships with your flatmates. Top tip: Keep a spare roll in your locker/room for emergencies...U is for... UNDERWEAR
Make sure you’ve always got clean underwear– you never know what situation you might find yourself in!V is for... VEGETABLES
Make sure you eat your 5-a-day. You need to be healthy and keep your energy levels high, especially with all that partying going on.W is for...
Hmmm...X is for... Xenphobia
An unreasonable fear or hatred of foreigners or strangers or of that which is foreign or strange. We have a great mix of people - students and staff from all over the world. Get talking to as many people as possible and open up a whole new world of friendships. The diversity in DIT is hugely benefiical so get to know as many people as possible and keep Xenophobia out of DIT.Y is for... YOUNG
You’re only young once and your student years will be some of the best, so make the most of them.Z is for... ZZZZZZZZZZ
So now you have an idea as to what student life looks like and I’m sure you’re looking forward to all of the new people that you’ll meet, but remember to get your rest and catch as many zzzzzzz’s as you can!
