The sussed student's term survival guide

1. Budget carefully. Work out how much you can afford to spend a week on food, entertainment, etc, and try hard to stick to it.

2. Course books may be very expensive. Look for second-hand outlets or ads in student papers.

3. Think carefully before joining societies at the Freshers' Fayre. Membership subscriptions can be pricey; find out whether they are worth it.

4. Take plenty of warm clothes. University rooms are often chilly, and the climate may be colder and wetter than you're used to.

5. Don't stick with friends from home - you're less likely to meet new people.

6. If you're in digs rather than a hall, head for the students' union or college bars.

7. Plan your week and identify times for working on your own when you're least likely to be distracted. Arts students are expected to do a lot of studying in their "free" time.

8. Find a good library to work in. Studying in your room can be alternately depressing and distracting.

9. Take multivitamins. Whether you are cooking for yourself or eating in Hall, your diet will probably be less well-balanced than it was at home.

10. If you feel demoralised, don't despair. University is not always the immediate thrill it's cracked up to be. It can take time to find real soul mates and to adjust to personal and academic independence. But it is usually worth persevering.