Things to know this week - 25 January 2021

Posted on 25 January 2021

The weekly news summary for taught postgraduate students from the University of York.

Coronavirus: update summary

Apply to the Emergency Student Support Fund
The Emergency Student Support Fund (ESSF) provides short-term financial support for the unanticipated needs of students caused or exacerbated by the Covid-19 pandemic. Apply for a maximum of £500 of non-repayable funding to cover things like living costs, health-related costs, accommodation, travel expenses, and study-related costs. Hurry though - the application deadline is 12 noon on Tuesday 26 January.

1. Feeling lonely? Meet other students through Student Connect

We know how difficult it is at the moment to be in touch with others and meet new people to form connections. To support you making new friendships with other like-minded students we've launched a new initiative, Student Connect. By telling us a bit about yourself, we'll match you with another student, usually from your course or college. You could chat online about your experiences, look at our list of ideas for virtual lockdown activities to do together, or if you're able to, meet for socially-distanced exercise around campus. Fill in the form and start to connect.

2. Lacking confidence online?

Do you find yourself afraid to speak out in online seminars and discussions? Do you want to develop your confidence, skills and motivation to participate actively in online activities to get the most out of your course? Join the Academic Skills Community’s online confidence mini-course, starting on Tuesday 26 or Thursday 28 January, to use improvisation and discussion to build your confidence.

3. Trouble sleeping?

The first of this term’s wellbeing workshops is on Thursday 28 January and focuses on why you may be struggling to sleep and why you need sleep to succeed at university and beyond. Get practical techniques to help improve your sleep and find out about services and resources that can help. Book your place on Secrets to successful sleep.

4. What will you do this summer?

From virtual internships to summer schools, find out what you could be doing this summer at our online Summer Opportunities Fair on Wednesday 27 January. Get advice from international employers, nonprofits and University departments on the programmes and bursaries available, and find out about our International Study Centres in Mexico and Ireland this year. Sign up to attend the online Summer Opportunities Fair.

5. What are your Strengths?

York Strengths is an online interactive course that enables you to discover (and review) your strengths - the things you are good at and love to do - at your own pace and in a place to suit you. You can then use this to plan your time at York and your future career. Find out more about York Strengths Online.

Student news

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.