As the semester has wrapped up and we’ve just entered the end of term exam period , we as international students have a myriad of things to do apart from studying. Whether you have to pack up and be ready to move out, sort out your visa, apply for scholarships, financial help or part-time jobs, renew your tenancy agreement or even find a new place to stay, here are useful tips for this busy time:

Planning

This is essential to successfully achieve all you have to do. Don’t rely on your memory! Set up a list and put reminders on each thing so you don’t miss a deadline. In your calendar, balance academic life with personal life. Make a study plan, even during the exam period, and distribute your days before the exams with specific things you want to study, such as topics or a number of lectures (not only saying “study for x subject” but “revise first three lectures tomorrow”) and, during your breaks, do small chores to make the most of your time, if, for example, you’re moving out.

If you’re leaving Maynooth University: packing up can consume a lot of time, which is not ideal when we also have to prepare for exams. Procrastination is our worst enemy here (you can check my blog on procrastination here); we need to stay active if we want to be ready on time.

If you’re a full-degree international student living on-campus, it’s recommended that, after you’ve spent your first year making friends and, thus, connections, find accommodation off-campus where you can choose who to live with, when to leave if you decide to go home during the summer or, if you’re lucky, find a place that can be rented during the summer months as well.

Off-campus accomodation in Celbridge

If you’re staying during the summer: find internships related to your field to start gaining experience. At Maynooth University, there are summer jobs offered to students to work on-campus, which is a huge help. Keep an eye out for opportunities! Remember to build your brand and create a LinkedIn account during your academic years so that it’s ready for when you graduate. The Student Success Team will help you do this in an effective way to make the most of your experience at Maynooth University.

Finally, take advantage of the study week to plan and start with the most important tasks.

Accessing resources and asking for help

If you’re struggling with any of these processes, reach out to staff as soon as possible! They are happy to help and will save you plenty of time. Book an appointment with your student adviser, budget adviser, or with the Careers service to help you plan finances or plans.

Starting early

This applies to any student, but especially for us: start studying early. Don’t leave it to the last minute as many things will accumulate. Start sorting out appointments early as some might take a while to respond (scholarships, CV, GP, etc.).

Taking care of yourself

Taking care of your wellbeing is especially important as this is the last bit of the academic year. Make sure to make time to rest, take breaks and do something you love despite the busyness. Resources like Togetherall are of great help for mental health.

I wish you the best of luck with your exams and all your future endeavours!