What are your plans for this summer? David from Foreign Students takes us through his top tips for international students’ summer holiday options…

If you’re an international student in the UK right now, chances are you’re in the middle of exams and feeling pretty stressed. However, before you know it, exams will be over and you’ll be faced with a three month summer holiday.

If you haven’t already made plans for the summer, then you have a few different options. Here we go through what choices you have and give you some top tips on how to make the most of your summer.

Go Home

The most obvious choice is to go home for the summer. You’ve probably missed your family and friends during your stay in the UK, and they’ll certainly have missed you. You can spend the summer reacquainting yourself with freshly cooked dinners, free laundry and no rent.

At home you can either get a summer job and save up some extra spending money for when you return to study, or else simply relax, recharge and get a head start on next year’s work.

Positives: See the people and things you have missed, save money

Negatives: May get bored a week after getting there

Stay in the UK

Even though you won’t have any lectures to attend, you may still want to stay in the UK over the summer. If you are settled and you are paying for your accommodation over the summer anyway, then it may be the best option.

The summer is a great chance to get some work experience that can improve your CV. Working full time or part time can help you save up that extra bit of cash to help you out during term time, and doing it in a job relevant to your degree can be really useful (you can search & apply for jobs here).

However, the best way to give your career prospects a boost is by trying to get an internship. Doing a one-three month internship in an industry you’re interested in will help you make contacts and will look brilliant on your CV. The only downside is that many internships are unpaid, so you will need to have some savings to help you through.

Alternatively, just relax and enjoy exploring parts Britain you haven’t had a chance to yet. You can travel around the UK really cheaply if you’ve got the time to take a bus. Plus, who knows, you may even get to see the mythical English sun!

Positives: Could get good work experience

Negatives: Accommodation expensive, may miss your family (?!)

Go Travelling

University summers are pretty much the one chance in your life that you have long periods of time with zero responsibilities. Therefore, it is the perfect time to travel the world.

If you are from outside of Europe, using the UK as a base and exploring the many wonderful cities of the continent would certainly be memorable. Travelling by train can be great value and very sociable, whilst staying in hostels means you can do it all on a budget (read this guide for top tips).

Another alternative is to volunteer. There are loads of programmes open to volunteers who want to travel and live in an unusual part of the world, whilst also helping others.

Positives: Unique experience

Negatives: Expensive

Now that you’ve seen some of your options, maybe you’ll think twice about simply going home and sitting in front of the TV for the whole summer. For three months you have total control over your time – make the most of it!

Moving away from home, living in a new city and making new friends can make going to university a daunting experience. But there’s no need to panic! Follow these top tips and you’ll be just fine…

Before you go

1. Find your new housemates online before you go with your university’s Facebook page or The Student Room. Plan what you’re all going to take with you, or you may end up with six kettles and no toaster!

2. Get a head start on what’s going on in Freshers’ Week so you can plan your budget. Many universities will publish schedules on their Student Union website.

3. Pack lots of fancy dress as there are always plenty of themed parties!

4. Buy a good quality saucepan. With the copious amounts of pasta and baked beans you’ll get through, it’s a good investment.

5. Get a student bank account. There are many perks and discounts offered by different banks so shop around. Check out Money Saving Expert to see which one’s best for you.

6. Many courses require students to buy a reading list and it’s a good idea to order your books in advance.

When you get there

7. Make sure you leave your door open while unpacking. This is a sure-fire way to make friends, as you will appear friendly and approachable.

8. Take a box of chocolates to share with your new flat mates. This is a great icebreaker and another easy way to make friends.

9. Go to the Freshers’ Fair. You may discover a new sport or society that you hadn’t heard of before – plus you’ll pick up loads of freebies!

10. From posters to pillows and photographs to fairy lights, it’s vital you make your room feel homely (just make sure you check with your university before sticking things all over the walls!).

11. Have a hoody and a pair of shoes in easy reach of your bed. You’ll be thanking us when the fire alarm goes off in the early hours of the morning.

12. Take your student card everywhere with you – you’ll be surprised by how many places you can use it at.

13. Register with a doctor as soon as possible. Freshers’ Flu is notorious so take care of yourself by eating plenty of fruit and veg.

14. Finally, and most importantly, have fun! Your time at university will fly by so take time to savour every moment.

Coming to the UK to study as an international student can be overwhelming. However, Foreign Students can help you with their Student Starter Pack 2012. Check it out here!

Once you’ve finished with your books for the year, sell them on and pack a profit. With DHL Service Point, you don’t get charged by the weight of your package – perfect for a box full of heavy books! Service Point is located in many Student Unions around the UK; click here to see if we’re at yours.

Get a massive 10% off your first shipment when you send with DHL Service Point from any Staples store in the UK. Perfect for sending that dirty washing home!

Times are tough for uni students. Fees are on the rise. Rents are on the up. And the price of a pint of beer is through the roof.

But that doesn’t mean it’s time to scrimp, save and live the life of a Dickensian miser. It’s just about being smart with your student loan come September/October time. The good news is there are loads of offers out there to help you get through the next year without resorting to begging or bank robbery.

We’ve got a great one for you right now: a massive 10% off your first shipment when you ship with DHL Service Point from any Staples store in the UK.

It’s a perfect opportunity to have a clear-out, send your washing home, or sell stuff on eBay. But best of all, it’s a good excuse to pop into your local Staples and stock up on supplies for the new uni year.

The world’s largest office products supplier, Staples is your one-stop-shop for all things stationery – as well as offering free parking, late opening hours and a DHL Service Point in every store! Plus, a host of hot deals to help your student loan go that little bit further.

Click here to find your nearest Staples store

As swarms of undergrads disappear home to enjoy the summer break, you’re stuck on campus writing your thesis. But you can still enjoy your summer too! Find out how to keep on top of your work with Service Point…

1. Planning is key

If you haven’t already picked a topic and put together a detailed plan, get started now. Reading is key to developing a good plan, but this will take time so it is important to start your research early.

Think about the structure your thesis will take and plan your chapters. The more you plan, the better disciplined you’ll be, and the more likely it is you’ll get a good result.

Create a timetable to make sure you stay on track. Give yourself regular breaks, get plenty of sleep and eat well – these will help to keep your brain active.

It is also important to talk to your supervisor from an early stage, as well as other students, discussing ideas and methods for writing your thesis.

2. Write as you go

It can be tempting to leave writing your thesis until after your research, but it’s a good idea to take notes as you go. To make life easier, consider using a software tool like Reference Manager to keep track of your references, or you may never be able to find them again!

It’s important to review and proofread your work once it’s complete. Mistakes, including typos, undermine the professional quality of your work, and will impact on your overall result.

Finally, make sure you have a complete references section or bibliography highlighting your sources.

3. Use your supervisor

After all, that’s what they’re there for. Your dedicated supervisor will support you throughout your thesis by reading drafts and offering feedback, helping you to get the best result possible.

4. Get your work organised and looking great!

You’ll have accumulated lots of notes and it’s a good idea to keep them in folders, making them easy to find. You’ll find all your stationery needs at Staples.

After spending such a long time creating your work, it’s only fair to get it looking great! Again, Staples is the place to go to get your thesis printed and bound. Click here to see if these services are on offer with Staples this week.

5. Sell the books you no longer need

Unless you’re planning on a career in academia, chances are you’re not going to need the books you used to do your research again.

So sell them on and pack a profit! With Service Point, you don’t get charged by the weight of your package – perfect for a box full of heavy books!

Find out more about Service Point here.

It’s always worth checking that the item you’re sending can be accepted for delivery. The list of items prohibited for shipment within the UK might surprise you…

Sending a present to someone special? Birthday, wedding or Christmas – whatever the occasion, DHL Servicepoint offers convenient and cost-effective delivery options to locations across the world. Perfect for making sure your presents are delivered quickly, with the care and attention you’d expect from the world’s leading logistics company.

But it’s worth remembering there are some things even we can’t deliver. This includes all those things that are prohibited for carriage by national or local laws and regulations. And the list includes a few potential gift items that might surprise you.

Here’s a quick rundown of some of the things we unfortunately can’t accept for shipment within the UK:

• Jewellery (or anything made from precious metals and stones) worth more than £1000 (per waybill)
• Watches with a value in excess of £1000 (per waybill)
• More than one electronics item (e.g. X-Box, MP3 Player, iPad) in a single package
• Designer clothing worth more than £1000 (per waybill)
• Costume jewellery worth more than £250 per item
• Antiques or works of art worth more than €50,000

For our full list of prohibited items, click here

If you have any queries about your shipment, drop our customer services team a line on: 0844 248 0844.

For more information on DHL Servicepoint visit: https://dhlservicepoint.co.uk/