First things first: welcome to all new and returning postgraduate students! I hope that the start of the new semester is going well for you so far, and that you are feeling good about the upcoming academic year! In an attempt to avoid the creeping dread of this likely being my final Welcome Week as a student, I am going to funnel my energy into writing a little guide for any new and returning postgraduates to glance over. Perhaps it’ll help you make the most of your time here at UEA.

1. Build a community: when I began my PhD, I made the mistake of not getting to know my peers, thinking that I didn’t have time to focus on friendships with such a daunting task as my thesis hanging over my head. I ended up isolating myself completely, to the detriment of my mental health. With this in mind, my first piece of advice for postgraduates is to build your own community – come along to postgraduate(su) events, befriend those in your academic school and outside of it, and please: find things to talk about that aren’t your thesis. Future you will thank you!
2. Join the UCU: as a postgraduate, chances are you may be doing some work as an Associate Tutor at some point during your time at the UEA. This work can be incredibly rewarding, but also notorious exploitative, underpaid, and overworked. The University and College Union is currently balloting on multiple issues that may impact you – including demanding a pay increase for academic staff, and an end to exploitative casualised contracts. Joining the UCU is free for ATs who are in full time education, and it means you will be able to vote on various union issues, receive representation during disputes, as well as participate in strike action if necessary.
3. Learn what spaces are for you: in spite of all the new buildings in construction on campus, dedicated space for postgraduates is still lacking. Some schools have shared office space for postgraduates, see what yours has on offer for you, and then try to book a space. A dedicated desk in a shared postgraduate office space helps decrease feelings of isolation, as well as giving you a sense of belonging on an otherwise bustling and constantly moving campus. Aside from this, other postgrad-focused spaces include the Doctoral College Suite in Constable Terrace, the PGT and PGR study spaces in the Library, and Union House’s Scholars’ Bar.
4. Don’t neglect outside spaces: the first days of Autumn are upon us, and while it may be tempting to stay inside huddled around the light of your computer screen for warmth, we wholeheartedly encourage you to ensure you allocate time to spend outdoors this semester. Regular breaks and access to green spaces have been found to help reduce stress levels and improve motivation and productivity – so putting down your pen and leaving the office for a while may actually help you do more work in the long run! The best way to spend your time outdoors on campus? Well, I may be biased, but you can’t go wrong with PhDiggers, our postgrad-focused gardening group. Not interested in getting muddy? Try out the Courage Project’s Walk & Talks, our PGRunners running group, or spend some time in the Silent Space by Earlham Hall!
5. Branch out: keep an eye on the uea.su events page for new and interesting things that might interest you. Working on your thesis makes it very easy to get stuck in a repetitive cycle, going to events, trying new things, and meeting new people, may help you not get stuck in a rut. Sign up to the postgraduate(su) events mailing list or check out the events calendar here for more information.

There are, of course, many other things you should do as a new or returning postgraduate at UEA, these are just a few to get you started. Need help or have questions? Get in touch. :) Happy 2019/20, folks!