StressLess and achieve more

There’s a range of support available to help you reach your academic potential, and to help you with your studies.

• Your Digital Library – Your Digital Library is your gateway to amazing online learning resources accessible anytime and anywhere.
• Cite Them Right - a useful aid to help you with your referencing, with clearly laid out examples.
• Learning Skills Hub – Develop your skills & knowledge through a series of modules and access a wealth of resources specific to your year group and Faculty. You can also connect with your specialist Learning Developer and Learning & Research Librarian who can offer you personalised support.
• Productivity Tools – You can access a range of productivity software packages on University PCs and to use at home, including accessibility tools, text to speech, time management, note taking, and much more!
• Personal Academic Tutor (PAT) – Whether you’re an undergraduate or postgraduate student, your personal academic tutor is here to help you to develop, grow and succeed in your studies and research.
• Peer Mentors – If you’re looking for someone who can help you improve your academic skills, help you develop strategies, share hints and tips on how to prepare for assessments or be your study buddy, then connecting with a student peer mentor

And if you have any worries or concerns and need someone to talk to, then support is available.

• If you’re feeling concerned or worried, you can have a chat with our  Student Support Advisers. They offer face-to-face and virtual drop-ins, or you can email them at studentwellbeing@canterbury.ac.uk.
• No matter who you are, where you’re from or what you believe, our Chaplaincy is here for you.
• You also have access to Spectrum.Life - a partnership with the Mental Wellbeing Team to offer in the moment and out of hours support, in different ways to suit our students' needs.

Supporting you with your exams

The January assessment timetable is now available. The majority of exams will be taking place on campus - please make sure you know where and when your exam is and how long it takes to get there (aim to arrive with at least 15 minutes to spare).

If you’ve never taken an exam in person or haven’t for a long time, it’s normal to feel a little nervous. But the right approach to preparation can go a long way towards helping you feel more confident. See our advice on building your confidence for on campus exams for further hints and tips.

You can also come along to a Preparing for Exams Workshop with The Learning Skills Team on 4 January 2023, 12 – 1.30pm. This is an opportunity to explore general guidance on preparing for exams as well as advice on how to approach the exam on the day. Come along to share your questions and tips about exam techniques with other students. This workshop will be held online via Blackboard Collaborate - please email learner@canterbury.ac.uk to book your place.

Studying at Medway? There's an exam support boost session on Wednesday 11 January, 11:00 - 13:00, and Thursday 19 January, 11:00 - 13:00 in Drill Hall Library. The Student Hub team will be in the library giving you extra exam boost with free fruit & bottles of water, plus you can pick up useful stationary to help your revision. 

Discover BeCalm with Specturm.Life

Augustine House goes 24/7

Augustine House Library will be opening 24/7 from 31 October until 20 January in order to support you in the lead up to your end of semester examinations and assessments.

Please note that there will be reduced opening times during the Christmas Break 19 December – 2 January, with Augustine House being completely closed on Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day

Outside of the library’s usual opening hours, the library will operate on a self-service basis and access will be limited to CCCU staff and students. Library users will be required to swipe their University Smartcard to gain access from 6pm (weekdays) and during the weekends. While we appreciate everyone learns in different ways, we ask everyone to be respectful of other library users during this time and follow our code of conduct.

And remember just because you can work in the Library all night does not mean that you do not need to look after yourself. So take advantage of the StressLess zone and all the support on offer!

Take time for you

Whether you take some time out in the StressLess Zone, or attend an event and connect with others - there are plenty of opportunities to allow you take a break from your studies and make some time for you to recharge.

Explore the StressLess Zone

If you are studying in Augustine House, make sure you check out the StressLess Zone on the second floor. Relax on a bean bag, use the massage chair, read a book/comic, play some board games, try out some creative activities and challenge your friends to a game of table football!

Your StressLess events programme

• Free Hot Chocolate - 8 Nov, 10am-12pm in Augustine House, second floor: come along and grab yourself a free hot chocolate with all the trimmings- such as squirty cream, marshmallows, wafers, flakes and more.
• Managing assignment and exam stress - 10 November, 2-4pm, Room Lg39: assignment deadlines or preparing for exams can make us feel nervous at times. This workshop will help you to consider ways of managing anxiety around these activities.
• Games Night - 15 Nov, 5pm-7pm in Augustine House Hall: come and join the Library and Careers & Enterprise Teams at Chooseday Chill to play a range of different games!
• Mindfulness Workshop - 16 November, 2-4pm, Room LG39: this workshop will look at how you can implement mindfulness into your daily life.
• Biscuit Decorating - 18 Nov, 2pm-4pm in Augustine House, second floor: connect with others and get creative through decorating your own biscuits, with icing sprinkles and icing pens. And once you're happy with your design, you can sit back and enjoy eating them!
• Biscuit Decorating - 1 Dec, 2pm-4pm in Augustine House, second floor
• Games Night - 6 Dec, 5pm-7pm in Augustine House Hall
• Confidence and Self Advocacy Workshop - 6 December, 2-4pm, Lg39: this workshop will help you to develop skills in verbal, written and body language to communicate effectively and confidently.
• Free Hot Chocolate - 7 Dec, 1pm-3pm in Augustine House, second floor
• Christmas Decorations - 9 Dec, 2pm-4pm in Augustine House, second floor: there will be a variety of activities and crafts for you to get creatively festive with! From Plaster of Paris decorations to paint and decorate, to paper crafts.

Join other students in the Daphne Oram for their new Wednesday weekly events between 2-4pm throughout November. From playing board games to lantern making, from open mic to Christmas crafting there will be lots of opportunities to relax, laugh, socialise, and maybe try something new!

And don't forget our regular weekly events such as Chooseday Chill, Creative Connections, Connect Lego, Dog Walking and Potter and Prune, as well as a range of other opportunities to take a break and connect with others.

Getting active with Moves

Keeping active is a great way to look after your wellbeing and take time for you. Whether you’re taking an exercise break from the Library, enjoying a bike ride, or going for a run – you can earn points through Christ Church Moves! Once you’ve earned enough points you can use them to claim incredible prizes- from a hot drink to a university hoody and some new stationary to a prize draw for an Amazon Echo Dot... There's something for everyone! Plus, look out for a special StressLess challenge in January - where you can earn more points for taking a break and keeping active.