Need-To-Know Websites For Freshers, Part 1: The Basics

When joining university, my first thought was certainly not the overwhelming amount of websites I might be required to visit within my first few days! With no idea which would become regular haunts for me, I ended up adding all of them to my Bookmarks bar, but only ever using a few. Here, I’ve broken down the need-to-know websites for new freshers that you may not have heard of before.

All of these websites are free to access for enrolled Warwick students at the time of writing. This list is particularly influenced by my experiences during my particular degree (English and Theatre Studies), but there is certainly something here for everyone! Follow the link at the bottom of the page to find resources applicable to those interested in English and/or Theatre!

Moodle

This is a website designed specifically to ‘house’ your course at Warwick. Most of your modules will have a so-called ‘Moodle page’, where information, reading lists, and resources are published. A Moodle page for a module is likely to have a week-by-week breakdown of the seminar topics, allowing you to best prepare and know where your learning is going that week. A Moodle page is also where tutors post resources they used during their lectures or seminars, such as PowerPoints, allowing you to revisit them later. A Moodle page will also normally have details about your assessments, including word count and topic choices. The downside to Moodle pages is that you can only view them if you are enrolled on the course – this means you cannot browse a module’s Moodle page if you are trying to decide what modules to take. In the unlikely event that your module does not use Moodle, its module webpage can usually be found on the main University of Warwick website by using the search bar. 

Tabula

Tabula is a website that contains more administrative tools. On this website you will be able to pick your seminar times at the beginning of the year (if your modules allow), find your timetable, and view your attendance. The most useful feature, however, is the ‘Assignments’ tab. Here is where assessment due dates will usually be stored, so you can see from the start of the year when everything is due. You can also apply for extensions through this tab.

The Library Website

Before starting university, I certainly panicked about how I would afford all the texts I might need. I bought a select few at random – most of which I never used! A majority of the texts currently on my course (English and Theatre) I have managed to find online, for free. Most of these have come from simply searching the Library website, and filtering for e-books only. With the pandemic causing problems with accessing physical copies, the Library has recently expanded its digital resources, making it much easier to complete your reading anytime, anywhere!

Unitemps

This website is perhaps my most visited on this list. Unitemps is a recruitment agency that is often used by local employers to advertise available jobs. Although not all roles are student-friendly, it’s super easy to find positions open to students at Warwick. What’s more, a lot of departments at the university use Unitemps to advertise their vacancies for students! Roles on Unitemps range from one hour of paid temp work, to jobs that can be held for the entirety of your time at Warwick. I really enjoy having part-time jobs at university, as they stop me getting too tied up in the stresses of my degree!

SONA

Want to contribute to psychological research, while earning a bit on the side? After you’ve joined Warwick, just Google ‘Warwick SONA Systems’ and sign up! This website houses the behavioural and psychological studies occurring at the university, and often advertise for participants on this website. You have to complete a brief eligibility screening, but can then begin signing up to participate in studies. These studies usually don’t take very long and often involve a monetary reimbursement for your time. Sounds like a win-win!

Follow this link for the second post in this series, dedicated to people interested in English and/or Theatre resources:

Need-To-Know Websites For Freshers, Part 2: English and Theatre Resources