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Fresher’s First Week: Our Best Hacks
New on campus? 🐥 No worries, here’s your introduction to the UCSA and what we have to offer!
Find out what’s on
We’re here to entertain you all year ’round. Student faves include wellbeing expos, cultural events, MONO Nights (free gigs for UC students), Rituals at the Foundry, and – of course – our free BBQs.
Stay in the loop by following us on social media or by visiting: UCSA.org.nz/events
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Tap into our support services
There’s more to us than just free snags (although we love those, too). Make sure you check out our student support options, like free and independent student advocacy, financial assistance, subsidised optometry, and borrow‑a‑bike. We even run a couple of early learning centers: Montana and Ilam. 🧸
Find the full list on: UCSA.org.nz/student‑support
Stay connected
The UCSA has its own media channels to keep your finger on the pulse of campus life.
From the hilarious to the bizarre, joining the UCSA Noticeboard group on Facebook is a good one for new students looking to connect. The group started as a buy-and-sell but over the year’s has morphed into a smorgasbord of meme, mid-lecture realisations, and – sometimes – actual notices. To join, just send a membership request to @UCSANoticeboard.
You can also get a feel for the campus vibe by following UCSA on socials, or by picking up a free copy of student magazine CANTA (they’re available on campus or on CANTA.co.nz).
Find the best food on campus
There are loads of good options, whether you’re after a quick snack or a mean meal. The UCSA runs The Foundry (quiz nights!), Nuts & Bolts (home of the engineering bowl!), plus a bunch of eateries in the Undercroft.
While we’re talking food, you need to know about the VPlate.* This little gem with the funny name is actually a discount card and loyalty scheme in one for UC students, and it’s a great way to save money at UCSA cafes and bars on select items. Download it on Google Play or the App Store.
(*VPlate is a collab between UCSA and V Energy.)
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Meet a new mate
If you didn’t join uni with a ready-made army of high school friends (or even if you did), it’s a great idea to put a little effort into being social. A few opportunities are O.Week and Re-Ori, the club scene, UC’s two community gardens, the Rec Centre and volunteering through a group like SVA. Don’t be too shy to say ‘hey’ – everyone’s in the same boat.
Join a club
Clubs are the real social scene at UC. There are around 130 on campus, from academic to sports, cultural and social – there’s something for everyone. To check out the full list, take a squiz at our website: UCSA.org.nz/clubs and ask the clubs about signing up.
You can also head along to Clubs Day during O.Week and Re‑Ori to meet them in person.
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Borrow a bike on campus
Why walk when you can bike? UCSA offers free bike hire on campus that’ll help you get where you need to go (*ahem* Big Garry’s). To rent one out, select your ride from the bike stand outside Haere-roa, flash your UC ID at our reception, and then return your ride by 5pm (please).
P.S. UC Sustainability offer their own bike services, which are super popular.
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