Welcome

Dear New Student,
Congratulations on securing a place at Bristol University! You’re probably feeling excited but also a bit apprehensive about starting your course in September, but don’t worry – that’s completely normal.
I have just graduated from Bristol with a Drama and English BA and can honestly say I’ve had the greatest three years of my life. I hope that you will find your experience the same. Bristol is an amazing city to live in, and studying here has the advantage that the university campus is right in the centre of it all, surrounded by cultural hubs, shops, restaurants and beautiful green spaces. The theatres are all within walking distance of the Theatre department, and there is so much to see and get involved with.
There is no ‘right’ way to approach your university experience – everyone will have a unique time here and make different decisions about what they do and how they best study – but a few words of advice for how to begin:
• Get to know the people living near you. Often those who you share a flat or corridor with in first year will become friends that you keep for the whole degree. It can be nerve-wracking to introduce yourself to strangers, but remember that they will be feeling the same.
• Go to all of your lectures. There’s a tendency, particularly among first years, to miss lectures because it’s considered ‘cool’ to skip class. That’s not true – doing well in your coursework and exams is cool, and that results from attending all of your timetabled classes.
• Learn how to use the Arts and Social Sciences Library and the Theatre Collection. These are the two greatest learning resources available to you as a theatre student, and it took me a while to realise that they were on offer to me. It’s worth learning how to research using them early on, as they will be of invaluable use for all of your studies.
• Get involved with Studiospace, the departmental Theatre and Film society. It’s the best way to get to know the people on your course, to further your practical theatre skills and to make work in a variety of roles; from performing, writing and directing, to designing, stage managing and operating. All of my fondest memories will be of the work I did with Studiospace.
• Experience as much theatre as possible. The best way to learn about theatre is to watch a lot of it. There are so many places in Bristol to see incredible, varied and unique performance, and the more you can watch the better. Look out for Bristol’s amazing array of theatre festivals too – Mayfest, In Between Time and Ausform to name but a few.
Most importantly, don’t panic. It’s easy to feel overwhelmed when you move to a new city, and meet loads of new people, but everyone is in the same boat. Be yourself, make the most of the Theatre and Film staff because they’re wonderful, intelligent people, and enjoy getting to know your way around the department that you will call home before long.
Good luck, and have a fantastic time!

Charlie