Welcome to the Department of Biological Sciences. We’ve put together a range of activities and resources for you to access prior to joining us. You’ll find an introduction to energy and how humans and other living things obtain and use their biological energy sources on our online course. You can also find out about some of our staff and their research by watching short films or read interesting research articles they’ve written recently. We hope you’ll find time to enjoy some of these over the summer.

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Welcome from the School of Business and Management. We’ve compiled a range of articles, videos and websites to keep you informed and entertained on the areas we value as a School.

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Get ready for your exciting journey into study in the Department of Classics this summer with a suggestion of activities to do, books to read and films to watch from some of your soon-to-be lecturers.

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Hi from everyone in the Department of Computer Science. We’ve compiled a selection of books that you may find interesting to read or browse through. You are not required to read any of them, but we hope you may wish to look at some of them covering topics from Artificial Intelligence to Unix and from Cryptography to Where Wizards Stay Up Late: The Origins of the Internet! Plus try your hand at some free online tutorials such as learning the basics of programming and Python. We hope you enjoy exploring these and look forward to meeting you soon.

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Get a taste of what to expect from your first year studies in the Department of Drama, Theatre and Dance. From videos of captivating student and staff performances, to staff discussing their own projects, launching new projects with theatre companies or airing their radio plays, we hope there’s something to excite you whatever your particular enthusiasms are in this dynamic field.

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Hello from Earth Sciences, we look forward to meeting you in September. We’ve put together some activities and videos for you to access prior to joining us. You can get a feel for what fieldwork is like in films made by our students, or watch online talks by our staff on topics ranging from outer space to volcanism. Or look through our crib sheets and course introductory information, with a short fun practical exercise to ease you into the modules.

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Welcome from the Department of Economics. Click on the link to see a short film where we present some of our staff and research projects. We also recommend some other interesting resources that you can look at over the summer if you have the chance.

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Welcome from the Department of Electronic Engineering. Follow the link to hear from staff and students talking about their research projects and the application of creativity in engineering in our short videos. Get hands on with our interactive lab session ‘Hear here’, and create sounds here on your computer to explore aspects of your hearing!  We also recommend resources for designing 3d models, electronic circuits and code so you can practice getting creative at home. 

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Poetry. Novels. Great literature. These are just some of the things that no doubt you’re already passionate about as a prospective student of the Department of English at Royal Holloway University. Now take the opportunity to explore these subjects further via our videos which will give you a lively insight into what you can expect from your studies with us – plus you’ll be able to hear and see some of your future lecturers for the first time.

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Welcome from the Department of Geography. We’ve compiled a range of resources to help you get ready for the start of your Geography degree at Royal Holloway in September. These includes hints and tips about studying at university. We have also provided some ideas in both Human and Physical Geography to start you thinking about these and some links to resources that you might want to explore. We are looking forward to seeing you soon. 

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Welcome to the Department of Health Studies! We’ve put together some interesting resources and recordings for you to access prior to joining us in September and we hope you’ll find time to enjoy some of these over the Summer.

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What books and films can help you understand a specific period in history better? Join some of your future lecturers from the Department of History as they answer this question and look at how you can get a deeper understanding of texts and films by asking the right questions of them. Travel across time through text and film, from the Roman Empire to the suffragettes, and then see what questions you can ask.

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Hello! We've gathered together some ideas and activities for you to explore over the summer if you're planning on joining us for an integrated foundation year this September.

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The Department of Languages, Literatures and Cultures is wide ranging across different disciplines, and to give you the opportunity to explore those disciplines early ahead of your studies you can explore some of our modules in more detail. Take a look at videos and online galleries, as well as getting inspired with things you can think about before the course starts.

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Welcome from the Department of Law and Criminology. Click on the link to see available resources and videos from some of our staff talking about their research areas. You will also find a list of law and criminology related films that you might want to watch on a rainy day and a list of other resources that would be of interest to anyone wanting to study law or criminology. 

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Welcome from the Department of Mathematics, and to help you enjoy your summer just click on the link below for access to our resources and recommended websites for people who find pleasure in numbers. Our short podcast on ‘How can I prepare for mathematics at university?’ will give you some hints and tips to help you feel comfortable with starting university.  We’ve also listed some of our favourite books about mathematics that might just keep you entertained until September.

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Have you ever dreamt of hosting your own festival? What about designing a video game? Or perhaps you’re just passionate about film? The Department of Media Arts have devised some fun, creative activities to allow you to explore this innovative subject further before your course starts. Take a look at them online and join in if you want to.

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Take the opportunity to discover more about the Department of Music and get excited for what’s in store for you when you come to study. You can get to know some of the staff as well as some of your fellow students, discover amazing new music with some recommended listening and also find out a little bit more about what you’ll be learning when you join us. 

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Hello from the Department of Physics, we are looking forward to meeting you in September. We’ve put together some interesting resources for you to access prior to joining us.

We hope you’ll find time to enjoy some of these over the summer.

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Welcome from the Department of Politics, International Relations and Philosophy. Visit our page to see a list of relevant podcasts, blogs and suggestions.

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A warm welcome from the Department of Psychology. We invite you to get to know your lecturers and their research interests in a series of short videos. You can also explore our labs and hear from some of our students, or why not have a go at some classic psychology tasks online.

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Welcome from the Department of Law and Criminology. Click on the link to see a list of interesting resources on Social Science and Health and Social Care such as links to relevant films and websites and some suggested reading if you have the chance.

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Hear from Naveen about driving to campus from home

If you live further than 1.5 miles away and wish to drive to campus you can apply for a free parking permit to park on campus. You'll be able to do this closer to the start of term. 

See Tom's trip to campus by train

Egham is on the Reading to Waterloo train line, managed by South Western Railway. Trains run regularly throughout the day, with additional services during busy times. See National Rail for up-to-date timetables. 

A railcard from National Rail can save you a 1/3 on rail fares. The campus is a 20-minute walk from the station or, for £1 a journey (contactless available) you can catch the university shuttle bus from Egham station to the main campus.

A number of local buses stop directly outside our campus from towns such as Slough, Staines and Windsor, and connect us to Heathrow Airport.

On-campus facilties

Need to stay over? We are often able to offer discounted rooms in our accommodation if you occasionally need to stay on campus overnight. 

Between lectures and teaching times you can spend time in our 24/7 library or other study spaces around campus. There are plenty of places to relax, take a break or simply meet with friends across our 135-acre campus. Our cafes are open throughout the day, with some open early morning and into the evening.

Planning your time

Our academic departments publish their timetables online and any changes are made 48 hours beforehand to help you plan your travel accordingly. They also offer a range of other support to help you get the most out of your studies and the time you spend on campus. 

Business and Management

Here is what we've offered in previous years:

• We'll try to streamline timetables for commuting students who have especially long commutes. 
• We offer recorded lecture materials if you miss anything or any lectures.
• Our external speakers, for instance those from the Chartered Institute of Management Accounting (CIMA) host online events to make it simple for you to join.

School of Humanities

Here is what we've offered in previous years:

• We have several areas nominated as our 'Commuter Space'. These are small rooms which can be used for study or attending online learning sessions, and a number of breakout spaces to allow students to work or meet with peers.

School of Performing and Digital Arts

• The School of Performing and Digital Arts has two student common rooms for students to use between classes. Facilities include a kitchen, vending machine, chargers and games.
• The Department of Drama, Theatre and Dance has rehearsal rooms bookable outside of class time to develop your work at your convenience.
• The Music Department has practice rooms with pianos available to students 6am-midnight, and electronic studios / production suites available to students 8am-10pm. Some of our ensembles have evening rehearsals but we aim to run rehearsals at times when public transport is still running for commuting students.
• The Department of Media Arts has edit suites, computer rooms and a social space in the Williams Building which are available to students at all times. Equipment can be booked in advance and borrowed from the kit store 24 hours a day, seven days a week so that commuting students can work around their schedules.
• The Foundation Year Department, based in the Founder's Building, is adjacent the Founder's Reading Room, which is ideal for private study and is always open. Across Founders Square, commuting students can easily access the Emily Wilding Davison building, where they will have use of the library, laptops to loan, and space to meet with friends for group and private study.

School of Law and Social Sciences

• We organise a range of social events in the Autumn, Spring, and Summer Terms to help you make friends and build your network. For instance, in June, we will hold a School-wide BBQ to celebrate the end of exams. This event takes place in the afternoon to make sure our commuting students can easily join in.
• We manage a WhatsApp group where commuting students can arrange to travel together and organise socials in and around London.
• We try to streamline timetables for commuting students who have especially long commutes.
• We have recorded lecture materials (pre-recorded, or available following the lecture), which are especially helpful if you have lectures and seminars spread out across several days.
• We have on-campus and online Consultation and Feedback Hours so that our commuters can meet with lecturers from the comfort of home.
• We hold Student-Staff Action Meetings online so that commuting student representatives can easily attend.
• We actively engage with commuters through initiatives like the Commuter Survey and Focus Groups project to better understand and address our commuting students' needs.

School of Life Sciences and the Environment

Here is what we've offered in previous years:

• Consistent practice across the departments in the School of Life Sciences and the Environment is the offering of all individual staff/student meetings (start/end of term, dissertation supervision etc) as online rather than face to face if you prefer it and it's more convenient. This means that you don't need to attend non-timetabled but compulsory activities in person. 

School of Engineering, Physical and Mathematical Sciences

Here is what we've offered in previous years:

• Consistent practice across the departments in the School of Engineering, Physical and Mathematical Sciences is the offering of all individual staff/student meetings (start/end of term, dissertation supervision etc) as online rather than face to face if you prefer it and it's more convenient. This means that you don't need to attend non-timetabled but compulsory activities in person. 

Tips for making friends

General health and wellbeing

Our wellbeing services are open to all students and provide  support and advice on wellbeing, including transition and adjustment to university life. Throughout the year we plan proactive health and wellbeing campaigns, events and education with a focus on promotion of good wellbeing.

The wellbeing support team often act as your first point of contact for support and we will enable you to get the right help for your circumstances. You'll be able to get in contact us if you're feeling worried, upset or uncertain.  You'll be offered a drop in or triage appointment with a Wellbeing Adviser who will listen to your current concerns. Wellbeing Advisers will then work with you to develop the support or self-help guidance you will benefit from, which may include putting you in touch with more specialised or clinical services in the University – such as Counselling and Mental Health - or externally. 

Taking care of your mental wellbeing