From Netflix recommendations to the top books to read this summer, discover activities and resources that your department has put together for you...
In addition, once you start your studies, our Centre for the Development of Academic Skills (CeDAS) service will be available for you to use. The team offer workshops, 1:1 advice and drop-in sessions to help boost your academic and study skills. You'll find out more once you arrive. You can also hear from our current students and Dr Vicky Greenaway on their top tips for stepping up to university study in the recording of an Instagram Live from 2022, at the bottom of the page, or by clicking here.
These activities, especially any suggested readings, are completely optional. We hope you find the wide array of recommendations both informative and fun!
Biological Sciences
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.
Business and Management
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.
Classics
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. The department’s staff have diverse interests and so there are a complete range of suggestions on offer for you – from ancient science fiction to an 18th century love story.
Computer Science
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.
Drama, Theatre and Dance
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.
Earth Sciences
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.
Economics
Welcome from the Department of Economics. Click on the link to see a short film where we talk about our research projects. We also recommend some other interesting resources that you can look at over the summer if you have the chance.
Electronic Engineering
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.
English
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.
Geography
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.
History
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.
Languages, Literatures and Cultures
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.
Law and Criminology
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.
Mathematics
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.
Media Arts
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.
Music
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.
Physics
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.
Politics, International Relations and Philosophy
Welcome from the Department of Politics, International Relations and Philosophy. Visit our page to see a list of relevant podcasts and topical blogs and listen to Dr John Sellars from Philosophy discussing if stoics have emotions.
Psychology
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.
Social Science
Welcome from the Department of Social Work and our BSc Social Science degree. Click on the link to see a list of interesting resources such as links to relevant films and websites and some suggested reading if you have the chance.