Starting University - Third Edition: What to Expect, How to Prepare, Go and Enjoy (The Essential Student Guide)
Author: Melissa Scallan Editor: Louise Salmon Design and illustrations: Molly Shields Paperback ISBN 978 1 916 102750 Published June 2023 Price £9.99 Starting University (now in its third edition) is a useful and easy-to-read bestselling book that provides a reassuring look at university life and helps students prepare for this exciting and life-changing experience.
Packed full of helpful advice, hints and links, the book includes: * What to expect when students start university including Freshers’ Week, making friends and study skills * Money: how much students are likely to have, where it comes from, where it goes and – crucially – how to get more of it. Also, how to budget and what happens when it comes to paying off loans * If living away from home, helpful advice on living without parents e.g. laundry, cooking, budgeting. Plus useful advice if living at home * How to stay safe at university plus advice on alcohol, drugs and smoking * Wellbeing advice: from friendships and relationships to new student blues and getting professional help if things become more serious * Eleven handy lists of things they’ll need * For students in their final year of school/college, the actions they can – and should – take throughout the year prior to starting university e.g. how to apply for university in the UK, the key dates concerning the university admission process, applying for student finance, a student bank account and student accommodation * And a useful chapter for parents Aimed at the young adult audience, the writing is accessible and the design is appealing. It's mostly written in bullet point format, includes wise, witty and poignant comments from first year university students, has good use of white space and includes attractive illustrations. It’s the perfect gift for anyone preparing for university. Starting University has been awarded Amazon bestseller status every year since 2020 across a range of categories including student life, undergraduate and postgraduate student guides, and teaching in higher and further education. |
After University: What to Expect, How to Prepare, You've Got This (The Essential Life Guide)
Author: Melissa Scallan Editor: Louise Salmon Design and illustrations: Molly Shields Paperback ISBN 978 1 916 102767 Published June 2026 Price £9.99 After University is a useful, reassuring and easy-to-read guide that walks students through the exciting – and sometimes challenging – transition into graduate life in the UK.
Packed full of helpful advice, hints and links, the book includes: • Suggestions of what to do during a year out: flop, fun or focus • Information on postgrad study: whether to do it, the rewards and the costs, and how it might be paid for • Tips on choosing, finding and securing a job in this challenging market. Including how to use AI in the application process – and how to prevent AI from working against you • Suggestions on living arrangements: who to live with, where to live, what to know • Money: how much (or how little) grads might have, where it goes, how to make more of it, how to make it go further. And how the repayment of the student loan works • Ways – and places – to find new friends and/or a partner outside the university environment • Wellbeing advice: navigating and managing the emotional ups and downs that come with this period of great change • Plus, a useful chapter for parents It includes wise, witty and poignant comments from recent graduates on all aspects of grad life plus valuable insights from recruiters to aid the job search. Whether you’re excited, uncertain or overwhelmed – or all three - this book gives you the perspective, tools and encouragement to move forward with confidence. It’s the perfect gift for student, graduates and their parents preparing for life after university. |
Buying Starting University & After University
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Within the UK, you can purchase Starting University (Third Edition) from:
- Amazon - eBay - from this website (see below) free P&P - bookshops including Waterstones, Foyles, Browns Books for Students, Bell Bookshop Henley, Peter's Bookshop Birmingham, and Marlow Bookshop. Please contact bookshops prior to visiting as the book may need to be pre-ordered. Outside the UK, Starting University can be purchased via Amazon and in select bookshops. If you're enquiring on behalf of a school or university, to buy copies in bulk, please click here for a discounted Book Pack. |
Within the UK, you can purchase After University from:
- Amazon - eBay - from this website (see below) free P&P - bookshops including Waterstones, Foyles, Browns Books for Students, Bell Bookshop Henley and Peter's Bookshop Birmingham. Please contact bookshops prior to visiting as the books may need to be pre-ordered. Outside the UK, After University can be purchased via Amazon and in select bookshops. If you're enquiring on behalf of a school or university, to buy copies in bulk, please click here for a discounted Book Pack. |
If you're in the UK, you can also buy Starting University and After University direct from Katelli Publishing (free P&P) by choosing Shop below.
About the Author
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Melissa Scallan writes, speaks and advises on ways to successfully navigate life’s changes. She’s best known for Starting University (now in its third edition), the useful, reassuring and easy-to-read bestseller that’s helped thousands of students prepare for university in the UK. She's followed up her debut book with the hugely popular After University book.
As an adviser to UCAS, the UK's universities and colleges admissions service, Melissa's advice to students on making new friends and dealing with homesickness is shared on the UCAS website and she was a panelist on one of UCAS’ most watched Facebook Live webinars (viewed over 60,000 times). Melissa delivers informative and reassuring talks to sixth form students, and their parents, about preparing for university and she speaks about the student experience at conferences, including Universities UK's Enhancing the Student Experience conference. For more information on talks, click on Talks & Book Packs. Her books are carefully researched and thoughtfully presented to prioritise the wellbeing of her readers. She blends practical, honest and clear advice with a kind, grounded and empathetic voice. Her guidance helps people feel less overwhelmed, assists them in making informed choices, and provides them with the tools, perspective and encouragement to move forward with confidence. Melissa has a background in research and journalism and a master’s degree in psychology from the London School of Economics and Political Science. If you'd like to contact Melissa, please email her on: [email protected] |
Praise for Starting University
What Students Say:
"Everything about going to university is made so simple. There were things I hadn't thought of doing and the double checklist is great!"
“The chapter on friendships is so informative and enlightening.”
“This book is so reassuring, providing amazing advice for all aspects of university life.”
"I finished the book in one night - I couldn't put it down. So much information I didn't know I had to do. Thank you for the suggestions, they were needed."
“I really enjoyed reading this book. I LOVE that both sides (positive and negative) of social media are highlighted. And listing the different places you can reach out to if you’re really struggling is great - it highlights that there are lots of options!”
“This is a really thorough and informative guide including everything you need to know before you go to uni. I especially love the checklists!”
"I found the chapter on money very useful and it has given me lots of ideas on how to save money and spend wisely.”
“This is really useful explaining how to prepare for university”
What Parents Say:
“So many things to think about in such an easy to read format. I love the checklist and ticking it off twice – great idea to help feel in control of jumping off the precipice into the unknown. I wish I had this book when I went off to university - it would have made my first year so much easier!”
“It’s very easy to read and digest. Really nicely presented with not too much information on each page to overwhelm you. The link to the website that shows how much they pay in rent at each university and how much they spend on food etc is a great idea. It’s useful to get an idea of monthly outgoings and that looks spot on!”
“I want my daughter to embrace everything at university. This student guide is a great resource which can be read in one sitting or dipped into when needed.”
“A must for all students starting uni. This book brilliantly covers off every angle in practical and positive detail.”
"This book is helpful on so many counts. I'm a planner and the timeline is really useful in telling me what my daughter needs to do and by what date. Also, the money section prepares us for how much we'll need to give her and how much she'll need to pay back when she graduates. It's brilliant: one place to go to for everything we need to know."
"Not only is this informative and funny in places but it's also written in a kind and reassuring way."
“This is awesome. Lovely writing and very accessible.”
“This is amazing. Totally understandable even to a non-uni goer like me. So well written and I can totally see why both students and parents would benefit from reading it.”
“Really good and a huge amount of information.”
“With each page I discovered more and more useful hints to get my family and I through the complex and high-stress university process.”
"Impressive stuff. Thorough, detailed, thought of everything. I can’t fault it"
“An indispensable guide that navigates you through the complexities of modern student life. Every aspect has been thoroughly researched and thoughtfully written - especially useful was the section on money that had so many valuable money-saving hints and tips I would never have thought of! ”
“A well written fabulous guide...great idea to have a double tick list. This book will definitely come in handy when I pack my son off to uni in a few months.”
“I’m so glad this book’s been written - it’s brilliant! It’s got some fab information in here and is so comprehensive. Just as a mother/cleaner/general dogsbody around the house there are a few things that I love - use a different set of gloves to clean the loo than you do in the kitchen! Don’t leave plates of food in your room or it will attract bugs! Those among many others have made me smile!”
“The 'Countdown to Leaving' section gives a reassuring view of what needs to be done and when – so I feel I’m not missing anything out! And I was really impressed with the ‘Parents’ section, a thorough guide to how things affect us and how we can help ourselves and our daughter prepare.”
“Fascinating and full explanation of how student finance works…we now have a better idea of how much money we need to give our son.”
"It is a brilliant book! It should be pinned at the top of all uni Facebook pages. So much useful information."
"First time in 10 years, literally, my son is reading a book! 'It's actually very good', he says :)"
What the Professionals Say:
"Starting University is packed with tips and information for the prospective undergraduate...it would make a useful addition in the Sixth Form Library...an excellent source for pastoral staff...or as part of PSHE generally."
The School Librarian the journal of the School Library Association
Recommended Reading in Schools and Universities:
Starting University is available in school libraries, in sixth form departments and also in universities across the UK. It's a recommended resource for new university students at University of Manchester (Settling In) and University of Leeds (Successfully Managing Change and Transmission) and can also be found in the libraries of Cambridge University and University of Winchester.