So I was offered the place at the University of Liverpool and I graciously accepted. I'm really excited to be starting and can't wait. Also, considering I live in Leeds now I'm definitely excited to be moving to a new city. Despite this, I'm very much daunted at the same time.

The start-date is set at 1st Oct, so I need to prepare so I'm totally settled to begin then. Do any of you lovely people have any tips, reminders and general pieces of advice for someone in my position. I have lived and studied in Leeds all my life and I'm only 21 so this is a big step for me. I know I'm gonna forget something along the way.

I'd totally appreciate any words of wisdom you have to offer, be it with regards to the actually PhD work or with regards to relocating or even tips of living in Liverpool. Thanks in advance. x

Well done on gaining a place!

I don't really have many tips apart from to treat your PhD like a 'real' job.

As for Liverpool, it a very nice at the moment (since the European Commission and private sector has spent a huge amount of money on it). Stay away from Toxteth (a nasty area located right next to the university).

Hi, thanks for the congrats.

I really want to make a good impression for the sake of career longevity so I'm totally gonna treat it like a job. I plan to try to apply for university run student accommodation just as soon as my official letter comes through. I hope I'm not too late and that they can place me somewhere. I think it'll be easier for me at least in the first year I'm there.

Thanks for letting me know about the nasty areas. x

Hey there,
starting out is all exciting, isn't it! I wish you the best of luck with your PhD.

In my first weeks I went to many "social" events and all kind of "induction" meetings. Many of my colleagues didn't. I know that opinions on this disagree, but I found that this helped me to settle into PhD life. In the first few weeks/months I just always already knew someone (because I had met them at a social event) or was explaining to my friends how things work (because I had heard about them at an induction meeting). This was right for me. Others say that these things are just a waste of time, which could be better used by pushing your PhD onward. And that those other students who went to those events will always tell you what you need to know, so, no point in going yourself. I suppose at the end of the day it depends how you like to work.
Trying to get into a student hall sounds like a good idea, I lived in one in my first year and liked it, too. I would take care to make sure it is a mostly postgrad hall though - there are some terrible stories about undergrad halls.

Overall, don't worry too much - everybody will be new, and nobody will be expecting you do know everything from day one!