Welcome to MISU

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Category: Thurles

It’s important to get a grip on spending and find out what works for you when it comes to managing your money. The cost of college can add up quickly, so we’ve gathered as much advice as we could to guide you.

1. Prioritise                                                 

You’re new to college, you may have more freedom than you’ve ever had before and maybe this is the first time you’ve had a real sense of financial independence, which is why you need to think before you spend! In the wise words of Ron Weasley...

Set an amount that you can afford to spend a week. Ask yourself – Have I enough money for food for the week? How much do I need to get home at the weekend? Do I need to buy anything for college this week? How much should I keep for emergencies (a sale in River Island doesn’t count!!). When you have this sorted, THEN you’ll know what you have for treats, nights out and the other non-essentials. It’s all about balance!

*Top tip: Re evaluate all purchases three times. And then again! - ECCE student.

2. Keep track of costs                                     

It may seem a bit extra but keep track of your spending as much as possible. Apps can be your best friend for this. We’d recommend Spending Tracker, Money Lover and Splitwise is good for any bills you need to split among a house/with roommates. Bonus: they’re all free!

3. Find the student discounts                           

Join Unidays where you can get discount codes, use your student card in shops where they have student discounts. There really is a multitude of student deals out there! An Siopa, the shop on campus, has food and college supplies at student friendly prices. Top tip: For Microsoft packages (Word, Powerpoint, Excel etc), you get them free through your Student email online (Outlook).

4. Leave your bank card at home on a night out

Take enough money with you to cover your food or drink, entry in to clubs and taxis there and home. By leaving your bank card at home, you can resist the temptation to dip in for more money that you haven’t budgeted for. Plus it’s a hassle to cancel and replace if you lose it!

5. Shop around and find the deals                    

When we asked current MIC students for their advice on budgeting, so many of them said to plan your food shop, make a list and stick with Lidl or Aldi. It’s cheaper, you get more for your money plus Lidl is the closest to campus.

6. Stay out of your overdraft                            

Seriously, it may be tempting but it’s money you don’t have and you will need to pay it back! Spending money that isn’t yours is a really bad habit to get in to and it’s much easier in the long run to budget than overspend.

7. Budget for placements                                 

Some courses have placement in first year and expenses can be something students don’t expect. You’ll be told in your induction lectures when you’ll be on placement and our advice is to PLAN. As one B.Ed student recommends ‘put money aside from the get go as the cost of placement really does add up. Bulk buying in groups and sharing with others in your course or from the years above and below can cut the cost’. Wise words!

8. Know where you can go for help                    

If you are struggling to manage your spending, talk to someone. Drop in to the SU, talk to a Sabbat, or a friend or family member to get some advice and guidance.

There are also funds and assistance for MIC students if you need them. There is a Student Assistance Fund which is allocated by the Access Office in the college.

There are also an Emergency Welfare Fund available to students that is managed by the Access Office and MISU. Drop in to us or the Access Office to find out more.

Then there is the Food and Essentials Hub in the SU. This is free to all students. It has non-perishable breakfast, lunch and dinner items as well as hygiene products and college essentials. Don’t be stuck, drop in to us and we’ll get you sorted.

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Category: Thurles

MISU is the recognised representative body of the students of MIC. It is your Union; the officers are elected to work for you to make your college experience better.
By getting involved, you will help to shape your student experience, will make new friends and will learn valuable skills which you can add to your CV!

How can I get involved?

1. Run for election                                      

This can be as simple as deciding to become a Class Rep, to realising you’d love to be a member of the Executive Committee (the part-time student officerships) all the way to making the leap to put your name in the hat to run as a Sabbatical Officer.
If you do decide one of these roles is for you, first things first, find out how to apply! Talk to us in MISU about your interest, follow our social media, watch out for emails from us or listen to our Class Addresses in lectures at the start of the year. It’s easy to apply and you won’t regret it!

There are positions on the Executive Committee and there will be a by-election in Semester 1, find out more here.

2. Join a Club or Society (or set one up!)   

We talk all about the various socs and clubs in MIC as well as the benefits students get by joining in the Clubs & Socs advice here.

3. Vote in MISU Elections                            

Every member of MISU has a vote and it is up to you to use it! MISU is governed by a constitution (the binding document approved by students which outlines how MISU should be run), and nothing can change in this without the student input via a referendum vote.
Student officers (full time Sabbats and part-time Executive Committee students) run for election and need to be elected by the student body. Your vote is your voice and elections, by-elections (another election for unfilled positions) and referenda allow you to have your say in MISU.

4. Attend a MISU Meeting                             

MISU Meetings are not quite as formal as they sound, we promise! They do have to follow a certain format (as per our constitution) to allow for transparency and accountability to all students but, more importantly, they are an opportunity for students to let their officers know what’s happening in their college life.
There’s Union Council – a forum open to all students but only Class Reps, Sabbats, the Chairperson and nominated Executive Committee members have voting rights. These meetings are held every two weeks during the semester and are the place to go with everyday concerns and feedback for MISU.
Then there’s the Union General Meetings (UGMs). The UGM is the supreme governing body of MISU (it’s a big deal). These tend to be a bit more formal but this is so important as every student has a vote. This is where your Sabbats and Executive Committee give their reports on their work and where students can give their feedback and mandate their officers to work on particular topics and issues.
The Annual General Meeting (AGM) takes place at the end of each academic year and is the forum for an overview of the Sabbats’ year, the end of year Executive Committee report and MISU Accounts.

5. Take part in MISU events and campaigns

You’ll always find something to take part in on campus and if you want something to be organised or worked on, just let us know!

6. Give us your feedback!                              

We are your Students’ Union, we want to hear from you! Talk to your Sabbats, Exec, Class Rep or MISU staff, take part in MISU meetings or fill in MISU surveys.

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Category: Thurles

It may be daunting going to college, especially if none of your friends from home are going to the same college as you. It can be a scary thing starting a course not knowing anyone. But fear not, we are here to share some of the many ways to make friends.

Making friends in your Accommodation

The people you will probably meet first are those you live with. Organise different things to do with each other - you could go out for a meal, go to the cinema or find a shared interest to bond over. These might be the people you end up going out with, and it's a good start if ye can get along, so introduce yourself to them and take the time to find out more about them at the earliest possible opportunity.

Through your Students' Union

MISU runs a range of Clubs & Socs, where everyone involved has something in common. It would be worthwhile to join some of these, or else set up your own. Clubs & Socs run a range of events throughout the year, which you can get involved in.

Becoming a Class Rep and/or Exec member would be beneficial, as you would be meeting the other Reps regularly, and you will get to know others from other years and courses, potentially becoming good friends.

There are also many teams in the college, which will be looking out for new members each academic year. If you have any interest in any of them, it would be worth trying out.

Within your Class

There are regular class events held throughout the year. If possible, it would be advisable to try to attend these, as it will help you to get to know people in your class better.

Don’t be afraid to talk to strangers in your class, they are most likely feeling the same way as you are. It can be hard for some people to go up and talk to strangers, but it possibly is the best way to meet new friends.

If you need more support:

If you do feel like you’re struggling, there are places to go. You can call in to us the Students Union for a chat. We will be willing to talk to you and discuss any possible issues you may be having. There is also the chaplaincy, which gives free tea/coffee, where you can sit and have a chat too. In Thurles, there is a chaplain who you can speak to also. You shouldn’t ever feel like you’re alone in Mary I, and we will try our best to avoid that situation arising. In situations where you are feeling overwhelmed and very upset, there are counselling services available on both campuses, so drop into them and they will be able to help you.

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Category: Thurles

As you start your time as a college student, you'll meet new people and be eager to try new things. However, it can be an adjustment that takes some time to get used to. Read the tips we have gathered from our many years supporting new students to help you on your way!

1. Get involved with your Students' Union

We are here to help you adjust to starting college. If you have a question, don't know where your next lecture is or need some advice, there are so many ways to contact us and we'll be happy to help!

As a new student, you automatically become a member of Mary I Students' Union and by getting involved in some way, you will broaden your experiences and get to know people from other courses and years. Come along to events and on-campus activities in Freshers' Week, sign up to Clubs & Socs or become a Class Rep or even an Executive Officer! If you have any ideas or feedback that you want to make your Sabbatical Officers aware of and working on, attend a Union Council or Union General Meeting and let them know.

2. Introduce yourself (and be yourself)    

You have a new opportunity to make friends as a first year, plus everyone is in the same boat, especially at Orientation and in the first few weeks. Don't be afraid to be yourself and talk to as many people as possible. You will find people who share your interests and will make your time in Mary I that much better.

3. Get to know your new home                  

Whether you're a student in Limerick or Thurles, you'll want to know your way around the city/town. If you're living at student accommodation or off campus, spend some time learning how to get to from A to B without getting lost or confused. Where possible, go with someone else or as a group and give yourselves plenty of time to make your early lectures! Know the address and name of your accommodation: it's hard to get directions if you don't know where you're going! If you need some information on public transport or shops or services with student discounts or anything else, check out the 'Get to Know' articles or ask someone in MISU. We can point you in the right direction.

4. Attend your lectures!                              

It's easy to get carried away in the excitement of Freshers' Week and nights out but remember that you are still a student and lectures are a key part of that. The first lectures will outline important information on registering your modules/subjects, signing up for tutorials and when tutorials start. Lecturers will outline the structure of the modules and how to get supports if you need it. Plus, Arts students can attend any lectures in the first few weeks to help you to decide which subjects you would like to study. Also, you will get to know the others in your class/module in these lectures.

5. Learn to budget                                        

For many first years, this is the first time you've had to manage your own spending, especially if you have just left home.  There's a section on this site that goes in to more detail on adjusting to budgeting but basically, you need to make sure you have enough money (and spread out your spending) to get you through until you're next paid/your grant comes through.

You'll learn from experience to find the student deals, make wiser choices and plan ahead for the end of the week and your journey home. Check out our How to budget guide for more tips and tricks.

6. Shared space etiquette                            

For those of you in student accommodation, digs or house sharing, it can be difficult to get used to living with other people who aren't your family. We would advise you to be open-minded - not everyone does things like you or has the same expectations. Try to get on with the people you're living with. You'll all eventually settle in to a routine but for the first few weeks get in to the habit of following the basic rules of etiquette - clean up after yourself, be considerate of others and don't leave shared spaces a mess.

7. Know your limits                                      

The first few weeks can be a whirlwhind of Orientation, Freshers' Week and getting used to your new surroundings. It's a good idea to be aware of your limits, both on nights out and in general.

On a night out, pace yourself - make sure not to drink excessively, stick together with people you know, get home safely and drink enough water throughout the night and the next day to avoid a bad hangover.  If you need a quiet night or some down time, suggest a night in with housemates or friends or take some time to yourself. It's important to take a step back and look after yourself. If you're ever feeling overwhelmed or need some support, contact us or one of the college services or even just drop in to Aisling or Laura (the SU Sabbats) for a chat or a cuppa.