Headstart

Want to get a headstart on university life?

Headstart gives you the key skills and knowledge you’ll need for a successful transition to life at university.

Starting with webinars led by UEA staff and current students, and culminating in an on-campus event, you’ll be exploring the differences between your former studies and Higher Education and learning more about the support available to you throughout your studies.

Here's what students have to say about it:

“The atmosphere was nice and comfortable, allowing me to take in information without feeling especially anxious, and everyone I spoke to (staff and ambassadors) were all very helpful and considerate.” – Headstart participant 2022

What will I learn?

You’ll be invited to the following sessions:

Webinar: Supporting Transition to University

When: Tuesday 1 September 2026, 6.00-7.00pm

Where: online via Microsoft Teams

On-campus event: Headstart

Please note: the on-campus event is no longer able to take place on Tuesday 8 September. If you have already signed up to attend the on-campus event, we will contact you directly via email.

You may be interested in BuddySU, which matches you with a current student volunteer whose subject or interests align with yours. Joining BuddySU will help you feel supported and make new connections as you settle into university - whether it's grabbing a coffee on campus to check-in, helping you attend club and society sessions, or just a friendly chat.

What will happen at the event?

For the webinar, we encourage you to invite anyone who may be supporting you during your time at university; this could be a parent or carer, a partner, a friend, or a relative. UEA staff and current students will share tips on how best to support you as a new student and introduce you to the services available at UEA, both within your department and more widely.

How do I apply?

Applications are open. In the meantime, please check the eligibility criteria listed below.

If we receive more applications than there are spaces, then we’ll randomly select people. If you’ve not been randomly selected, we’ll place you on a waiting list and you may be offered a place if someone else drops out.

Frequently asked questions

Questions?

If you have any questions or concerns, please do not hesitate to contact our friendly team at schoolsoutreach@uea.ac.uk and we’ll be happy to help.