I wanted to share with you my tips for how to cope with the exam period during a pandemic.
Challenging workload for revision
I got a bachelor’s degree in the U.K., so I expected the student life would be similar but a bit more challenging for a master’s degree. However, when the exam period was upcoming, it started to feel difficult. There could be a few reasons. First, master’s courses tend to be highly intensive. Second, COVID-19 has impacted our academic schedule, especially postgraduate courses, such as revision weeks and the vacation week between semesters are not involved. I have never thought I would be able to study this much - several hours every day, working as a freelancer abroad at the same time, but I have found myself to be more self-motivated and more self-managed than before.
Places to study outside
It’s a shame that most university buildings are closed and there is not a café to study in. However, the main library and Stopford building are open from 9 am to 5 pm on weekdays, and AGLC is open for 24 hours a day. Booking in advance is necessary and there is usually no seat for the next 5-6 days during the exam period. Furthermore, there is the Manchester Central Library which opens from 10 am to 4 pm except for Friday and Sunday, but this place gets full in the early morning during the exam period. For AMBS students, you can study at the AMBS building from 8 am to 8 pm on weekdays, and no booking is necessary, but you need to bring your student card.
New chair
The chair provided by the landlord was too uncomfortable and a housemate was a bit noisy, so I used to go to the libraries. I wanted to buy a new chair but already spent a lot of money to settle in. One day, I realised that there was a problem with the temperature in the main library. The AC was on and they said it would take time to deal with the issue. In the end, I finished the hesitation by buying a fancy chair with a high rating for its comfort. Now I don’t have back pain anymore although I spent half of my day, sitting on it. If you are struggling to find a space to study during the pandemic, the best idea might be to ask your housemates to be quiet and get a comfortable chair!
