Vicki's Week

Hi, my name is Vicki and I’m studying Food Production and Supply Management. My time at the RAC so far has been unbelievable. I have learned more than I ever imagined possible, I have had a lot of fun and have truly discovered myself. In my first year I lived in student halls on campus, and then moved off campus in my second year. Honestly, there’s no average week at the RAC – but I guess they tend to go a bit like this...

Monday

Monday always starts with lectures. Nine o’clock on a Monday morning can be difficult sometimes, but it gets the week rolling! We normally have lectures and seminars all day. These are very varied, and could range from delivering a presentation to a small group in a seminar to listening to an expert guest speaker from the food and agriculture industry.

This is followed by sports training in the evening. Hockey, netball, rugby, football are all played here and there are many more besides. I’m on the rowing team myself. After training, everyone goes into dinner in the dining room. Then it’s time to get ready for the first night out of the week. The Rock nightclub in town is usually open for RAC students and there are also lots of trips to other towns nearby. Last week, the Student Union hired coaches to take us to Gatecrasher in Birmingham, and last term I went on trips to Cheltenham, Oxford and Cardiff.

Tuesday

On Tuesdays, I have several hours of lectures and afterwards I sometimes spend some time talking about my coursework with my lecturer. One of the benefits of being such a small university is that I can easily see my lecturer if I have any queries.

In the afternoon, I normally attend my part-time job. I work as a Student Ambassador at the College, which means that I attend Open Days, UCAS events, school visits and outreach projects, in order to tell prospective students about my experiences at the RAC. This is really good fun, a great way to earn some extra money, and I have gained loads of skills from it personally!

Then in the evening it’s Movie Night. A film is shown on the big screen in the Tithe Barn and, in the winter, the fire’s always going. It’s a really nice chance to relax!

Wednesday

Wednesday is a half day of lectures, as the afternoon is set aside for sports. As a university we compete in the BUCS League against all universities across the country. There are loads of sports clubs and societies to get involved with and if you don’t like playing then it’s good fun to watch! I am also involved, via the College, with volunteer work in the local community, which often takes place on a Wednesday afternoon, too.

In the evening we often head to The Rock club, to celebrate success on the sports pitches that afternoon! It’s also RAC students only on a Wednesday night! (The College runs free shuttle buses into town, which is about a mile away). Theme nights aren’t unusual and I have found myself dressing for themes like back to school, Christmas and 80s classics!

Thursday

The lecturers organise plenty of field trips for students. My course-mates and I recently visited Yeo Valley, the dairy company, in Somerset. It was great to see the theory we have been taught in lectures being put into practice in the
real world.

The Global Café, one of the many clubs and societies at College, holds events on Thursday nights. These are for students of all nationalities to get together and share experiences – we do all sorts of activities, from trips and visits to food appreciation! Alternatively, I often head to the Tunnel House Inn, one of the local pubs we go to. It is quite a relaxed affair and especially popular with RAC students on Thursday nights. 

Friday

Last lectures of the week! Afterwards, I catch up on coursework, heading to the library if I need any books for the weekend. My friends and I pop to the pub for some food and to relax for the weekend.

In the evening, the Student Union puts on a really good night in the Tithe Barn, which is always one to attend!

Saturday & Sunday

I have a part-time job in a local restaurant, but when I’m not working in my job or on my coursework there are lots of Student Union activities, such as trips and nights out, to keep us busy! There is also plenty to see in Cirencester and the local area and when it’s summer we all make our way to the Cotswold Water Park for the day.

On a Sunday evening, we all head back to the Tithe Barn for a catch up and a pub quiz – RAC style!