UA92 student shares five things he wishes he knew before starting uni

A student who arrived in the city just a year ago without knowing what to expect is sharing the five things he wishes he had known before starting higher education.

Bryan, aged 19 from Doncaster, moved to Manchester last September to study a degree in Sports Coaching at UA92.

Now heading into his second year, Bryan says the city that once felt completely unfamiliar has become home.

Over the past year, he has built a new friendship group, gained experience with Salford City FC Foundation and continued his commitment to Cerebral Palsy football, having played for CP United in Manchester since he was 10.

He has also taken part in the FA Leadership Academy (FALA), where he is developing CP Collective, a project working with underrepresented local community groups in football, with a focus on increasing opportunities in disability football.

He says those experiences have helped him grow in confidence and discover career opportunities he hadn’t expected when he first arrived.

Bryan said, “A year ago, Manchester was somewhere completely new to me and I remember feeling nervous about what uni life would actually be like. Looking back, I probably worried about things that turned out not to matter at all.”

“My biggest piece of advice is to give yourself time to settle in. You don’t need to arrive knowing exactly what you’re doing or who your friends are going to be. Everyone is starting somewhere.”

“For me, uni has been about so much more than my course. I’ve met some brilliant people, got involved in football and gained experience with Salford City FC Foundation. A year on, Manchester definitely feels like home.”

With thousands of young people preparing to start higher education across Greater Manchester this week, Bryan is sharing what he’s learnt with the next generation of students.

You don’t need to know anyone

“Everyone is in the same position and looking to meet new people, so don’t put pressure on yourself to find your friendship group straight away. Be open to starting conversations and putting yourself in situations where you can meet people. Even something as simple as sitting next to someone new or getting involved in an activity can be a good starting point. You’ll naturally find people you connect with.”

Say yes to things

“There’s so much more to uni than your course. I’d definitely recommend getting involved in the activities during Welcome Week, even if you’re a little nervous at first. From the colour run and quizzes to sports and the Sip & Paint, there are loads of ways to meet people and find something you enjoy.”

You don’t need your whole future figured out

“There can be a lot of pressure to know exactly what you want to do, but uni is also about finding out what you enjoy and where you want to go. Try different things, speak to people working in areas that interest you and don’t be afraid to put yourself out there. You never know when an unexpected experience or conversation might open the door to something you hadn’t considered before.”

Make the city your home

“When I first arrived, Manchester was somewhere completely new. Now, a year later, it feels a lot more like home. As a huge Manchester United fan, I’ve had the opportunity to go to games and immerse myself in the buzz of city-wide events like derby days. There’s loads to do in town for students, me and my friends love playing darts at flight club! Get out and explore the city. Some of my best memories from my first year happened outside the classroom.”

Start building experience early

“Getting experience alongside my course has been really important for me. It’s given me the chance to put what I’m learning into practice and helped me understand what I want to do in the future. You don’t have to wait until you graduate to start building experience. If there’s something you’re interested in, ask your tutors or for me the UA92 team were invaluable in connecting me with people in the industry. There are loads of opportunities to get involved, build your skills and learn from people already working in the field.”

Bryan recently attended the FA National Youth Council Residential, where he developed a project called CP collective, focused on increasing opportunities for young people with Cerebral Palsy to play CP football and raising awareness of the sport.

The experience has given Bryan new ideas and confidence as he works towards a career in football and develops his own project.

His experience comes as we welcome our latest cohort of students to our Old Trafford campus this September. Our welcome activities will give new students opportunities to meet their classmates, get involved in activities and feel at home both on campus and in Manchester.