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Posted June 11, 2014

Postgrad Ideas for Summer Fun

Postgrad ideas for summer funLooking for some great things to do over summer, but have limited funds?

None of the ideas listed below will break the bank – in fact some of them are free!

Just make sure you've got some like-minded friends to share the fun with, after all, everything is more fun when done with others, right?

Movie marathons

Initially, it might not sound like the most exciting idea, but then mention watching the Back to the Future trilogy, Star Wars movies or the first three Indiana Jones movies and check out your friends’ reactions. Or if you're ambitious, try a Hellraiser marathon and see how many of the ten movies you and your friends can get through over a weekend.

Sure, it might not be conventional 'summer' fun, but in Britain it rains 25 hours a day anyway, so there is always time for a movie marathon!

Guerrilla gardening

This is an activity where you find a place that is a little derelict but still public property and you clean it up, garden it, plant things and make it all nice. You could even sprinkle some wildflower seeds see how they grow as time goes by.

Ideally, you want to do it in your general location so that you can see the fruits of your labours.

Visit museums and galleries

Most museums and art galleries, in the UK at least, don't charge an entrance fee. If you go with your friends, you may end up having quite a bit of fun. There are often giggles to be had at the ridiculously sized codpieces, and there's nothing quite like giving the very serious paintings comedy voiceovers. And let's face it, the craft activities may be aimed at five-year-olds – but there's usually no maximum age limit!

Go to gardens, parks, fields and forests

On a hot, sunny day being outdoors is a lovely treat. After all, enjoying the great outdoors is free and you can go with friends.

We advise taking along a picnic and some games. Not sure what sort of thing to take? Just think back to school sports days and take inspiration. And if any of you are lucky enough to own a pet, why not take them along too.

Enjoy music festivals

Summer is always full of music festivals – they are quite simply everywhere – and some of them are even free!

Just by doing a simple search online you will be amazed at what you can find, from pop artists to indie and electronic, they all happen over the summer. Europe is home to some of the largest and most exciting music festivals in the world – so get yourself to one! Festival tickets sell out very quickly, so it is best if you plan this a few months in advance.

You can either do a whole weekend of the festival and camp there for the night, or you could do just a day to see your favourite artists. Be warned though, although some festivals are free to attend, others can be pricey, so saving up early on can help!

Attend career fairs

While this may not be your ideal summer plan, if you wanted to do something to help advance your future career you can have a go at a staycation and explore career fairs and events.

Make a list of what career fairs you would like to go to – some may need prior registration and booking – so that you have a better idea of your schedule ahead.

Networking during these events would be a great help as you may get a chance to meet people that are already in the industry and can help you decide what direction to take.

Acquire new skills

Another good thing about summer is that you have a good amount of time to pick up on a brand new skill or develop on one that you thought you needed to work on. After all, building up a good CV can make a massive difference in boosting your chances of getting that dream job and it can be worth using a bit of time to enhance it.

Skills that you can work on over summer could include professional development skills such as:

  • Specialised training – accredited courses that can complement your PG studies
  • Generalist knowledge in something relevant to your area
  • Software skills for example MS Office, Adobe products, etc.
  • Communication skills

Learn a new language

What better time than during the summer to learn a new language and meet new people. You probably have just enough time to pass an introductory level in a particular language.

Some language schools may have crash courses running into a few weeks or you can spread it out over a few months if you wish to get a solid grip on a language for helping your CV get noticed quickly when you go job hunting.

Get fit

Aside from the several things that you plan to do over summer, fitness should ideally be a fixed to-do item on your list as it’s great for your student wellbeing.

Make sure you go for a run or hit the gym regularly to feel released from the stress of exams and thesis work. A good fitness regime would help you get your act together for what’s to come and help you in staying fit for long hours of thesis work. It will certainly help you stay positive and motivated in filling out those job application forms.

Visit the British Library

Most public libraries in the UK are fully accessible to all members of the public for free, including the British Library. It’s a landmark building in the heart of London, offering stunning reading rooms and numerous free exhibitions.

Access to the British Library is open to all. Anyone with a permanent address in the UK can apply for a Reader Pass, provided they have genuine reason to conduct research – a condition postgrad students wouldn't have any problem fulfilling.

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