6 Tips for Staying Safe at University

(3min read)

Staying safe at university is incredibly important for anyone who is moving to a new city by themselves. As well as worrying about things like who your flat mates are going to be to where your lectures are going to be situated. Your safety plays a key role in creating a positive university experience. 

Most students are unaware of crime in their town or city until they become victim to it. The best way to avoid this is to familiarise yourself with our information and top safety tips to safeguard you and your property, whilst at university. 

It’s estimated that a third of UK students become a victim of crime, mainly theft and burglary with about 20% of student robberies occurring in the first six weeks of the academic year.  

Students with expensive equipment are rich pickings by petty criminals – so take care of your belongings, freshers who are not streetwise are the easiest targets. 

Many universities and students’ unions will offer advice on personal safety, taking care of your belongings and how to ensure that your accommodation is safe and secure. 

1) Have precautions in place when going out – especially if you’re alone

Exploring your new university city is an extremely exciting prospect but your own personal safety is important to bear in mind whilst out and about too. Never accept a lift from or go home with a stranger, no matter how tired or late you are. Wherever possible travel with friends and never leave anyone in your group alone. Also, most universities now operate a safe taxi scheme, where even if you have no money left you can still get home safely after a night out. 

2) Watch how much you drink 

Drinking is often seen as a large factor of socialising whilst at university. From remembering to pace yourself whist you are drinking, keeping an eye on your drinks whilst you’re out – drinks can often be spiked with substances including drugs if left unattended, and ‘knowing your limits’ are just a few ways you can enjoy drinking responsibly. 

3) Insure your possessions 

You can take out your own policy or ask if you are covered in your parent or guardian’s policy as 79% of policies available in the UK will cover children studying away at university. However, it is important to check what is covered as some policies may not include electronic devices or have a cap on value, use a comparison site to find the policy best for you. 

4) Make sure your house is secure 

Making sure your house or place of accommodation is secure is vital in ensuring your own personal safety. From checking your locks are working to not leaving any windows or openings unlocked whilst you are out. 

5) Be extra wary of your car or bike 

Vehicle theft is a frequent occurrence for many university towns. If you do decide to use your car or bike at university, make sure you always keep your car locked, parked in a well-lit street and left with no valuables on display. In relation to your bike, ensure you are using a “Sold Secure” bike lock which are tested against lock picking, drilling, cutting and lock manipulation. Also storing you bike in a secure place overnight is vital in ensuring it doesn’t get stolen. 

6) Keep personal details safe

Personal objects such as your ID, passport or bank cards can easily be stolen if not safely stored whilst you’re out and about or even in your accommodation. Therefore, it is extremely important that you keep to valuable items store in a safe and secure place.  

The Horus-I app will provide you with essential, timely information on global COVID-19 updates, crime hotspots, protests, rallies and other major events that are happening in your geographical location. With an easily accessible 24/7 information network of ‘as it happens’ alerts, you can promptly assess the situation and make an informed decision on what your next move should be.    

In situations where you feel unsafe, you can also activate the ‘‘Watch Me Closely‘ feature on your phone which will alert our WatchKeepers to keep a close eye on your location and reach out to you to offer 1-to-1 assistance.   

With the Horus-I app, you can have peace of mind as you go about your daily activities, as well as providing added reassurance. Our app aims to help global universities to resolve the travel challenges surrounding the safety of their students and staff, helping them mitigate risk and assist in an emergency. 

Download the Horus-I app from either the App Store or Android Play Store depending on your device.

Access to the app is granted via the Horus Control Centre or by the reseller who will issue the users login credentials.

Contact the team at info@horus-global.co.uk to discuss how the Horus-I app can improve your travel security.