Before the first class
Keep your admission confirmation, required documents and official orientation information together. Check how to access the student portal and which notices are authoritative. If you are moving, confirm accommodation and the arrival process directly. Avoid buying every suggested item before you know what your course and living arrangements require.
Week one: learn the routine
Find the places or digital spaces you will use most: your timetable, learning platform, library, academic office and support channels. Put fixed commitments into a calendar. Try the commute at a realistic time if you are attending a campus. For online study, test your device and connection before a required live session.
Week two: make one connection
Talk to a classmate, join a relevant group or attend an introductory society meeting. You do not have to sign up for everything. Ask how the group works, what time it expects and whether beginners are welcome. Build a study connection as well as a social one so you have someone with whom to discuss the course.
Week three: check your workload
Look at the first assignment and work backwards from its deadline. Break it into reading, drafting and revision. If a topic is unclear, use the academic support route early. Keep a record of the question you asked and the answer, especially when it affects an assessment requirement.
Week four: adjust
Compare your planned week with what actually happened. Reduce activities that crowd out rest and study. If you are still feeling unsettled, speak to someone you trust or an appropriate student-support service. The goal is a sustainable routine, not an impressive first-month checklist.