Celebrating the end of exams
Published on 29 January 16
Hooray! Exams are finally over and that after all that hard work it's time to celebrate and have fun! So while we're sure you don't need much instruction on how to celebrate after all the hard work you've put in the past few weeks, here are some of the best ways we could come up with to welcome back the luxury of a bit more free time.
A night on the town
By far the most popular choice for many, hitting the town with your friends is a great way to celebrate. If you are heading out on a big night out, ensure you know how to stay safe, stick together with your group and keep your phone charged and on you at all times. Also be aware that your neighbours probably don’t want to hear all about your night, so keep noise to a minimum on your way back home. Your neighbours will really appreciate you staying considerate of them and bearing in mind that they may have very different schedules to you.
Explore more of Manchester
Now is a great time to get out and see more of the great city we call home. Why not try out of one the fantastic museums or galleries the city has to offer, check out a play at one of the numerous theatres, or go out for a meal at any of the fabulous eateries the city has to offer? To celebrate the start of the New Year, many restaurants in town have been offering substantial discounts for the month of January, so now is the time to take full advantage and eat well for cheap.
Throw a dinner party
If your kitchen is your sanctuary (or even if you dread it) what about inviting over a few mates for dinner to celebrate? Whether you attempt a full on three course feast or just stick a pizza in the oven, getting your friends over is a great way for everyone to catch up after the hectic few weeks you've had. Asking everyone to contribute to ingredients or to bring something will mean it won't cost you the earth, and you could make it even more of an occasion by making it themed or fancy dress!
Remember that not everyone is the partying kind, so if you are hosting a dinner party or something similar then make sure you speak with your neighbours before hand, and keep the noise down.
If you're affected by noisy or anti-social neighbours, call the confidential Neighbourhood Helpline on 0161 275 1863 to report any issues – including anti-social behaviour by other students, residents, or environmental concerns – to the voicemail and someone will be in touch soon afterwards. Alternatively you can email neighbourhood.helpline@manchester.ac.uk. Both the University and the council take anti-social behaviour seriously, and reporting it will really make a difference.
Pangaea
Pangaea is the ultimate way to celebrate the end of exams with their retro gaming themed party! An interactive map of the festival site is available on the Pangaea Festival website, and progresses through 15 new real-time levels - conquering a range of terrains, styles and obstacles along the way - as we celebrate ten years of Europe's largest student-led festival. If you really are desperate to go, it's worth asking around on the off chance anyone you know can't make it any more and has a spare ticket, but stay away from touts and be aware of scams.
Safety getting home is of the utmost importance at Pangaea, so ensure you plan how you're getting home before you leave and when leaving, do not get into a taxi unless it is clearly marked as one. The recommended taxi provider for Pangaea is Street Cars, so look out for their uniformed drivers and show your student card to get a 10% discount or use the Safe Taxi Scheme if you've run out of money.
Catch up on sleep
While celebrating sounds like fun for some, a lot of you will probably just want a night off to chill out and get some well-deserved sleep after those all-night study sessions. If you've been neglecting your bed of late, now is the time to catch up on sleep and getting your sleep patterns back to normal. So settle down and get refreshed for the start of the new semester!