The University of Kent has launched Your Kent Start, a new programme designed to help students achieve their potential at university and prepare for life after graduation.
The offer includes £2,000 of support for eligible new home undergraduate students over their first two years of study, alongside discounted accommodation and free gym membership.
Students will also benefit from enhanced wellbeing support, including one-to-one coaching and counselling sessions. Every student will be offered a guaranteed internship and the chance to undertake a year in industry or abroad. They will also have access to 100 hours of career development to help them build the skills and experience employers value.
Your Kent Start builds on the University’s landmark Education Modernisation programme, introduced in September 2025, which has transformed how students study, receive feedback and progress through their degrees.
Under the new model, students focus on two modules at a time, complete assessments closer to when teaching takes place and receive feedback before progressing to the next term of study.
Professor Georgina Randsley de Moura, Acting Vice-Chancellor and President of the University of Kent, said:
‘Starting university is exciting, but it can also feel daunting. Many students are juggling study alongside work, family responsibilities and everything else life throws at them.
‘At Kent, we want every student to feel supported, valued and able to achieve their potential while they’re with us. Your Kent Start provides practical support where it can make the biggest difference, whether that’s financial help, access to counselling and coaching, or the chance to gain valuable experience through a guaranteed internship or a year in industry.
‘Together with Education Modernisation, it reflects our commitment to helping every student thrive. Students receive regular feedback throughout the academic year, helping them understand their progress, improve as they go and achieve their full potential, while also gaining the skills and experience they need for life after graduation.’
As Education Modernisation approaches the end of its first year, the University has reported a 99.5% reduction in timetable clashes, a 63% reduction in 9am classes and a 78% reduction in 5pm classes.
The University now publishes student timetables almost two months earlier than previously, helping students plan work, caring responsibilities and other commitments well before the start of term. Wherever possible students also benefit from at least one teaching-free day each week.
Assessment pressures have been reduced at key points in the year. Feedback on smaller assessments throughout each module helps students improve as they go and perform at their best in final assessments, while enabling the University to identify and support students earlier if they begin to struggle.
The result is fewer deadlines falling during holiday periods, meaning Christmas and Easter are genuine breaks for the majority of students rather than periods dominated by coursework deadlines.
Eddy Hogg, Academic Lead – Education, at Kent said:
‘By enabling students to focus more effectively on their modules, undertake regular and varied assessment and benefit from more predictable timetables, we have created a more flexible and supportive approach to learning.’
‘The changes are helping students engage more deeply with their studies, manage competing commitments and make better use of feedback throughout the academic year. Together, these changes help students grow their knowledge, skills and confidence throughout and beyond their time at Kent.’
Kent is one of the first universities in the UK to implement this model at scale, combining a redesigned academic structure with earlier feedback, more predictable timetables and targeted student support.
Glorija Dordijevski, a first-year undergraduate studying Politics and International Relations at Kent, said:
‘One of the biggest benefits of the new structure is that I can focus on fewer modules at a time and receive feedback much sooner. It means I know what’s working, what I need to improve and can apply that learning straight away.
‘The timetable is easier to manage, the workload feels more balanced and breaks between terms are genuine opportunities to rest and recharge. Overall, it has made studying feel more focused, flexible and rewarding.’