5 survival tips for new university students

Some of my students studying together

Here's some advice for all students who are about to start university. You have probably just left school, and at first you may experience a few difficulties adjusting to university life.

Everything will be new. You may feel a bit lost. You may be far from home. There will be unfamiliar things you will need to remember. You will meet lots of new people. University may feel like an alien environment, but there are certain things you, and all other new students, should do if you really want to make a success of your time in higher education. Here are five key things to remember:

1) Lectures. Make sure you get to your teaching sessions on time - try not to miss anything if you can help it. Make sure you get to know your campus. When you're there, don't look as though you're bored in lectures and seminars (even if you are). Not all lectures are engaging - even though they should be! - but every session has been designed to give you the best chance to get good grades in your assignments and exams. Don't start packing up your books and laptops as the clock ticks toward the top of the hour. Spend as much time as you can immersed in your subject and gain a passion for it. It will pay off in the end.

2) Tutors. Your lecturer/professor is not your mate, so don't treat them as though they are. When you compose an e-mail, be professional. I dislike e-mails from my students that say 'hey steve', or 'yo prof' as though I'm a room mate. Show due respect, avoid over familiarity, and your lecturer will be more inclined to go the extra mile to support you if they can. Similarly, don't disrespect your lecturer online on social media sites, even if your account is protected/closed. If more than one person can read your posts, they are public. Rude remarks on social media have a habit of getting back to those you have written about.

3) Friends. It's great making new friends and going out for drinks, and university can be a lot of fun. You will need to chill out now and then, and there are plenty of great social activities and societies you can be involved in. But remember why you are there - to learn, to study, to get a good degree. So don't waste all your time in the bar, or out with your mates. Most former students would agree that working hard is the biggest secret to graduating. Put enough hours into mastering your subject, and you are more likely to be successful.

With some of my Czech, German and Polish students

4) Assignments. Don't try to take short cuts. Many students panic when assignment deadlines are approaching.  Some search online, and then copy and paste text into their assignments to pad them out, trying to catch up on time they may have wasted. This is called plagiarism - especially if you don't acknowledge the sources - and if you are caught cheating (which more often than not you are - it's usually not that hard to detect), the penalty can be severe. At the very least, you'll face the ignominy of sitting in front of a disciplinary panel, at worst you could be thrown off the course. It's not worth the risk. Manage your time effectively and you won't run out of time.

5) Fun. Enjoy your learning. You chose your subject for a reason - just make sure it is the right reason. You will be in university for 3 years (or more), so get used to being a student! However, studying for a degree isn't only about your subject, it's also about acquiring other skills too. Doing your degree is a wonderful journey, and you will discover a lot more about yourself than you ever thought was possible. You will find out exactly what your limits are, and this will be great preparation for the rest of your time on this planet.

I wish you every success in your studies!

Photos: Steve Wheeler


5 survival tips for new university students by Steve Wheeler was written in Plymouth, England and is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 3.0 Unported License.