Tips for Enjoy University Life

Everyone from your granny, who has never even visited a university to your second cousin, Cara, who got a First, tells you that university will be the best time of your life. But, if, once the relief of getting into university has worn off, you start to worry that you won’t enjoy it, don’t be afraid that you are the only one who has ever felt this way.

Part of the excitement of university life is the departure into the unknown. It is bound to be disconcerting at first but remember that everyone will be new.  If you get into your first choice university, you will have some degree of familiarity with the campus or the town in advance. If you think you might have to enter through Clearing, do your research in advance of Results Day and hold your nerve to find a course at a university where you would genuinely want to study.

University can be a very intimidating place; you might find that you are not beaming with happiness like every face on the university prospectus.  Everyone experiences highs and lows. University brings an increased onus on your personal responsibility for your studies but that does not mean that you are on your own. As someone who was unashamedly filled with trepidation ahead of starting their life at University and learned to love it, I will share some tips on how to enjoy University life.

1: Enjoy Freshers’ Week

Before starting University you might hold the preconception that Freshers’ week might well be the greatest week of your life so far, filled to the brim with guilt-free partying and drinking games. Whilst some of this may indeed be true, for many people Freshers’ week is a nerve-wracking time spent in unfamiliar surroundings attempting to form friendships with equally unfamiliar people.

Fortunately, Freshers’ week acquaintances are unlikely to become your long term friends. If you find that the people in your accommodation aren’t really the kind of people you want to be friends with, then try and be as socially proactive as possible. 

3: Look after Your Mental Health

A recent survey performed by the Insight Network and student organization Dig-In revealed a worrying trend in terms of the mental health of higher education students, with just under half of all students (42%) responding that they had felt the need for professional help. Whilst your time at university may turn out to the best years of your life, it is not unusual to struggle at times. Stress and pressure exerted by your work, finances or more personal issues can be difficult to manage. 

Universities have a large number of trained professionals on hand to offer help; being as proactive as possible in receiving help is vitally important. Student representatives within the student union can offer informal support or advice with coping with the stresses of university life or help you to access the university’s professional help services. Even if you are a more established student at your university the issue of mental health can arise during your time there. With The Guardian reporting the vulnerability of second and third years is significantly higher than freshers.

The recognition of the importance of mental health at university has been growing exponentially in recent years. Yale University’s now world-famous Happiness Course has been made freely available online.  Keeping a healthy mind at university can be improved by maintaining a healthy body.  Making sure you manage at least three meals a day and keep up a healthy diet (rather than living off a variety of takeaways) whilst remembering to drink a lot of water can be a boost to your system. Likewise, regular exercise provides structure to your week and the endorphins released by exercise actively improve your mental state.

Universities often have fantastic sports facilities and joining a sports team or even committing to a regular exercise class is a great way of making new friends.  

4: Manage Your Finances 

For many students University is the first time they are fully in control of their finances, and being conscious of your spending is essential. Conversely, lack of money in the bank can be incredibly stressful and hinder your ability to enjoy university life to the full. It can be tempting to go on a shopping spree the moment your student loan lands in your bank account, but being frugal with your money is a necessity. 

You don’t want to miss out on social events because you blew all your funds on needless items. After leaving the comfort of your home surroundings, for many people, this will be their first time having to buy necessary items that seem to be magically replenished at home, such as milk, washing detergent and toilet paper. Factoring in these sorts of items alongside your food into your weekly shop is important. Writing a shopping list of items can be a great way of making sure you don’t overspend.

Supermarkets in student areas tend to be quite extortionate, and every university seems to want to lay claim to possessing the most expensive Sainsbury’s or Tesco on the country.  Doing your weekly shop at a budget supermarket can be a sensible way of alleviating the pressure on your bank account. You may have to sacrifice some of the more recognisable brands but it will leave you with more money to put towards having an enjoyable time. 

Supplementing your income by getting a part-time job, or working in the holidays, can also boost your career prospects by giving you vital work experience – but be careful to ensure that you can manage any part-time work alongside maintaining high standards for your studies. This can allow you to obtain a greater range of key skills, which will come in use when it comes to writing your CV.  It will be much more difficult to enjoy university life if you are struggling financially. Use this time to learn how to manage your finances efficiently. Remember, if you are experiencing hardship, do not hesitate to get help from your university.