20 Tips On How To Survive University

Whether you're a fresher or final year student, here's everything you need to survive university.

Starting uni? Or are you partway through a course and have no idea what you're doing?

The uni experience, while fun and exciting, can be pretty overwhelming too. There's a lot to remember, homesickness in some cases, but most of all, a ton of students in exactly the same boat as you.

That's right, you're not alone and we've for your back too.If you want to know how to survive university then look no further. We've got tips that'll help you survive your first year and beyond.

Tips to survive uni

1. Learn how to budget your money

Money burns fast as a student. But you can avoid being skint the whole time by making a few adjustments.

Having a budget and sticking to it will set you off on the right track. Plus, having the right bank for you will help keep your money on track too. Some banks will pay up if you switch too.

Budget an amount of cash that's manageable for you onto the card and use it for food, going out, travel and other expenses. This will keep things separate from your bills and is a fantastic way to keep track of your spending.

2. Know when to go home after a night out

We know it can be tempting to go for one more drink. But we also know one drink can easily turn into another five.

Do yourself, your liver and your bank balance a favour by going home when you've had enough fun. Yes, it's easy to get carried away, but there's nothing worse than waking up the next day to transactions you can't even remember.

3. Don't agree to every night out

This coincides with our last point, but don't feel the need to agree to every night out. We know this can create a bit of FOMO, but so what? Missing one or two nights out to do something productive or chill is totally fine. Don't compromise when you simply just want to do you.

Again, your liver and bank balance will thank you, too.

4. Have a meal plan

Having a meal plan can help you save tons of cash and keep you in budget and give you a sense of routine. Getting lunches out, even those £3.50 meal deals, can rack up quite quickly. And you could simply make your lunches at home for a fraction of that price.

We've got an essential student food shopping list for you in case you have no idea what to get on your next food shop. You'll never be stuck for ideas now, so make sure you bookmark it for a later date.

Read: How to make your favourite recipes vegan

5. Get a smoothie maker

Not getting enough vitamins? Or are you on a tight schedule? Investing in a smoothie maker is a fantastic way to blend all of your fruits and veggies to drink on the go or have beside you when you're plowing through your coursework and revision.

Get student discounts on appliances when you sign up to Student Beans to save cash on a blender.

6. Ask for help when you need it

The university you're at will always have resources and staff to help you with anything you need, but you need to seek them out. Universities often have a dedicated space for this, plus university counselors if you need to discuss any issues you have during your student life.

7. Plan your studies

If you're worried about keeping organised, then a student planner app is the way to go.

They not only help with studies, but your whole life too!

Keep all of your things in one place, including your deadlines, lectures, tutorials and more. We have tons of recommendations for study apps such as:

• Chipper

• Todoist

• My Study Life

• Taskheat…and much more.

8. Use apps to stay productive

Productivity levels can be fleeting, especially if you're overwhelmed or have no idea where to begin. We have a ton of apps for boosting productivity you may want to consider. Such as:

• Hive

• Drafts

• Trello

• Calendly

• Evernote…and more.

9. Learn basic cooking skills

We get it, if you've never cooked a day in your life then this can be an overwhelming concept.

But don't worry, all you need to do is master the basics and build on top of that over time. Plus, it'll help stretch your student bank balance too. Some of these skills can be:

• Boiling noodles, pasta, and spaghetti

• Chopping onions and garlic

• Boiling an egg

• Baking a potato

• Cooking rice

Mastering these simple skills, combined with jarred sauces (until you learn to make your own!) can go a long way.

Also, we're obsessed with this easy stir-fry recipe:

10. Learn how to do laundry

To avoid your whites coming out pink or dull, it might be worth knowing how to use a washing machine and separate your laundry.

The best thing to do? Trial and error. It's the only way you'll learn. But in all seriousness, a general rule of thumb is separating your whites from your colourful clothes. And if you're extra worried, you can shop for some colour catchers that'll stop colour transferring onto your lighter coloured clothing.

11. Keep on top of cleaning

Student life can be hectic, which means cleaning duties can fall off the wayside. To keep you happy and to be considerate of others, here are some cleaning tips that only take minutes, if not seconds:

• Wash up and wipe down surfaces while you cook

• Wash your dishes straight after cleaning

• Have a dedicated ‘bin' emptying day

• Set aside time once a week to clean your room.

12. Make the most of student discounts

One of the best reasons to be a student is getting free stuff! Besides, you know, increasing your employment prospects. Obviously.

Sign up to Student Beans to get access to tons of discounts and freebies. Plus, our weekly emails keep you in the know about the latest happenings, freebies and competitions too.

13. Learn how to handle conflict

You may hear a lot about housemates not getting on, or group work on your course crumbling apart. Unfortunately, personalities will clash and the chances of conflict can be high.

Hearing the other person out and working together towards a solution is one of the best ways to resolve conflict. If things get real rough though, don't be afraid to reach out to your course leader or halls of residence manager.

14. Seek out the information yourself

The way courses are taught at university differs from school and college. Information isn't spoonfed in the same way, and you're encouraged to find the information you need for yourself.

So as soon as you don't understand something, ask! Chances are you aren't the only one and you've got to keep yourself in the know to succeed on your course.

15. Make the most of university facilities

Check out what your university campus has to offer. Are there societies you have time to join? A gym? Sports hall? Clubs? Resources for mental health? Make a note of them and be sure to use your university's offerings to the fullest. You're paying for it at the end of the day, so make the most if it.

16. Prep for home study

Many courses have moved to online-only study due to the pandemic. Some are staying that way too.

Ensure you have all of your reading material, access to the internet, one of the best laptops for students, all the stationery, plus a good desk and chair to sit at.

If you intend on studying exclusively online, then this TikTok will help you get prepped for home study.

17. Join societies if your schedule allows you to

To slightly counter our last point, make sure your schedule allows for time to dedicate to clubs and societies.

Lots of university advice out there advocates for joining as many as possible, but to be frank, how many can you attend and dedicate time to, really?

Be realistic and don't bite off more than you can chew. Even if that means not joining any societies to keep your studies first.

18. Make an effort to befriend classmates

It's very likely you'll be involved with group work, so it's important to have good relationships with your classmates. We're not saying you need to make friends with everybody, but make sure you treat everyone with the same respect.

At the end of the day, your coursemates could be valuable contacts for the future, so relationship building throughout your university degree will work in your favour.

19. Avoid burnout

Burnout is real at university and happens far too often. But avoiding academic burnout is absolutely possible. It involves prioritising in a way that suits you, having rest, recognising when you're burning out, and taking steps to put yourself and your mental health first.

20. Know when it's time to move on

It's normal for things to feel off when you start university. Everything's new and you're totally out of your comfort zone. Before you write it off, give it a chance. But if after giving it a chance you still don't feel right, then find out what you need to know about transferring universities, or potentially giving university a break altogether.

Got another tip you want to add to this list? Tweet Student Beans and we'll feature it in this post!