Transitioning from high school to university life is like moving into a completely new world. I came from a structured academic background where I had a strong work ethic and was used to balancing academics with sports. But when I arrived at university, especially as an international student, I quickly realised that balance had a whole new meaning.
University adds new layers to your plate — managing your own time, cooking (or at least trying), social life, part-time work, society commitments, mental health, burnout, even spontaneous travel. It’s no longer just about showing up to class and turning in assignments — it’s about staying on top of everything while trying to hold onto your sense of self.
And like most people, I made that grand first-week promise: “I will attend 100% of my lectures. I’ll sit at the front. I’ll revise every evening. I’ll meet with my professors weekly.” But by week three? Reality set in. A missed 9 a.m. here, a rescheduled study session there, and my picture-perfect plan began to unravel.
But that doesn’t mean success is impossible — it just means you need a system. Here’s how I’ve been managing my studies while juggling everything else.
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1. Start Smart: Understand Your Modules
Before the semester begins, I always take time to review each module’s structure. Most professors upload the module handbook and Week 1 content a few days before term starts. That early peek gives me a feel for:
• What the content is about
• The assessment format (essays, exams, coursework, presentations)
• Important deadlines and weightings (e.g., 30% midterm, 70% final)
• Whether it’s group or solo work
Knowing this early helps me mentally plan my semester. I mark heavy-assessment weeks in my calendar so I don’t overcommit socially or with societies during that time. You’ll thank yourself for doing this when deadlines start stacking up.
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2. Skim Before, Review After
Before each lecture, I skim the slides — not to master the content, but to know what’s coming. This helps me follow the lecture more actively, especially when the material is abstract or concept-heavy.
During lectures, I personally don’t take detailed notes. I prefer to just listen. I treat lectures as the storytelling part of learning — a chance to hear the professor explain concepts in their own words. Then, post-lecture, I dive into deeper study, where I connect what I heard to what’s on the slides, in the textbook, and in further reading.
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3. Know Your Learning Style
One of the most important things I had to learn at uni was how I learn best. Everyone’s different: some people are visual learners, others auditory, some need to write everything out or teach it to someone else.
For me, I absorb best by listening first, then actively recalling. After lectures, I’ll try to explain the concept to myself out loud (or even to a friend). If I can teach it simply, then I know I’ve understood it. If I’m still fuzzy, I’ll go back and rewatch, reread, or ask for help.
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4. Textbooks Are Your Friends (Really)
Textbooks can be intimidating — big, heavy, and sometimes dry — but they’re incredibly useful for filling in gaps left by lecture slides. At the start of each semester, I either borrow physical copies from the library or download them online if available.
I don’t read them cover-to-cover. Instead, I use them as reinforcement — especially for key topics in upcoming assessments or tricky areas I didn’t fully understand in class. The key is to know when to use them, not to get lost in every chapter.
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5. Active Recall > Passive Reading
One mistake I made early on was rereading notes thinking it counted as studying. But reading something over and over doesn’t mean you’ve learned it.
Now, I use active recall. I close my books and try to summarise or answer a question using only what’s in my head. It’s hard at first, but it’s the most effective way to see what you’ve actually retained — and where you still need to work.
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6. Solo Study vs. Group Study
There’s a quote I love: “If you want to go fast, go alone. If you want to go far, go together.” Studying alone is great when you’re trying to power through content quickly. But for real understanding, discussing with your course mates can be eye-opening.
Someone else might explain something in a way that finally clicks, or ask a question you hadn’t considered. And talking things through helps reinforce what you already know. That balance between solo and collaborative studying is key.
Uni life is unpredictable. Things will come up — events, burnout, bad days, even worse Wi-Fi. But having a proactive system for managing your studies can be a game changer.
