1) Go to class, even when no one’s watching

As a first-year university student, it’s easy to think that all your new free time means you can skip lectures or tutes and none of it will matter. However, showing up helps you stay in the loop and ask important questions as the weeks roll on, especially in those early weeks of the semester.

Some classes have a specific percentage of attendance required to pass, so you will feel the pain if you skip too many of those. Best to be there, be present, create new habits and maybe even ask the occasional question.

2) Make a timetable, then actually use it

Lots of study tips for university students often mention time management, because it’s one of the trickiest things to get right.

Uni doesn’t hand you a fixed schedule like high school, and it definitely doesn’t have bells ringing when it’s time for lunch and recess. You’ll have gaps between classes, deadlines weeks apart and more freedom than you know what to do with.

Try blocking out time not just for lectures, study and tutorials but for everything else: scrolling Reels, seeing friends, Pilates, taking naps. The routine will keep you grounded when things at university get busy.

3) Don’t ghost your readings

Your readings are there for a reason – to help you understand your course subject material. We don’t mean you need to analyse every word, but having a base understanding of your assigned readings makes lectures and tutorials much easier to follow. Readings are also where some of the best inspiration for assignments comes from!

If you’re struggling to focus, we have lots of great study areas around ANU such as the booths in the Marie Reay Teaching Centre, as well as the quiet areas in our many libraries across campus. Alternatively, if you’re after a change of scenery, check out our favourite places to study around Canberra.

4) Say yes

Sometimes, all it takes is simply saying ‘yes’ to change your experience at uni.

Join a new student club you wouldn’t have ever considered before, play a new sport or attend that trivia night at the Badger uni pub that you overheard somebody talking about in your tutorial. The more spontaneous you are, the more you put yourself out there for opportunity.

Not sure where to start? We have over 100 clubs and societies waiting for you to explore… just say yes.

5) Ask for help early

You’re not supposed to know it all when you’re a first-year. It’s a constant learning curve full of growth and change. Whether you need help with essay writing, subject selection or how to reference correctly, someone is there to guide you. Speak to the Academic Skills team, ask your tutors for advice and chat with college staff and older students.

Getting support early and knowing when to ask for help beats stressing out the night before a deadline any day.

6) Friendships take time and that’s normal

Maybe you’re starting uni with your entire gang from high school, but chances are you’re taking a leap into this new opportunity solo and missing some of your friends or family. Everyone is still figuring it out – even if they look confident on the outside. You have heaps of time to figure it out and new friendships do not form immediately.

Say hi to somebody new in your tutorials, ask a classmate to grab a coffee or attend a social event with an open mind. If you have a positive outlook, everything else begins to shine.

7) Learning how to learn is part of uni too

Discovering your ideal study style should be considered a whole class in and of itself. There’s no ‘right’ or ‘wrong’ way to study – only what works for you, and finding that is an important part of academics.

Maybe you thrive in the library in silence or perhaps you need an amazing study playlist on in the background. Some people love group study sessions and others need to dive deep into topics and assignments alone to focus.

Your study habits might change from when you were in high school as the nature of your university commitments advance and shift. Try a few different approaches, see what sticks and give yourself time to adjust. You are not doing it wrong just because it feels new or uncertain.

8) You are more than your degree and marks

Being a first-year at uni comes with a lot of pressure, in a different way than high school. With such a big shift, it’s normal for things to take a while to click fully – so give yourself a break!

One mark does not make or break your future and it definitely does not say anything about who you are as a person or your capabilities. Take feedback as a part of the process, not as judgement towards you. Progress looks entirely different from person to person and your first year at university is about learning, and finding your groove, not striving for perfection.

9) Don’t put yourself last on the list

We know there’s a lot going on during first year, but taking care of yourself still takes precedence. Without your health, all the wheels stop turning. Familiar with the proverb ‘a stitch in time saves nine’? It references mending one tear early in order to prevent nine more appearing later on.

Looking after your mental health early on makes a big difference. That could mean enjoying your favourite hobbies, keeping in touch with people you trust or knowing where to find counselling if you need it. ANU has support available, with free mental health and wellness services on campus for students to access.

10) You won’t get everything right and that’s a part of the ride

Nobody in university history has had a ‘perfect’ first year. In fact, throw the concept of ‘perfect’ out the window. You’ll experience mix-ups, you might miss a class or say something cringy in a tutorial discussion. The important part is showing up, giving everything a go and learning about things that you are passionate about.

First year at uni is about adjusting, experimenting and figuring it out as you go. You do not have to be ‘perfect’. You just have to start and give it your best shot.