Trust me when I say balancing all three is a real talent especially when procrastination is in FULL force. Keeping track of deadlines, assignments, the dreaded split shift at work or even just trying to have a life outside of writing what seems like your 100th essay of the year is a lot. Whether you’re gearing up to start university in September and are questioning how you will do it or are in final year still trying to figure it out – here’s your one-stop guide on how to manage uni, work and study.  

Prioritize and Plan  

Time management and a to-do list will become your best friend. And they are necessary to avoid those all-night cramming sessions in the library, totally forgetting to add your references at the end of your coursework or even worse, completely missing a deadline. Even if it’s simply: put a load of washing on, order and prioritize your tasks at hand, based on deadlines and urgency to ensure you have enough time to complete everything. You never know, you might start to enjoy the feeling of ticking off each task as you go.  

Along with this, it’s also important to say no, whether that’s to your friends wanting to drag you out to a Toast Tuesday or work offering you an extra shift. If you know you have something due the next day, it’s totally fine to say no to other plans to ensure you make your hand in. 

Set Realistic Goals 

Prioritize and planning go hand in hand with setting realistic goals. Know your deadlines and hold yourself accountable for them. Avoid the jump scare by setting mini goals of where you want to be at with your assignment by the end of each week. And no, I don’t mean write 5 words by the end of week one – I mean have the methodology written by the 15th of March. Make this plan of action for each of your assignments or exams, and be sure to never have a 5 am library session again.  

Seek Support  

If you find you are struggling, whether that’s with workload, deadlines, part-time work or mentally, there’s ALWAYS someone to reach out to. Your lecturers, employers, the library or even the other university services such as the Retreat are there to help you, don’t be afraid to ask! I promise you; you definitely won’t be the first or last person to ask for support. The last thing we want is for you to feel stressed, under pressure or alone. And this is why it’s always important to also… 

Take Time For Yourself  

Burning out and the stress of university is never ideal. On top of balancing uni life, assignments and work its also so important to take time for yourself. Even if it is just watching your favourite film after getting a sweet treat or going for a coffee with friends. These small acts of self-love will allow you to re-set and take your mind off the busyness of life for a second.  

Flexible Work Opportunities 101 

When rejoining uni life after my placement year, I knew I wanted to find a job that allowed me to be flexible with the amount of hours I took on – especially with hearing all the horror stories of how busy final year may get. Becoming a student ambassador has done just this, allowing me to pick and choose the jobs I book on to but also helping other departments of the marketing team such as BU Blogs where when I’ve got a spare two hours in my day I can sit and write about my university experience and get paid for it! This way, when I have deadlines or a busier timetable, I have no pressure to work. 

Just remember though, there is so much more to do at university beyond your degree…make friends, explore your uni town, gain so many transferable skills. Doing assignments and exams is such a small part of your overall university experience – enjoy it!  

Find out more

University life top tips