Adjusting to Uni

To make your transition to Uni less lonely and difficult, here are some things to keep in mind:

Acknowledge that it is okay to be nervous

University can introduce an environment you’ve never experienced before. Let yourself get used to it. You don’t have to make friends and know everything on your first day or even your first year.

Just like in your coursework, remember that you are a student and are in the process of learning things as you go.

Give yourself time to meet new people

You will meet a lot of new people when you start your degree, some will turn out to be great long term friends but this won’t happen with everyone, and that’s okay. Just let yourself mingle and meet people slowly to focus on creating quality friendships.

Learn about your campus and its different offerings

If you can, spend some time on campus. Learn about the types of support services, networking and social events that your campus holds. It might also help to join a few student groups, particularly those that relate to your area of study, that can help you navigate your course.

Get involved in student groups and meet people with similar interests

There are lots of groups at Monash for specific interests and sporting/exercise ones. Joining these groups is a great way to meet people with similar interests.

In the case of fitness groups it can be a great way to meet new people without the stress of having to keep up a conversation the whole time.

Remember it's okay to say no

As you meet new University students and join new interest groups you will likely be invited to a lot of events and parties. These can be a good way to relax but keep in mind that you can say no if you don’t feel comfortable, feeling socially burnt out or don’t really want to go.

You don’t have to attend every party and gathering to be able to make or keep up good friendships.

Organise your time to allow enough time to get your study done

Although meeting people and joining groups is one of the most exciting parts of starting Uni, don’t forget that you will need to organise your time and leave enough time for studying to avoid the stress of last minute assignments.

You can even organise study groups with your peers to make learning a bit more fun. Learn more about how to restructure your time to manage stress here.

Talk about what is stressing you out

Although you probably have already experienced a lot of stress finishing high school and applying to Uni, studying at Uni presents its own challenges, particularly if you have moved out of home for the first time and are looking after yourself.

It's best to keep in touch with loved ones and talk about what is causing you stress so you can work through it with them. Learn how to seek help from friends, family and other people on our Seeking Help page.

Reaching out

If the stress is proving to be too much, reach out to the free Monash Counselling and Psychological Services (CAPS), seek out other support services or speak to your tutors and lecturers about managing your study load.

If you are experiencing stress related to your studies, our page on Academic Stress can also provide more resources to help you cope.