The end of the school year is almost upon us, marking an incredibly exciting time for those starting university in 2025. However, with all of this excitement comes considerable nerves. After all, it’s totally normal to be a little nervous about such an important life change!
That being said, we think the best way to combat those nerves is to prepare, prepare, prepare, and we’ve put together a guide that helps university first-year students do just that! So, if you’re a recent high school graduate who wants to learn all the necessary university terminology and the best ways to prepare for your first semester, read on because this article is just for you!
University-Related FAQ: Understanding the Terminology
Before you even think about starting university, you’ll want to get your head around some basic university terminology. While these terms may seem basic to some, they aren’t always covered by your lecturers, so it’s possible to go through your whole first year without developing a proper understanding; don’t worry though! We’ve got you covered.
Still haven’t decided? Check out our blog on choosing between uni and the workforce.
Question: What’s a Bachelor’s Degree?
Answer: When most people begin their university journey, they do so by studying for a bachelor’s degree. The best part? Regardless of what subject you want to study, there will very likely be a bachelor’s degree that suits you!
Most bachelor’s degrees require applicants to be high school graduates, and some require a certain grade point average for admission, so it’s important to check the entry requirements for the bachelor’s degree that you want to pursue in advance.
Question: What’s a Master’s Degree?
Answer: A master’s degree is the next step up from a bachelor’s degree and, as such, requires applicants to have completed their bachelor’s degree and, in most cases, an honours course. For those wanting to pursue careers in competitive industries, studying a master’s degree is a great way to set yourself apart from other applicants
However, it’s equally important to note that most master’s degrees require a certain grade point average. This means that those wanting to pursue further education can’t just sail through their bachelor’s with a ‘C’s get degrees’ mindset; it’ll require some serious dedication!
Question: What’s a PhD?
Answer: A PhD is the highest level of academic degree that one can earn. Applicants must have achieved high results in both their bachelor’s degree and master’s degree and have a strong knowledge of their specialisation. Studying at this level can take quite a while, but you’ll come out as a specialist in your field (and be highly employable, too).
Question: What’s the Difference: Postgraduate vs Undergraduate Degrees?
Answer: The difference between undergraduate and postgraduate degrees can be a little confusing, but we’re here to clear things up. Basically, undergraduate students are studying for their first degree, such as a bachelor’s degree. Alternatively, postgraduate students are pursuing further education (usually in the form of a master’s, postgraduate diploma or PhD).
Question: What’s the Difference Between Majors and Minors?
Answer: Understanding the difference between majors and minors has stumped many first-year university students. However, it’s actually pretty simple. Your major is the main subject area that you focus on over the course of your degree, whereas your minor serves as a secondary focus.
You’ll be taking lots of courses related to your major and minor over the course of your degree, so make sure you’re truly interested in each and that they relate to your planned career path!
Question: What’s the Difference Between Lecturers and Tutors?
Answer: To fully understand the different teaching staff you’ll be interacting with at university, you’ll need to know the lingo. And luckily, we’ve got you covered. Essentially, lecturers research and teach; some serve as course coordinators and some provide guest lectures, but all of them are super knowledgeable in their field and have completed postgraduate study.
Tutors are who you’ll be learning from in tutorial environments, rather than lectures. They’re usually at an earlier stage in their careers, and most are completing their own postgraduate courses at university while taking the time to teach you. Tutors are who you’ll usually direct any questions towards and who you’ll get to know best during your time in a course.
How to Prepare for Your First Semester at University
Trust us, the worst thing you can do when starting university is to go into your first day unprepared. Without at least looking over the course description, you could miss out on super-important information and fall behind before you even start! However, this isn’t a reason to freak out; it’s simply a reason to get organised. And if you’ve picked a degree you’re excited about, this part of university should be a lot of fun.
Keep reading and learn how to start university on the right foot. Trust us, you’ll be grateful for these university tips when it gets to assessment season!
Check Your Required Readings
Some university courses require students to complete a little bit of required reading before the class even commences. But don’t worry too much, they won’t be assigning so much that it’ll impact your summer holidays. To avoid giving the ‘dog ate my homework’ excuse, check your university dashboard (you know, the website with class timetables, announcements and syllabus’) and ensure there isn’t any pre-semester work you missed.
Know Where Your Classes Are
If you haven’t attended a university open day, you might be surprised to find out just how big universities are. In fact, it’s not uncommon for a walk from one class to another to take upwards of five minutes. That’s why it’s important to figure out where your classes are before your first day to avoid any possible late arrivals.
Add Your Class Times to Your Calendar
Your first year of university will be packed full of exciting classes. While this is an exciting new adventure, it also increases the possibility of missing classes due to disorganisation. Know exactly where you need to be and when by adding your class timetable to your planner or Google calendar. That way, you’ll never have to miss a lesson!
Make Note of Assessment Dates
University assessments are notoriously good at sneaking up on you, but with a few preventative measures, you can stop that from happening. Simply set digital reminders for a few weeks before each assessment’s due date so that you know when you need to start and don’t get caught in a last-minute rush.
Read Over Assessments Ahead of Time
Procrastination has lowered many a grade at university, and by not checking what your assessments actually require, you’re risking the same fate. By reading through requirements early, you can pick your topic ahead of time and make sure that you’re paying super sharp attention whenever it’s being covered in class. Who knows, this kind of forward-thinking could just take you from a B- to an A+.
Nervous for university exam season? Discover study tips that actually work.
Make the Most of Orientation Week
When we say that orientation week is the best opportunity to get your bearings at university and make lifelong friends, we aren’t exaggerating. If you’re feeling like skipping the festivities out of nervousness or laziness, we highly suggest you push past those feelings and get involved. Not only will it make your transition into classes smoother, but it’ll connect you with others dealing with the same life changes.
Still Asking Yourself ‘Which Degree is For Me?’
If you still haven’t landed on which degree you want to study, we can help you make the decision process a little easier. After all, it all starts with a bit of career planning and future curating (our specialty)!
Simply head over to our free career test and figure out what industry is for you. After you’ve figured that out, university planning should be a piece of cake!
