The Student Room Group

Life skills you'll learn at university

Chuks, recent MSc in Applied AI and Data Analytics graduate, shares some of the life skills you'll learn at university and how these skills can help you out after you've graduated. 🙌

Money management 💸
Money management is a very essential skill which everyone should have. However, this is not limited to life as a student. Possessing this skill will help you as an adult. You should be able to know the difference between your 'wants' and 'needs'.

Setting up a budget helps a lot in making the most of your money and reduces he risk of running into debt. All you must do is make sure it's realistic and you can stick to it. Working on your incomings and outgoings will help you. For example, setting out money for your mobile bill, food, insurance, halls, and groceries. Also, bargain hunt and look out for deals to help you shop smart.

Cooking 🍳
As a student, cooking and not always outsourcing food is the best and it helps in money management. How to eat well for less is a great skill to learn whilst at university. Learning to cook from scratch using staple ingredients, asking for tips from your housemates, and learning about the recipes. There's lots of help online for step-by-step guidance for cooking. Draft a menu for the week/month so that you can work on what to cook.

Networking and making new friends 🤗
University is a different world altogether, mixed with different people with different cultures and beliefs. You can network and make new friends by joining a society/club, going for hikes, career fairs, freshers' fayre, staying in touch with family and friends, attending social gatherings in the university and engaging in the Students Union actively.

You can decide to speak to one person every day and that way, you will get used to making friends. This will also train you to easily mingle with people anywhere you find yourself.

Broaden horizons 👏
Being at uni will expose you to different things that will help expand your knowledge. This could be participating in extracurricular activities that lead you to leaving your comfort zone and doing things that on a normal day, you wouldn't imagine doing. You can also achieve this by mingling with people that have different opinions from you. Embracing the diversity that it brings by learning new cultures, and adapting to new teaching methods and environments will, in turn, help you develop your interpersonal skills.

Building a professional digital presence 📲
As a student, you can learn how to create an online presence on different platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter/X etc. that best suits your career, and you can sell yourself and your skills to the public. Also, you can be taught how to write a professional CV, tailoring your skills to applications, etc. Always book a session with the Career and Employability Services at the University.

Share the life skills you learnt, or the ones you're hoping to learn, below! :smile:
How to understand and deal with different kinds of people

Some people at uni will be amazing, some people will be shy, some people will be needy, some will sadly be knobs.

Trying to figure people out and interact with them in a healthy way for everyone is a big hurdle to overcome in early adulthood
Reply 2
Argument without the negative, temper-tinged connotations, and how to do it well

Similar re persuasion

Ability to step back from stuff and assess from a different perspective

Analytic, clear writing

Code-switching

The rest I learnt outside of a university setting, really.
Original post by University of Bradford
Chuks, recent MSc in Applied AI and Data Analytics graduate, shares some of the life skills you'll learn at university and how these skills can help you out after you've graduated. 🙌

Money management 💸
Money management is a very essential skill which everyone should have. However, this is not limited to life as a student. Possessing this skill will help you as an adult. You should be able to know the difference between your 'wants' and 'needs'.

Setting up a budget helps a lot in making the most of your money and reduces he risk of running into debt. All you must do is make sure it's realistic and you can stick to it. Working on your incomings and outgoings will help you. For example, setting out money for your mobile bill, food, insurance, halls, and groceries. Also, bargain hunt and look out for deals to help you shop smart.

Cooking 🍳
As a student, cooking and not always outsourcing food is the best and it helps in money management. How to eat well for less is a great skill to learn whilst at university. Learning to cook from scratch using staple ingredients, asking for tips from your housemates, and learning about the recipes. There's lots of help online for step-by-step guidance for cooking. Draft a menu for the week/month so that you can work on what to cook.

Networking and making new friends 🤗
University is a different world altogether, mixed with different people with different cultures and beliefs. You can network and make new friends by joining a society/club, going for hikes, career fairs, freshers' fayre, staying in touch with family and friends, attending social gatherings in the university and engaging in the Students Union actively.

You can decide to speak to one person every day and that way, you will get used to making friends. This will also train you to easily mingle with people anywhere you find yourself.

Broaden horizons 👏
Being at uni will expose you to different things that will help expand your knowledge. This could be participating in extracurricular activities that lead you to leaving your comfort zone and doing things that on a normal day, you wouldn't imagine doing. You can also achieve this by mingling with people that have different opinions from you. Embracing the diversity that it brings by learning new cultures, and adapting to new teaching methods and environments will, in turn, help you develop your interpersonal skills.

Building a professional digital presence 📲
As a student, you can learn how to create an online presence on different platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter/X etc. that best suits your career, and you can sell yourself and your skills to the public. Also, you can be taught how to write a professional CV, tailoring your skills to applications, etc. Always book a session with the Career and Employability Services at the University.

Share the life skills you learnt, or the ones you're hoping to learn, below! :smile:


Hi,

Not yet a graduate but have already learned some valuable life skills.

Time Management:
University requires juggling multiple commitments. You'll learn to plan your time effectively, prioritise tasks, and meet deadlines. This skill becomes essential for maintaining a healthy work-life balance both now and in the future.
Communication Skills:
Presentations, essays, and group discussions foster clear communication. You'll refine your ability to articulate ideas effectively, adapt your message to different audiences, and express yourself persuasively.
Conflict Resolution:
Group work and living with others might lead to disagreements. You'll develop skills to navigate conflicts constructively, listen actively, find compromises, and reach resolutions that benefit everyone involved.
Independence:
University encourages self-directed learning. You'll develop self-discipline, become more accountable for your own progress, and gain confidence in your ability to manage tasks independently. Also, if you're living away from home, you have to do housework and keep up with cleanliness.
Resilience:
Overcoming academic challenges and setbacks builds resilience, helping you bounce back from failures and adapt positively to setbacks in your career and personal life.

-Beth (Lancaster Student Ambassador)
The way you are going to stay away from your parents is really going to be learned in that.
Original post by University of Bradford
Chuks, recent MSc in Applied AI and Data Analytics graduate, shares some of the life skills you'll learn at university and how these skills can help you out after you've graduated. 🙌
Money management 💸
Money management is a very essential skill which everyone should have. However, this is not limited to life as a student. Possessing this skill will help you as an adult. You should be able to know the difference between your 'wants' and 'needs'.
Setting up a budget helps a lot in making the most of your money and reduces he risk of running into debt. All you must do is make sure it's realistic and you can stick to it. Working on your incomings and outgoings will help you. For example, setting out money for your mobile bill, food, insurance, halls, and groceries. Also, bargain hunt and look out for deals to help you shop smart.
Cooking 🍳
As a student, cooking and not always outsourcing food is the best and it helps in money management. How to eat well for less is a great skill to learn whilst at university. Learning to cook from scratch using staple ingredients, asking for tips from your housemates, and learning about the recipes. There's lots of help online for step-by-step guidance for cooking. Draft a menu for the week/month so that you can work on what to cook.
Networking and making new friends 🤗
University is a different world altogether, mixed with different people with different cultures and beliefs. You can network and make new friends by joining a society/club, going for hikes, career fairs, freshers' fayre, staying in touch with family and friends, attending social gatherings in the university and engaging in the Students Union actively.
You can decide to speak to one person every day and that way, you will get used to making friends. This will also train you to easily mingle with people anywhere you find yourself.
Broaden horizons 👏
Being at uni will expose you to different things that will help expand your knowledge. This could be participating in extracurricular activities that lead you to leaving your comfort zone and doing things that on a normal day, you wouldn't imagine doing. You can also achieve this by mingling with people that have different opinions from you. Embracing the diversity that it brings by learning new cultures, and adapting to new teaching methods and environments will, in turn, help you develop your interpersonal skills.
Building a professional digital presence 📲
As a student, you can learn how to create an online presence on different platforms like LinkedIn, Twitter/X etc. that best suits your career, and you can sell yourself and your skills to the public. Also, you can be taught how to write a professional CV, tailoring your skills to applications, etc. Always book a session with the Career and Employability Services at the University.
Share the life skills you learnt, or the ones you're hoping to learn, below! :smile:
Hi

This was a great idea for a post and I felt inspired to contribute too. Here are some of the things I've learnt and skills which I think are important to learn:

Time Management
With classes, assignments, sports teams, volunteering, paid work, and social life, uni can be overwhelming. Learning how to balance your time effectively is essential and will set you up for success in the rest of your life. University teaches you to set priorities, communicate responsibilities and negotiate deadlines, create schedules, and manage your workload efficiently, which will serve you well throughout the rest of your education and career.


Communication Skills
Whether it's giving presentations, writing essays, or participating in group projects, university is all about effective communication. You'll learn to articulate your ideas clearly, listen actively, and collaborate with diverse groups of people. These communication skills are crucial for building strong personal and professional relationships.


Adaptability
At uni, you'll face new challenges and opportunities that require you to adapt quickly. From changing modules/timetables/different lecturers to navigating new social situations, you'll become more flexible and resilient. This adaptability is a valuable asset in today's ever-changing job market.


Independence
This might be one of the most important skills of all. Uni is a time for personal growth and independence. You'll learn to make decisions, take responsibility, and manage your life without constant supervision. This newfound independence will help you become a more confident, self-reliant individual.


Milena
MA Creative and Critical Writing at Uni of Suffolk
Hello,

As someone in a "mature" course, I have also learned a few things that are not necessarily educational but I found incredibly helpful:

1.

How to be a good judge of character: the sad reality is in university you will meet a lot of people who appear friendly, but in reality are not really your friends. You will also learn who is hard working, who is honest, and I believe this is a necessary skill to help you in your future job place.

2.

Discipline: there will be days where you don't want to work and there will be days where you are tired, but university and deadlines will teach you to hold yourself accountable.

3.

Be more open-minded: in university, you will work and meet people who have different backgrounds and that will teach you to be more accepting and it will broaden your horizons.

I still feel like after 5 years of education, I am constantly learning and so it is a never ending learning curve, what do you think you will learn?

Best of luck,
Haya - MBBS V

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