Life as a university student is a lot different to life as a primary or secondary school student! As an independent university student you get to make a lot of the decisions about how you spend your time and when you do different things – it’s a lot more flexible than school! You will have lectures and seminars at set times but you don’t have a strict 9-5 timetable.

It’s up to you how you spend your free time! Some of the different ways you might spend your time as a student are learning in lectures and seminars, studying at the library and doing different assignments or practical work. It’s also important to make time for fun and leisure activities like going to societies, spending time in the Guild with your friends and doing your shopping! You might also check out the city – in Liverpool there are lots of fun things to see and do like museums, restaurants, pubs and even arcades and cinemas!

Why not have a go at creating your dream university in our activity at the bottom of the page?

What is your course and why did you choose it?

Joyce: I study law and I’m in my final year. I chose it because I really liked watching shows about law and I want to become a lawyer when I graduate.
Tobias: I’m studying Veterinary Medicine which means I’m training to be a vet so I can work in a career of treating animals.
Zaynab: My course is currently foundation engineering, and I plan to study Computer Science and Electrical Engineering in September. I chose this degree as I always had a knack for solving problems when I was younger.

What is your favourite thing about your course?

Joyce: I loved being able to learn about all different types of law. In third year, I got to pick all of my lessons so I got to pick all the bits of law that I find interesting.
Tobias: I get to spend time in places like farms, stables, and kennels helping to look after a huge variety of animals and learn how to take care of them – what they need to be fed, how to handle them, how to keep them clean and healthy, and so on.
Zaynab: My favourite thing about engineering is that engineers work to improve everyday problems and help benefit all areas of society.

Why did you choose to study at Liverpool?

Joyce: It was the only place that felt right for me. I saw the campus and had to move to Liverpool. It is also a really good university which helps graduates find jobs.
Tobias: I chose Liverpool because I loved the city and it reminded me of home (I’m from Brighton). I also really liked the campus and how it was so close to the city centre but also quite small and so my lectures wouldn’t be miles apart from each other.
Zaynab: I chose to study at here as, being born in Liverpool, it has a special place in my heart. I find it to be a diverse, thriving city with a great atmosphere which makes uni life extremely enjoyable.

Did you always know what you wanted to study?

Joyce: No, I wanted to be a fashion designer when I was little. I decided that I wanted to be a lawyer when I was 16.
Tobias: Yes, I’ve always wanted to be a vet since I was very young. I love animals but I’m also really interested in the science side. Treating animals is like solving a puzzle where you have to do various tests and exams to try and get a diagnosis and figure out what’s wrong – and at the end you get to save an animal’s life!
Zaynab: I did not always know what I wanted to study; I felt very indecisive at school. I wanted to do Law at first, but after looking into engineering, I felt myself growing more interested in the course and decided to take a chance.

What do you want to do for a career?

Joyce: I want to be a lawyer. Liverpool has been really good at helping me meet lawyers to help me get a job when I graduate.
Tobias: I ideally want to work as a zoo vet because I want to work with a wide range of animals people don’t usually get to see like big cats, wolves, primates, and so on. The more unique and different the animal, the more I’m interested in working with them!
Zaynab: I am aiming to become a Software Engineer once I graduate. I love that it is universal career, meaning I can travel and work anywhere in the world.

What do you do in your free time?

Joyce: I work two jobs but when I decide to do nothing, I love playing Animal Crossing and calling my friends. I also spend a LOT of time baking banana bread and normal bread.
Tobias: In my free time, I play with my pets (I have a dog, a bearded dragon, and a snake). I do writing, reading, and art as well to relax after a long day of lectures.
Zaynab: I spend a lot of my spare time reading and writing in between lectures. I also like to go to the sports centre to blow off some steam after a long day.

Where do you live at university?

Joyce: I live in a private hall of residence which means that I live with other students and share a kitchen. I have my own bedroom and bathroom, so I have my own space but still share some parts.
Tobias: I live in my own house in Birkenhead with my pets. I’m what is called an estranged student which means I take care of myself and don’t have a family to support me, so I need to work to earn money to pay for food and bills while I’m at university. It makes it a bit harder to focus on my studies but I also gain a lot of skills with making sure everything is done on time and keeping organised that will help in my future career.
Zaynab: I live at home with my family and grew up about 10 minutes away from campus which is ideal for travelling to and from campus.

Are you local to Liverpool or did you move far away for university?

Joyce: I moved away to Liverpool from London.
Tobias: I’m from Brighton which is 273 miles away so I’ve moved far way for university. I do live here full time, so I don’t go back in holidays like most university students do, which is easier as the travel time takes between 5-7 hours! But I have friends in Liverpool who are from Scotland, Northern Ireland, and Europe, and they all go home in holidays so it’s definitely possible to go to university far away and still see your family.
Zaynab: I am local to Liverpool, which means I do not have to settle in somewhere new; this is great for me as I usually have a hard time getting used to new places.

What is it like to live in halls?

Joyce: I like it. I think it’s nice to live with new people and not with friends as you can make new friends. Plus, you can’t get angry with your friends if they are messy! I used to live in a halls that had shared bathrooms too and that was a true university experience.
Tobias: I’m not sure as I never lived in halls but my friends who did found it fun and sociable. There’s always loads of activities going on and it’s a great way to make friends who aren’t on your course.

Did you join any societies or sports clubs?

Tobias: Yes, I’m in lots of different societies and this is where I’ve found most of my friends as you can meet people with similar interests and hobbies to you. You also get the opportunity to go on trips like our vet society went to Prague to visit the zoo!
Zaynab: I joined Islam Society (ISOC) and the Afro-Caribbean Society, and plan to join Volleyball and Archery next year if I can.

Is it easy to make friends at university?

Joyce: Yes! Everyone is friendly and wants to make friends. My best friend and I became friends outside of a lecture in my first year of university and we have stayed really good friends. It is easy to make friends in seminars (like your classes) as everyone helps each other.
Tobias: As long as you can put yourself out there by joining societies, chatting to people on your course, or hanging out with your flatmates, you will definitely meet loads of different people and at least some of them will become your good friends! The more opportunities you do, the more people you’ll meet and the more friends you’ll have.

How many lectures do you have in a week?

Joyce: Only 5! I used to have a lot more when I started, but the further you get, the less lectures you have and more independent study you do.
Tobias: I have to be in university a lot so I have lectures from 9 am to 5 pm every day except Wednesday afternoons. But I don’t have a lot of extra reading to do outside of university whereas people who are on courses with less lectures usually have to spend extra time reading and doing homework tasks outside of university.
Zaynab: I have 6 lectures a week in foundation year in Full Maths, Additional Maths and Physics, these subjects give me the skills that I will need when I hopefully progress into the next year.

Do you study in the library or at home?

Joyce: I have lots of free time in between lectures so I always go to the library. They have a quiet section for when you need to get on with work and a social section you can go to with your friends.
Tobias: I usually study at home because I don’t live very close to the university so it’s too far to travel in to visit the library. However, during exam times or when I have a project due, I would go and sit in the library as it’s a lot quieter and easier to concentrate.
Zaynab: I study at home because I find it suits my work style better.

Do you get much time off for Christmas and summer?

Joyce: Yes! You get months off! You work really hard at university and get a lot of time to relax. It also makes up for not getting half terms.
Tobias: Yes, we get three weeks off at Christmas, three weeks at Easter, and a whole summer from start of June to end of September! Enough time to get a summer job, go on a summer holiday, or just relax until next year.

Do you find it easy to manage your money at university?

Joyce: No, but I learnt. I was really bad at managing money when I first started but it got a lot easier as I grew up and learnt what you should buy cheaply and what you should spend more money on.
Tobias: As long as you make sure to write down everything you spend, yes it isn’t that difficult. I use an Excel spreadsheet where I keep track of the bills I have to pay, things I need to save for in advance, and then how much spending money I have for things like food, and I just need to make sure not to go over the budget.
Zaynab: Since I live at home, I do not have to pay rent which reduces my expenses by a lot, helping me to save money easier. As well as this, opening a student account has also helped me separate my finances and budget.

What advice would you give to a student about to start secondary school?

Joyce: Do your homework on time. It avoids detention and it avoids a last-minute rush to get it done.
Tobias: Start having a think about what subjects interest you. University is a long way off but it’s never too early to look into different careers, talk to your teachers about what jobs are available in different subjects, and have a look online at things that interest you.
Zaynab: Don’t worry! Making friends is quite similar to what it’s like in primary school. Also the jump between primary to secondary isn’t as drastic as you think it will be, and there is support in school to help you settle in and cope with the changes.

What is your favourite thing about university?

Joyce: I like the freedom. I don’t have many lectures or seminars, so my time is spent how I want. I like studying in the afternoon so I can pick to not do any work in the morning.
Tobias: I love the freedom and independence. University is a whole life, not like school where you leave and go home, but you live here, you spend time with friends, you do society activities, and so on.
Zaynab: My favourite thing about university is the independence. It allows me to work at my own pace and in my own way and encourages me to gain more responsibility.

What made you want to go to university?

Joyce: University opens doors. It gives you skills that make graduates wanted for a lot of careers. I also wanted a reason to be able to move away from home and gain independence.
Tobias: I have to go to university to be a vet and that’s the same for quite a few careers like doctors, nurses, lawyers, and so on. There are jobs you can get without degrees so if you don’t want to go to university, that’s fine too. But I’ve really enjoyed my time here and don’t regret it one bit.
Zaynab: My family and friends around me really encouraged me to go to university, so I was raised with the plan of attending university when the time came.

Is going to university scary?

Joyce: Yes but everything worth doing is scary. Moving away from home was scary but now it isn’t. University is a place that has let me learn how to look after myself and study a subject I really like.
Tobias: It can be, if you’re going to a new place and you don’t know anyone, but remember that everyone is in the same boat and you’ll all soon make friends.
Zaynab: Even for someone like me who did not leave home, starting university can be scary. However, it was important to remember that it was not only me feeling this way and that everyone had similar feelings to me – this brought comfort to me!