It’s never too early to start making plans for the next academic year. You might still be finishing the current one, but it pays to have plans and get some things sorted out before it’s too late. There are some things you definitely don’t want to leave until your summer break. Taking the time to make plans and think about what you want to achieve next year can help you feel a lot more prepared and calm when it arrives. You could get a lot more from the year if you get organised and also set some goals to help give you direction.
Get Your Housing Sorted
Having somewhere to live during the year is a fundamental requirement. It’s not something you want to leave too late, as you can end up with a limited choice if you do. In many cases, it’s important to get this sorted out before the end of the calendar year if you want to secure somewhere for the next academic year. But if you haven’t found somewhere that soon, you could still be in with a chance. There are various options for student accommodation that you might consider. Many first years begin in university halls, but you then have the option of a private rental. You could choose private halls or you could consider a private house or flat to rent with others.
Of course, some people might have the option of living at home. It can save you money, but it also often means commuting. Some people also feel that it removes them from university life a bit. That might be fine if you’re a mature student, but not so great if you want to be close to friends and nightlife.
Check Your Finances
Organising your finances before the next academic year rolls around is essential. Struggling with money during your studies is a common experience, but there are several things you might do to help yourself stay afloat. Firstly, it’s always important to make sure you apply for any loans, grants, bursaries or scholarships by their deadlines. You don’t want to miss out because you weren’t paying attention.
Secondly, it’s a good idea to create a budget. Make a note of the money you expect to have available to spend and list your expected expenses. As well as loans or grants, you might have money from a job or money given to you by your parents or someone else. Now can also be a good time to think about balancing work with your studies. If you’re entering your last year, for example, might you need to reduce the hours you work so you can concentrate on your studies more? And if so, what will your finances look like?
Plan Your Schedule
You might want to plan what your general schedule is going to look like next year. It could be too early for a full timetable, but you can think about how you generally want to split your time. Start with how often you expect to be in lectures, seminars, labs or other classes you might have. Then think about how much time you’re going to have to dedicate to independent study. How many hours do you expect you’ll be working? And how much time does that leave you for socialising and fun, as well as downtime?
Get Ahead | Next Academic Year
Reflect on Your Study So Far
It’s worth looking back at your academic journey so far and thinking about how you feel about it. Are you happy with what you’ve done so far? Do you want to improve or will you continue on the same path? If you’re about to start a new course, you can still look back on the study you’ve done up to this point. Consider what you liked and what you didn’t, what study techniques work for you, and what you might need to work on more. If you’re coming to the end of a course, now’s your last chance to think about how you want to end it. Is it time to knuckle down so you can finish on a high?
Set New Goals in All Areas
Setting goals for next year will give you something to strive for. Academic goals are definitely a good start, but they’re not the only type of goals you might consider. There are other things you might want to achieve during the academic year that aren’t necessarily related to your studies. Maybe you want to be more social next year, or it could be time to start being a little less social. You might have a goal to be more active or to eat better, or you could decide you want to manage your money better. There are lots of goals you can set for yourself to make next year as good as it can be.
Get Ahead with Next Year’s Material
It’s definitely not essential to get a head-start on what you’ll be studying next year, especially if you’re still working on this year’s material. But it’s worth considering if you want to get ahead. You don’t necessarily want to dive right in, but you could get familiar with what units you’re expecting to study or what materials you’re going to be working with. If you’re about to start a new course, buying any books or other study materials you need will give you a chance to familiarise yourself with them. You don’t need to read everything right away, though. In fact, you could be wasting your time if you do because not all of it may be relevant to you.
Choose Your Optional Modules
When you have to choose your optional modules may depend on your course and the institution. In some cases, you might have to choose them by about Easter or the end of the second trimester. Making your choices by the deadline you’re given is often important if you want to get your top picks. If you’re too late, it could be more likely that there are no places left or that scheduling conflicts mean you can’t have your preferred picks. Make sure you know any requirements that might affect what you can choose.
Plan for Your Dissertation or Final Project
If you’re coming to the end of your studies, you might need to start thinking about your dissertation or final project. You should have an idea of what this consists of, and you might already be getting started on choosing a topic and getting approval for it. It could still be a little early to finalise anything or start any proper work, but you can plan and try to get organised. Start thinking about how much time you’ll need to dedicate to getting the work done. Some people might leave the majority of their dissertation to the last minute, but it will be much better for you if you can get ahead.
Get Ahead | Next Academic Year
Get Started on New Habits
Do you want to start some new habits next year? Don’t leave it until the start of the year to try and start multiple habits at once. It’s very hard to do and is likely to end with you giving up on all or most of them. Instead, it’s a good idea to try starting one new habit at a time and slowly adding more. So it makes sense to get started early if you want to be ready for next year. You might find habit stacking is helpful. Connect a new desired habit to a habit you already have. If you already start the day with coffee or tea, add some breakfast for a healthier diet. If you usually spend half an hour lounging in bed in the morning, consider swapping your phone for a book to get some reading done.
Start Thinking About Life After Graduation
It can be frightening to think about life after your studies, but you don’t want to leave it too late. Are you intending to continue your studies or get a job? Either way, securing something new before you’re finished with your current course will definitely be helpful. It may be time to start applying for graduate jobs or submitting applications for courses if you’re planning to keep studying. Or maybe you’re thinking about taking a year out to travel, work a casual job, or just generally think about what your next step is.
Remember to Relax
Don’t get too caught up in planning for next year. While it’s helpful to be organised, you don’t have to spend every waking minute making plans. It’s also important to take some time for yourself to relax. When the summer holidays arrive, make sure you use at least some of them to take a break from studying. Don’t spend so long worrying about next year that you don’t get a chance to enjoy yourself or spend some time with your family. You should go back refreshed and prepared to take on another year.
You could get a jumpstart on the next academic year if you start planning early. Set yourself some goals and decide what you want from the year.
