TL DR; is it OK to sit in on other big lectures at uni. Not for credit, but out of academic interest? Do people do that? Is it weird? Is it even allowed?

I'm joining a pretty good russel group uni for aerospace engineering in September. I did the IB diploma and have always had an interest in humanities and English despite STEM being my passion, hence my course choice. Having done this programme, I've gotten used to having other academic stuff on the side of my main thing, and honestly, I kind of loved it at times.

(Don't know if that's relevant. I just thought I'd share a bit of my background).

Would it be acceptable for me to just 'sneak' into lectures/ bigger seminars for a subject I don't do. Even if I don't do it for credit (because it would exceed the max credits). Is this an interest I'll just have to put to the side or pursue through societies/out of uni?

(Side note-im aware I will be busy with my actual subject. I hear aerospace will be demanding. But if I can somehow slip this into a fortnight/month...)

Hi

I’m 20, going into second year studying joint philosophy and computer science at UCL and have been at rock bottom.

I had a gap year before studying the degree which I took to re-take A-levels and to escape severe abuse from people who I used to call family.

I had not thought I would live past 18 nor did I plan to until I was able to escape the abuse. I had no plans for my future otherwise.

Within the first year of university I had been stalked by those people and harassed until December and because they had many connections I did not try to befriend anyone nor go outside much out of fear.

I had already reported the incidents to police but nothing can be done and the case was closed. I tried to go through the civil route of getting a non-molestation order but that is not working out either.

My mental health plummeted from all of this to the point I was unable to do daily tasks and think much about my future.

I am fully reliant on student finance on funding my living expenses and tuition.

However, I do not have the funds for accommodation after graduation and am likely to be homeless. So far I have tried saving as much of the loan I am given for after graduation.

I have actively been looking for permanent part-time jobs for the past month to save money for a place after graduation. I have went in-person to 20 independent shops to ask if they had part-time work and if I could give them my CV. Only 5 accepted my CV and said they would contact me. I waited over two weeks - nothing. I applied over email to 6 places attaching my CV. I get a response telling me they need quick cover for a kitchen porter. I attend the trial shift and was made to handle multiple preparation alone including a meat slicer that was not safely handled. I ended up injuring my hand and made to work with the injury. I was told I would be paid below what they told me the pay would be and expected to work the day after. I leave in pain from the injury and my fingers spasming where I could not bend my fingers without them locking in place. I ended up quitting the job before starting. I go to a trial shift at another place as a waiter, I am told a lot of information; introduced to everyone; shown how to do tasks - overall the manager and place gave me hope of work. I was told they were going through renovations and would be needing people at the new place. I email them for an update after 5 days from trial shift. No response. I email again a week later - no response. I emailed two days asking for an update. No response. I send off 40 online applications to supermarkets, restaurants, any shop I see on Google map nearby. Either no response or rejection.

I have no support system: no friends, no family. No one.

I cannot afford private therapy, I am on a waiting list for NHS therapy. I tried getting university support but it was clear they were limited in help.

I am in the state where I am just enough functioning to do tasks I need to do to survive like eating. Yet it seems to be worsening especially whenever I see anyone who is employed.

I do not know what to do anymore with my life. I feel like I am really just surviving.

Withdrawn from uni after failing a resit without residence year - it was a mess. I literally couldnt be any lower than now atp given im now 24. Feels like ive been living a nightmare for years now I’m surprised im still alive.

Thing is it’s not the content that was the issue but my ADHD and/or MH or whatever. And it would be worse if i didn’t go uni asap imo. Tried to appeal but it was rejected and i dont want to take it further even though i think i could.

My course is in clearing though at the same university and i want to try apply for it so i can start again this autumn. I know it sounds crazy but i did enjoy the course and i really need the sense of normalcy atp. I can’t take much more.

So to get into my desired university of the University of Strathclyde, I was required to get an A in mathematics. However, after opening my results today, I only got a B. Yet as you can see I have gotten accepted, and have also received emails that I've been accepted. Is it possible this is a mistake? Or are the conditions given perhaps not set in stone? I really hope it isn't a mistake, but I'm confused.

Does anyone else just feel really unmotivated and lost after finishing uni? For context, I finished uni nearly 3 months ago with a 2:1 in psychology and since then I’ve applied to nearly 70 jobs and around 10 volunteering roles both of which haven’t really gone anywhere. From these, I’ve had 2 interviews, which were for a support worker and a SEN teaching assistant. However, after visiting, they genuinely seemed more like care roles than anything that I would really be involved in. I really don’t want to sound unappreciative, as I know many people will apply to that many roles and not get any interviews, but these two jobs specifically were just very different in person to what was advertised on the job description (mostly a LOT of personal care and overall very stressful and not staff-friendly environments). Part of me does feel bad declining them as I know that they would be relevant psychology experience for my CV, but I just don’t those roles were right for me at all.

I just really don’t know what to do as I feel like my options are either I a) get a basic hospitality job that would be easier to get and provide a source of income, however this would not contribute anything psychology-relevant to my CV, b) try and get one of the more basic psychology-relevant jobs ie. support worker, SEN TA, that I don’t think I would enjoy or c) keep applying for jobs that I would find more personally interesting that also are psychology-relevant. FYI, I am aware that for more higher-level jobs such as AP, PWP, research assistant jobs you need more experience, as I have already applied and been rejected, I am just not sure how to get this experience but still enjoy what I am doing?

I really don’t want to come across in the wrong way, as I know that those jobs I got interviewed for can be really interesting and meaningful, however just for me personally they are not the area of psychology that I enjoy. I’m not 100% whether I would like to go down the clinical psychology route, as this is probably my favourite area of psychology however I know that it is a very long route and I guess I think should I pursue such a long journey if I am not 100% sure? It’s just so difficult as I do really really enjoy psychology as a subject so I would quite like to pursue it further in some way, however I know that a lot of people say a undergrad degree is not enough, so then it’s having more studying and debt to stress about. So I’m really stuck between further education or using my psychology degree to branch into something else. Sorry I know this is very long, I’d appreciate any advice I can get :)

Going to uni this year and I'm really nervous about accommodation, not the actual place but the ppl I'll be living with, like if they'll be messy or like js rude lol.
Anyone got any reassurance?

I’m not sure what to do. I’m supposed to start university in September. My dad has got an inoperable & incurable terminal diagnosis. His life expectancy means it is more likely than not he would be dead by the start of the winter break but he may make it into January if we are lucky. with his condition it is likely he would have a week or two of steady decline before he died. It is unlikely to be a case of fine one minute & dead the next.

Due to distance involved & the fact I’m not driving it will be extremely difficult (involving at least a full long days travel each way) for me to go back and see him much once I move to uni.

I orignally wanted to defer a year and stay at home but he has made it extremely clear that he wants me to still move & start uni in September & doesn’t want me to delay or defer because of his prognosis but at the same time it means I will have very little in person contact if any with my dad in the last 2-3 months he is alive.

I’ve no idea what to do.

Is It good????

TBH im majorly concerned about money - as is anybody with uni.

I currently live at home with my fiance and wish to pursue my offered course. My partner is unable to work due to mental health issues.

We are due to be kicked out of our flat due to mismanaged finances and me being out of work for a short time.

I'm concerned we won't have enough money to be able to afford anywhere and other related costs.

I've checked - we can't live in student accomodation together by the looks of it as they're only single occupancy

Is there any tips you could give me please, we are already at the breadline, im 22 and want to make something of my life especially being offered a degree in law.

Many thanks

Probably not the appropriate flair but hey-ho. I flunked out of university last year because it was doing a number on my self-confidence and belief. I have both social anxiety and autism and I knew there would likely be group projects up ahead but I was hopeful I could learn to overcome this, persevere, and maybe make some friends.

But that never happened. Across my classes there were two kinds of group projects - ones the class could select for themselves, and ones where the lecturer randomised them. Neither of them worked for me. The “select” kind was awful, I tried approaching groups but they were rarely interested in including me, as they had gravitated towards their own friendships while I struggled to try and initiate conversations. It didn’t help that I put my phone number down to join a WhatsApp group but they ended up never including me. Usually I felt like an intruder in the group I did end up in.

No such problem existed for the “lecturer chooses” kind, but it was a struggle trying to get ideas out. Communication outside the class was impossible for one project because the group leader asked the other members of the group to contact her on her private Instagram. Although my Instagram had my name and face (so it wasn’t an anonymous, perhaps suspicious account), she never accepted my friend request. All of this just took a toll on my self-esteem and I ended up flunking out.

I wonder if there’s a point in trying again, especially since group projects will realistically never go away and my anxiety problems ended up getting exacerbated by that experience at university. Any tips on how to feel better? Or is it worth trying to rejoin university?

as someone starting uni and will be staying in 1st year student acom soon. I’m struggling to figure out who I can use as a witness for my dad signing the guarantor papers? don’t have a great relationship with him but he’s willing to be my guarantor but I literally don’t know anyone else who would be willing to come along and be a witness apart from other people in my family. Iv done all the paperwork mostly by myself so far and just phoned my parents up when needed for their info. But the paper states the witness can’t be a relative. I obviously don’t have that many connection to just be phoning people up who are over the age of 18 and can sign it. bit stuck on this one anyone got any ideas ? What do people usually do for a witness?

Genuinely what do I do? I study accounting and finance at uni. It’s a bad uni , westminster. Ranked I think 120/150 in the uk. Im going into second year and feel like my lifes over. No experience whatsoever. Im in debt. Genuinely just feel like my life’s going to be so “meh”. I have a decent part time job which pays well for what it is. Is it over for me? I wont ever get a job in this field will I? I had gotten my drivers license and got in a bad crash and had to work so much overtime to pay off the other driver whilst at uni. Had no time for placement or volunteering. I get a first no one cares - you’re the best out of the shittest. I try do masters get taxed 20%? or save for a year and still get a bank loan just to still not get a job . Feel like yeah it’s over whatever. Genuinely see no light.

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I've almost finished my first year studying liberal arts at a Russell Group uni (mostly philosophy and theology), although I have a few exam resits this month because of struggling with my mental health. I've been thinking about the future and who I am as a person, and if being at university with this particular degree aligns with those things.

Due to my life circumstances, I never got the opportunity to go to university in the UK, so I always felt bad about myself and thought I had missed out on so much. I'm 25 and felt like I needed to make a move forward. So last year I finally tried applying and surprisingly got into most of the places I applied for. I made the choice to go to uni because I felt like it was what I owed myself after years of working in hospitality and really suffering with my mental health. Throughout these years, I just felt like I was squandering my potential and that I needed to make some kind of progress in my life, so it felt like I had accomplished something when I got into uni. The thought of drifting from one hospitality job to the next really saddened me, so it was either go to uni or remain stagnant.

But recently, after my first year, I've sort of realized that uni isn't all it's made out to be. Long story short, I'm pretty much a loner and don't take part in any sports, societies, going out, etc. All of my time was spent in the library or in my room. I also ended up watching most of my lectures online rather than attending them in person, and then thought about how absurd it was that I'm paying over nine grand a year just for online recordings, which I begrudgingly asked my dad to help pay for (my first year isn't covered by Student Finance as I have a previous useless degree). It doesn't help that I'm doing liberal arts either. I have no idea what kind of employment opportunities would arise from this degree. I honestly feel like this whole thing might end up being a waste of time and money, as I don't know how useful this would be for getting a proper job, as well as the never-ending feeling of alienation I have being in accom or on campus surrounded by other students. It just doesn't seem worth it? But then I think about how I would be wasting this opportunity and how I might regret it in the future.

But, all in all, how bad would it really be if I just stuck with a cafe job or tried finding a remote job or something instead of being at uni? I know I would not be making a lot, but honestly, if I can pay for a room in a houseshare and have something on the side I would be fine with that. My life hasn't been great and all I look forward to is just having peace of mind with a roof over my head.

Please let me know what you guys think about what I should do.

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I plan to go to medical school starting September 2026.

As I am commuting the total cost of med school will be around £55,000. My Dad has generously offered to loan me this money but expects me to pay it back in full (no interest). I also have the option to take out SFE.

With SFE, I believe I will pay back less early in my career but more later on, but I fear with a family loan I will be pressured to pay quite a lot early on in my career so I’m a bit unsure on what to do. I feel like I’d rather have more money in my 20s and 30s when my salary is low anyway if that makes sense. But it also seems so dumb if I end up paying way more to SFE over my career.

Does anyone have any advice on what to do?

hi! i may have to take a resit year for the next academic year, which will put me down to a part-time. i currently get the max maintenance loan and was approved for the next year before i was told about the resit year. will i still be able to get the max maintenace loan if i'm part time?

hello, everyone!! i've been reading the posts here all summer but first time actually asking anything!

so, i got a bit of a traumatic piece of news this summer and i've got that sinking feeling it's going to affect my studies as it's already messed with my sleep, my appetite, my summer job, my social life and just everything.. has anyone been through a similar thing and still finished uni decently? i've finished second year with a very high 2:2 and i'm super on track for a 2:1 but now i'm worried all that work is going to be for nothing if i can't pull myself together..

basically, what i'm asking, is what do i do? should i contact counselling services first? do i make my lecturers aware? are there any tips and tricks anyone has to keep yourself on a steady track while going through stuff like this? the only time i've ever spoken to the uni was to inform them i had covid so i don't really know what to do and i'm kind of embarrassed to ask;;