From A-level to uni level: How to prepare for university academically

There’s a lot of preparation that comes with going to university: finding somewhere to live and packing up all your stuff are high priorities. You’re also probably wondering how to prepare for university academically.

University-level study is a big jump up from sixth form or college, so it’s understandable that you’re keen to find out what’s ahead of you as you step from A-level to uni-level academics.

Don’t worry, though. With a bit of preparation, it’ll feel less like you’re being thrown into the deep end.

Here’s what to expect in terms of academic differences during your first year of university:

When it comes to uni, there’s good news and bad news. The bad news is, you’re on your own. Your tutors won’t chase you, and no one is going to tell you off for not doing your homework like they did at school. You’re entirely accountable for your actions.

The good news is, you’re on your own! You have the freedom to self-guide your studies and structure your day in the way that works best for you. This means you can explore the aspects of your subject that interest you most, especially in the later years of university.

A key part of how you prepare for university study is getting to grips with the new ways you’ll be academically assessed. There’s not the same level of structure, and you’ll need to do more independent research.

University essays will be different from what you’re used to, for example. If you’re studying a humanities subject, you’ll be expected to have a ‘thesis statement’. This means your essay won’t just explain an event or a concept – it’ll require you to take a position and argue for a particular point of view.

This is one of the reasons why the jump from A-level to university can be refreshing and exciting – your writing goes from formulaic to original and creative. If you’re aiming for ‘first class’ grades, you’ll need to put forward your own new ideas rather than simply parroting others' arguments.

STEM students, on the other hand, will need to get used to a mix of theoretical lectures and practical lab assessments. Your grades will depend on both your technical skills and your ability to create well-structured lab reports that clearly communicate your findings.

Exams will also be different to what you’re used to. Ultimately, uni assessments are about showing a deeper understanding of your subject that you can’t get from memorising a textbook or two.

At A-level, you can rely on your trusty course-specific textbooks to guide you through your exams. At uni, you’re expected to do more of the heavy lifting. You’ll need to draw from multiple sources like books, journals and articles and get good at managing and correctly formatting all your references and citations.

You’ll also need to learn a citation method. The method you’ll need to learn will depend on your course. For example, humanities and social sciences subjects typically require you to learn MHRA, MLA, or Harvard referencing, and STEM subjects tend to use either Harvard or subject-specific styles like APS.

Citation and referencing requirements vary between universities and courses, so always check your department’s style guide. It takes longer than you think to learn a new citation style, so don’t leave it until the night before your first deadline!

Another change you’ll have to get used to is the amount of contact time you’ll have. STEM students will spend a lot of time on campus in lectures, labs and practicals. Humanities, arts and social sciences students, on the other hand, will have fewer scheduled contact hours, meaning that a lot of your learning will be self-guided through independent reading and research. You’ll still have the opportunity to ask questions during your tutor’s office hours.

Understanding the purpose of each teaching session will help you make the most of your contact time:

• Lectures: These are much larger and less interactive than your school lessons. You’ll no longer have a teacher checking if you understand the topic. It’ll be up to you to approach the lecturer with questions after the session or visit them during their office hours.
• Labs and practicals: For STEM students, labs and practicals give you the opportunity to test, discover and apply theories in your field. Just make sure to do the required reading and revisit any relevant lectures beforehand.
• Seminars: These are far more hands-on. With much smaller class sizes, you’ll be expected to contribute to discussions and work in small groups regularly. This isn't a time to just sit back and take notes – you must do the preparation (usually reading) to make sure you can actively participate.
• Office hours: This is your chance to ask questions about lectures or assignments one-on-one. Humanities students, in particular, will find this time particularly useful for discussing ideas and getting feedback on assignments.

A new concept you’ll have to get used to is how you’ll be graded. Rather than a letter, you’ll be assigned a grade using a tiered system:

• First (1st) = 70% upwards
• Upper second (2:1) = 60-69%
• Lower second (2:2) = 50-59%
• Third (3) = 40-49%
• Anything below 40% is considered a fail

You’ll get an overall degree classification based on the grades you get throughout your degree. It’s not like school, where you can get an A on one or two exams – you’ll have to work hard consistently to achieve a high grade.

It’s also important to remember that many university courses don’t count the first year’s grade towards your final classification (or give them a much lower weighting). This means your first year is the perfect time to adapt to the new system without the pressure of it affecting your final degree classification.

As you move through your degree, you’ll find that your field of study actually narrows rather than widens. You’ll develop more specialised interests and spend more time drilling down into certain areas of study.

For humanities students, this may look like studying one period of history or exploring a single author’s work in detail. For STEM subjects, you might move from studying broad concepts like algorithms to specialising in a specific area, like machine learning. This is one of the great things about uni – you can indulge your curiosity and develop a genuine love for your subject.

Preparing for university success is all about being proactive, and it starts before you even set foot on campus. Here are some tips to help you set yourself up for a successful first year:

Sometime after you’ve accepted your uni offer, you’ll be given access to a course reading list. When you receive your reading list depends on the university you’ve chosen and your course – some students will get access sooner than others. If your course’s reading list is available before you start your first year, it’s a really good idea to get a head start.

Your tutor will have provided essential reading and further reading recommendations. If you’re really hoping to ace it, make sure to read all the essential texts first, and dive into the recommendations if you’ve got some spare time. You’ll also be given reading assignments throughout the year, so make sure to keep up with them!

Organisation takes time to master, but once you’ve got the right strategies in place, you’ll wonder how you survived without them! Success at uni partially hinges on your ability to manage your time, whether you’ve got a packed STEM schedule or a self-structured humanities one.

Your ability to keep track of assignments, stay on top of reading and prepare for your exams is a skill that you’ll really value when you graduate, too. Employers love candidates who demonstrate great time management skills!

Starting uni is exciting – you’re meeting new people and exploring new places. It’s really easy to forget about assignments when there are so many exciting things going on. Whatever you do, don’t leave assignments to the last minute.

It’s tempting to assume you can bash out a uni-quality essay in a night, especially when you hear others discussing how they pulled ‘all-nighters’ to get their work done.

It’s a new style of learning, so give yourself plenty of time to adjust. You won’t regret giving yourself more time, but you will regret running out of it!

Ultimately, you’ve gone to uni to equip yourself with the skills you need for a specific career path. That’s why it’s a good idea to get up to speed on career timelines during your first year. Think of it as investing in your future – there’s no such thing as “too early” to start focusing on your career!

The opportunities available to you will differ depending on the course you’re studying. For example, you may be able to take advantage of spring weeks (sometimes called insight weeks), where employers give students a chance to learn about different companies and industries, as well as the types of roles available.

Preparing for university success isn’t easy. If you need help, don’t hesitate to ask for it. It’s there when you go looking for it, but it’s not going to come to you.

It may be helpful to attend additional classes on how to write essays and make the most of your tutor's office hours. They are there to help you, and they understand that the new learning style is new to you.

When should you start preparing for university? As soon as possible! The summer before uni is the perfect time to get a head start on your course reading list, come up with strategies for staying organised and get a clearer picture of what learning will look like at this educational level.

The leap from A-levels to uni is a big one. It’s about adapting to a new way of learning and taking ownership of your studies – it’s both daunting and exciting! Knowing what to expect is the key to starting this new phase of your life with confidence.