Transition

The enrolment process means that you are officially a student of the University of Adelaide. If you haven't yet enrolled and are looking for more information, you can visit getting started and check back here later.

The uni year

There are two main periods of study during the year called semesters:

• Semester 1 2024 (week 1) starts on 26 February
• Semester 2 2024 (week 1) starts on 22 July

There are also summer and winter school study periods, which are optional. Students sometimes study subjects over summer and winter to lighten their load during semester or to finish their degree a bit earlier.

See the important University dates for both academic and critical dates.

As a University of Adelaide student, the UA Student App Website is a useful resource to use to get you through your transition at The University of Adelaide

Note

There are three things that will stay with you during your study:

• your student number - your unique identification number for the University of Adelaide
• your student ID card - used for identification on university campuses and at exams, student concession, as a library card, follow me printing and photocopying, and as an access card to University buildings (for on campus only)
• your username and password

While there is plenty of fun to be had at University, you need to start thinking about your studies and what you need to do to get ready.

For many students, their expectations of what uni life will be like is often mismatched to the reality they experience.  We have developed a resource to show you how some of your assumptions and expectations about what you'll experience matches to the reality of uni life.

Assumptions and expectations of first year

• 45% of students feel that school adequately prepares them for university
• 70% report that the standard of university work is different to school work
• 45% have outside commitments that negatively affect their learning

Realities of first year

• You will need to commit up to 48 hours a week to study (full time)
• Recommended amount of study outside of contact hours is 6-10 hours a week per subject
• Tutors and lecturers have complex roles which means different feedback and longer return times for assignments

Our top tips

• Take charge of your own learning
• Keep up with the workload
• Don’t try and do too much on top of study
• Go to workshops and study support to develop skills
• If in doubt, ask for help

We've put together a quick guide to help you find your way around in the first four weeks.

Week 1

Attend your first lecture:

• meet your lecturer, fellow students, and receive an introduction to your courses
• find your personalised timetable on MyAdelaide, and
• find the location of your classes through campus maps

Get your courses online: 

• course outlines will let you know what textbooks or course readers you need, how and when you can contact your lecturers and tutors, when your assessments are due, your subject requirements and schedule, and assignment submission
• if you have not received your outlines, check MyUni or speak to your lecturer

Check your emails and MyUni: 

• start checking your emails and MyUni on a regular basis, this is how the University will communicate with you and where you can find up-to-date information and announcements about your courses
• your faculty may send out a weekly student newsletter via email, this will let you know what’s happening in your faculty and provides relevant news and information

Explore the library: 

• check the library website, this will help you get a great start on how to research for your assignments and will save you precious time later on

Week 2

Attend your first tutorial:

• tutorials usually begin in week 2 
• tutorials are smaller class sizes than your lectures where you can deepen your learning from the lectures, ask questions, and challenge and discuss content 
• it’s the best opportunity to start making friends in your classes

Start studying:

• you will need to start your readings and be prepared to attend your tutorials
• required reading and preparation will be detailed in your course outlines
• even if you don’t understand the work yet, you will find that you will get more out of your tutorials by being familiar with the content

Learning support:

By this week, you may be preparing for your first assignment. There is a range of drop-in support and services available to you free of charge.

1. Counselling support offers self help guides to help you to stay focused, keep motivated, and maintain balance in life as you work towards completing your degree.
2. The Writing Centre helps students in their development as writers through in person, one-on-one consultations and online writing resources.
3. The Maths Learning Centre aims to help you succeed in learning and using the maths you need for university.
4. Peer Assisted Study Sessions (PASS) are facilitated group study sessions, available in select courses within each faculty, which allow you to connect with peers and review key concepts from your course.
5. Studiosity is an after-hours online study help tool available to all students for free. It provides 24/7 writing feedback as well as after-hours study skills support via live chat. Submit your writing for feedback or connect live to speak to a subject specialist through Assignment Help in the navigation area of your MyUni course.

Explore the library: 

• check the library website, this will help you get a great start on how to research for your assignments and will save you precious time later on

 Bookmark important webpages:

• visit and bookmark the current students website, this site provides an overview of the services and support available to you
• if you can’t find something, you can ask Ask Adel or talk directly with the Ask Adelaide team.

Week 3

Sustain your wellbeing:

• Wellbeing Hub website website provides information and advice on study tips, relationships, body health and mental health, and a range of other information and support to help maximise your wellbeing.
• Student Life can also help with other concerns, such as counselling, disability support, elite athlete support, international student support, and health and wellbeing.
• Counselling support offers self-help guides to help you to stay focused, keep motivated, and maintain balance in life as you work towards completing your degree. 

Read the student organisation publications:

• Check out OnDit magazine for highlights of on-campus activities

Explore Career Services and employability:

• Career Services inspires and empowers students to achieve successful career transitions and connect with industry
• explore the Career Services workshops and attend the Career Expo. Career Services can also help you gain skills to boost your profile with employers and search for professional jobs, vacation work, internships, graduate opportunities, and program-related placements on CareerHub
• discover how you can build your employability from the first year of your degree

Week 4

Stick to a plan:

• put your assessment due dates in your diary and schedule time to work on your upcoming assignments

Balance your study and work commitments:

• many students tend to dedicate more time to work than study and this can really affect your academic success

Balance study and leisure:

• University is about the experience. Both the academic and social aspects contribute to your success here. There are many ways to get involved and make the most out of your time by enjoying activities and entertainment on offer.
• check out YouX for upcoming activities on campus
• get involved with a club, whether it's a sporting club, or non-sporting club, there is something to suit everyone

Ask for help:

• there are a range of support services that you can access if things haven’t worked out this semester
• speak to someone if you are considering dropping a course or taking a semester off 
• we encourage you to talk to your student adviser or course coordinator to explore your options, or
• you may want to speak with a careers adviser for assistance with your career options

Complete the Academic Integrity Module by Friday 25^th March 2022. This module contains important information about academic integrity standards and expectations at the University of Adelaide, and is required for all commencing students. It takes around 30 minutes to complete. Academic Integrity Module - FAQ.