Students unprepared for reality of university life

There is a big gap between would-be students’ expectations of university and the realities of student life, a new report warns.

Many applicants do not have a good understanding of what it will be like to study for a degree and are unclear on issues such as the time they will spend in lectures and the academic support they will get.

Many are ill-prepared for higher education, with some underestimating how much they will spend on costs such as rent, while others admit that they are not confident about paying bills, or feel unprepared for living with strangers.

School-leavers need more help from schools, parents and universities to “get real” about their expectations, according to the Higher Education Policy Institute, which copublished the report with Unite Students.