Challenges Faced by Students in University Life

This report discusses the various challenges encountered by students during their university life and provides recommendations on how to effectively tackle them.

Individual Report

Table of Contents
INTRODUCTION...........................................................................................................................3
LITERATURE REVIEW................................................................................................................3
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION...................................................................................................4
RECOMMENDATIONS.................................................................................................................5
CONCLUSION................................................................................................................................6
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................7

INTRODUCTION
Study is regarded as an important as well as crucial part of every individual’s lifespan. In
this regard, it is seen that personnel carry out study in universities which provide assistance to
them in inflating their existent level of knowledge, skills and expertise. With the help of this,
they can undergo personal as well as professional development (Bayar, 2016). During the
academic tenure at university, students undergo a number of issues which tend to act as barriers
for them while carrying out quality education to enhance their learning and knowledge base.
Such issues encompass domains such as work, family responsibilities, finance, time management
and many more. The below mentioned report put emphasis over the discussion of wide range of
issues that are encountered by students during their university life from the point of view of
various authors. Further, it includes suggestions through which students can effective tackle such
issues and come out as strong learners.
LITERATURE REVIEW
Literature review can be defined as an important and inseparable part of a study as it
tends to provide an overview of the topic through the inclusion of views and opinions put
forward by various authors in books, journals, magazines and articles (Akanwa, 2015). The
present report consists of discussion over the challenges and issues undergone by students as a
part of their academic life in university. Further, it even constitutes the impact placed by these
challenges over the study pattern of students together with their career in the long run.
As per the views and opinions of Musingafi, Mapuranga, Chiwanza and Zebron, (2015),
it has been analysed that an individual who pursues his or her study at university tend to undergo
a number of challenges which critically influence their learning process. The ideology of this
author is that the primary challenge encountered by a student is management of finances. In this
regard, it is seen that carrying out study at university level is quite an expensive process which
put pressure over the students to manage their expenses in an effective and efficient manner.
Further, another issue that is faced by students at large studying within the universities is
regarded as management of time (Tshotsho, Cekiso and Mumbembe, 2015). Time management
is considered essential as it allows individuals to prioritise the tasks and activities at college
level. Also, this provides aid to them in maintaining a balance between the personal and
academic life. Apart from the before discussed two issues, it is seen that students in the tenure of

their university life are allotted a number of projects and assignments which have to be
completed by them in the deadline communicated to them by the tutor. This put mental pressure
over them to complete the assessments in the given time while balancing the responsibilities of
personal life. When such assignments are duly completed by them, they inflate the scope of
success for the students and aid them in undergoing increment of their existent knowledge base.
Through this, personnel are able to undergo personal development in an effectual manner,
thereby paving way for career enrichment.
In accordance with the view point of, Parker, Hughes, Marsh, Ahmed, Cannon, Taylor-
Steeds, Jones and Page, (2017), it is essential for every individual studying within the university
to allot equal time to study and their personal life. This encompasses allotting individual time
slots to parents, peers, acquaintances, colleagues and other known persons. Managing
assignments along with being in touch with family members is quite a difficulty while a student
undergoes study at university level. All the challenges discussed place negative impact over the
studies of individuals if not tackled by them in a timely and effective manner. Such issues can
either act as stepping stones for the students or hurdles in the path of their career growth,
depending upon the measures taken up by them to deal with the challenges.
ANALYSIS AND DISCUSSION
On the basis of information presented above, it can be analysed that students carrying out
degree course in university encounter several kinds of issues or challenges. In this relation, time
management is regarded as one of the biggest challenges as students have to deal with work
priorities and college assignments together. It is further evaluated that in case a student can not
facilitate a balance between both of them, they will not be able to attain personal and
professional goals duly. Further, it is analysed that students should keep maintain a balance
between learning and family time as both of them possess their own significance in an
individual’s life (DuBose, 2017). Learning gained being a part of the university can provide
assistance to individuals in inflating their existent level of skills, knowledge and competence. On
the other hand, family provides knowledge of the experiences that assist a student in paving way
for a good career in future course of time. Besides this, it has also been acknowledged that
management of finance is also a crucial issue that needs to be addressed by students in an
effective manner. It becomes difficult for students to manage their expenses as well as pay the
fees of undergoing studies at university.

RECOMMENDATIONS
As per the literature review and discussion done above, it can be said that students face a
number of challenges during their university life. These challenges include time management,
finance issues, work and study life balance, family time management and many more. To
effectively overcome such issues, certain suggestions are provided beneath:-
 The individuals carrying out studies at university can procure educational loan or go for
scholarship. This will provide them aid in dealing with the issues related to management
of financial resources or unavailability of funds. Further, there is also an option of doing
part time job that will assist them in handling the petty expenses over and above the fees
for undergoing degree course at university.
 Further, students should make a schedule or to do list of activities whereby they should
allot time to every aspect of their life inclusive of family, peers, college and many more.
Development of this will provide assistance to the individuals in carrying out all the
activities within due course of time. As a result of this, they will also be able to maintain
a balance between all the crucial aspects of their life. Students can also seek for guidance
from seniors or tutors regarding the different ways through which they can effectively
manage their time.
 In addition to this, another suggestion which can be given to students is that they should
maintain communication with their parents at least once in every 3 days so that they can
gain knowledge of their hardships and life experiences, thereby not repeating the
mistakes their parents underwent.
 Further, students are also recommended to make friendships with a number of individuals
within the confines of university so that they can seek help from them in their times of
need. Also, this will provide them with a mental support and a person with whom they
can share what challenges or issues they are facing in their lives. Thus, by being social in
college life, students will be able to make sure that they do not face any kind of pressure
or do not let any challenge or issue get over them and their stable mind. This will also
provide them aid in studying together with their peers so as to clear the doubts and score
good marks in college assignments and exams.

CONCLUSION
On the basis of above discussion, it can be clearly stated that students undergo a number
of financial, time and life balance related issues. These tend to place a direct impact over their
learning and mental state. Further, it is determined that such issues can be duly tackled by the
students carrying out study at universities by setting interaction with their tutors. They provide
the individuals with guidance and tips regarding how such issues can be effectively handled by
them in due course of time. Also, students can make a schedule of all the activities so that none
of the activities remain incomplete by them. They can also share their problems with their friends
in university and seek for advice or guidance from them to deal with such challenges in an
effective manner.

REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Musingafi, M.C., Mapuranga, B., Chiwanza, K. and Zebron, S., 2015. Challenges for open and
distance learning (ODL) students: Experiences from students of the Zimbabwe Open
University. Journal of Education and Practice, 6(18), pp.59-66.
DuBose, C.O., 2017. But I don’t understand you: one faculty’s observations of the challenges
facing international healthcare students. Journal of International Students, 7(1),
pp.154-159.
Tshotsho, B., Cekiso, M. and Mumbembe, L., 2015. English language grammar challenges
facing Congolese international students in South Africa. International Journal of
Educational Sciences, 9(1), pp.73-79.
Parker, H., Hughes, A., Marsh, C., Ahmed, S., Cannon, J., Taylor-Steeds, E., Jones, L. and Page,
N., 2017. Understanding the different challenges facing students in transitioning to
university particularly with a focus on ethnicity. New Directions in the Teaching of
Physical Sciences, 12.
Akanwa, E.E., 2015. International students in western developed countries: History, challenges,
and prospects. Journal of International Students, 5(3), pp.271-284.
Bayar, A., 2016. Challenges Facing Principals in the First Year at Their Schools. Universal
Journal of Educational Research, 4(1), pp.192-199.