University Student Challenges: Time Management and Difficulties Report

This individual report delves into the various challenges encountered by university students, encompassing academic difficulties, time management issues, and the complexities of adapting to a new environment. The report highlights the struggles students face in balancing their studies with family and work commitments, which often lead to difficulties in learning and socializing. It explores the importance of strategies such as effective time management, prioritizing tasks, and evaluating commitments to alleviate the burden. The report also examines the challenges of homesickness and financial constraints, such as tuition fees and living expenses, that further complicate the student experience. Through a literature review, the report identifies key themes, including the difficulties of adjusting to university life, managing time with family and work, and the importance of prioritizing tasks. The report concludes with recommendations for students to set boundaries, utilize planning tools, and seek support to better manage their responsibilities and achieve academic success. This report provides a comprehensive analysis of the challenges faced by university students and offers valuable insights into effective strategies for overcoming them.

Individual report
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Abstract
The study is based on various challenges and difficulties faced by students during the
course of University. At academics level, there are wide range of problems and issues arise
which are experienced by students such as management of time, prioritizing things at work and
adapting to new culture when they join a university. Such problems for students can sometimes
pose to arise major challenges to learn, socializing and learning skills at University. However,
development of strategies and planning of things can help students to manage their time in an
effective way. It is important for students to clear out the cluster of unnecessary activities in their
life and need to make space for important tasks. Evaluation of commitments is also a effective
strategy to reduce burden of University work.
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Table of Contents
Abstract............................................................................................................................................2
Introduction......................................................................................................................................5
Literature Review.............................................................................................................................6
The difficulties faced by student studying at university.............................................................6
The main challenges experienced by a student at beginning of university.................................6
The ways of managing time due to commitments of family and work.......................................7
Analysis and Discussion..................................................................................................................7
Theme 1: The difficulties faced by student studying at university.............................................7
Theme 2: The main challenges experienced by a student at beginning of university.................7
Theme 3: The ways of managing time due to commitments of family and work......................7
Recommendations............................................................................................................................8
Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................8
REFERENCES................................................................................................................................9
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Introduction
Starting University is mostly like initiating a new life. Situation of every student in a
University is different and there are some of the problems which are experienced by almost all
University students by dealing with certain circumstances. Most of the students are really not
prepared for such challenges and thus results in being overwhelmed and it made them to take
extra time for adjusting in new life (Mulryan-Kyne, 2010). It is difficult for students to manage
time due to their family and other various commitments which often results in difficulties to gain
knowledge at University. Students are required to give their time to parents and other family
members along with several different responsibilities which are proved to be a hurdle for them to
mange time for the University. Such problems for students can sometimes pose to arise major
challenges to learn, socializing and learning skills at University. For many students, University
courses needs much more efforts rather than normal school classes. Students often feel
disconnected and struggle to develop some habits like priotization, time management as well as
staying healthy. Time management is the most common problem for students who has just
started to go to University as they are more bounded to their families and does not have any
experience to prioritize things in their daily routine. Many of the students often face problems in
balancing University, work and family. Many adults even hold down their academic learning for
taking care of their families (Petty, 2014). All such commitments are often lead to an overpower
student. Thus, managing commitment is one of the major challenge. In this research study,
difficulties faced by students studying at University is gong to be discuss. Furthermore,
evaluation of major challenges experienced by a student at beginning of University is going to
cover. At last, examination of ways of managing time due to commitments of family and work
is going to evidenced.
Aim: To analyse the difficulties faced by a student to manage their time due to family and work.
Objectives
 To identify the difficulties faced by student studying at university.
 To evaluate the main challenges experienced by a student at beginning of University.
 To examine ways of managing time due to commitments of family and work.
Questions
 What are the difficulties faced by student studying at university?
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 How to evaluate the main challenges experienced by a student at beginning of
University?
 What are the ways of managing time due to commitments of family and work?
Literature Review
As per the perspectives of Hochanadel and Finamore (2015), Students begin their college
with dreams and hopes of earning a degree and enhancing situation at home, at work and in
University. However, there are some of the difficulties and challenges that seem insurmountable
for students. For some of the students such challenges could slow them down and could even
stop them for acquiring such hopes and dreams. According to the perspective of Hew and
Cheung (2014), time management is also a major challenge for the students who are going to
work also and taking care of their family along with going to University.
The difficulties faced by student studying at university.
There are range of problems that are faced by students when they start University. One of
the most common problem is to adjust in new life. There is a period of adjustments for the
students of University when they begin their journey. Lee (2010), stated that First year of
University is mostly extra hard for the individuals as they experience a totally different culture.
The another difficulty faced by students are homesickness when they leave their home for
studying in University. It is hard for them to concentrate on learning at University.
The main challenges experienced by a student at beginning of university.
There are many challenges faced by students in University that can be a potential hurdle
for them to learn knowledge and skills. The major challenge for students who join University is
managing time as students join part time jobs to manage financial issues. As tuition costs in
University is raising at higher rate. In addition to this, cost of transportation, food and other
resources made the conditions worse. Doiz and et.al., (2012), stated that family responsibility is a
major hurdle for the students who have join college as they have to take care of their parents and
due to which they get failed to manage time for the University work. Prioritizing things is also a
major challenge for the students a University. It is hard to prioritize work when student is facing
pool of seemigly-urgent works. It is very important for them to learn how to prioritize things in
an effective way as it will also help in to mange time.
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The ways of managing time due to commitments of family and work.
According to the views of Kumar, Johnson and Hardemon (2013), It is not easy for
students to balance home and work together with University. Thus, it is very important to
develop some strategies in order to manage time to perform better in their academics. It is
important for students to clear out the cluster of unnecessary activities and need to make space
for important tasks. As per the views of Jain and Li (2011), Evaluation of commitments,
discussion of realistic gaols with family and learn to make use of other people is also an effective
strategy to balance between University and family. As there are certainly tasks in daily life of
students that could be easily perform by others.
Analysis and Discussion
From the above mentioned literature review, it can be analysed that there are number of
challenges and difficulties that are faced by students who recently join University. Discussion
and analysis of the questions being formed are discussed here.
Theme 1: The difficulties faced by student studying at university
There are a wide range of difficulties that are faced by students when they join a
University. Courses at University requires more efforts rather than any high school classes
(Goldrick-Rab, 2010). Difficulties like adapting in new environment is most common for
students as they find it hard to adjust in the culture of University. Another major difficulty is
homesickness as they are away from parents and often suffer signs of anxiety which make it
difficult for them to learn effectively in their university.
Theme 2: The main challenges experienced by a student at beginning of university
Tuition fees of college students are rising at higher rates. In order to afford such higher
prices for college tuition fee, many of the students often join a part time job. Thus, it is difficult
for them to mange time for the University as well as work. Along with that another major hurdle
is family responsibilities as they have to perform various duties at their home also so they do not
get time for University. Prioritizing things is also a major challenge for the students a University
due to lack of experience for managing work at time.
Theme 3: The ways of managing time due to commitments of family and work.
It is important for University students to mange their time. Thus, it is important to reduce
unnecessary tasks from their work and free some space for University work. It is important for a
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student to decide what is important for them. Students can ask other individuals to perform some
of the duties of home which they could so that time for the University could be manage in an
easy way and evaluation of commitments along with prioritizing work is also beneficial for
students who have to balance between work and University.
Recommendations
It has been recommanded that University students should set some boundaries for
themselves and make a plan of action that could be easily perform by them on a daily basis. It
will help students to find a true blend between work, University and family. It has been
suggested that students need to use a planning tool for managing time for their work and
University activities and must carry it with themselves. Getting organized is also being
recommand for students who find it difficult to manage time between different life aspects. It
has been suggested that students must ask for help with others so that they can eliminate the
burden of their responsibilities and can give time to their academic learning.
Conclusion
From the above research study, it has been concluded that students need to face number
of challenges and difficulties in their academic learning. Adapting to culture of University,
management of time between family, university and work along with prioritizing things are the
most common challenges experience by a student.
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REFERENCES
Books and Journals
Doiz, A., and et.al., 2012. English-medium instruction at universities: Global challenges.
Multilingual matters.
Goldrick-Rab, S., 2010. Challenges and opportunities for improving community college student
success. Review of Educational Research. 80(3). pp.437-469.
Hew, K.F. and Cheung, W.S., 2014. Students’ and instructors’ use of massive open online
courses (MOOCs): Motivations and challenges. Educational research review. 12.
pp.45-58.
Hochanadel, A. and Finamore, D., 2015. Fixed and growth mindset in education and how grit
helps students persist in the face of adversity. Journal of International Education
Research (JIER). 11(1). pp.47-50.
Jain, A.K. and Li, S.Z., 2011. Handbook of face recognition(Vol. 1). New York: springer.
Kumar, S., Johnson, M. and Hardemon, T., 2013. Dissertations at a distance: Students’
perceptions of online mentoring in a doctoral program. Journal of Distance Education.
27(1). pp.1-11.
Lee, J.J., 2010. International students’ experiences and attitudes at a US host institution: Self-
reports and future recommendations. Journal of Research in International Education.
9(1). pp.66-84.
Mulryan-Kyne, C., 2010. Teaching large classes at college and university level: Challenges and
opportunities. Teaching in Higher Education. 15(2). pp.175-185.
Petty, T., 2014. Motivating first-generation students to academic success and college completion.
College Student Journal. 48(1). pp.133-140.
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