Blog: Staying motivated as a new student

Written by Mariyam 

Hi everyone! I’m Mariyam, an international student from India pursuing my undergraduate degree in Biochemistry at the University of Birmingham (UoB). I came to the United Kingdom back in 2023 to fulfil my all-time dream of studying abroad at a renowned institute and UoB turned this into a reality. 

Being a university student is exciting, but it can be hard especially managing your time and maintaining a balance between studies and life. I feel it’s even harder for international students like me who have to deal with homesickness too during the first few months.  

Through this blog, I want to reach out to people who are aspiring to study at UoB or are already students here and share some simple approaches that helped me stay motivated through my first year. 

1. Setting up a daily planner

Having a pre-planned set of my day helped me be more efficient. I felt like my day would start with less hassle so I would end up being more productive, which ultimately boosted my self-confidence. I use the MyUoB app to know my lecture schedule for the day and then planned the rest of my tasks around it, writing them down using online tools like OneNote or Sticky notes. I sometimes preferred using ready-made planner notebooks which are easily available in shops.  

To be honest, as a uni student, you should learn to compartmentalise and manage your tasks right from the beginning. The earlier you learn, the better you become at it. 

2. Being consistent with lectures

It can feel tempting to miss lectures if you have some deadlines to meet or other commitments, but for me attending lectures regularly and keeping up with the pace of the module is of crucial importance. This way you’re not piling up a backlog of work and have less chance to end up procrastinating about it. You’ll thank yourself during the exam season as the familiarity with the topics makes you concentrate more and panic less. 

3. Engaging in events and activities

University is not just a place for academic excellence, rather it’s a ground for an overall personality development. The University and the Guild of Students (the Students’ Union) always have a range of free fun events going on all round the academic year, whatever suits your interests. 

In my first year, I’ve enjoyed pet therapies, crocheting, bracelet making, baking, game nights, Language Café and the list goes on. Through these fun activities, I have built connections and a social life by meeting people from various countries and ethnicities and at the same time helped myself relax from my studies. 

4. Joining a student group or society

The Guild have as many as a few hundred student groups and societies. Joining in as a member of them would not only help you meet people with similar interests and have some fun, but you get the opportunity to take on a specific role. Making time to join a group or society is beneficial for your CV as you’ll also gain some useful volunteering experience and the chance to develop work-related skills.  

 5. Weekend plans

Over the weekend, I feel taking a break from studying helps me stay motivated. I personally like to restock my groceries and do the rest of my room cleaning chores on a Saturday so that on the Sunday I can chill, watch a movie or hang out with my friends. This way, I start my week on Monday with a fresh mind. This also keeps me productive throughout the weekdays so I can work on my assignments better, with less distractions. 

These were some of the methods I used through my first year and believe me it’s been a splendid journey so far. I hope you’ve all enjoyed reading this and that you might find it helpful.