The 2020 SA academic year begins on February 10. Have you packed your varsity stress relievers? You’re gonna need them, but you know that. Have you tried the Mayo Clinic’s 4A’s?   Once you have these four life skills down,…

Managing disabilities in university is not a ‘one-size-fits-all’ scenario. Just because a higher education facility states that they have an ‘inclusion’ policy does not guarantee that disabled students feel included at all.   As always, there are two sides to…

No one should take away the great relief that student holidays are for anyone pursuing Varsity studies. Whether you’re a diligent student or not, you need the downtime big time, right? And you’re expected to celebrate the end of another…

Online learning has many benefits. “eLearning courses utilise high-quality multimedia content to increase student understanding and provide an impressive virtually immersive experience,” comments the Dexway Team for Blended Learning, Education, Methodology & Online Learning. The records show that 66% of…

The short answer to the goal-setting question is ‘Yes’. Getting good at goal setting now develops our power to cope with life to come. Amindhad Niyonshuti notes, “Students with critical thinking skills have an advantage over the others because they…

Positive thinking is a big subject, possibly a misunderstood subject too. It doesn’t mean ignoring reality and pretending “everything will be ok”. Positive thinking is about not about living in denial, it’s about living on purpose. That means accepting what…

We say we’re part of the ‘Global Village’, but how are we dealing with cultural differences on campus? No one’s saying it’s easy, but it is possible to deal with cultural differences intelligently. More than that, we can gain cultural…

  The ‘peers’ responsible for the peer pressure we feel at Varsity level, comes primarily from those who are our ‘equals in rank or status’. However, in getting a grip on standing our ground and resisting peer pressure, we strengthen…

So, you’ve left your comfy home and set yourself up in your student accommodation with a few other students. While this is a thrilling time for young people when you get to taste independence and start ‘adulting’ on your own,…

You know that dreaded question that you’re very likely to get asked at an interview? “What do you consider your personal strengths and weaknesses?” Why do you think they keep on doing this to us? This is a revolting question…

Developing the Power of Consistency For a Successful Life It’s something that nobody can teach you. They don’t include it in the curriculum at schools. It’s an elusive but essential element to your success in university – and in life. …

How Can Learning Teamwork Help You Get Ahead After University? If you’ve played rugby or hockey, if you’ve been in a debating team, or remember those essential tug-of-war party games from your youth, then you’ll understand the value of teamwork.…

It goes without saying that university can be a time for students to throw caution to the wind and indulge in some pretty wild behaviour. University parties are notorious for their uninhibited hedonism and some rather dubious decisions.  For students…

Vandalism in universities and schools is not limited to a social or economic group, nor does it matter the area or country. It is a worldwide problem, and especially prevalent in South Africa. As with any anti-social behaviour, it’s hard…

Do you ever wonder how some people just seem to always be on top of things? They are always prepared for every class, assignments are done, and somehow, they always seem to have time to socialise. It’s safe to say…

Time Management Hacks – Have You Heard of The Pomodoro Technique?   Don’t you get a little tired of people telling you to “be productive” and “manage your time wisely” yet don’t give any insight on exactly how this can…

What Are The Top 3 In-Demand Skills In South Arica? We’re going to assume that your chosen degree is something that you find fascinating hope to totally immerse yourself in. A question which we hope you have asked yourself before…

While we don’t want to harp on about how poor students are while in varsity, we do feel that we can offer some value in the form of sound advice from those of us that know.  In this instance, we’d…

Isn’t it more than a little frustrating when you express the difficulties that you are having at University and how stressed you feel about it, and your parents or other adults comment that you don’t even know what stress is?…

Money! It’s great when you have it but really sucks when you don’t. And for most of us at University – well, we don’t. In fact, varsity tends to be a crash course in many things, not least of which…

Do you consider problem-solving as a skill that you can master? Or do you think of it more as a thing that other people do and may be good at, and that’s where it stops?  The good news is that…

Winning Others Over – A Strength For All To Master What career path do you have mapped out after varsity? Are you planning a slow and stable rise within a corporate giant? Or do you have your sights set on…

3 Things Your University Professor Probably Won’t Tell You – But You Really Should Know!   Are you in varsity? Look around you at your fellow students. It’s easy to think, while we’re in university, that we know, like, a…

How to Get Networking in University Right It’s too easy to view your time at university as a segmented part of your life; a bubble of time where your reality revolves around your friends, your studies and the next beach…

If you’ve come from a fair-sized home, and you’re settling into student accommodation then you may well find yourself battling for space. While this may not seem like the biggest challenge in your life, it’s common knowledge that a cluttered…

Why Should We Develop Self-Discipline at University? What do you think of when you hear the word “discipline”? Perhaps your mind shoots back to time-out in a corner when you were a child, or perhaps detention in primary school for…

3 Ways to Cope With Homesickness There’s a very good chance that you’ll be reading this article quietly in a corner away from prying eyes. Homesickness at university is common, and there is absolutely no stigma attached to it –…

The Art and Science of Reading Body Language Have you ever met someone and just felt uncomfortable around them, perhaps you feel that you can’t trust them, or even that you don’t like them? It’s been said that non-verbal communication…

Learning The Art of Conversation While In Varsity Pays Dividends For most of us, meeting and getting to know someone new is something of a daunting prospect. What do we say? How do we open the conversation? What if things…

Conquer The Clock: How Your Morning Routine Sets Up Your Day Another late night, perhaps a sore head and …what is that smell? Yes, University life is not easy by any stretch of the imagination, but possibly the most difficult…

Yes, we all know the importance of having a great CV, but we also know that there are many trip wires to look out for. You’ll be surprised to know how some recruiters or hiring managers view your CV, what…

How Developing Empathy in University Will Help You In Business. When it comes to soft skills; time management, creativity, problem-solving, communication and the like, empathy is becoming increasingly important for employees entering the job market. Why is that? What makes…

Avoiding Peer Pressure that Doesn’t Benefit You “If all your friends jump off a bridge, would you jump too?”  This may seem like a silly question, but peer pressure is an issue that almost everyone faces, in varying degrees, at…

Practical Hygiene Tips for Student Accommodation With so many students are living in a confined space, University campuses are the perfect environment for an infestation of bedbugs and other nasties. It is thus rather important that you keep up good…

Why Should I Consider Volunteer Work While in Varsity? Did you know that one of the key items a recruiter or potential employer will look for on your CV is whether or not you have been involved in any volunteer…

What Are Some Key Signs of Student Depression? Why are we discussing signs of student depression? Surely university is something to look forward to and enjoy? The facts are that more people are suffering from depression than ever before, with…

Do you remember how one of your wise old Aunts used to say, “You never know until you try!” She may have been referring to anything from riding a two-wheeler for the first time or having a taste of her…

If you haven’t already heard, there is a distinct move towards “tiny homes” where people intentionally look for smaller spaces to call home. Sometimes this is a space issue (we’re looking at you China), sometimes it’s a financial choice, and…

The term “learning disability” very often comes with the stigma of not being smart, and because of this, many people place subconscious limits on their abilities. Aim low, and you’ll never be disappointed, right? A learning disability has been defined…

Without a doubt, your time at university is synonymous with experimenting with who you are, what you like, and your innate value system. Especially so if you are staying in student accommodation and are away from the home environment. It’s…

It may be tempting, when dealing with a Uni overload, to chug back some over-the-counter pharmaceuticals which claim, “memory boosting and enhanced cognitive functions.” However, there is a distinct move toward exploring natural ways to boost memory and mental performance.…

What Are The Best Student Room Colours For Studying? So here’s the theory: Blue – As a calming, soothing colour, you would think that this is choice number one for your room.  You may be onto something. A study conducted…

The new year has started, and you are eagerly looking forward to settling into your University accommodation. You’ve met your roommate, they seem nice, but you are a little concerned about sharing your space with a complete stranger. Are they…

You may be having the time of your life at Uni, as you should be. But you know, deep down, that this time in your life is going to end somewhat abruptly when you graduate and the powers that be…

The secret to these questions lies in knowing, and understanding, your own personal strengths. The idea behind the study of personal strengths is that, fundamentally, we are all different. Yet, this doesn’t make you better than me – or at…

“It is neither an exaggeration nor is it alarmist to claim that there is a mental health crisis today facing America’s college students. Evidence suggests that this group has greater levels of stress and psychopathology than at any time in the nation’s history.” This from Gregg Henriques…

Universities across the globe can be a little like the Wild West when it comes to gossip. And we’re not talking about scribbling on the bathroom wall as to who’s pretty and who’s not. The advent and continued growth of…

By the time we get to university, one would think that we would have gotten over our fear of asking questions, know our own unique learning style, have a positive attitude toward studying and perhaps have some sort of self-directed…

You’ve heard it before and you’ll hear it again. Life is all about balance! If you’re heading to the hallowed halls of your new University in a few weeks, then you’re about to be faced with one of the biggest…

Leaders, in general, are a little different from everyone else. They may not be smarter or wealthier, but they will almost certainly have more motivation and more innate self-confidence. Some are more charismatic and extroverted than the rest of us.…

So many students attending university for the first time are a little puzzled by the fact that their concept of “right and wrong” seems to be somewhat eroded. Not in a moral sense, but in the classroom where the lecturer…

Whether by choice or the sheer weight of their responsibilities, varsity students are not getting enough sleep. Yes, some can operate on less sleep than others, but according to the Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) adults between 18…

At the end of a long and draining day, there’s very little to top a relaxing sundowner with friends. Those of us at Varsity know all too well how frantic life can be on campus, being pulled in a hundred…

If you’re a student living off-campus in a student hostel or apartment, then you may experience the not-so-thrilling problem of bugs in your room. It’s easy at home; mom and dad manage the pests, but when you are making your…

You may be young and healthy, but you’re also inexplicably tired all the time! What is that all about? Student fatigue is a problem for everyone at Varsity – both for the students themselves and the teachers facing a room…

We are all looking for the magic bullet which will help us study and stay ahead of the somewhat frantic demands of the varsity curve. Some swear by a healthy diet (a good option!), others rate exercise as the key…

Ah, the great unknown. The excitement of moving into your student hostel must be awesome and we’re pretty sure you started packing your “essentials” months before the move. But, hold your horses there Susan, there are a few things you…

When we start varsity, we know that we will need to be exercising the most important muscle of all – our brains. And that can be scary when we seem to forget names and grocery lists within seconds. Can us…

We’ve all heard the phrase, less is more. And in many cases, it’s true – especially when it comes to kitting out your student room with furniture. While we don’t want to take an entire house and kitchen sink with…