From Doubt to Direction: How To Fit Uni Into Your Already-Busy Life
How to make uni work alongside your job, relationships and everything else life can throw at you.
In partnership with 
There's a lot to consider when thinking about studying. From ensuring you're investing in the right course to squeezing assignments and classes into your work-life schedule, higher education can often go hand-in-hand with doubt.
So, how do you actually manage university when you're an adult with responsibilities like rent and work?
Master of Science (Medicine) student Tara Forman knows first-hand how daunting it can be to realise you want to retrain. Tara credits being "in the middle of a quarter-life crisis" for her decision to take the plunge and re-enrol in university. Although Tara's undergraduate degree was a Bachelor of Advanced Science (Pre-Medicine), she's worked as a Student Life Manager since graduating.
"I've been itching to get back into the medical and health sphere when the time was right," Tara tells Concrete Playground. Now, Tara is juggling study and work while trying to maintain a social life. "I'm still in my early 20s; I want to enjoy life," Tara shares.
"I was worried I wouldn't be able to balance all three and still do well in all, but I think I'm doing pretty well so far."
Considering Tara walked away from her first semester with two High Distinctions, we agree. These are Tara's top tips for making university work when you're working full-time.
Make Study Work Around Your Life
The first thing to think about is your coursework, assignments and class requirements. For Tara, her workplace allowed her to amend her schedule to fit in study during the semester.
"I'm working full-time across four days rather than five. As I'm starting work earlier and finishing later, I'm doing fewer social activities during the week and have instead found myself making more plans on the weekend," says Tara.
There are also ways to make the logistics of studying alongside work and a social life a little easier. Open Universities Australia brings thousands of online degrees, single subjects and short courses from leading Australian universities together in one place, while its local student advisors can offer free, unbiased advice on finding an option that works for your goals and lifestyle. Open Universities Australia Student advisor, G, shares that they can offer assistance from your first inquiry to graduation. "Use our expertise because we'll be here to really simplify the process and give you a roadmap that works for you and takes away that anxiety and stress."
Be Realistic With What You Can Achieve
The above tip sounds simple enough, but Tara learnt the hard way that while you might want to keep up with your former pre-study life, adding a course load into your weeks can make that a lot harder.
"Be realistic with your time, unlike me," Tara says. "I learnt after a hectic first semester that I need to limit my social activities whilst I'm in my university semester." Tara also recommends choosing a course or degree you're passionate about to keep you motivated. You also don't have to start with a full degree. If you're unsure about committing to years of study alongside your current lifestyle, a single subject or short course can give you a sense of what the workload is like and whether the subject is right for you.
Through Open Universities Australia, you can enrol in a single subject that can build towards a degree further down the track. That means you don't need to lock in a big decision from day one. Instead, you can work towards smaller milestones in a way that fits your life and schedule. Remember, this is just for a season. In the end, you'll have a new qualification, more experience and potentially even a new career. By putting your head down, your future self will thank you.
You're Not Alone
While it may feel like you're alone in juggling work and study, according to the ABS, 3.2 million people in Australia are currently studying in one way or another, with many needing to work at the same time. This reminder helped Tara to balance the load.
"Remember, you're not alone! There are probably several students within each course, especially in post-grad courses, who are working full-time too." Even knowing you're not the only person staying up late to do assignments after work or getting up early to attend a class before your 10 am meeting can help you keep going.
Ultimately, balancing work and study isn't about doing everything perfectly; it's about finding a rhythm that works for you. Tara's experience shows that sometimes making room for study means changing how you spend your time, asking for a little flexibility and accepting that you can't do everything at once. The payoff is that you can keep building towards something new without putting the rest of your life on pause.
Your headstart into 2027 study starts with Open Universities Australia at open.edu.au
Lead Image Credit: Getty Images
