Ever wondered what a typical day in the life of a university student looks like?
We interviewed a current university student to find out for you! They provided us with a direct insight into their daily routine as well as at the unique challenges and rewards of being at university. We hope this behind-the-scenes account will help you to decide if higher education could be for you.
This is the day in the life of a university student…
Introducing Ella
Meet Ella, a passionate and ambitious university student, currently studying for her post graduate masters degree in journalism at Salford University.
Originally from Essex, Ella has always had a passion for writing, through her own stories and a blog she has created where she discusses her favourite football team. It wasn’t until she pursued her undergraduate degree in geography and politics at Lancaster University that she found a greater love for current affairs and wanted to learn more about it once graduating.
Ella has decided to share a day in her life so we can see what a current university journalism student gets up to.
Introducing
Ella
Meet Ella, a passionate and ambitious university student currently studying for her masters in journalism at Salford University.
Originally from Essex, Ella has always had a passion for writing, through her own stories and a blog she had created where she discussed her favourite football team.
It wasn’t until she pursued her undergraduate degree in Geography and Politics at Lancaster University that she found a greater love for current affairs and wanted to learn more about it once graduating.
Ella has decided to share a Day in her life so we can see what a current University Journalism Student gets up to.
Getting to know Ella 
What did you study before university?
“I went to a sixth form and did A-levels in Geography, Economics and English Language. I got 2 A’s and a C.”
Who helped you towards making a decision of going to University?
“My parents were really supportive about me studying further and going into higher education.”
“As for the subject, it was really my geography teachers because they gave me the love for that subject“
Did you always know what you wanted to do in the Future??
“No, I had no idea what I wanted to do after sixth form but I was really passionate about geography and wanted to go to university to study it more in depth.”
What is the biggest challenge you faced when choosing your future pathway?
“It’s important to choose what you’re passionate about and what you want to learn more about.”
“It can be difficult because you’re choosing one subject that you want to pursue further and you might be interested in a few different things”
Day in the Life 
Ella wakes up at around 7am and usually starts her day off with a bowl of porridge and a cup of coffee (caffeine boost needed for a busy day!).
Ella lives in a shared student flat and has her own bedroom and bathroom but shares a kitchen with her flatmates.
A bonus of living in student halls is that she is within walking distance of the university campus.
Ella enjoys the freedom of making her own choices at university including managing her own time: when to go to bed, get up, socialise, do work etc. She has become a lot more independent from it and has learnt valuable time management skills.
Throughout the day, Ella has seminars (classroom based workshops) where she has the opportunity to chat with her classmates about their current projects.
On average, Ella spends around seven hours a day studying, both in class and independently. Breaks are essential, so an afternoon coffee with friends is a great way to break up the day.
And it’s not all classroom based study, Ella will often hone her journalism skills through practical work such as writing her own news stories, conducting interviews, and uploading them to the university news website which is super exciting and invaluable experience for her future career.
After Ella has finished university for the day, she often gets to relax and spend time on her hobbies but tonight she has a shift at her part-time job as a waitress. Many students have a part time job as way to earn a bit of extra money alongside their studies.
In the evening, Ella tries to get an good night’s sleep ready for another day as a university student.
Quick Fire Questions!
Quick Fire Questions! 
What is your dream job after university?
“I’d love to be a journalist for a national newspaper one day.”
Do you have a part-time job?
“Yes, I work part-time in a restaurant near the university.”
Favourite university memory?
“At Lancaster, they had big celebrations at the end of every year called ‘extravs’. My favourite one was an enchanted theme, where I dressed up as a fairy with my friends and it was a really fun time!”
What is one thing you wish you knew before going to university?
“I would say to make the most of the opportunities available. There are so many exciting societies and events you can get involved in. Get out there and get involved as much as possible.”
What is the most unique society you have heard of at university?
“There was a society where the members would take part in something similar to a big game of tag, over each term. You were given a wooden spoon and a target. Everyone had to find and touch their target to remove them from the game. You would then receive a new target and the last person remaining won a grand prize.“
What was your first year at university like?
“I was so nervous when I first started university, but when I got there I realised, we were all in the same boat and everyone seemed just as nervous as me.“
“I had a really good flat though and we could always go to each other if we were feeling homesick. We’ve also remained friends since that first year.“
Ella's advice for Future Students 
“My advice for anyone thinking about going to university would be to go to the open days if possible. Talk to students, tutors and just find out as much as you can about each university you are interested in.”
“Personally, when I went to my Lancaster open day, that’s when I knew it was the university for me, after speaking to the students, seeing the facilities and just learning more about it from being there in person.”
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