‘It can be difficult to understand exactly what your professors are looking for’: Managing academic pressure at university

By Daisy Yates, Co-Deputy Features Editor

While many reminisce that university was the best time of their lives, the reality for students is often very different. Research shows that, on average, 45 per cent of students in the UK feel ‘extremely stressed’ by their degree. 

Students are struggling with the demands of balancing coursework, extracurricular activities, and personal responsibilities. At the University of Bristol, deadlines are tight and expectations are high which can take a serious toll on well-being and mental health. In 2022, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) conducted research into the risk factors for increased mental health in students and found that workload pressures posed a significant threat to their well-being. It was found that students who are ‘focused on the possibility of failure’ and ‘experience imposter syndrome, perfectionism, or low self-efficacy’, are found to be more likely to develop mental health problems such as anxiety. 

Epigram spoke to Rosie, a second-year Medicine student about her experiences of academic pressure. She explains that ‘naturally, medical students are very competitive, typically used to achieving top grades. Being put amongst students who all achieve grades at that level can definitely cause competition’. In 2024, UCAS reported that 24,150 students applied to study Medicine across the UK, however, only 7,100 places were available for home students and around 500 for international applicants. This reduction in spots has the potential to create a highly competitive academic environment, potentially leading to significant negative impacts on students' mental well-being. 

This issue is, however, not confined to STEM subjects. A Unihealth study found that 80 per cent of students studying in higher education reported symptoms of stress or anxiety. Ilona, a fourth-year Liberal Arts student, explained that while studying humanities, instead of in-person exams, she has to write ‘three very large essays which [she] found quite overwhelming’. She went on to disclose that in addition to this, the essay grading system at the University of Bristol makes it ‘difficult to understand exactly what your professor is looking for’. 

Despite this, there are ways for students to mitigate and manage the academic expectations that are placed upon them. The University of Bristol offers assessment support, advice on exam board outcomes, and course transfer issues for any students who are struggling academically, facing unexpected challenges, or considering changes to their academic path. In addition to practical support options, the university also offers Student Counselling services, which can be requested through the university website. 

During her interview, Ilona offered some advice on how she manages her academic demands: ‘I find making to-do lists so useful in helping me create manageable chunks in my day to set aside to do a task’. She went on to share that the ‘golden rule’ she has cultivated during her time at university is to ‘actively plan to meet up with a friend every day’. She noted that this ‘ensures I don’t live at the library and helps me feel like I’ve had a day that didn’t purely revolve around essay writing or reading’. 

NHS organisation, Better Health, offers 6 top tips for managing stress, including talking to trusted friends and family, self-help CBT techniques, and being more active. Rosie reiterated this advice, explaining that she ‘finds getting out and exercising a great way to combat academic pressure’. She detailed how she ‘would often get back from the library and take myself out on a run – getting out in the fresh air and not thinking about anything academic helped me manage exam pressure’. Indeed, Rosie’s advice is not anecdotal, with recent research finding that 45 per cent of UK adults feel that their mental health and well-being can be improved by physical activity.

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At the University of Bristol, each student is assigned a personal tutor who they stay with until the end of their undergraduate degree. Personal tutors are available to provide guidance on timetabling and career goals, while also offering strategies to help manage the pressures of academic demands. Undergraduate students are expected to have at least three contact points scheduled for each teaching block during their first year and two for each year that follows. Alongside this, more pressing issues can be discussed during personal appointments by contacting your tutor through their staff email. 

While managing academic pressure can feel like an uphill battle, the core message underpinning both Ilona and Rosie’s interviews was that ‘you are not alone’. If you are struggling or feeling overwhelmed, information on who can help can be found here.

Featured Image: Epigram / Nel Roden

What strategies do you use to manage academic pressure?