Imagine this: You have opened a browser on your laptop and searched “best universities in Germany”. You have 40 open tabs in your browser, three of which are different ranking lists, and you are confused about where to start. Does this sound familiar?

This was me and this went on for three years.

When I received an A– on a college paper, I scheduled a meeting with my teaching assistant to discuss how I could improve. I wasn’t upset about the grade. I genuinely wanted to know what separated an A– paper from an A paper.

After listening to my questions, she smiled and reassured me.

“As someone who speaks English as a second language,” she said, “this is already an impressive paper. You should be very proud of yourself!”

She meant it as encouragement. Her tone was warm, her kindness unmistakable. But I walked away feeling strangely defeated.

Moving to university involves a lot of packing. But what should you bring with you? With airline luggage restrictions and limited space in residential halls, there are things you will need to pack and other items you can organise once you get there. 

Although it’s tempting to pack everything you own, remember that you’ll be sharing space with other students. It’s also more practical to buy the larger items once you arrive and know how much space you will have.

Sponsored content: created in partnership with the Duolingo English Test.

Technology and computer science are among the world’s fastest-growing fields, and new roles and jobs are being created every month. Digital skills are highly sought after, even by non-tech companies, so a technology or digital-based degree is a smart choice.

In a ranking put together by French consultancy Emerging and published exclusively by Times Higher Education, students can explore which universities have a good reputation for providing a digital education and encouraging tech skills and entrepreneurship.

For any student looking to study abroad, one of the key questions they might ask is how the experience will set them up for life. Students want to know what their return on investment will be, and how their time at university will benefit them when they graduate and are job-hunting. 

As well as studying a course that values career development skills, you’ll also want to know what opportunities will be available to you in your study abroad country. 

Australia is one of the the top destinations for international students, with some of the best universities in the world. 

However, students are often discouraged from studying abroad when faced with the complex visa application. While it can be a difficult process to wrap your head around, it’s worth going through to be able to study in a country such as Australia.

Sponsored content: created in partnership with Sabancı University.

Sponsored content: created in partnership with Pontificia Universidad Católica de Chile.

Congratulations! You have secured a place at university – a huge achievement and the start of a new and exciting chapter in your life. 

As you prepare to start this new journey, it is normal to feel a mix of anticipation and excitement. To ensure you hit the ground running and make the most of your university experience, here is a simple guide with practical advice on how to prepare for university life.