How to prepare for starting university
Your university journey starts before semester does! Have a look at the sections below which summarise the key areas to focus your preparation on before you begin your studies.
Definitions and key terms
There are a lot of new terms and words you will encounter at university. Understanding these and knowing the difference between them will help you navigate your studies more easily.
📝 Resource 3: University Terminology Glossary
Use the University Terminology Glossary to review and understand the terminology you will encounter at university. You could highlight parts of the glossary and make notes to help you understand and remember these words.
Administrative tasks and enrolment
Once you have accepted your offer to study, there will be a series of tasks that you need to complete in preparation for commencing at university. It’s important to think about how you will approach these before semester commences to avoid becoming overwhelmed, and get support early.
Some of the key tasks to look out for include:
- Acceptance of your offer: After you get your offer to study at university, you will need to accept the offer to tell your university that you will be attending. You will receive instructions about how to do this, usually by email, including who you can contact if you need help.
- Enrolment: Once you have accepted your offer, you will need to enrol in the courses you are going to study. This will usually be done online through a student administration website, and you will receive instructions and reminders about this. All universities and programs are different, but most programs will have a webpage outlining which courses or units you will need to do each semester, or a list of units you can pick from if there are electives in your program.
- Getting access to student systems: Before you start your studies, you will need to gain access to systems like the student administration portal, your student email account, the university timetable, and the online learning management system (LMS). Keep an eye on your emails and make sure you complete each task as it becomes available: you will receive instructions about how to do this, including who you can contact if you need help.
- Getting your student card: Your student card will be your identity (ID) card at university. You will use it to access buildings, borrow from the library, print, can access student discounts. You may need to visit a physical location to arrange this, or you might be able to order it online: you will receive instructions about this before you start at university.
- Tip: Print out or file the emails you get from your university: this is so you can save them and refer back to them if you need information.
📝 Resource 4: Starting University Checklist
You can complete the Starting University Checklist to help you complete these tasks and plan for your first semester at university.
Orientation
Most universities will have an orientation week or day at the start of the teaching period before classes begin. There will be events, information sessions, and social activities to help you prepare for university. Orientation may feel busy, but it’s a great way to get familiar with the campus, learn important information about university life, and meet new people.
Here are some tips for making orientation work for you:
- Attend information sessions that are directly relevant to your course
- Bring a support person if that helps you feel more comfortable
- Take notes or photos of important information
- Don't feel you need to attend every (or even any!) social event – choose what feels manageable, relevant, or interesting for you
There is more information in the next section, “Starting classes: Understanding the university learning environment”, about preparing for your classes specifically.
Familiarising yourself with campus
Before classes begin, spending time getting to know your campus can reduce anxiety and help you feel more confident. This preparation plays to common autistic strengths like planning and attention to detail.
Physical navigation
- Download the campus map from your university's website – you can also look at StudentVIP’s ‘Lost on Campus’ app
, which is often more detailed than what a university will provide and can include images and descriptions of the buildings and rooms on campus - Visit during quieter times (like school holidays) if possible
- Take photos of key locations to help with visual memory
- Find at least two routes between important places in case of disruptions
- Locate essential facilities: toilets, food outlets, quiet study spaces, disability services
Finding your sanctuary spaces
Many autistic students benefit from having quiet, low-sensory spaces. Look for:
- Less crowded areas of the library
- Outdoor spaces with minimal foot traffic
- Disability support areas (many universities have specific quiet spaces)
- Student lounges that are typically less busy
🔎Case Study/Research Tip
As one student noted: "Being able to visit campus was really important, getting to know the environment and where you'd be studying. For me, being able to choose a smaller campus was really helpful because I find it very difficult to remember where to go" (Reframing Autism, 2025).
Understanding transport and timing
Think ahead about how you are going to get to university. Will you take public transport, drive, or have someone else drive you?
Here are some tips for planning your transport:
- Use Google Maps or a public transport app to save your journey so you can find it easily when you need to
- Practice your journey to campus at different times
- Allow extra time for unexpected delays or route changes
- Consider alternatives like cycling or walking if public transport feels overwhelming
- If you’re driving, look at parking options and space: parking is often expensive and hard to find on campus, and you might need a permit before you arrive. These can usually be found by googling "[campus name] parking permit". Some permits are only valid in some areas or parking buildings on campus, so check carefully before you purchase your permit.