Right now, you’re probably buried in assignments or preparing for exams. But with the end of the university year just around the corner, you might wish you ticked a few things off your list by the time January rolls around!
Saving your academic transcripts, visiting your favourite on-campus cafe one last time, planning a weekend trip or two - here’s our list of the top ten things to do before the end of the university year.
1. Save your important documents
Graduating? Download your academic transcript, save important emails and back up your assignments before your student login disappears for good. You’ll need them down the track if you want to apply for further study, or need credit for past subjects.
2. Say goodbye (for now!) to your favourite campus spots
Go to one last club event, eat at your favourite campus cafe and spend an afternoon in the library with no deadline hanging over you. If you’re graduating, take photos with friends in your caps and gowns while you still have the time!
3. Escape the city
Take a break from your studies if you can and book a weekend at a local beach town, a national park or a city break. Flights will be a bit cheaper before the big summer rush, and you’ll come back to campus feeling refreshed and ready for the last couple of months of the year.
Here's how Celia did just that in Western Australia!
4. Give your resume a refresh
You’ve spent all year learning and growing, so it’s the perfect time to add all your new experience to your resume and LinkedIn, while you can still remember it all.
5. Clear out your stuff
Sell or donate textbooks, kitchen gear, furniture, clothes - anything you won’t need next year or can’t take back home with you. Your wallet gets a little boost, your house or suitcase gets some space and another student gets a bargain. Win-win-win!
6. Cross something off your Australia bucket list
Everyone has one thing they just have to do before they leave Australia: watching an AFL game in person, climbing the Sydney Harbour Bridge, seeing the animals at Australia Zoo, or even just visiting the local market or buzzy new restaurant. Choose your must-do and tick it off before you finish the year.
Here's a recommendation if you're in Victoria - why not hike the Dandenong Ranges?
7. Ask for references
Ask your favourite lecturer for a LinkedIn recommendation or a reference while you can (and while they still remember you)! This will come in handy when you start applying for full-time jobs.
8. Sign up for next year’s activities
Getting involved on campus will make your time at uni even more enjoyable, so why not join a club, apply for a mentoring program or volunteer as a student ambassador? Sign-ups can open before the end of the year, so keep an eye out on your university website.
9. Make sure you’re on track with class credits
Meeting your course attendance and progress requirements is a condition of most student visas, so it’s important to make sure you’re on track to graduate on time. Check your results and enrollment so there are no surprises, and make sure to speak to your university early if something has gone wrong.
10. Graduating? Check your visa end date
Your student visa won’t stay valid forever after you graduate. You can work unlimited hours once your course is complete, but only while the visa is still in effect. Want to stay and work in Australia after graduation? Look into the Temporary Graduate visa (subclass 485). Applications are generally due within six months of finishing, so check the Department of Home Affairs website or talk to a registered migration agent for more information.
You don’t have to tick off all ten of these, but you’ll finish the year strong if you can get some admin sorted and a fun activity or two planned by summertime. Future you will thank you in 2027!
