From the hurly burly of freshers’ week onwards, undergraduate life follows a familiar social path. Less so for postgraduates, who have greater time constraints, more debt, possibly fewer friends and harder work. How do they stay on track?

“Postgraduate study is not a continuation of a first degree, it’s a big step up,” says Charlie Ball, head of higher education intelligence at careers site Prospects. “You need to treat it like a job, so organise your schedule around a nine-to-five day.”

But nearly half of postgraduates who work alongside their studies say their workload is unmanageable, according to a study into taught postgraduate experience by the Higher Education Academy. While postgraduates arrive at all ages and for different reasons, they seem universally short of time.

Organising yourself early and managing time feature highly in advice on The Student Room (TSR). Start course work as soon as possible, even organising and annotating notes on spreadsheets. “The first week can be misleading because there’s not much work,” says one postgraduate. “Don’t be fooled – it will get rolling like an avalanche so it’s important to keep on top of it.”

But many postgraduates report that student life, though quieter, is more enjoyable. “As for being a fresher, you’ve been there, done that, so you can choose whether to get involved or steer clear,” says Hannah Morrish, education community manager at TSR. “Most universities will put on events and socials specially for postgrads.” Some students say they socialised more as an older postgrad than they did as an undergrad. “I was much more confident in myself and knowing my place as a student,” writes one postgrad. “So I went and got involved in exactly what I wanted to.”

There’s nothing stopping you joining clubs and societies on offer to all students. If that’s not for you, many universities have separate graduate buildings, offering workshops, research training and development opportunities, as well as a few socials.

Pastoral care is important, though sometimes missing from postgraduate life. “Our students know they can come and talk to us if they feel the need,” says Julia Taylor, graduate school academic manager at Bournemouth University. “Our postgraduate research administrators feel the pastoral element of their job is extremely important.”

You don’t need to be having a full-blown crisis to ask for help, says Su Ball, a former postgraduate, social worker and now a mindfulness coach. “You don’t have to have a ‘reason’ for going to a counsellor. It’s alright to go for a chat, or just because you are feeling a bit discombobulated.”

Carve out time for yourself from the start, postgraduates advise. From volunteering, to sport or hanging out with friends, it’s important to feel ‘human’; or else study can dominate your life. “I relished the time spent away from books and doing something practical and creative,” says Fiona de Hoog, who has a master’s degree and is researching a PhD at the University of Hull. She worked 15-20 hours a week in a cafe as a barista. “Postgraduate study tends to take over your life, but it’s important to have a break from it. Working always calmed me down.”

Postgraduate wellbeing: To-do list

• Try to contact prospective postgraduates through social media, and take part in orientation trips around the city and university.
  
• Freshers’ week, clubs and societies are there if you want them. Graduate centres lay on socials and events too.
  
• Take advantage of courses in study and research skills laid on by the university.
  
• Look after yourself. When you are busy, healthy eating can go out of the window.
  
• Be as social as you can afford. Unless you set aside time, study will overtake your days.
  
• While it doesn’t earn money, volunteering can keep your CV ticking over and help structure your week. “Anything as long as it takes you outside the academic bubble,” says one postgraduate.
  
• Stay organised, keep time and “panic” early to get on top of work. Assignments might come thick and fast after the first week. If you’re unsure, ask for help – bother professors, tutors or pastoral-care professionals.
  
• Sport or physical activity is a great stress buster.
  
• Try to avoid flat sharing with undergraduates, who might have different schedules and agendas.