(Published - 22 October 2018)

University can be the time of your life - studying fascinating subjects, learning new things, preparing for the next stage of life. But at some point, you’re going to have to think about life after studies - you know, getting a job (even if it’s a job *at* university), earning some money, paying your taxes, raising a family, that kind of thing. That might sound far away, but it’s actually a lot closer than you think.

So how do you prepare for that next step? Whether it’s your first year or your last, here are a few tips on how you can make the most of your time at the University of the Western Cape…

1. Get (Job) Ready:

You may know everything there is to know about astrophysics, or epistemology, or politics. But do you know how to find the right job for you - and what to do to actually get that job once you’ve found it? The UWC Careers Service  has featured consistently in the Top 7 of “Best Careers Service” and “Best Career Fair” categories. And can help you get ready to enter the job market - by helping you find the job/employer for you, and teaching you to write a CV, prep for an interview, and much, much more.

Get Entrepreneurial (Make Your Own Job):

Studies in South Africa (and beyond) show that entrepreneurship stimulates innovation, production and economic growth - and job creation. These are extremely important in a country with extremely high youth unemployment. In times like this, we need job makers, not just job takers. That’s why UWC’s Centre for Entrepreneurship and Innovation (CEI) specialises in entrepreneurial training, upskilling local entrepreneurs while providing UWC students the chance to start and develop their own businesses - and participate in entrepreneurial training and competition.

Get Serious (About Your Studies):

You might not know this, but universities are all about learning stuff. Whether you want to be an amazing accountant or a great geographer, it pays to pay attention in class. And it’s also a good idea to check out the UWC Library (it’s not just about the books, you know) to learn more. And you can visit the UWC Writing Centre to learn not just how to write good essays, but how to analyze them as well - and serious literary scholars and lovers of literature can develop their skills further with UWC’s own student-run journal, WritingThreeSixty.

Get Involved (In The Community):

Look, it’s not all about you - if you really want to be great, you have to give back to the community somehow. From teaching and research to advocacy and service in pursuit of these objectives, there’s always something you can do to lend a hand to those in need. UWC pursues ongoing engagement with its communities while preparing students to take a place in the global community. The UWC Community Engagement Unit provides advice and coordination and also runs its own projects, including a UWC Community Engagement Database that keeps track of the University's community work.

Get Recognised (Officially):

If you’ve read this far, you know there’s more to being a great student than a good academic record (though it helps), just like there’s more to a great life than working in an office. But it’s hard to fit in all your non-academic activities - academic support, entrepreneurship, leadership, sports leadership achievements, community engagement - on your academic transcript. That’s why the Co-Curricular Record allows for a more realistic and holistic – and official – take on student development and experience at UWC. The Co-Curricular transcript provides students with an exciting and educational record of their holistic developmental experiences at university - and it’s on an official UWC letterhead to boot.

And if you need a bit more time to figure out what you want to do with your life, or you want to learn to be the best at whatever you do want to do, why not check out the School for Postgraduate Studies? Want to know more about how the SPGS can help you? Find out here.