Supporting your transition

Graduating is a significant transition, and it is normal for it to bring a mix of emotions, including uncertainty, changes in routine, or anxiety about what comes next. These feelings often ease as you settle into new patterns of life and work. 

If you are finding the transition difficult, support is available. Reaching out early can make a positive difference, and you do not need to wait until things feel overwhelming. You can also stay connected with the University community through our 'Staying Connected’ page, which brings together ways to remain informed, involved, and supported after graduation. 

If you’re interested in post-graduate study your careers team can help with feedback on draft applications to any course at any university. You can also book a 1:1 appointment to discuss your options with a career advisor. For more information check out our Connecting With Careers page. 

You may be eligible for a 20% discount on courses at The University of Cumbria through our alumni discount. Eligible graduates could receive up to 20% discount on taught courses if you completed your undergraduate degree in the last five years. You can find out more information on our Alumni webpage,  or by getting in contact with us at: enquirycentre@cumbria.ac.uk 

You get three years of careers support after graduation as UoC Alumni. This means you can book one-to-one appointments with our careers advisors, ask us to review your CVs, cover letters, job and post-grad course applications, explore our pathways and more via our careers platform, My Career Enriched. You also have lifelong access to our regularly updated jobs board and our My.Cumbria resources. 

Graduation often brings changes to your financial situation. Taking time to review your finances and understand your expected costs can help you feel more prepared for the transition after university. 

Budgeting: 

Your budget may change significantly after university, so it is useful to review your finances regularly and plan for new expenses. This may include housing, transport, food, and work-related costs such as professional clothing. 

For support with budgeting and financial planning, MoneyHelper’s student and graduate money advice includes guidance and tools to help manage your finances after university, while the UK Careers Fair budgeting guide provides practical tips for recent graduates. 

You may also need to understand when student loan repayments begin and how repayments are calculated based on your income. GOV.UK student loan repayment information explains how repayments work and when they begin. 

Understanding salary expectations: 

It may also be helpful to research typical salaries within your chosen sector and understand what your take-home pay could look like after tax and deductions. Resources such as PayScale UK Salary Research, the Reed UK Salary Guide, and Glassdoor UK can help you explore salary expectations across different industries and roles. 

Understanding your payslip 

If you move into employment, your payslip will include important information such as tax, pension contributions, and deductions. MoneyHelper’s guide to understanding your payslip and the CIPP payslip tool can help explain common terms and deductions, while Employment Hero’s payslip abbreviations guide provides a useful breakdown of common abbreviations. 

If you are thinking about starting a business, freelancing, or developing a side project, support is available at any stage. This could include shaping an early idea, building a client base, or growing an existing venture. 

The Student Enterprise resources on My.Cumbria provide guidance on start-ups, business development, and freelancing that can help you after graduation too, such as templates and tools to help you plan and test your ideas. 

Useful resources include a business plan template, a marketing strategy template, a personal survival budget to help you understand the income needed to cover living costs, and a networking checklist to support you when attending events or meeting potential clients. 

You can also explore alumni experiences for inspiration, such as Vincent Walden, who founded a design and print studio after graduating from our Graphic Design and Illustration course: https://youtu.be/oOTBQ4tNEaw

If you are working as a freelancer, you will be responsible for managing your own income, invoicing, and business expenses. Platforms such as PeoplePerHour (https://www.peopleperhour.com), Freelancer (https://www.freelancer.co.uk), Upwork (https://www.upwork.com), and Fiverr (https://www.fiverr.com) can help you find work and build experience across different types of projects.