The Pressure of Final Year: What Students Go Through Before Graduation

By Maryam Yakubu Usman

For many university students, reaching final year is often seen as the final step toward graduation, a period of excitement, celebration and anticipation. But behind the excitement of final-year activities and the prospect of leaving university is a period that can come with academic, financial and emotional pressure.

At the University of Maiduguri, final-year students are navigating demanding academic workloads, project deadlines, financial responsibilities and expectations about life after graduation. For some, the pressure extends beyond academics as they try to participate in social activities and create memories with their classmates before leaving university.

Salaudeen Soliu Olamide, a Mass Communication student, said funding has been his biggest challenge during final year, particularly because he largely finances himself.

“The biggest challenge I have faced as a final-year student is funding because I have lots of things to do that require money,” Salaudeen said.

He explained that about 90 per cent of his funding comes from him, making everyday expenses particularly difficult.

“Feeding is the most challenging one,” he said, adding that completing his final-year project has also created additional financial pressure.

According to Salaudeen, the project has a deadline that must be met before the semester ends, creating financial pressure alongside the academic demands.

Beyond academic requirements, he said final-year students can also feel pressure to participate in activities with their classmates.

“There is this pressure for project completion,” Salaudeen said. “So, again, you understand this feeling of wanting not to be left out of what your mates do. Look at Social Week, look at the FYB thing, and these things cost money to participate in.”

The academic workload is another concern for Salaudeen, who said students have to manage several courses while completing their projects and dealing with other responsibilities.

For Amina Hassan, an Accounting student, balancing these responsibilities requires planning and discipline.

Amina said creating a schedule and setting priorities have helped her manage her project, examinations and personal responsibilities.

“I divide my time between studying, working on my project, attending to personal responsibilities, and getting enough rest,” she said.

She also emphasised the importance of avoiding procrastination and completing tasks according to their deadlines.

Amina believes the university can also play an important role in reducing the pressure experienced by final-year students.

She said students need more academic guidance from project supervisors and lecturers, as well as timely access to research materials, libraries and online resources.

She also called for clearer information about project requirements and examination schedules, alongside emotional support and career guidance to help students prepare for life after graduation.

For Bishop Miracle Daniel, a 400-level Accounting student, family expectations are another source of pressure.

Bishop said her family has invested significantly in her education and expects her to graduate with good results.

“Sometimes I compare my performance with what they expect from me, and that can make me feel stressed,” she said.

However, she said those expectations also motivate her to take her education seriously.

As graduation approaches, academic pressure is not the only concern. The uncertainty of life after university is also on the minds of students.

Bishop said she worries about finding a good job, becoming financially independent and deciding which career path to follow.

“I also worry about whether I will be able to achieve the goals I have set for myself,” she said.

Despite the uncertainty, she remains hopeful that developing her skills, gaining experience and staying focused will help her find her way after graduation.

*For graduates who have already passed through the experience, some of the lessons are clearer in hindsight.*

James Wana Ndahi, a graduate of Public Administration, said he dealt with financial difficulties during his final year by working legally and seeking financial support from family members.

His advice to current final-year students is simple: avoid unnecessary spending and avoid taking loans.

For Favour Nehemiah, a graduate of Mass Communication, the most important lesson from final year was the need to take personal responsibility.

Favour recalled becoming distracted by the excitement surrounding final-year activities and graduation. At one point, her supervisor was unavailable, and she found herself making excuses instead of taking greater responsibility for progressing with her project.

The consequences eventually became difficult.

Favour said she ended up spending Christmas in school because of her project, an experience she described as difficult.

The experience taught her that students cannot always wait for someone else to push them before taking action.

Her advice to current final-year students is therefore to make their studies and projects a priority.

“Your studies and especially your project should be a priority,” Favour advised.

However, Favour does not believe students should completely withdraw from campus life in the name of academics.

She encouraged final-year students to participate in social activities and create memories with their classmates, but stressed the importance of knowing when to step away and return to academic responsibilities.

For her, the key is balance.

She also urged students to take care of their well-being by eating properly, getting enough sleep and giving themselves time to rest.

When the pressure becomes overwhelming, Favour advised students to slow down and focus on manageable tasks.

“If you feel too overwhelmed, just calm down, write what you want to accomplish for the day every morning, work with your time, take everything one at a time,” she said.

The experiences of current students and graduates suggest that final year is not simply about completing academic requirements. It is also a period of learning how to manage money, time, expectations, responsibilities and uncertainty about the future.

For students still navigating the final stretch, the lessons from those who have gone before them are clear: start early, manage your time, take your project seriously, avoid unnecessary financial pressure and do not allow social activities to consume the time needed for academic work.

At the same time, final-year students do not have to sacrifice their entire university experience. There is room to participate, celebrate and create memories, provided they maintain a healthy balance.

Ultimately, final year is a preparation not only for graduation but for the responsibilities that come after it. The pressure may be unavoidable, but with planning, discipline, support and self-awareness, students can make the final stage of their university journey more manageable.