‘In University, You Put Your Life On Pause for Three Years’: An Exploration into The Transitional Experience of Those Graduating from University

The following research was carried out to explore the transitional experiences of those who were graduating from university into their next step. The current research reviews previous transitional literature – from early educational transitions, to the transition to retirement – but focuses the analysis on the transition out of university. The development of the Model of Transition Success in the current study enables the realisation that previous transition successes serve as a useless guide for the transition out of university for most graduates. This is because the progression into the next step is not as simple as succeeding at their current level of education to guarantee progression into a higher level of study. Findings show how graduates making this transition face the challenges of transitioning into adulthood, comparisons between peers, and unmet expectations. The analysis explores why this may be the case. The analysis also explores ways in which graduates facilitated their transition. Facing the transition with a perception of ease (developed through their transitional history) these graduates are often facing the transition unprepared. Implications for future research is discussed, as well as practical implications that can help both the universities and the students themselves, better prepare their students/ themselves to make the transition.