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The biggest thing we wish we'd known when we left uni? You don't need your whole life sorted by September. A few months of travel won't ruin your career; the pressure you're feeling is mostly imaginary, and you may never have this much freedom again. Here's what else we'd tell our graduate selves.
You spent three years being told what comes next. Then you throw your hat in the air, and suddenly nobody's telling you anything. Your housemates scatter. LinkedIn fills up with people announcing grad schemes. And your mum starts asking what your plan is.
If you're feeling a bit lost, you're not behind. You're just in the bit nobody warns you about.
10 things we wish we'd known when we left uni
1. Nobody has it figured out
The people posting about their new job are just as scared as you are. They've just got better captions. There's no secret timeline, and the only person checking yours is you.
2. The 9 to 5 will still be there
You've got decades of work ahead of you. A trip won't change that. If you've landed a job already, ask about a later start date. The worst they can say is no.
3. You'll never have this much freedom again
No rent to pay. No annual leave applications. Possibly no job. Soon, your holidays will be 25 days a year, and you'll be fighting Dave from accounts for the same week in August. Right now, you can go for two weeks or two months without asking anyone.
4. Don't wait for your mates to be ready
This is the big one. Your friends will say they're up for it, then the group chat will die. Someone gets a job. Someone's skint. If you wait for everyone to line up, you'll never go.
Going solo sounds terrifying until you do it. Roughly 65% of TruTravellers come alone, so you'll be surrounded by people in exactly the same boat. Here's why you have to solo travel in your 20s and 10 things to know before you go.
5. Friends don't just appear anymore
At uni, friends came with the building. After you leave, you have to go and find them. Travel is a shortcut, because you'll spend more time with your group in two weeks than you'd spend with a work friend in months.
6. Going back home is normal
Living at your parents' house at 22 doesn't mean you've failed. It might be the cheapest chance you'll ever get to save for something big. A few months of free rent could pay for your whole trip.
7. Travel isn't a gap on your CV
Navigating a new country, getting along with strangers and solving problems on the road are real skills. Employers are people too, and plenty of them will want to hear about it. Just make sure you can tell the story of what you learned. Still weighing it up? Read should you take a gap year.
8. You don't have to pay for it all at once
Pay a deposit now to lock in your spot, then spread the rest interest-free. Your balance is due 60 days before you leave. That means you can book today and save up from your first pay cheques.
9. You'll figure it out on the way
You can't think your way into knowing what you want. You find out by doing things, meeting people and seeing how other people live. Nobody ever worked out their life plan by refreshing a job board at 1am.
Where should you travel after uni?
It depends how long you've got. Here are our top picks for post-grads:
New Zealand Adventure | Auckland to Queenstown in 13 days |
South America: Rio to Buenos Aires | Brazil, Argentina and Uruguay in 17 days |
India & Sri Lanka Uncovered | Delhi to Unawatuna in 23 days |
Total Philippines | Manila to Siargao in 24 days |
Total Indonesia | Sumatra, Bali and Komodo in 26 days |
Total Asia | Thailand, Vietnam and Cambodia in 50 days |
On a smaller budget? Our Essentials trips are built exclusively for 18 to 29s, with maximum adventure and minimum spend. See every option on our Just Left Uni page.
FAQs
Should I travel after university or get a job?
You don't have to choose forever. Many graduates travel for a few weeks or months, then start work. If you already have a job offer, ask whether you can push your start date back.
How long should I travel after uni?
As long as your budget allows. Two weeks is enough for one country, while a month or two lets you cover several. Just remember the 3-month rule if you have a UK student loan.
Can I travel after uni on my own?
Yes, and most people do. Around 65% of TruTravellers come solo, so you'll have a crew from the first day.
Is it safe to travel alone after uni?
A group trip is one of the easiest ways to start, because you've got a Local Legend and a group around you.
Degree done. Passport ready. Go and find out who you are when nobody's marking it. Find your first big trip here.
