Abstract
This paper aims to describe the life challenges university students experienced in their first year of
study during the transition into academia, how these impacted on their studies at the time, and how
these have impacted on their life satisfaction and academic progress over the next year or two. Data
were collected using a quantitative survey instrument from 463 second and third year students at the
University of Johannesburg, South Africa. Results showed that prevalent and severe life challenges
during the first year of study were the death of loved ones and poverty. Most of the life challenges
impacted negatively on academic progress and well-being a year or two later, and in combination
the pileup of vulnerability in first year has a sustained negative impact on student’s academic
progress year a year or two later. Universities need to engage with the whole student as human
within their social environment, with both academic and personal development needs.