How to deal with academic imposter syndrome as a student

University is the perfect breeding ground for imposter syndrome. You’re surrounded by ambitious and talented individuals and tested constantly, whether that’s through exams, group projects, or job applications.

It’s no wonder so many students, and particularly state-educated ones, feel burdened by imposter syndrome. In this guide, we’ll explore what that feeling is, and the practical steps you can take to combat it today.

What is academic imposter syndrome?

Academic imposter syndrome is the persistent belief that you are not intelligent or capable enough to succeed in your studies, despite evidence such as exam results, feedback, or university admission.

Students experiencing it often feel they do not truly belong at their course or institution and worry about being ‘found out’ as less competent than others think.

But recognising imposter syndrome is the first step to addressing it head on. Here are some clear signs that you’re struggling with academic imposter syndrome based on what you think, say, or feel:

• Attributing success to luck. “I only got good marks because the exam questions that came up were the ones I felt most confident in.”

• Avoiding opportunities. Not applying for scholarships, programs, or internships because you’re “not qualified”, or don’t have the same “polish” your peers submitting the same applications do.

• Overpreparing or procrastinating. Either working yourself to exhaustion to “cover up” your flaws, or putting things off because you’re scared you’ll fail anyway.

• Constant comparison. Measuring yourself against the loudest voices in class, or those with the most confident presentation skills.

• Feeling like you’re faking it. You assume you’re just “pretending” to understand things in lectures or tutorials, and fear that one day people will notice you don’t belong.

• Needing perfection. Setting impossibly high standards for yourself, then feeling like a failure when you inevitably can’t meet them all.

• Hiding achievements. Not sharing wins (grades, projects, internships) because you worry people will think you don’t deserve them.

• Believing others don’t struggle. Assuming classmates find everything easier, and you’re the only one confused, stressed, or behind.

If any of these habits or thought patterns feel familiar, you might be dealing with academic imposter syndrome without even realising it. Let’s dig a bit deeper into what it actually means in practice.

Practical ways to manage academic imposter syndrome

Initially, this section was labelled ‘practical ways to deal with academic imposter syndrome’. But we changed it, because truthfully, there isn’t a magic fix. You simply get better at recognising, responding to, and navigating your way through that feeling.

So, here are some tips for that instead:

1. Keep a “wins” list

Write down every achievement, big or small — finishing a tough reading, speaking up in class, getting positive feedback. When self-doubt creeps in, you’ve got proof of your progress to check yourself with.

On a more practical note, this can also be a great way to truly reflect on feedback and paint yourself a more accurate picture of where you excel or fall short. It’s also a great resource to use when preparing for assessment centres, or interviewing for work experience.

This can be as simple or granular as you like. A page in your Notes app or a set of sticky notes will do the job just fine!

2. Talk it out

Open up to friends, classmates, or mentors. You’ll be surprised how many people admit they’ve felt the same. Sometimes just hearing “me too” is enough to take the edge off, and you can gain a lot of reassurance from these conversations.

While it sounds incredibly simple, sharing the feeling with others can remove the isolating feeling that makes imposter syndrome thrive: the feeling of otherness or difference.

We recommend reaching out to course leaders, registered counsellors, or student union ambassadors to get the right support. Networking at events is another great way to share your experiences, especially with likeminded individuals.

3. Practice self-compassion

Notice how harsh your inner voice can be? Try flipping it. Would you say to a friend, “You don’t deserve to have these opportunities”?

We doubt it. So, give yourself the same kindness and grace that you’d afford your friends, and ask yourself how you’re different to them.

There are plenty of ways you can practice self-compassion. Calm has a great guide that breaks down the pillars of self-compassion, and it debunks the biggest misconceptions stopping us from being more gentle with ourselves. They have a great resource (shared below) on reframing negative thoughts, too.

4. Set aside time for reflection

Take 10 minutes every Friday to note three things you did that you couldn’t have done the week prior. This reminds you that growth is happening, even if you don’t feel it in your day to day.

It’s very cliche, but granular growth, when it compounds, can make an enormous difference to your capabilities and knowledge. But when these small, incremental changes happen so frequently, you can easily neglect them.

Proactively reflecting on the progress you’re making — big and small — can help you recognise the strides you’re making, so you’re not exclusively measuring your worth against those big, flashy milestones.

5. Anchor yourself to evidence

Imposter syndrome is emotionally charged, but feelings aren’t always facts. When self-doubt creeps in, pull yourself back to the evidence.

Remind yourself:

• You’ve submitted assignments before — and passed.

• You’ve worked through difficult material — and understood it eventually.

• You’ve earned your place at university — it wasn’t a fluke.

Keeping feedback, past essays, or notes from tutors handy can help you fight the “I don’t belong” narrative with tangible proof of your progress. Again, this ties back to having a ‘wins’ tracker of some sort.

6. Limit comparison triggers

If scrolling LinkedIn or chatting in certain group chats leaves you spiralling, it’s okay to set boundaries. Mute notifications during exam periods, unfollow accounts that fuel unhealthy comparisons, or limit how much time you spend in spaces where you walk away feeling smaller.

Comparison thrives on selective information. You’re only seeing people’s polished highlight reels, not the hours of stress, failure, or confusion that happen behind the scenes. This perspective can reshape how you feel about your potential.

An actionable step you can take today is to set time limits on certain apps, like Instagram or TikTok. These digital wellness features are a great way to proactively reduce your exposure to content that fuels comparison or negative thinking.

Here’s a quick guide on how to set it up on an Apple device, for example.

7. Break the perfectionism loop

Imposter syndrome and perfectionism are best friends. They convince you that unless your work is flawless, it doesn’t count. But that isn’t true.

Prioritisation is an important skill for academia and early careers, and there will often be instances where knowing when to move on to the next task is far more useful, particularly for time management.

Combat this by:

• Setting realistic goals. For example, aim to finish a draft, not to write the “perfect essay.”

• Using time caps. Give yourself two hours to polish a presentation, then move on. Endless tweaking won’t make it perfect — it’ll just burn you out.

• Acknowledging sufficiency. Sometimes, “good enough” is good enough.

Managing imposter syndrome isn’t about erasing it completely (spoiler: even seasoned academics and industry-leading professionals still feel it sometimes).

Instead, it’s about recognising it, having strategies to keep it in check, and not letting it stop you from grabbing the opportunities you deserve.

Perfectionism can be a difficult tendency and habit to ditch, but this fantastic TEDTalk by Jon Youshaei explores how perfectionism can actually become the enemy of productivity, which can be a problem.

Imposter syndrome and being state-educated

If you’ve come from a state school background, it’s completely normal for imposter syndrome to feel louder.

Universities — especially highly selective ones — can sometimes feel dominated by students from private or grammar schools who’ve had more resources, coaching, or confidence drilled into them. That contrast can create a real sense of “otherness,” even though your academic potential is no less.

You might notice it in subtle ways:

• Confidence gaps. Some students seem naturally comfortable speaking up in tutorials or networking with professors, while you feel like you’re stumbling through.

• Access to opportunities. Your peers might casually mention internships, gap year travels, or family connections that make you wonder if you’re behind.

• Cultural differences. Even small things like not knowing the “right” academic jargon, or feeling awkward in certain social settings can reinforce that you don’t fully belong.

But here’s the truth: being state-educated often means you’ve developed resilience, adaptability, and independence that others haven’t had to build. You’ve worked for your place at university without shortcuts. That doesn’t make you less deserving — it arguably makes your achievements even more impressive.

Practical tips if this resonates with you

• Own your background. Instead of seeing it as a disadvantage, frame it as part of your story. You’ve made it here without the extra scaffolding many of your peers had — that’s grit.

• Find community. Many unis have widening participation groups, first-gen societies, or state-school student networks. Being around people with similar experiences can shrink that sense of otherness.

• Use the support available. State-educated students are often less likely to seek help — but campus services (careers, wellbeing, academic skills) are for everyone, and they’re there to level the playing field.

• Remember different ≠ less. Just because your path here looked different, doesn’t mean it was weaker. Your experiences bring value and perspective that enrich the academic community.

At its core, imposter syndrome isn’t just about doubting your abilities — it’s about feeling different. Feeling like you’re the only one who doesn’t belong, the only one who doesn’t “get it,” the only one who somehow slipped through the cracks.

That sense of otherness is what makes imposter syndrome so isolating. And it’s why building community matters so much. When you meet others who share your background or experiences, the weight of that “I’m the only one” feeling gets lighter.

That’s exactly why groups like the 93% Club exist. As a network for state-educated students, it creates a space where you can share experiences, support each other, and remind yourself that you’re not the exception — you’re part of the majority.

Being surrounded by people who “get it” can make all the difference in turning imposter syndrome from a lonely struggle into something you can talk about, laugh about, and manage together.

So next time imposter syndrome whispers that you don’t belong, remember: you’re not alone in feeling this way. And more importantly, you do belong — not despite your background, but because of everything you’ve overcome to get here.