So, to put worried minds at ease, we've compiled a list of the top 12 traits that – if possessed – will ensure that any student gets the best out of their university experience. And to those now shouting 'what if I have none of them!', well, there's no need to worry, most can be acquired with a bit of determined hard work. Let's begin.

Reading economics blogs can be an easy way to get your fill of knowledge and, in many cases, they're more palatable compared with academic journals, which can be dense and gruelling. The blogs we've listed - in no particular order - are the ones we here at INOMICS turn to when we're looking for interesting, informative, and occasionally offbeat articles on a wide range of economic topics. With much of the outside world still off-limits, they also provide an excellent and productive means of passing the time. So go on, dive in.

It's the bane of most economists' lives, and it's never been so important. Jobs, tenure, not to mention reputation, all heavily rely on getting published – often regularly. Unsurprisingly, given its significance, there's much to consider when approaching journals. Where your work is published can have a huge effect on how it's perceived, how many people it reaches, and what kind of profile engages with it. Alarm bells need not ring, though, this article will walk you through the process, and ensure your work finds its rightful home.

1. Economic Times This handy news app covers the latest developments in the field of business and the stock market. If you’re looking to stay up-to-date on developments of economic news, then this app has a global perspective that includes news, slideshows, stock tracking, and push notifications for important updates. More international than other economics news apps, this gives you a perspective on economic stories from around the globe.

1. Isolation

What's the difference between macroeconomics and microeconomics? Before making any decisions about which classes to take, you need to understand what each subject refers to.

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If you're an economics student currently doing your undergraduate or Master's degree, you might be considering doing a PhD at some point. The idea of dedicating another three years or more of your life to original research is both exciting and terrifying, and the experience of actually doing it can be both exhilarating and harrowing. Taking the step towards doing a PhD is a big decision, and one that shouldn't be made without the proper research and consideration. Once taken, however, it can be an extremely valuable experience and one that can set you up nicely in the future.

Getting to grips with the fundamentals of econometrics – where the field of economics meets and overlaps with the field of statistics – is often a daunting prospect. The age-old maxim that practice makes perfect is at least as applicable to econometrics as to any other skill. Reaching a useful level of proficiency requires a good deal, and likely several years, of hard graft and persistent learning.

Innovation Economics is a relatively new branch of economics that focuses on (rather predictably) innovation, alongside the study of technology, knowledge, and entrepreneurship. It aims to understand where new ideas come from, and how we can put forward policies which will encourage the development of new ways of thinking. As many nations move away from an industrial model of production and towards a knowledge-based economy, the economics of innovation becomes more and more relevant.

So you've coming up to exam season? Maybe you've already sat your written exams, and the only one left is the oral. Oral exams can be an daunting experience for students, so today we're sharing some advice on how to get through an oral exam with as little pain as possible. Check out more of our study advice here

Once you've handed in your thesis, you still have one big challenge to overcome before you're finished with your PhD: the thesis defense. This is an opportunity for you to present your research publicly and to answer questions about it from your thesis committee. The process can be tough going, especially if you've never had to do anything like this before. That being said, there are a few ways to make sure you survive – and even perform very well in – your thesis defense.

Time management One of the first skills that you'll pick up in your PhD is the ability to manage your own time. Unless you have an unusually overbearing supervisor, you will have to be responsible for organizing your own working days and making sure that your work gets done on time. This is excellent training for other roles later in your career in which you will have to allocate time for various tasks to meet deadlines. Browse our PhD program listings for economics

MBA and PhD programs have the potential to transform your career. A PhD allows you to become a professor and pursue a lifetime of research while an MBA can open up job opportunities at the top of business and drastically increase your salary expectations. No wonder it’s a difficult decision for many people. INOMICS as the leading career website for economists wants to help you make the right decision. Therefore, we are going to run through the key factors in this decision: career direction, requirements and cost. For a quick overview check out our video on just this topic!

We understand how difficult it’s been in these last months, the fear, frustration, and now, more recently, the boredom. Many have picked up new hobbies to pass the time, some have started learning a new language, and others, even, have experimented with exercise... As admirable as these endeavours are, a trick is still being missed. For what better way could there be to emerge from all of this madness than with a better grasp of... macroeconomics. Yes, there is none. You’re in luck, too.

No need to stress about your university exams – INOMICS is here to help! (Well, stress a little bit, that's healthy and can serve as motivation, but no need to freak out). Having already dispensed advice on facing down essay exams, this article turns to two other  university exam formats – short answer questions and multiple choice tests. These kind of exams require a different sort of preparation from essay or oral exams, preparation that the following will take you through.

Given the excellent feedback we received from our audience on an earlier blog post that compiled a list of free econometrics courses online, we have now prepared for you a list of free online courses (MOOC format) that you can take in the discipline of mathematics. Like econometrics, proficiency in math is a prerequisite for performing well in economics courses at all reputable universities around the world.

Our support, we promise, is, and will forever be, unfaltering - we recognise how tough things currently are. University life is in flux, campuses are mostly shut, and there’s little idea when, if ever, things will return to their pre-COVID ways - that is for those whose memories extend that far. Life is characterised by zoom calls, lagging voices and frozen faces, of cursing your internet connection and being proud that you’re yet to trash your misbehaving laptop. Stuck at home, though, it’s also the perfect time (we think at least) to get started with some microeconomics.

What you need to consider You may be asking yourself how to decide which course will you study? Well, first off think about the subjects that you liked in school, about your hobbies, and what may help you in your career development. And remember, an online degree can not just help you brush up skills you gained in the past, but could also provide you with accreditation for what you have learnt through work experience. 

There are several key differences between an MBA and M.S. degree. The one you choose depends on your career goals, experience, finances and more. Focus MBA programs are more all-encompassing. They are meant for students looking to gain functional knowledge across all aspects of business. A specialized master’s program is exactly that — it focuses on a specific area of business and provides a deep and precise knowledge of that subject.

We've already written about the top free online econometrics courses for those of you who need to save a buck while you're in isolation. But for anyone who is able to spend a little bit of money to get on a next-level course, there are a range of paid courses, frequently offered by Udemy, which can give you that academic head start you need.

In these weird times, many (though by no means all) of us find ourselves with a lot of time on our hands, stuck at home with not much to do. But actually, there are plenty of things you can get stuck into to keep you busy, and not all of them involve watching ten hours of Netflix a day. We here at INOMICS are big fans of convincing people to learn a language, because we think it's one of the best things you can do for your brain.

The list of reasons to learn a new language is endless. Not only does it open up a whole other world of culture and history for you, there's a growing body of research which suggests becoming multilingual can help stave off dementia, improve your memory, improve your cognitive control, and even make your happier and boost your pleasure levels. Employers also often say they value bilingual candidates more highly, and much research shows after learning one new language, learning others becomes easier.

With the coronavirus making studying from home the new norm, it’s imperative we look beyond the frustrations of no longer having face-to-face contact and find a routine to keep our brains alert, and educational progress on track. Yes, it’s a difficult time, but INOMICS is here to help.