SimU User Guide

🏫 Welcome to SimU: Academic Life!

Welcome to SimU: The Online University, a flexible, self-paced academic experience designed for Sims who value independence, curiosity, and personal progress.

Although primarily an online university, SimU offers other programs too, like Online Skill Classes, and a learning program for high school dropouts, enabling Sims to earn their GED (General Education Diploma) online. (Yes, Teens are included).

SimU offers 13 accredited degree programmes delivered entirely online, allowing Sims to balance study alongside careers, family life, and hobbies. There are no timetables, no term limits, and no pressure to perform on anyone’s schedule but your own.

Whether your Sim is pursuing higher education for career advancement, intellectual fulfillment, or simply because it seemed like a good idea at the time, SimU provides the tools to succeed, at a pace that fits their life. And best of all, it's 100% Base Game Compatible!

All you need to get started is the mod itself, and my modlibrary.

If you have my old SimU Online Skill Classes or SimU Online Degrees mods, this replaces them both. PLEASE DELETE THEM.

🎓 How SimU Works

• SimU is a brand new academic experience, that can be completed from wherever you are in SimNation; this university is 100% online. Degrees are structured around six academic modules, completed sequentially. Each module represents a focused area of study within your chosen degree program.
• No deadlines; Sims may progress steadily or take breaks as needed. Coursework can be completed at any time, and extra studying and quality work can lead to an Honors degree. SimU rewards dedication, not micromanagement.
• NEW: You can now also take a 3 module course, perfect for shorter lifespans. You'll be prompted upon payment.

📝 Getting Started

• 📍 SimU Degrees

  SimU offers 13 degrees in Arts or Science, plus Honors. Each degree offers a boost in a different career. Head to Computer, or Phone → Household, and View Degrees under the SimU menu to see the career benefits each offers. (benefits for my custom careers are included too)

  • • Art History
  • • Biology
  • • Communications
  • • Computer Science
  • • Criminology
  • • Culinary Arts
  • • Drama
  • • Economics
  • • Fine Arts
  • • History
  • • Language & Literature
  • • Physics
  • • Psychology
  ✍ Registration
  Head to a Computer, or Phone → Household, and find the SimU menu. Registration is §500, and covers access to the SimU Academic Resource Hub, and degree enrollment options.
• 💲 Tuition & Fees
  Tuition fees are paid per degree and may be settled upfront, per term or through approved student loan options. All financial interactions are managed through the SimU menu on a computer or phone app (under Household). Once paid, Sims can choose their degree, and will receive their SimU Coursework Notebook and Digital Sketchpad, which are automatically added to their inventory. These are essential for completing assignments and optional Extra Credit studies.

📘 Coursework & Modules

• Each SimU degree consists of three or six modules dependent on your playstyle, each focusing on a specific academic theme.
  
  Modules include:
  
  • A set of coursework assignments
  
  • Optional studying opportunities
  
  • Skill-building activities
  
  • Performance tracking toward final outcomes
  
  Modules must be completed in order, but may be worked through at any pace. There is no requirement to “keep up”, progress is entirely in the Sim’s control.
• 📓 Coursework Assignments
  Assignments represent applied academic tasks such as research, writing, analysis, or practical fieldwork. These may be completed using:
  
  • The SimU Coursework Notebook
  
  • A computer
  
  • In-world activities relevant to the subject
  
  Once completed, assignments can be:
  
  • Proofread
  
  • Edited
  
  • Submitted for assessment
  
  In addition to required coursework, Sims may engage in optional studying, which can increase their chances of graduating with Honors
  
  They can email their Professor to ask for Extra Credit assignments from the SimU menu. Optional studying is never mandatory, but it is rewarded.

🧠 Academic Progress & Outcomes

• 📈 Module Performance
  Each module contributes to the Sim’s overall academic record. After the first module is complete, performance can be checked from the SimU menu, or by emailing the professor, and is influenced by:
  
  • Assignment quality
  
  • Optional study effort
  
  • Consistency across modules
  
• ✅️ Final Exam
  At the conclusion of the final module, Sims may book their Final Exam. Preparation is strongly encouraged, Sims who study tend to fare better. Study for the test in the Student Notebook or on the Computer. Sims will have to wait a while for the results to come in! Try not to panic in the meantime.
• 🎓 Degree Classification
  Upon graduation, Sims are awarded either:
  
  • Standard Degree
  
  • Honors Degree
  
  Honors outcomes reflect sustained effort across the entire programme, not a single moment of brilliance.

⭐ Extra Features

• A custom skill, Academic Aptitude, which includes unlockable interactions, brand-new readable books, and even an exclusive hidden career
• Write and publish a guidebook to Academic Aptitude (Level 5)
• LinkUs, the Phone app for academics that offers Study Groups, tips, and more (Level 7)
• Academic eJournals are available on the SimU Phone Portal or Slablet for fast, on-the-go learning (Level 5)
• Start an Academic Blog with Scholarish, earning followers and maybe some revenue, too! (Level 7)
• The SimU Signal is also a brand-new feature, available at Level 7 of the Academic Aptitude Skill, or to SimU students. There you can read the newsletter, contribute to it, or take on academic gigs to make some money on the side
• SimU Online Store; available on the SimU Phone and Computer menus, the online store sells exclusive textbooks, skill books, magazines and more!

There are many other features, and you'll be notified as each is unlocked.

There are many other features, and you'll be notified as each is unlocked.

❓ Frequently Asked Questions

• 👾 Are there any cheats for SimU?
  You can register for free by Shift+Clicking your Sim’s computer and selecting SimU Cheats. From there, you can use Complete Current Module to skip ahead to the next module. You can also Shift+Click your Sim to add a degree trait if you’d prefer to bypass the entire process.
• 🏢 Can I work and study at the same time?
  Yes! SimU is an online school, leaving you free to juggle a full or part time job to make ends meet.
• 🎒 Can I study multiple degrees simultaneously?
  You can only study one degree at a time, but the registration fee is waived for returning students looking to join a new degree program.
• 📈 Can my Sim fail a degree?
  There is no failure state. Outcomes reflect effort, not perfection.
• 🚌 Can teens get a degree?
  Teens can register for a degree, but only once they've either graduated High School, or earned their GED online. If your Sim is currently in school, and you don't have the High School Years DLC, I've included an option under Computer → High School to quit. Then your Sim can enroll and earn their GED.
• 🔎 Do I need to register for a degree just to access the Online Skills feature?
  No. Just like the original version of Online Skills, you can Browse Digital Study Guides from the Computer whenever you like. More involved LearnLab Classes are available at Level 2 of the Academic Aptitude Skill, and a Phone option at Level 6.
• 🚩 Does this mod conflict with others that add Career Jumps?
  No, the career jumps are injected into loot on join, meaning your Sim will join the career, and instantly be offered the chance for a higher position due to their degree.
• 🎓 Does this mod require Discover University? Does it override Discover University?
  No! SimU is 100% Base Game Compatible. All you need to get started is the mod itself, and my modlibrary. Academic Life doesn't touch Discover University's tuning, so you can still play as usual as well, if you have it installed.
  A hidden loot is included, however, so that Sims in the DU Academic aspiration will have their progress logged without overriding any tuning.
• 💻 How do I know where to complete the assignments?
  Hover your mouse over the assignment in the career panel, and you'll see the instructions for completion.
• 📜 How long do I have to wait for my Degree/GED to arrive?
  It will arrive by mail within a couple of days.
• 🕒 How long do I have to wait for my Dissertation and/or Final Exam results?
  I've reduced the time down to just a few in-game hours. The results will arrive automatically.
• ⚙️ Is this mod compatible with Kuttoe's Career Overhaul mod?
  Yes, I've included an override for the degree objectives that includes mine, and the degrees from Discover University.
• 💻 The next assignment isn't showing up. Where is it?
  If an assignment depends on a previous task (e.g. Submit Essay requires Write Essay) and you’ve used UI Cheats or similar to complete it, you’ll need to cancel the module using the trash can icon, and restart it via the SimU computer menu.
• 💼 What are the career benefits for each degree?
  From the SimU menu on a Phone or Computer, View Degrees to see a list of every career that the degrees benefit. All of EA's careers are included to date, plus my own custom careers if you have them installed.
• 📓 What happens if I lose the notebook?
  A replacement can be ordered from the SimU Online Store at any time.
• 💬 What if my question isn't answered here.
  No worries, the quickest way to get help is on my Discord, or you can check out the support options on my website.
• 💡 Does the Academic Aptitude Skill add anything?
  The included Skill is custom, and revolves around learning and scholarly practice. It can be increased by taking online classes, and using the Academic Resource Hub, and unlocks multiple exclusive interactions.