TY - JOUR AB - Purpose The purpose of this paper is to explores the influence of socialization upon the constitution and integration of learning leading to the development of entrepreneurial competence while at university, from the learner perspective. Self-reported learning is analyzed to illustrate ways in which students make use of institutional and social contributions of the university context.Design/methodology/approach The study investigates entrepreneurial journeys of 18 participants, either currently attending or recently graduated from three universities in three countries with both comparable and distinctive contextual elements. In depth analysis of individual life stories, focusing on self-identified critical incidents, is used to illustrate ways in which students, while at university, develop entrepreneurial competence for current and future practice.Findings Formal and non-formal learning remain important foundations for entrepreneurial competence development, delivered through designed content-centric structures. Informal learning – particularly mentor supported socialised learning – centring around the learner is key to solidifying learning towards entrepreneurial competence, through know-how and access to resources. The university emerges as an entrepreneurial learning space where students constitute and integrate learning gained through different forms.Research limitations/implications Cross-cultural analysis is limited as the paper emphasizes the individual’s learning experience relative to the immediate university context.Practical implications Universities play a critical role as entrepreneurial learning spaces beyond formal and non-formal learning. This includes dedicating resources to orchestrate informal learning opportunities and enabling interaction with the different agents that contribute to socialised situated learning, supporting entrepreneurial competence development. Universities need to take responsibility for facilitating the entirety of learning.Originality/value Socialised learning in combination with other forms of learning contributes to student development of entrepreneurial competence while situated in the university context. VL - 26 IS - 5 SN - 1355-2554 DO - 10.1108/IJEBR-04-2018-0263 UR - https://doi.org/10.1108/IJEBR-04-2018-0263 AU - Williams Middleton Karen AU - Padilla-Meléndez Antonio AU - Lockett Nigel AU - Quesada-Pallarès Carla AU - Jack Sarah PY - 2019 Y1 - 2019/01/01 TI - The university as an entrepreneurial learning space: The role of socialized learning in developing entrepreneurial competence T2 - International Journal of Entrepreneurial Behavior & Research PB - Emerald Publishing Limited SP - 887 EP - 909 Y2 - 2024/05/11 ER -