The article analyses the psychological content of the transition to adulthood with the aim to identify the main trends that allow treating this period complexly. Based both on classical and modern research the paper shows that diversity of contexts considering the essence of this period can be represented as individual characteristics of solving life tasks in three groups: 1) separation from parent family and beginning self-supporting life; 2) forming close relations; 3)beginning professional self-realization. Student’s crises in a higher education institution are parts of the process of transition to adulthood.