<p>Semarang experiences increasing urban heat exposure associated with rising temperatures and urban heat island effects. While climatic data document these environmental changes, limited research has explored how university students experience and adapt to heat in their everyday lives. This study examined how a small group of university students in Semarang perceive and negotiate urban heat exposure within their daily routines. Using a qualitative phenomenological design, four students were recruited through purposive sampling based on their experience of adapting to Semarang’s thermal conditions and willingness to participate in Photovoice activities. Participants generated photographs representing heat-related experiences and discussed them during semi-structured interviews. Data were analysed using Interpretative Phenomenological Analysis (IPA). The findings revealed four adaptation patterns: clothing modification for thermal comfort and self-presentation, anticipatory use of weather information, bodily heat-management practices such as hydration and sun protection, and activity adjustment through indoor retreat and schedule modification. These strategies were shaped not only by environmental conditions but also by participants’ prior thermal experiences, mobility patterns, and subjective interpretations of comfort. The findings suggest that participants primarily employed problem-focused and emotion-focused coping strategies to manage everyday heat exposure. This study contributes a context-specific understanding of urban heat adaptation among university students in Semarang and demonstrates the value of Photovoice and IPA for capturing lived environmental experiences.</p>