Academic resilience is the ability to adapt and succeed in a changing environment despite adversity, plays a vital role in higher education and development of students. Previous studies have investigated variables including stress, coping mechanisms, emotional intelligence, and socio-economic status; however, the roles of time management and realistic optimism are unexplored. Effective time management improves academic efficiency and reduces stress, while realistic optimism promotes persistence through a balanced positive attitude. This research examines the interactions of psychological and behavioural factors—specifically stress, coping strategies, emotional intelligence, hardiness, time management, and realistic optimism as well as socio-economic background to assess academic resilience among higher education students. A quantitative, cross-sectional design would be utilised, involving (n= 600) undergraduate and postgraduate students aged 18-28 years, selected through stratified random sampling. Standardized instruments such as the Academic Resilience Scale, Perceived Stress Scale, Brief COPE, Emotional Intelligence Scale, Hardiness Inventory, Life Orientation Test-Revised, and Time Management Behaviour Scale would be administered along with socio-economic indicators. Data would be analysed using correlations, multiple regression, and mediation testing via the PROCESS Macro. It is hypothesised that stress negatively predicts academic resilience, whereas coping, emotional intelligence, hardiness, time management, and realistic optimism positively predict it. Coping and time management are assumed to mediate the relationship between stress and resilience. This study seeks to create a comprehensive model of academic resilience, emphasizing on psychological, behavioural, and contextual pathways. The results can suggest effective resilience-building strategies in higher education by fostering adaptive coping mechanisms, time management skills, and realistic optimism.This work can predict the resilience of students who opt for career opportunities in industries.A psychological intervention model can be build for students coming from different socio-economic backgrounds to boost their strengths and prepare them for holistic personality development.