How to settle in as an international student
15 November 2023By Amelia. A, Staff writer at Unite Students
We’ve put together a handy guide full of essential advice for settling in as an international student. Whether you’re looking to make friends, feeling homesick or you’re just curious about UK culture, we’ll walk you through ways to approach these challenges.
International Students: How To Settle Into Your New Home
Moving to a new country is always full of challenges, especially when you’re trying to figure out university. But when you move to the UK for uni, the British accent might not be the hardest thing to understand!
We’ve put together a handy guide full of essential advice for settling in as an international student. Whether you’re looking to make friends, feeling homesick or you’re just curious about UK culture, we’ll walk you through multiple ways to approach these challenges.
In this blog we'll cover:
Prepare for British culture and customs
As you start learning the British culture, you’ll probably pick up on a few stereotypes that may create some expectations for you.
While there is some truth to them, they aren’t an exact depiction, so don’t base them on what you expect uni life as an international student to be. As a diverse and multicultural society, Britain is a great place to study for foreign students. If you’re wondering what to expect from British culture, here are a few common themes that you might notice:
The weather
Ah, the weather. Brits do have a love/hate relationship with a lot of things and weather usually tops the list. Weather in the UK can be quite jarring for international students due to its unpredictability. From bitingly cold winters to blistering hot summers, you’ll also quickly learn that rain could catch you out when you least expect it.
You’ll eventually get used to the quirks of British weather, but this is one thing you should prepare for. Carry windcheaters and jackets that can help you endure the random showers or the sharp sunlight.
Politeness and manners
On a more positive note, adapting to conversations with strangers might feel quite nice. British folk are generally very polite, so don’t be afraid to ask questions and converse as a new international student. Heck, it’ll even help you brush up on your English speaking and comprehension skills.
Sense of humour
While settling in as an international student and making friends with the locals, you might find some inconsistencies where people are randomly kind of rude when being friendly. Don’t worry though, as you might have had the first of many brushes with the iconic UK sense of humour. Brits are often quite sarcastic and dry in their expression of affection and friendship. It’s a unique form of bonding and banter which isn’t meant to be hurtful.
Tea, tea and more tea
The United Kingdom and tea go hand in hand. You might be from a country that has its own, similar customs, or you might be new to this tradition. Regardless, it’s a nice way to sit down and relax with new people as an international student. Everyone has their own favourite style, so try it out and you might find something that suits you!
Pubs, everywhere
While alcohol and partying are something that’s popular all over the world, the UK has more of a unique fascination with pub culture. If you’re intrigued, try going out to your ‘local’ to make some friends and try out craft brews. You can even join other new international students on pub crawls for an exciting way to socialise!
Find a little slice of home
Are you an international student feeling homesick? Don’t worry, there are ways to tackle it. The UK is a diverse country with a lot of cultures that bring their own vibes, so you’re never too far from home. Here are a few ways you can experience a slice of life from your home as an international student:
Locate international supermarkets
Sometimes British food just can’t emulate the authentic flavours from your hometown. However, this is quite the opportunity in disguise. You can find a international supermarkets scattered around the city you’re in. Do your research and get authentic ingredients to make some food that's a better representation of your own culture. You can invite other international students and friends to try out your food and improve your cooking skills at the same time.
Discover restaurants and cafes with flavours of home
If you're not that big on cooking food yourself, there’s still a variety of options to avoid homesickness as an international student. Check online for some great restaurants around you where you can experience authentic flavours and dishes similar to those you had back home.
Seek out international communities
Feeling homesick as an international student isn’t just about food. When you're in a new culture, there’s often the feeling of not quite fitting in. While we promote mingling with others, if you're looking for a comfier community, you can also explore religious, cultural and interest-based groups around you that come from your own culture. Remember, it’s very likely that there are a lot of people around you that share the same communities as you.
Join international university societies
Another way to connect directly to people who understand you is to join societies and clubs. You'll find a lot of international students like yourself who’re trying to create and foster cultural communities away from home. These are great places to improve your mental health, and these students often face similar challenges to you and can offer insightful advice.
Keep in touch with friends and family at home
This is important whether you’re feeling homesick or not. Having a consistently positive mindset is not a task that's easy to do alone. This is why it's vital that you stay connected with friends and family back home and always use your traditional support system whenever you're feeling down. Remember, these are the people who know you best and can often help when you’re feeling homesick.
How to make friends as an international student
Making friends as an international student can be quite daunting, especially when you feel that the culture around uni is a lot different from what you’re used to. But while you might feel like you’re different from the crowd, studying abroad is a fantastic way to broaden your horizons and make friends from different cultures. Here are a few great ways to connect with others as you start university in the UK:
Get out of your comfort zone
Trying to hunt for purely familiar sights and sounds is probably the biggest mistake that students make as they start uni. The very essence of moving to any country as an international student is exposure. There's a lot to learn when you interact with others, so try to join clubs and societies that might be out of your comfort zone. You never know, you just might find something that’ll become a new passion.
Find common ground
While trying out new things is important, growing as an international student is also about embracing your own persona. With so many students from diverse walks of life, you’re bound to find someone who shares the same niche interests that you geek out on. Whether it’s sports, gaming, knitting or debating – look for university societies and online clubs to find others to share your passions with.
Embrace your differences
School years are often characterised by trying to fit in with others and adjusting your personality. But you might find trying to put on an act or behave in a way you’re not comfortable with doesn't really help you enjoy university life.
As you mature, people are more attracted to your true self. So while you might feel a bit awkward at first, the things that make you different from everyone else are also the things that they will find interesting. So don’t be afraid to embrace your uniqueness!
