What to do when you feel homesick at university
25 October 2023By Amelia. A, Staff writer at Unite Students
Feeling homesick at uni is extremely common, especially if it's your first time away from home. To help you along the way, we've got some advice for dealing with homesickness and settling into your new environment.
What To Do When You Feel Homesick At University
You’ve packed your bags and flown from the nest to university. Now you have your own space, the chance to make new friends, and the sweet taste of freedom. But between settling in with flatmates, attending lectures and studying with course mates, you start to feel that niggling sense of homesickness.
The truth is you’re not alone. Feeling homesick at uni is extremely common, especially if it’s your first time away from home. The change in routine and being away from friends and family is a big deal for most people. While there’s no one special cure to overcome homesickness, there are a few things you can try.
To help you along, we’ll provide some advice for dealing with homesickness and settling into your new environment. In this blog we'll cover:
What is homesickness?
Homesickness is a type of emotional distress when you’re away from home in a new or unfamiliar environment. It can include feelings of anxiety and loneliness, and lead to sleeping problems or difficulty concentrating. Anyone can feel homesick, but it’s especially common in students.
A survey by National Union of Students (NUS) found up to 70% of freshers feel homesick within the first few days of university.
Missing home at uni is completely normal. It’s an understandable response to such a big life change. For a lot of students, this feeling fades away after the first few weeks; so there’s hope! The important thing is that you manage your homesickness in a healthy way.
Read on to find out how to do just that.
Call, text and video call your friends and family
After making the most of freshers’ week, the reality of uni life begins to sink in. You start to miss your family and friends, and the urge to call them grows stronger by the day. And you’d be right to - chatting with your loved ones can help you feel more connected and ease feelings of homesickness.
Feeling homesick at uni is almost a given. Your other friends who’ve branched off to different universities might be feeling the same way. Make sure to keep in touch with them, whether it’s by phone or text.
It’s a good idea to set up group chats for your family, and your school/sixth form friends. That way everyone can share updates and stay connected.
While it can be tempting to spend every moment on the phone to loved ones, this can sometimes make you feel worse. Be mindful of not putting all your energy into keeping old friendships alive. It’s important to form new ones at university too.
Share stories from home with your flatmates
We know that students can feel homesick at uni, and that includes your flatmates. Chances are they’re also missing home. So why not share stories from home with each other?
This doesn’t have to be as formal as it sounds! Order some pizza, relax in the common area and let the nostalgia flow. Your flatmates are likely to come from different backgrounds and cultures, and you’d be surprised by the stories they tell.
By the end of the convo, everyone will have a funny tale of their time spent with friends and family. It’s also a great way to bond and make new friends at uni.
Invite your friends to visit, or go to visit them
Staying connected with friends doesn’t have to be just over the phone. Put a date in the calendar and invite them to come and visit you. You’ll be able to catch up in person instead of relying on the Wi-Fi for FaceTime or WhatsApp calls. Plus, you can show them around your new city and enjoy activities together.
If your friends are at uni themselves, it can also be great fun to go and visit them. Arrange a weekend to visit their city and spend time relaxing, going out to eat, or stopping by cultural landmarks.
If you travel to them, or they come to you, you’ll be able meet their friends and vice versa. Knowing that you’ll be reconnecting with friends from home will give you something to look forward to when you’re homesick at uni.
Limit time on social media
Spending all your free time scrolling can be tempting, but you don’t want to spend all day on your phone. It might look like your friends back home are having the time of their lives but remember that this is just what they’re choosing to share. Seeing a filtered view of everyone else might make homesickness worse.
It’s best to limit time on your phone and find other things to do instead. Catching up on your favourite shows, spending time with flatmates, exploring the city, or taking up a new hobby can all stop you from feeling homesick at uni.
And just to make sure you’re not swept up in the world of social media, try to turn off (or limit) notifications too!
Plan to go home for a visit
If you’re feeling homesick at uni, occasionally visiting home for the weekend can be great for both you and your parents and siblings. You’ll be able to catch up and get reacquainted with your favourite homecooked meals.
It’s even better if you visit for special occasions like birthdays and Mother’s/Father’s Day. Seeing your loved ones on special days like these gives you something to celebrate. They might not expect you to pop up for a surprise visit, especially if you live a few hours away.
Being back home might even remind you of your newfound freedom and keep homesickness at bay. But it’s also important that you don’t visit home too regularly. This might prevent you getting truly settled into uni life.
Decorate your room
There’s nothing like making a new space yours. Whether it’s a favourite blanket, ornaments or trinkets, those sentimental ties can help to prevent homesickness.
You could go a step further and replicate the feeling of home by using the same items as your parents. For example, using the same fragrances or candles to recreate that homely feel.
Printing photos of your friends and family and sticking them on the wall as a collage can add another friendly touch. On days when you’re feeling really homesick at uni, seeing those pictures can cheer you up. This is particularly important if you’re studying abroad or on a gap year.
Get out and about
Feeling homesick at uni is often to do with being in unfamiliar surroundings. It’s a great idea to explore your uni town or city and find your bearings so you’ll feel more at home. In fact, it’s one of the first recommended things to do when starting university.
That includes going for walks, doing some sightseeing and getting familiar with your university campus. This will allow you to find a café, park or communal area you love.
Not only that but getting out in the fresh air and nature can help to improve your mood. Exercising also has the same mood-boosting effect. You could combine the two together and go for a jog in your local park. Bonus points if the weather is nice!
Join a society
One thing about uni campuses - there’s always something to do. You’ll be hard pressed to find a time when there isn’t either a fair or social event going on.
If you have a certain hobby or interest, then join a club or society. Doing something you love with likeminded people can take your mind off homesickness.
Societies can range from common interests like art and book clubs to sports like ice hockey and archery. You might also find societies related to your current course. Browse the list of societies and join anything that you think could be interesting. And if you don’t enjoy it, you can always opt out.
Top tips for international students feeling homesick
Although most students feel homesick at uni, it can be even harder for international students. The prospect of studying abroad is exciting, but cultural differences and even a change in climate can leave you second-guessing.
Don’t worry, we also have some advice to make international students feel more at home in an unfamiliar country.
Find your community
Societies and social media groups can help you connect with people in the same situation. You’ll be able to learn more about these during freshers’ week. But even if you miss freshers’ week, your peers might be able to inform you.
Luckily, many multicultural cities also have communities of people from different cultures who can make you feel more about home. For example, attending religious temples.
Seek out international supermarkets
Many UK cities have international supermarkets which sell food and drink you might be missing from home. The same goes for restaurants and street food. A quick Google search will point you in the right direction. Or ask your flatmates!
Introduce your flat mates to your culture
The UK is home to a wonderful blend of cultures, and uni is the chance to share yours with your flatmates. Cooking a meal, taking them to authentic restaurants or sharing stories can give your peers an insight into your culture. Plus, it’ll help you get to know each other better.
