Finding your place in a new university: Tips from international students

Moving to university is exciting, but the pressure of forming a new social circle can be intimidating. Kesh, who studied at Coventry University, admits: 

“I’ve realised that I suck at making new friends as an adult.” 

Holly, who attended Swansea University, shared a similar struggle: 

“I was really shy at university, so I think making friends, I found difficult at first.” 

Both agreed that understanding that everyone else is in the same boat as you can make the process much easier. 

People around you might also be feeling nervous, doubtful, and scared, just like you. Keeping that in mind can help you see the situation in a much more comforting light, making it feel less daunting and helping you approach new people with more confidence. 

Kesh emphasises the importance of pushing yourself beyond your usual space: 

“It’s basically all about getting out of your own bubble and connecting with people.” 

Holly adds that university can be a judgment-free environment: 

“No one has any kind of preconceived ideas or judgments about who you are or what you like.” 

Taking the first step to meet new people can feel intimidating, but it often leads to rewarding experiences. 

One of the easiest ways to meet new people is by joining clubs and societies. Holly explains how student societies helped her find like-minded people: 

“The atmosphere in some of the societies was a lot more casual and you could more easily speak to people.” 

She recalls her time in the baking society at Swansea University: 

“We would make cakes or biscuits or whatever it was, and then we'd bring them all in and eat them together and watch The Great British Bake Off. It was really great!” 

Even if clubs and societies aren’t your thing, university events offer another opportunity to make friends. Kesh found that this approach worked best for her: 

“I actually didn’t have a lot of time to join many clubs and societies, but I definitely did attend many events where I was able to make a lot of genuinely nice friends.” 

Holly agrees that finding time to socialise can be difficult, but it’s worth it: 

“Finding the time to attend these events and clubs can be a bit of an extreme sport sometimes.” 

Want to hear the full conversation? Listen to the complete episode of When I Was a Student Ep 1 now.