7 Tips for International Students Moving to the UK

First of all, congratulations on deciding to study in the UK. In this blog, I’m going to provide 7 tips for international students moving to the UK.

Let me tell you now, that your journey at university can be a transformative experience, if only you let it and you are willing to put in the necessary work. Having said that, it is also important to have realistic expectations when starting university. Especially if you grew up in a household with parents spoon-feeding you every step of the way, you might find it a bit challenging during the first few weeks, but you will grow up quickly at university. The moment you decide to apply to study at university, you are regarded as an adult so you will be treated like an adult which means when you first walk into the university, you will be expected to think and act independently.

My first week of university was a bit difficult. I had this mental image of myself where I thought I was going to make a lot of friends, drink booze and party every day during fresher’s week. In reality, it was quite the opposite. I was homesick during my first week of university, so I was mostly curled up in bed, bawling my eyes out. But this isn’t always going to be the case for everyone so don’t panic! After you get through the initial phase of transition, you will gradually adapt to the new surroundings and you’ll begin to love university life.

The students’ union organises a wide variety of events and activities during Welcome Week, here you can engage with fellow students, meet like-minded people and make friends. It’s also important to not let yourself be pressured into drinking just so you could fit in with the crowd. The friends I have now, aren’t the people I met during my first week of university. Likewise, you will gradually make friends as you go along. In hindsight, I realised that I would have had a better experience if I actually took use of the opportunities at the University and lived in the present moment without resisting change. So, I decided to share some of my tips for international students coming to study in the UK. Let’s dive right in, shall we?

Tips for international students moving to the UK

 

Tip 1 - Be open to new opportunities

When you first arrive at university, it might take you some time to find your feet so don’t lose hope and think your situation will never get better because gradually (if not instantly), you will grow a real fondness for your life at university.

My first tip is to strike up conversations with other students because the sooner you feel engaged within the student community, the sooner you'll make friends and have fun. There are many opportunities for this at the University of Huddersfield, especially for international students. The University of Huddersfield has a large number of international students so there is a lot of events for everyone to participate in, have a bit of fun and learn from other cultures and nationalities.

There can be times during the first week of university, where you will feel a bit overwhelmed. The student wellbeing and disability services at the University have a lot of information and self-help advice for dealing with homesickness, stress, loneliness and depression. Alternatively, you can book a free 1:1 appointment with a wellbeing advisor. It is quite common to feel uneasy and homesick during the transition, so don’t suffer in silence because the University is invested in your well-being and personal development.

Tip 2- Join a Society

I was the president of the Sri Lankan society before I applied for my current placement with the International Office. There are currently 60 global societies and we have informal meetings where we catch up on events and share ideas.

Personally, being a memeber of a global society allowed me to build a global network of friends and it helped me to develop a global mindset. Being an active member in the society and participating in Global Campus Events helped me become a more confident and a well-rounded individual. It also made me learn a lot about other cultures and gain valuable employability skills, all while enjoying myself.

There are plenty of clubs and societies at the Students’ Union as well and if you can’t find anything that interests you, you can create your own society! You don’t always need a job to gain the skills for future employment. There are many ways you can develop your confidence, time management, leadership and organisation skills by simply volunteering and by playing an active role in a society.

Tip 3- Pre-book your accommodation before arriving

It’s wise to conduct research on accommodation options around Huddersfield taking into consideration the price, environment, distance to supermarkets or the train and bus station. I cannot emphasise enough on the importance of booking your accommodation in advance because coming to a new country all by yourself is hard enough so why put yourself under more stress not knowing where you’re going to live once you come? It also helps you get an idea about the expenses involved so you can prepare a budget to plan ahead. Note: If you decide to live at university halls then it is worth carefully choosing your flatmates when you are given the option to select your preferences. I didn’t give much attention to it when I booked so I found myself in a flat with all final year students so as you can imagine, they had different priorities than a fresher. Whereas my main goal was to make friends, there's was to ensure they got good grades.

During my first year, I chose to live at Storthes Hall which was the university’s approved accommodation. When I initially booked it, I wasn’t aware of it's location in relation to the town centre (it’s about 5 miles away and takes about 20 minutes) so the first bus ride there came as a bit of a surprise! But after a while, I gradually started to get accustomed to the beautiful greenery and peaceful surroundings of Storthes Hall. Also, if you want to incorporate fitness into your routine then you will be pleased to know that Storthes Hall has a free gym, fitness classes and a personal trainer. 

Note: contract period is usually either 44 weeks or 51 weeks so you will need to select this carefully and after this duration, you will either need to extend your contract or move out! Yes, you heard this right! But, don’t panic! Some companies will store your belongings securely for a weekly charge. Also, if you are an international student, you will usually need to pay your full rent upfront unless you have a UK guarantor.

Tip 4- Arrive on time

It is advisable to arrive early to the UK so you have ample time to get settled in Huddersfield before you start university. I was fortunate to have my family living in the UK so they picked me up from the airport, but for many of you who are coming by yourself, you can book the University approved taxi service or take a direct train from Manchester Airport to Huddersfield train station. That’s the cheaper option. When you arrive at the train station, there are taxis parked outside and it’s fairly cheap.
Note: keep cash with you when using taxi services (£5 - £10).

I strongly advise you to come in the morning because you will need ample time to get your essential shopping done and to move into your new accommodation. Whether you decide to live in student halls, shared house or a studio apartment, you will still need to shop for the basic essentials so the first day will be a bit busy as you will need to find your way around the town, but all the shopping centres are all walking distance from the University.

Also, while I was working at the International Office, I came across a few instances where students came in very late for enrolment and missed the entire orientation, which was essential information aimed at helping you settle in well - so don’t let your first day be unnecessarily stressful so ensure to arrive on time!

Tip 5- Embark on new adventures

If you’re bad with directions like me, then it will take a few tries until you know your way around Huddersfield. It probably took me around four times until I found my way to the bus station and I didn’t even know how to use the self-service ticket machine at the train station. You will have your own embarrassing moments like mine but don’t let that make you feel inferior because life is about self-discovery and embarking on new adventures. When I got my visa to study, I remember going shopping with my parents to buy herbs and spices because I didn’t know until recently that there were Asian shops in Huddersfield. So, had I done my research before coming to the UK, it would have put my mind at ease and prevented unnecessary expenses.

Moreover, Huddersfield has good transport links to Leeds, Manchester and Sheffield and they are all under an hour away on the train. It’s very convenient to travel by train or bus as it’s quite cheap.

Note: Ensure to register for your student railcard as it makes travelling a lot easier and budget friendly. I have a 16-25 Railcard which costs only £30 a year and it saves 1/3 on rail fares throughout Great Britain for a whole year.

Tip 6 – Plan your budget and work if necessary

My parents supported me financially during my first year of university. They sent me £50 per week and I would then budget my expenses accordingly. I do my grocery shopping at Tesco usually. I would then prepare my meals for the week in advance, pack them in tuppawear boxes and put them in the refrigerator. My weekly grocery shopping was usually between £15 - £20. I would then allocate the remainder for a night out, doing laundry or ordering a takeout. 

When I got my first job at the University, I became more financially independent. I still remember the day when I got my first pay-check, I was so overjoyed that I took a photograph of it and sent it to my family. While I was tempted to spend my salary pampering myself, I actually transferred ¾ of that money to my savings account and continued it because I wanted to stay disciplined. Occasionally I would order a takeout or buy a face mask to reward myself for having self-restraint.

One of the reasons I was very keen on working part-time at University was because I wanted my working hours to be flexible around my lectures and seminars. It also gave me some structure to my routine and helped me plan my day in advance.

I was very lucky that the University saw my potential even when I was struggling to see it myself. I didn’t take advantage of their good-will by slacking off work. I always came to work five minutes before I was scheduled to start my shift, build a good network of connections and worked with passion! Even though I was working at the Library for 15 hours, I didn’t limit myself from other opportunities, I always kept an eye out for other part-time job vacancies at the University. While I was working at the Library, I also applied to work at the Graduate Job Fair with the Careers and Employability services, it was a one-off job so I worked 8 hours there and 7 hours at the Library for that particular week. My advice would be to grab every opportunity to develop your employability skills and personal development.

Note: Ensure to apply for your National Insurance Number early in order to apply for jobs in the UK. As an international student you are allowed to work 20 hours a week during term time and full time, up to 38 hours a week during the holidays.

Tip 7- Be in charge of your own personal development

It’s so easy to slack off when there isn’t anyone to keep an eye on you so you will need to be disciplined and committed on your personal development. My advice is to compile a set of goals you want to accomplish within a year and then work towards it. During my first year, my priority was my academic education, so I made use of the facilities at the university to brush up my academic writing style and presentation skills because it was my area of weakness at the time. After I completed my first year, I started applying for part-time jobs within the university with the help of the Careers and Employability Service. I got my first job at the university library as a student assistant and I think this was the turning point in my life. I became more confident and settled when I felt a sense of belonging and I gradually started to make a lot of friends and became more well-rounded. So, my advice is joining clubs and societies during fresher’s week and taking on more roles of responsibility. Be passionate in yourself growth and continuously strive to push out of your comfort zone by being willing to take on new challenges even if you think you might fail because life is a journey and every moment is meant to be savoured as it’s lived.

Conclusion - 7 tips for international students moving to the UK

• Be open to new opportunities
• Join a Society
• Pre-book your accommodation
• Arrive on time
• Embark on new adventures
• Plan your budget and work if necessary
• Be in charge of your own personal development