Don’t Let the City Wear You Down: How to Settle in as an International Student

Author’s image; spotted on a walk from Kentish Town to Hyde Park via Marylebone.

University life can be overwhelming: long days at the library, managing your own schedule, social and personal changes. It can be especially challenging for international students. The baseline challenges, on top of moving abroad, away from your support network and familiar places, are a lot to handle. In my experience, starting a new life and a new degree was at times isolating and scary. Although my loved ones were a short phonecall or flight away, that distance seemed insurmountable, and making friends in London was an arduous task. Likewise, I was not aware of the range of support services available to me. Three years later, I feel settled, supported, and can say I love London. Here’s what worked for me.

Detach from home – slowly. At the beginning, it can be tempting – and even helpful – to call friends and family or visit frequently. Over time, though, you should try to lessen contact: after all, you are now living abroad, and should focus on the in-person connections you have in your new home. Of course, you’ll want to go home for big holidays or long vacations, but try to also enjoy being in London. There is so much to explore! If in doubt, pick a random tube station in zones 1-3 and have a little adventure: put on your favorite podcast or album, get a hot drink, walk through a park, stumble upon an artisanal store or a gallery. You will always have somewhere to come back to, but constantly thinking about it makes it more painful.

Build your routine. Especially for undergraduates, university life blogs and official channels tend to stress socializing as the main priority when you first move: freshers week, joining clubs and societies, getting to know the people you live with. While those are all important, and great ways to make friends, for some – especially the more introverted of us – the pressure to socialize can actually make living abroad more difficult. It’s okay if you don’t want to socialize, and would prefer a quiet night in watching a movie. It’s okay if you don’t yet have a close circle here.

Instead of pressuring yourself to build social connections when you’re burnt out, focus on building a routine for yourself. Try to show up to your classes, spend a few hours in the library every day, even if readings feel daunting at the moment. If you like to exercise (also a great way to reduce stress), sign up to a gym or find out the best running routes near you. (Tip: if you live in UCL accommodation, Regent’s Park is only a few miles away). Get a part-time job – the university has lots of student jobs available, and there’s always something in retail or hospitality, even if you have Visa restrictions. Figure out which grocery store you like best and cook for yourself. Once you are doing the things you are used to doing, and have a solid foundations of daily activities to keep yourself occupied, the rest – meeting friends, exploring the city, pursuing hobbies – feels much more manageable.

Make friends with locals. This was a big one for me, and something I don’t hear being talked about often. It’s great to meet people from the same background or those who speak the same language as you, especially since London is so international, and since UCL has so many cultural societies. It helps you keep connected to your heritage, and making friends with those similar to yourself is easier; however, it is also easy to find yourself in a bubble. Since you’ll be here at least for the duration of your studies, try to integrate! I found my experience of living abroad to be so much more enriching once I made local friends. Not only can they teach you about cultural quirks, but they will also be better equipped to help you out with daily problems – how do I get a Railcard? Where can I get my prescriptions? What’s the best place in the neighborhood for a fry-up? While you can always Google small questions like that, tailored, personal advice is much more meaningful.

With time, your new home will start feeling more and more like a home: you just have to fill it with trinkets and tend to it.

Read Sonja's student profile here.

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