Studylead Consultants have to deal with a lot of students. It is no secret that after the students are excited to get into the UK, their biggest worry is making friendships with international students.
This is a guide that is intended to provide you with easy to follow tips and tricks to make true friends during your study time in the UK. Students will learn how they can survive in the UK and interact with others to make new friends for experience and survival.
Why Friendships matter for International students in the UK.
Research on student life in the UK indicates that:
- Close relationships and friendship are determined factors of wellbeing and life satisfaction.
- In one UK study that involved a one-third of international students, three out of every four students had some degree of loneliness.
- About 20 percent of foreign students tell that they do not feel that they have any actual friends at university.
Friendships do not just pass the time. They help you:
- Be secure and at home in new culture.
- Know local customs and language.
- Deal with stress before exams, finances, and visas.
- Don't only enjoy classes, enjoy daily life.
Common Friendship challenges for International students.
Typical barriers include:
- Self-confidence in language, particularly in non-academic or rapid speech.
- Concerns about saying something wrong or failing to comprehend local jokes.
- Various expectations in terms of friendship, privacy and social schemes.
- Drinking culture among certain groups of students that might not conform to your belief system or level of comfort.
- Remaining largely among your own students, and thus restricting your broader relationships.
The fact that these problems are a norm can already alleviate part of the pressure.
How UK Universities help students make friends.
Most universities in the UK currently offer courses that assist foreign students in making them feel part of the institution and to make friends more quickly.
Common schemes:
- Buddy or mentor programs: Here new international students are assigned existing students with whom they regularly socialize and whom they also seek guidance.
- Social trips and international welcome events.
- The student union activities that emphasize on belonging and inclusion rather than parties.
- Peer support programs which unite isolated and lonely students.
Simple action:
- The first thing you should do is get your university login, visit your university site and search for a buddy scheme, peer connections or global buddies.
- Register in advance where practicable.
Balancing Home-Country Friends & UK Friends.
It is natural to spend time with individuals of the same country or language group, and it could be very safe. It assists in culture shock and homesickness.
But when all your spare time lies in this circle only, then you may:
- Practice less English
- Learn less about UK culture
- Later on struggle to befriend classmates of different backgrounds.
A simple balance:
Time use | Potential impact on friendships. |
|---|---|
Friends only of home country. | Very comfortable, disintegrated. |
Only local or UK friends | Great exposure, so might be worn out or lonely initially. |
Mix of home and new friends | Relaxation and more development, improved infrastructure. |
How Studylead Consultants Helps You Socially, not necessarily academically.
Studylead Consultants does not just pick a course and apply a visa when planning your studies in the UK. We can also assist you in the future considerations of the social aspect of your move.
Typical support we can offer:
- Assist you with selecting the cities and campuses that have high support of international students.
- Discuss prevalent social norms in UK classrooms and student life.
- Canada. Suggest questions to apply to universities regarding buddy schemes, societies, and support services.
- Get equipped psychologically to deal with culture differences so that you are less appalled and more intrigued by the moment you reach there.
Final Thoughts
Friendships in foreign countries cannot be established within one welcome week. Over the years they accumulate numerous little things, saying hello after a lecture, joining a club, attending a buddy meet up, sending someone a message to see how they are doing.
It is explicit in research that social network and identification are the keys to wellbeing as well as academic achievement among students in the UK. When you consider friendship as an essential component of your study plan, rather than an additional one, you will have a better opportunity to enjoy a successful happy time abroad.
Contact Studylead Consultants, they would assist you in preparing to the course, as well as preparing to the reality aspect of studying in the UK, where friendship would prove to be one of your biggest assets.