Going to university can be a scary and exciting time in your life. If you go to your local uni, things are still going to be pretty daunting. Especially if it means you’re moving out of your parent’s home for the first time. However, going to uni in a different country is a completely different story. It is much scarier, and a lot of students struggle to get to grips with it.
Today, you’re going to find some pointers to help you survive university life in a foreign country. These tips should make the whole experience more enjoyable and easier for you to handle!
Make friends as soon as possible
Firstly, try to make friends as soon as you get to your university accommodation. Get to know the other people in your flat, taking the time to talk to them and learn more about them. The same goes for people on your course; get to know people and make friends. When you have friends, university is much easier to get through. You have people to talk to all the time, and people to go out with. It’s much better than feeling like you’re all alone by yourself.
Immerse yourself in the culture
Regardless of where you’re living, it’s a smart idea to immerse yourself in the culture of that place. If you’ve gone to a country that doesn’t speak English, you should make an effort to learn the lingo. It’ll make your life abroad so much easier as you feel more confident talking to the locals when you’re out and about. Learn about the cultural differences as well; what do the locals do and what is considered unacceptable here? Learning about this can help you avoid awkward moments during your stay!
Go out and explore
One of the joys of going to university in a different country is that you’re effectively on an extended holiday. Sure, you have work to do, but you will also have plenty of free time on your hands. There will be an abundance of local student attractions for you to check out, so make sure you tick them all off your list. Spend as much time exploring and enjoying the country as you possibly can. Who knows, this could be the only time you end up in this place! Especially if you are only in university there for one year – many courses will have a year abroad where you’re an exchange student, so make the most of it while you can.
Stay in touch with your family and friends
Finally, be sure to stay in touch with everyone back home as much as possible. Call them as often as you like, keep them updated, and so on. This makes the experience easier as you don’t feel alone or cut adrift from your family. Thanks to improvements in video calling software, you can see your whole family whenever you like!
Some of you are planning on spending your entire university degree in a foreign country. Others may only be abroad for one year – it doesn’t matter which category you fall into, these tips will help you get the most out of the experience without feeling too homesick.
If you enjoyed this head over to my 10 Must Visit Tourist Attractions In Edinburgh
Lovely says
Learning the culture and the language of the locals is a great tip!
xoxo
Lovely
http://www.mynameislovely.com
Lou Farrell says
These are great tips for students who are going to uni in another country, thanks for sharing; I’m sure they will be helpful.
jamieadstories says
Enjoy it like an extended holiday. I definitely wish I had done this.
Elle says
These are great tips
Sarah says
Great tips – thanks so much for sharing!
Monica says
Yes, that must be super overwhelming. I believe that staying in touch with your friends and family really helps. And exploring plus trying different things. Especially connected to the culture. ♡